Behind the Books | ✔

30. Coming Out

ELIAS

HAVE YOU EVER felt like a third wheel to any sort of conversation before? You know, the feeling where you felt left out and irrelevant to anything and everything? That's how I feel right now, but in this case, I don't mind. 

Cannon, Axel, and I were walking to our last class of the day — art. Cannon and Axel were deep in conversation about their families. They insist that they have grown to be sort of close over the years, considering they live in the same area. You know, ridiculously huge mansions with tons of land surrounding them. 

I couldn't help but notice that the two have become closer than ever over the past few weeks. I don't want to be the one to assume, but was it possible that they were becoming attracted to each other romantically? It could be possible, but there was only one way to find out. 

Once we got into class, Axel and Cannon separated so Axel could go chat with a friend for a bit, and Cannon and I sauntered to our usual table. Class hadn't started yet, so I said, "Are you and Axel? You know . . ." I questioned as I began to make hand signals. 

"No, no, it's not like that, Eli," Cannon shook his head as he slouched down onto the table. "I don't even think he's my type and all, but he's still cool." 

"Well, okay. I was just curious," I shrugged. "I know that he did say something about his parents being super conservative. Has he . . . come out to his parents yet?"

I know I was being very nosy, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to know. "He hasn't, but I'm trying to convince him to whenever he feels ready," he answered. 

My eyes lit up, feeling a sensation of hope. I didn't know Axel's parents at all, but I'm hoping that everything goes fine when he comes out to them. 

But concerning Axel and Cannon, no matter if they were just friends or something a little more, I will support them no matter what. If Cannon could finally find someone that he loves just as much as they love him, it would put a smile on my face. I've known for a long time that he's always wanted to find love. A lot of us do at some point. It's an amazing feeling, a feeling that isn't like any other. 

Speaking of love, I saw Rylie walk into class, an opened book in hand as she glanced at it occasionally. She trudged to our usual table, clutching her fingers on the back of my neck playfully before taking a seat beside me. 

"Hey," she chirped as she shoved her book into her backpack. I couldn't help but notice the blue cover of the book, alongside two black and white clouds at the center of it. 

"Hi," I smiled. "What book are you reading?" 

"The Fault in Our Stars by John Green," she replied briefly. "It's probably my millionth time reading it, but it's really good." 

"Oh, cool," I chirped. Reading wasn't too much of my thing, but that's when a grand idea popped up in my head. "Hey, how about if we meet up at the local Barnes and Noble after school? We can grab a cup of coffee from their Starbucks and hang out for as much there." 

"Sounds like a plan, Greene," Rylie nodded her head with approval. "I have to remember to bring some money. There's been books I've been dying to purchase." 

"Glad to hear it, Henderson," I remarked before Ms. Edwards cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. This is my last class of the day, so I was looking forward to any art assignment thrown at me. Ms. Edwards explained that we would be making a series of complex patterns on a blank sheet of paper. It's a simple assignment, but she strictly instructed for us to not create everyday patterns, such as checkerboard squares, stripes, or polka dots.