Vincent Kinsington

I slowly opened my eyes and turned to Chet. He was awake. He watched me from his pillow. His warm hand covered my chest.

"Good morning," he said.

I kissed him gently on the lips and then put my forehead to his. "You know," I said, "if you score a goal today you need to thank me later for letting you score with me last night."

He laughed and playfully shoved my shoulder, but then immediately pulled me close to him. "Deal," he said. He kissed me, but before it could get too heated he pulled away.

"Do you want to take me home this morning?" he asked.

"Right in front of your house?"

"No," he said, "around the corner. I don't think my family should see us together yet."

"You don't want to tell them about us? I'm okay with it now that Alex and Mateo know."

"My dad works for your dad. I don't want to take any chances yet that my family is the one to accidentally leak it to your family. I will tell them. Just not yet."

"Okay," I said. I was actually relieved we weren't telling his family yet. Mr. Watakeekul had always been nice to me, but he hadn't ever known me as Chet's boyfriend. I didn't know how he was going to respond to that and I was fine with putting it off for as long as I could.

We got up and got ready. When we were ready, we both stood just inside the door with our backpacks on.

"I'm going to miss you," I said, "but I hope your team does well."

He smiled at this. "Thank you," he said. "I'm going to miss you too."

I leaned down and kissed him savoring every moment. If they won the first game, they wouldn't be coming back right away. I dropped him off around the corner from his house without actually driving passed his house. We didn't kiss as he left because who knew if his nosey neighbor was watching from a window or something.

During my first class of the day, I kept watching the time on the phone until it was time for Chet's plane to leave. For lunch I met Alex at the pizza place.

"I hope they do well," Alex said in reference to Chet's and Mateo's team. "It's funny how nervous I am about it when I'm not the actual one playing. Do you want to come over tonight and watch the game?"

"Yes," I said. Watching the game with Alex and his mother would be better than me staying at home and trying to find where to watch it. Alex was good at finding those type of things.

"I told my mom last night that you and Chet were already dating. I think she was as happy as I was. She said again that you could stay with her if your family disowns you. She doesn't say it, but I think she's really going to miss me when I move out."

"Are you changing your mind about moving out?" I asked.

"No," Alex said. "I will miss my mom and I know she'll miss me, but it's not like I'm moving out of state. I'll still be in the same city. And I'm so excited about moving in with Mateo that it trumps everything else."

Alex moved so he sat next to me instead of across from me. He held up his phone in front of us. The screen said he was calling Trevon for a video call.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"We've got to tell Trevon you're dating Chet," he said.

I looked around to make sure no one heard him, but it was noisy in there and no one was paying any attention to us.

"I already told him," I said. Alex turned to me with a shocked expression just as Trevon's image came up on the screen.

"Hi," Trevon said, "what's up?" It appeared like he was in a restaurant too judging from the tables and people and the server that just walked in the background.

"Hiiiii," Arthur's voice said and a new face sprang into view cheek to cheek with Trevon's. It was my first time seeing Arthur and he was handsome. Not as handsome as Chet though.

"You already told him?" Alex asked me ignoring Trevon and Arthur for the moment.

"Yes," I said, "but don't worry, it wasn't that long ago."

"Are you guys talking about Chet?" Trevon asked.

"Yes," we said at the same time.

"I know these voices," Arthur said. "It's Alex and Vincent. They look tall. Are they tall?" he asked Trevon.

"Vincent's as tall as I am," Trevon said, "Alex is an inch shorter."

Arthur slouched. "Then you're all taller than me." He pouted cutely. "What about your boyfriends?"

"They're shorter than us," Alex said helpfully.

"I meant where are they? I want to see them," Arthur said.

"They have a soccer game tonight," Alex said. "They had to fly there. Do you think they're off the plane by now?" Alex asked me.

"Probably," I said.

"We're going to watch them play tonight," Alex said.

"I want to watch too," Arthur said to Trevon and wrapped both his arms around Trevon's left arm.

"Okay," he said. "We can find the broadcast and watch it."

"How will we know it's them?" Arthur asked us.

"They've only been playing at the end of the first half now that they are playing more competitive games," Alex said. "Look for the last names Lopez," he pointed to himself, "and Watakeekul," he pointed to me, "on the back of the uniforms."

"Okay," Arthur said. "I'm so excited."

Trevon smiled at him as if he was the most precious thing on this Earth. I hadn't ever seen him smile at anyone like that and I was happy for him. I hoped that was the way I smiled at Chet.

"We're going to go finish our lunch," Trevon said. We said our goodbyes and Alex hung up.

The rest of my day went as usual. When it got close to game time I went to Alex's. His mom had picked up Italian food for dinner this time. Alex found the channel the game was supposed to be on, but another soccer game was just finishing up. Chet's game started a half hour late. I was surprised to see Chet's dad sitting in the stands next to Mateo's dad. Mr. Watakeekul must have taken off work to go there though.

Chet and Mateo were put in towards the end of the first half. I was surprised and proud as one of the announcers praised Watakeekul's striker skills and to carefully watch his future as he predicted Chet would be one of the best strikers in college soccer.

The score was currently 0-1. We were losing. The ball neared the opponents goal. Chet and Mateo were in the lead. Mateo had the ball. Chet got passed the defensive line, Mateo passed the ball to him in one quick movement. Chet didn't hesitate as he kicked. The ball slipped passed the goalie and into the net. The announcer that had just praised Watakeekul shouted with excitement. Soon it was the end of the first half.

Trevon sent a group text to me and Alex.

Trev: Your men are kind of hot. They can't beat Arthur though.

Me: What are you talking about? Chet is clearly the hottest one. Did you see his thighs...I mean, did you see him make that goal?

Trev: But you haven't seen Arthur dance.

Aley: You are both delusional. Mateo is clearly the best. And I've been dating him longer than either of you so my word takes precedent.

Me: But you haven't even slept with him yet.

Alex hit me in the arm. Not hard because he was against violence, but still. His mom glanced at us briefly before she quickly dismissed us.

Aley: That doesn't mean he isn't the hottest. In fact, I think that makes him the hottest. His ability to control himself should put you two to shame.

Trev: I don't feel shamed.

Me: Me neither.

We ended up winning 2-1 as Jimmy actually scored a point in the second half. The biggest part of me was glad for that because I knew Chet must be happy, but there was a small part of me that was sad because that meant Chet wasn't coming home.

When I got home and settled, I received a text from Chet.

Favoritesoccerplayer: Do you remember our deal? I'm acknowledging the score. TY

It made me laugh.

Me: I guess if I can help you score you should keep me around.

Favoritesoccerplayer: I'd keep you around anyway.

Me: Who are you sharing a room with?

Favoritesoccerplayer: Tonight it is Jimmy. He's texting someone too right now. I think it might be Melissa.

I liked that thought. Then I wouldn't have to feel jealous when she was around at the soccer games.

Favoritesoccerplayer: IMU

Me: IMU2. My heart

Favoritesoccerplayer: My love

The next few days were long. I texted Chet back and forth but it wasn't the same. I missed him.

Saturday's game came and I was surprised again to see not Mr. Watakeekul in the stands this time, but Mrs. Watakeekul. Chet managed to score a point again, but we lost this time 2-3. I was sad for Chet, but on the other hand, that meant he was coming home that much sooner.