Someday

Year 9, Day 35

A/N: Nine more chapters after this before Bobby and Will's story finally comes to a close.

I wanna say thanks to everyone who has been reading, voting, commenting and promoting Someday. I'd like highlight two people in particular: BrittanieCharmintine who has, not only inspired me to write socially-conscious stories but also, promoted my little story on The Corner Booth live stream (link on the external) and _Luxy_ who translated Someday to Italian.

Thanks for all the support, guys! If I could all give you hug right now, I would.

***

"I like you."

I remembered convincing Bobby to explain further, in case he meant a platonic 'I like you'. He just laughed at my nervous 'what do you means' and clarified that 'he liked me, liked me'. He went on to say, "I've liked you that way for nine years. I think I know what I mean when I say I like you, Will."

To which I so maturely replied, "Nine fuc, I mean flipping years, and you waited for me to make the first move?"

"Shhh," he flinched. "Let's go somewhere else. Momma might hear us."

Before I could say I didn't care if she did, he was already pushing me off their porch, into the lawn and out the street. Well that stung; personally, I'd be more than happy to introduce him as my boyfriend to anyone. Wouldn't he?

After a few minutes of walking around the nearby park aimlessly, I finally couldn't contain all the words piling up on my tongue waiting to burst out. Like I said, I'm bad at secrets, "Are you embarrassed of me?"

Or filters, apparently.

Bobby's eyes widened, another tell. It meant 'WTF', but because he didn't curse - at least I hadn't heard him, not once, he settled for the occasional eye widening, followed by a jaw drop.

"Wha-" was all he managed to say.

I continued, "I mean, I'm not saying make it official, but is it really that bad to be seen with me, you had to push me off your porch?"

I was going for funny, but I guess hurt didn't sit well with humor.

"Will," Bobby begun.

Here we go. If this is gonna be one of those 'it's not you; it's me' lines that mom loved so much, my face had to say 'I understand', not 'get lost, jerk'.

Better shut my eyes. If I start crying, I might make him feel worse.

"Get it together, Will," I chanted to myself quietly.

Because I was too focused on getting myself together, I barely felt the warmth wrapping around my hand until I felt a squeeze. Tentatively, I opened my eyes and stared at my hand.

Is my vision that blurry?

Was he...

He was.

Bobby was holding my hand,

in public,

where people could see us.

"Uh," I started to say before I looked up. He was staring at me, a smile on his face.

Ugh, that smile is so disorienting. What was I gonna say?

Something about public.

"This," Bobby whispered, lifting our hands. "It's not embarrassing, neither are you. I like you, and I'm proud I can finally say it. It's just complicated because we're different."

"So?" Again, with the different. Where is he getting these lines?

"I know you don't care, that you'd still like me whatever Momma says, but I don't wanna take my chances, okay? She might send me away too."

"What?"

"Remember Austin, my brother?"