Arthur Sakho

"What kind of things will they have at the New Year's Eve party tonight?" I asked Trevon. He had told me his city threw a New Year's Eve party downtown every year. I was finally going to meet his friends and my new best friend, Gareth.

I was in his bathroom that was attached to his bedroom. I stood in front of the mirror and dabbed a little bit of his cologne on my neck. He came into the bathroom and stood behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him. He kissed my neck where I had just put on the cologne.

Unlike at my house, we had found opportunities to have sex at his house. Not in his bedroom because he was worried his grandpa or sisters would walk in on us, but his bathroom conveniently attached to his bedroom and we could go inside and lock the door. There had been several times when we had joined the other one for a shower. He had joined me earlier not that long ago. I smiled feeling completely satisfied in the arms of the man I loved.

"Food stands, shops, games like the balloon dart game." He kissed my neck again. I leaned back completely in him letting his strength hold me up. His arms tightened around me. "There will be dancing."

"Dancing?" I pulled away and turned so I could face him. "Let's go dancing first, please." I wrapped my arms around his waist and looked up at him with my best puppy eyes look.

He smiled. "Dancing it is. I'll text Alex so he'll know to meet us there."

"Good." I took his hand and led him out of the bathroom. "Let's go then."

When we got downstairs, Trevon called out, "We're leaving."

"Have fun," Kerry said as she joined us.

"Watch out for your sisters," Trevon's grandpa said as he also joined us. Chris came in and stood beside Kerry.

"I thought they were going to that other party tonight," Trevon said. "The one where they have to dress up."

"That's right. I forgot," Trevon's grandpa said. The three of them stared at us as if to burn this image into their memories forever. It wasn't that big of a deal. Just a New Year's Eve party.

"Are you sure you have to go back tomorrow?" Kerry asked. "Can't you stay another day?"

"We've got to be back for when school starts," Trevon said. "Don't worry, mom. We'll come back to visit." His hand slipped free from mine as he went to hug her.

"We'll miss you, son," his grandpa said as he and Chris joined the hug. I threw my arms around all of them. I loved the love. They didn't seem to mind. They smiled at me and Grandpa Carter moved his arm around me so I was more in the joint hug.

"We need to go meet my friends," Trevon said and the hug broke apart. He took my hand again. He held my hand all the way out until we reached his car and we had to let go to get inside. Once inside, he sent a quick text to Alex and then tucked his phone away in his pocket. He pulled out and started to drive along the streets.

I turned on music in the car and danced in the passenger seat as we drove through the streets.

"I'm so excited," I said.

"I can tell," he said with a smile on his lips. Downtown was already crowded with people. Parents with children, couples, groups of people just hanging out. I loved it. We parked the car.

"Dancing first," I said.

"Of course," he said. He held my hand as we navigated through the throngs of people. I said hello to anyone who looked at me as we passed. The food stands we passed smelled delicious. We passed a place selling cotton candy. I hadn't had cotton candy since i was a kid. Maybe later. Dance was still my first priority. As soon as I saw the area designated for dancing, I pulled Trevon there. We found a spot and immediately started dancing. I loved his slightly clumsy movements.

"Are your friends here yet?" I asked.

He looked around, but didn't stop dancing. I looked too.

"I don't see them," he said. "They'll be here."

We danced for about twenty minutes, when I saw a familiar blond head and then several other faces I recognized through the crowds.

"There they are," I exclaimed happily and I was pulling Trevon along with me to his friends. The couples were so cute. Alex and Mateo. Vincent and Chet holding hands. Alex and Vincent didn't even greet me, but instead enveloped Trevon in a threeway hug. I couldn't be too upset by that because seeing the three best friends reunited warmed my heart. I turned my attention to their boyfriends. Mateo extended a hand, but I wasn't going to do that. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug. All of us were like family now anyway. I released him and hugged Chet who seemed eager for my hug. He was strong as he hugged me back. I squeezed him tighter since he seemed to like strong hugs. And then I pulled away to find my new best friend.

Gareth smirked at me. I opened my arms out wide and said, "My new best friend." Gareth stepped forward and hugged me tightly. It felt like I had just met my long lost brother.

"Best friend," Gareth said to me.

"Should I be worried about that?" I heard Trevon ask behind me and I suddenly wanted to make him jealous.

"No?" Alex said/asked.

"He says he's straight," Vincent said. Well, that would make Gareth the only one, but yes I knew he was straight and I loved the fact that he would play off my words anyway.

"You want a threesome?" I asked Gareth knowing full well Trevon was listening to us and knowing Gareth would know I wasn't serious.

"If only I swung that way," Gareth said. "I've tried so hard to like men since my two best friends do - sorry three best friends - but no matter how hard I try I just can't make myself."

I couldn't help but smile when I saw Trevon's expression. He was jealous but trying not to be. He knew I was just teasing. "See, nothing to worry about." I grabbed Trevon's hand and started to lead him to the dance floor.

"You weren't serious about the threesome thing, right?" Trevon asked me. I just smiled. Trevon and I led the way back to the dance floor. Gareth and Chet literally had to drag Mateo to the dance floor. That was beyond my understanding. Dancing was the best.

We danced for awhile before the others started to say they were hungry. I wanted to keep dancing, but food also sounded good. We ate tacos and then hot chocolate and donuts. While Trevon, Alex and Vincent reminisced about old times, I took the time to chat and joke with Gareth. We walked through the crowds and browsed the stands.

"I bet I can beat you at this game," Alex said to Trevon. It was one of those watergun games where you shoot through the tiny hole until the tube behind it fills and then you win a prize.

Trevon seemed hesitant, but Alex didn't give him a chance to refute as he went and paid for both of them to play. "You can do it," I encouraged Trevon. He smiled at me, but didn't seem convinced. He didn't win. Alex kicked his butt. It wasn't until they were done that I realized Chet wasn't with us anymore.

"Where's Chet?" I asked Vincent.

"He said he'd be right back," Vincent said. "Do you remember a Melissa from high school?" he asked Trevon.

"Melissa is a common name," Trevon said. "I don't remember anyone specific. Why?"

"She had a class with Chet last semester. She had a crush on him. They are friends now. I think he saw her in the crowds and went to say hi."

"We better not go too far then," Trevon said.

We moved to the next stand where they were selling little animal figurines made from a variety of stones. I didn't realize Chet came back until Vincent said, "What's wrong?" Chet had his face buried in Vincent's shoulder while Vincent held him. Chet didn't say anything. Gareth and Mateo immediately went to them.

Gareth tousled his hair and I knew I chose a good new best friend. "I know this look," he said. "He must have seen Kiet."

"Oh," Vincent simply said as if that answered everything.

"Who's Kiet?" Alex asked.

"His brother we never talk about because he's an asshole," Mateo said.

"Oh," Alex said.

Gareth indicated we should leave. I slipped my hand in Trevon's and we went to the next stand letting Vincent and Chet have some privacy. At least, as much privacy as they could have in a crowd of people. The next stand was nachos. I was definitely having nachos.

Vincent and Chet soon joined us again. Chet acted like nothing was wrong and no one talked about his brother. We sat on a cold lawn while we ate. A police officer stopped to talk with Alex and Mateo. They knew each other somehow, but the police officer didn't stay long. We went back to the main area to countdown to midnight. Fireworks went off, couples kissed. Trevon and I kissed probably longer than was proper, but his lips were so luscious I couldn't help myself.

After the fireworks, we began the long walk back to our cars. Vincent indicated he thought things were good between him and his brother at the moment. Maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh with Aiden at that party. Oh well, maybe it helped Aiden become a better brother.

Our way was blocked by police officers directing everyone a different way. Chet called out to a group of girls who turned out to contain his and Mateo's sisters. They said that someone had been shot and that was why we were being redirected.

It came to split ways to go to our separate cars. I was a little sad to say goodbye to Gareth, but at least we could communicate by phone now.

"I hope whoever was shot is going to be okay," I said when we got back in Trevon's car. He pulled out into the line of cars. Traffic was terrible as everyone tried to leave the downtown area.

"Me too," he said. "The city will probably change the way it does the New Year's Eve party now. Maybe they won't even have one."

That would be sad because I had so much fun tonight. But on the other hand, if people were getting shot, that wasn't safe for anyone. I looked at Trevon's profile as he drove.

"What?" he asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You can't ever get hurt," I said.

He smiled and his eyes darted to me before going back to the road. "You can't either," he said. He left one hand on the steering wheel, but the other reached across the center console to hold mine.

"I'll do my best not to," I said. There was a pause as I looked out the window at the city lights, the people walking and the cars in the slow traffic. "We drive back home tomorrow."

"Yeah," Trevon said. "Back to the routine and school."

I smiled when I thought about dancing again. "I can't wait to get back on the stage," I said.