Tony's POV (The Next Day)

I woke up early this morning to surf alone at the beach. I eat a little snack before I go, but then I just remembered. There was a party there last night, so what if it's messy?

After I finished my snack, I look out my bedroom window and checked out the beach. Mark and I can see the beach in our bedroom windows, but he has a better view of it, even though he sometimes say that I have the better view.

I was right, the beach was MESSY, and I don't like surfing on a messy beach. So I go in the kitchen, grab a trash bag and my surfboard, and head out to the beach.

The sun had just rose an hour ago so it's pretty bright outside. I got to the beach, set my surfboard down, and picked up some trash. As I was picking up the trash, I see something a little buried under the trash and sand. I pull it up and it was Mark's surfboard.

I turn around and was about to put his surfboard next to mine, then here he comes, stumbling a little in his steps.

"Hey bro." He greeted, his voice sounds a little slurred.

"Morning!" I waved then he got closer to me. He looked awful. His face looks all tired, and dark. It made me a little sad to look at, and I usually love looking at his beautiful face. "What happened to you?" I asked in concern.

"Nothing, just partied a little too hard last night. Anyway, I think I left my surfboard here, have you seen it?"

"Yeah, it's right here." I pointed to it, and he picked it up.

"Thanks. Whatcha doing here?"

"Well, I was gonna surf alone, since I'd figure you would be tired from the party. But before I do, I'm gonna pick up all this trash." I turn around and start picking up trash again.

Mark rubbed his eyes. "You don't have to do that. It's not your mess, we'll clean it up later."

"No it's fine, I don't like surfing on a messy beach, so I don't mind."

"Well, do you want me to help?"

"Although it would be nice if you did, but if you're too tired or don't feel like it, it's fine, you don't have to." I shrugged.

He was quiet about it for a while, then put his surfboard down, and picked up trash with me. I smiled a little and opened the trash bag as he put it in there.

"How was the party?" I asked after a while.

"It was a'ight." He answered tired and bored like.

I see something brown and glass like in the sand, so I picked it up and it was a beer bottle!

"Um Mark? Did y'all have this in the party?" I asked, holding up the bottle.

He looked up, then answered casually, "Yeah, why?"

"Did you have some?" My voice shook a little.

"Yes, but only a little bit."

I huffed. That explains why he stumbles while he walked, slurred his words, and look like crap, no offense, I still like him. "Mark! What the hell were you doing drinking this??"

"I was a little too in the moment. Plus I meant to take a tiny sip, but that tiny sip turned into a little more than that."

"Even if it was a little tiny sip, you aren't supposed to be drinking this!" I yelled angrily, tears were starting to flow from my eyes. Even if it wasn't that much, one day it could be come a lot. I don't want my best friend to be an alcoholic.

"Ok! I get it! Damn, my parents already lectured me about this, and now you're doing it too."

I took some deep breaths and put my hands over my head to calm down. "I'm sorry, but I just want you to know that I care about you very much because you're my best friend. And hearing about you drink makes me very worried. Even if it's not a lot."

"Yeah I understand. It tasted kinda weird anyways, so I am not trying that again!"

We both laugh a little, then finished up with cleaning. After that, Mark took both of our surfboards and put them next to the ocean, while I found a dumpster to put the trash in.

I go back to him. "You ready to surf? Or you wanna wait?"

"I'd rather wait." He answered without thinking about it first, but I understand why. "If that's ok with you."

"I don't mind, just let me know when you're ready."

"Alright..."

We both sat near the ocean, hugging our knees.

"...so what did y'all do there? At the party? Other than 'accidentally' getting drunk?"

"Well we ate food, surfed in the dark, shit like that."

"That sounds fun. Who was all there?"

"The usual gang. Kyle, Nick, Lily, Lola, Veronica, and a couple of other people."

"Oh ok-- wait who? Veronica? As in your ex girlfriend, Veronica?"

"Yep, Lily and Lola invited her to come along."

"Damn..."

"Yeah, she was so annoying."

"What did she do?"

"Well she kept flirting with me, told me how much she missed me, and did some stupid shit, like forcing me to make out with her, and she even put her hands to where my...private part was."

Ohh noo, only I get to touch him there! ...I'm just kidding, but one day I probably could. "Eww, what did you do?"

"I pushed that bitch into the water."

We both laughed, but my laugh was louder though. His was more of a chuckle.

"Sorry dude." I said, still laughing a little.

"It's fine, other than that, it was fun."

"Glad you had fun."

The water from the ocean splashed our feet. It wasn't too hot or too cold. Just the perfect warm temperature. I stretched my feet out some more, so it could do it again. Mark looked over to me and smiled, starting to do the same. The small wave came back, and splashed our feet again. We both let out a sigh of relief. The warm water felt great on my feet.

Then all of a sudden, one of my hands start to feel warm, like something warm is on top of it. I look over to it and it is: Mark's hand is on top of mine. I'm glad it isn't the other way around... again. But I wonder why.

I guess he noticed too, because he made a weird face, moved it away, and looked the other direction.

"Everything ok?" I asked calmly.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Then the silence comes back. The only things you can hear is the ocean and our breathing...then I heard some soft snoring. It was coming from Mark. AWW!

He was hugging his knees again and had his face buried between them, sound asleep. Watching the waves could make you relax and maybe even sleep. I scoot closer to him, and run my fingers through his short, reddish brown hair as gently as I can so I wouldn't wake him.

He starts to move a little, then went back to sleep... in my arms! *SQUEE* How is this boy always so warm?! I wrap my arms around him, and let him rest his head on my chest. I could see him smiling a little. Does that mean I'm warm too?

I take my finger and felt his lips with it. His lips were smooth and moist. I tilt his head back a little, both of my hands on each side of his head, and brought my lips closer to his. I felt something push me back. It was his hand. Damnit! I woke him up.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He asked, a little upset.

I let go of him and scooted back a little. I was playing with my fingers. "There was umm... a... a bug! Yeah, there was a bug on your chest." I managed to say hesitantly.

I punched his chest. "...OWW!!"

......ok ok, I'll admit, that OWW came from me, not him. He has such a hard chest, it was like punching a rock. He put his hand over where I punched him, but barely showed any reaction to it.

"See? The bug is dead." I scoop up a pile of sand, then flatten it back down, as if I was burying something small. "Yay!"

"Yay..." Mark said blankly. "How long was I asleep?"

"3 days." I told him, trying to keep my face as serious as possible, but then lost it when he gave me that adorable look he does when he's confused or looks at something weirdly.

I giggled. "I'm just kidding." I punched his lightly on his arm. "You've been asleep for only a few minutes."

"Oh ok, good to know." He wasn't laughing or even smiling along. Maybe because he just woke up.

"Sorry to have bothered you." I frowned a little.

"No, it's fine. I shouldn't be asleep anyways, especially out of the open."

I nodded, then we heard some noises, after that, yelling. Mark and I stood up and turned around. It was 2 of his friends, Kyle and Nick I believe. I start to walk away from Mark, then all of a sudden, some force pushed me back into the water. It was all over my face, I couldn't breathe, and if I did, I would be breathing water, and I can't do that. I gasp for air, finally got to it, and coughed a lot. Even puked up water.

Kyle and Nick laughed while Mark looked at me with pity, even though I'm pretty sure he was the one who pushed me because the 2 other guys weren't even that close to us.

"Hey fag, did you clean up this beach?" One of the guys, I think his name was Kyle, asked.

"My name is Tony."

He came up, and pinched my arm. Mark backed up while the other guy, Nick, came closer. I hissed at the pain.

"Answer my question, fag."

"Yes I did, why?"

"Oh, just wondering if you could clean up my room the same way."

Nick laughed. "Hey, mine too."

I backed up, and grabbed my surfboard, but they tripped me before I could even get to it. "I haven't done anything to you guys. Why do you like to bully me?" I asked timidly. Even though I already knew the answer.

"Because you're gay, and we don't like gay people at our beach."

"Well, I might be gay, but I'm not a bad person, right Mark?" I turn to Mark, and he wasn't even paying attention.

He was staring at the waves, then turned around. "Sorry what?"

"Help me!" I mouthed to him.

"With?" He mouthed back.

"Find some other place to surf, you damn fag." Kyle pushed me, and I stumbled forward. Nick laughed and high fived Kyle, then went over to Mark and high fived him, only to receive a weak one back.

I grab my board, and walked to Mark. "Please tell them that I'm a good person, regardless of my sexuality."

He was quiet for a while, so was everyone else. Then, he just shrugged.

"Dude, come on."

He looked over at his friends, then pushed me into the water, again, but this time, my head wasn't drowning in it. I just fell on it with my butt.

"Fine then, be that way." I stood up, and walked out of the beach.

I went home, threw my surfboard on the porch, ran in my room and slammed the door.

"Tony? What the hell is wrong with you?" My mom called out.

"I don't wanna talk about it mom. I'd rather be alone."

I went in my closet, pulled out a box, then looked all over my room for stuff that either Mark let me borrow, or that he left over here and I never gave back. NO IT'S NOT CALLED STEALING! I put all of his stuff in the box, and was gonna return it to him, hoping he'll return my stuff in good condition.

I've gather all his stuff, but I was gonna bring it too him later, since he's still at the beach, as I could see from my window. But for now, I put his stuff aside and took a small nap.

*****

Welp, that small 1 hour nap I was planning on taking turned into a long 5 hour nap. I do feel a lot better and refreshed. I look outside, and it's starting to get dark. I should go and give Mark his stuff. I grab the box and went out.

"Bye mom, I'll be back." I call out, even though she was sleep on the couch. No wonder I was able to get a 5 hour nap. Hopefully I'll be back before she wakes up, or else she'll call the police, like last time.

Of course it doesn't take me long to get there. I walked to his porch, set the box of stuff down, and knocked on the door. His dad answered.

"Hey Tony, what could I do for you?" He asked.

I picked up the box. "I'm here to return Mark's stuff that he let me borrow. Could I see him?"

"Yes, he's in his room."

I thanked his dad, then went to Mark's room and knocked on the door. Mark opened the door, then when he saw me, he attempted to close it. I put the box in the way.

"Here's your stuff that I borrowed from you."

He looks in the box, then took it.

"Thanks......bye." He tried to close the door again, and I stopped him again.

"Uh uh, I need the stuff that you borrowed from me."

He just stared at me, then he turned around and looked for my stuff around his room.

I walked in his room, helping him a little. "Why can't we be friends, no matter who you're around?" I asked, curiously and a little upset.

He didn't answer my question, he just handed me my book I let him borrow. "Interesting book, by the way."

"Well, thanks but can you answer my question?"

"......I don't know. There's your answer."

"Why don't you know?"

He handed me my charger. "That should be the last of it. Don't worry, I'm gonna get my own soon--"

"Why don't you know??" I repeated, in a louder and firmer tone.

His eyes widen. "Dude, you know why."

"Yeah, but I want your friends to see how cool I can be, and that can't happen if you don't help me show them. You know that right?"

He was quiet for a while. "I think it's best if we... just don't. Have a nice life."

"No. I can't have a nice life without you by my side. We've been best friends, bros before hoes thing since day 1." I stepped closer to him. "Just give me a chance."

He backed away. "Sorry, wish I could but no thanks."

"I could stop being gay."

"Tony, you don't have to do that. It's just safe if you stay away from me."

"......I don't think I can." I stepped closer to him again, and to make sure he doesn't back away, I wrapped my arms around his waist. "You're my everything, Mark."

I put his arms around my neck, then pressed my lips into his. We stayed like this for 10 seconds, then I let go of him. We both blushed, but I blushed from joy, while he blushed from anger and embarrassment.

"Get out." He said softly.

"Huh? What was that?"

"Get out. I said get out!" He yelled.

I covered up my face because he looked like he was about to slap me. "I'm sorry! I'm really really sorry."

"Just get out already! I don't wanna see you again!" He was throwing stuff at me, it went from soft pillows to almost his phone. I grabbed my stuff and ran out the room when he attempted to pick up his dresser.

"Fag!" I heard him yell out to me. I started to cry.

"Is everything alright? I heard screaming and stuff getting knocked over." His dad asked.

"Yep, everything is all peaches and cream." I said, never stopping or looking at him. I left Mark's house for the final time.

*****

I ran home again, but this time, I slammed the front door instead of my room door. My mom jumped up from the couch, and grabbed the thing nearest her, which was the TV remote and pointed it towards me, as if she was gonna use it as a weapon.

"UGH, God damnit Tony! Don't scare me like that!"

I ignored her and went to my room.

"Oh, no you don't." She grabbed my wrist, and yanked me to the couch.

"Ow mommy." I began to cry for real. Not just because of my mom, but because I feel like my life is falling apart.

"Tell me what's wrong. I'm your mother, I would never lie to you."

I gave her a look that says, "yes you have."

"Well, I would never lie to you about serious matters, like this. Now tell me." She wraps her arms around me, and I start crying again.

Then I spilled the beans to her, telling her that Mark isn't my friend anymore, especially since I kissed him, I get bullied at the beach and all he does it is just watches, like a bystander, and that my life is falling apart, all because of my sexuality.

"Aw, I'm sorry sweetie. Do you want me to talk to them?"

"NO! Please don't, that'll make my life worse."

"How bout I talk to dem in'a language they'd understand? Gansta talk!" My mom crossed her arms and smirked, like a real gangster would.

I covered up my face. "Mom, they're not gangsters. Although they are a gang of kids who's making my life stir." I chuckle a little at that.

"Well what do you want me to do?"

"Give me advice that could help me? I'm a young adult, all I need is some courage and advice to motivate me, that's all."

"That's true. Well... I've never been gay before so I can't help you on that. And you've pretty much already tried to stand up for yourself, right?" I nod. "Maybe you could just ignore them. Like lift your chin up high and not let them bother you?"

I went quiet for a while to think about that. "Well I don't know Tony, I'm trying my best here!"

"Hey, that might be a--" turned around, and was about to say great idea, but my mom already left.

I turn to face the window and stared out into it. The night was calm, so why aren't I? I take a deep breath and went to my room, without slamming the door.

I sat on my bed, laid back, and pulled up the covers, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about how I could fix my life...until I fell asleep.

I slept in the next day, didn't wake up until noon. My phone vibrated, it was a text from Mom saying: "I'm off to work. If you need anything, such as food or to get something from the store, ask Mark's parents (if they're not mad at you). Don't use the stove. Microwave...ok that's fine. Sorry to leave you like this, love you

I felt like I was about to cry. I'm home alone. Usually when I'm home alone, she invites Mark over. Now that we're in a fight, I'm really alone.

I text mom back, letting her know that I just woke up and about to cook me some noodles (in the microwave this time). She said that's ok, I just gotta remember to put the water in this time. Damn, I always forget that.

I put the water in the bowl of noodles, and heated it up in the microwave for 3 minutes. I had nothing else to do, so I grabbed a chair, pulled it up to the microwave, and watched as the timer counted down. 2:50, 2:49, 2:48, 2:47, 2:46-- MAN THIS IS BORING!!!

I put the chair back, and laid back on the couch. I am so bored, waiting on this slow ass food. I called my mom.

"Hello?"

"Mommy, I'm bored!" I whined.

"Dude, this isn't your mom." A familiar deep voice answered. I raised an eyebrow, then looked at the Caller ID, I ended up calling Mark.

I put the phone back to my ear. "Hey Mark buddy, how ya doing?...... hello?" I look at my phone, he hung up. RUDE! I'm not gonna bother with him anymore. After I get done eating my noodles (and after waiting 30 minutes which is gonna be even more boring) I was planning on going to the beach to surf, and have a little good time. I'm not gonna let them get in my way. Not Mark, Kyle, or anyone.

I almost fell asleep on the couch, then the microwave beeped, making me jump, wondering where I was, even though I was asleep for a minute. I get up, go to the microwave, eat my noodles, then watched TV while the food digested.

As I was about to get ready to go, I look out my bedroom window, and see the beach isn't that full. Just with 3 girls I didn't know. I grab my surfboard from the porch, and make my way there.