Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez

angry.
    “No,” he lied. “I’m not mad.”
    Nelson’s sheepish mouth turned up into a faint grin. “Thanks for going with me today.”
    “Sure. I just hope we never have to go through it again.”
    Nelson nodded somberly, then broke into a shameless smile. “I wish you’d seen the doc. He was so cute!” Patting Kyle on the cheek, Nelson laughed his invincible laugh. “See you later, stud.”
    He hopped into the car and drove off, disappearing past the green suburban lawns.
    He’s absolutely hopeless, Kyle thought, and wandered up the driveway.
    His mom and dad weren’t home from work yet. Kyle picked up the mail that had been pushed through the front door slot and quickly scanned through it—nothing interesting, just junk. Tossing the pile aside, he checked for phone messages.
    “Hey, Kyle. This is Jason.”
    At the sound of the low, husky voice, Kyle swooned into the foyer armchair.
    “Cal me when you get home, okay?”
    Three times Kyle listened to the message, relishing every word. Over the past months he’d saved al of Jason’s messages, til the voice mailbox became so ful his dad made him erase them.
    Reluctantly he now deleted the new one and immediately dialed Jason.
    Mrs. Carril o answered. She was always sweet to Kyle, asking how he was and thanking him for helping Jason with school. Now she sounded out of breath.
    “Hold on,” she told Kyle. “Jason! It’s Kyle!”
    Kyle ran a hand through his hair, eagerly listening for Jason’s approach.
    “Wha’s up?” Jason said. “Have you seen Nelson? Did he tel you about what happened with Coach today?”
    “Yeah. Congrats. How’d Coach take it?”
    “Okay, I guess. He didn’t kick me off the team or anything. But he said he wants to talk to Muel er.”
    “No way!” Kyle sat up in his seat. “What for?”
    “I don’t know. Hey, can I cal you back? I’m helping my mom move furniture.”
    “Wel , you want to come over later?” Kyle asked, anxious to hear the rest of Jason’s story. Happily, Jason agreed.
    After hanging up, Kyle went upstairs and crashed onto the bed, wiped out from the doctor’s visit with Nelson. He cupped his hands behind his head and stared at the movie poster Jason had given him tacked on the wal .
    During the past few days Kyle had spent hours thinking back and forth about col ege and his future with Jason. Now once again his thoughts began turning. But before he knew it, he’d fal en asleep.
    His mom woke him, brushing her hand gently across his forehead. “Honey, it’s time for dinner.” She’d made lemon chicken, with cinnamon sweet potatoes and almond string beans. Kyle loved her cooking.
    “Stil no word from Princeton?” his dad asked. “Maybe I should cal and ask when they’re sending their letters out.”
    “Dad!” Kyle said, tossing down his fork. “Can’t you just leave it alone? I’m the one going to school, not you!” His dad drew back a tiny bit. “I’m just suggesting—”
    Kyle’s mom intervened, as usual. “Honey, Kyle’s right. It’s not going to do any good to cal them.” As if scolded, his dad backed off. “At least they could tel us when we’d hear.” His mom tried to switch the conversation, asking Kyle what he knew about the Tech and Princeton swim teams, just as the doorbel rang.
    “Jason!” Kyle gasped, suddenly realizing he’d forgotten to tel his mom. “Um, I invited him over.” Kyle tried to keep him self from tearing to the door. “Is it al right?”
    “Of course, honey. But it would be nice if you’d tel me ahead of time.”
    “Sorry!” Kyle yel ed over his shoulder as he bolted to the foyer, his socks sliding across the tile.
    Jason stood on the doorstep, warming his hands with his breath, dark eyes glowing brightly above his cheeks. “Wha’s up?” he said, stepping inside.
    Kyle pressed his hand against Jason’s. “You’re ice cold. You need gloves.”
    “I’m al right.” Jason smiled, peeling off his coat.
    Kyle hung it for him on the hook