The next thing I saw through the rearview mirror was my parents running out the house, far, far away from me, and not even my mother's cursing could pierce through my raging spirit. I was on a mission to change the town, and she was never a supporter, dad, well he had to be a little proud, right? Ha, ha.

As the radio played some typical song about love, the memory of my mother's reaction to my NO H8 bumper sticker crossed my mind till I waved it away. My heart raced and didn't bother to hear the lyrics. I didn't care about my relationship with love, it could leave me alone or ignore me forever, but I would defend the right for others. Others like Kyle.

Driving past the respected speed limit, I raced to the other side of the county. Here, we were a population of a mere 600, and were spread out pretty well, so it was quite a long drive anywhere.

Stopping the truck at the edge of his land, my eyes scanned the enormous bushes till I spotted him hustling towards me.

There he is, my wonderful, little prick.

I twisted my mouth as I held in the giggles. Kyle, with the largest soccer bag he owned, tripped over a stump, then landed on his face. I moaned out a suppressed laugh once he started slithering.

"Okay, you can stop now!" He ordered me to quit laughing while closing the door. "Go!"

Without even looking at the road, I accelerated, then blurted out how much I enjoyed being with such a dumbass. He did the same.

"So, let's talk about why you are driving your dad's truck." Kyle crossed his arms as he leaned on my shoulder.

"Oh, just take a guess." I replied sluggishly.

"Your mom was holding captive the keys, again."

"Ah-huh."

Kyle shifted his head, then rested his cheek on me. Memories of my first kiss with him sprang up. As quickly as they did, they also were quick to leave. I know better than to have those thoughts linger, they only do me bad. They only make me sour.

We reached the water tower by five-twenty, and quickly made our way up. He handed me a print out of our project; a silhouette gun covered by a prohibition sign; we were going to paint it as big as we could and have it be displayed for all to see that we're tired of people carrying around firearms. The thought of getting in trouble wasn't enough to ever scare us. This didn't bother me, why should it? I was not harming another person, not even myself. No matter what my parents thought, I believed the town could welcome change one day. Little by little, I was sure of it. Without another second to spare, I chased away the small family concerns, and began to spray paint.

After about an hour, we finished. I sat with my back resting on the tower, and Kyle laid near the edge with one leg dangling; we both couldn't have just left without watching the afternoon skies. The skies swirled in creamy orange-magenta, while the other half below was a cluster of pastel purple and blue. Who could not fall in love here, up here with these clouds. They're the reason Kyle, and I kissed in the first place. It had been in the heat of the moment.

"Nice up here, right?" I asked trying to change my thoughts away from pesky memories.

"You know, I'd marry you. I'd marry you if I wasn't gay," he replied, almost as if he had known what was lurking in my head. He rolled his head over, and had his beautiful blue eyes twinkle at me. I smiled, trying to swallow the emotions I knew were useless. Useless because they would never be returned. He loved me, but not in the way my heart had wished.

"I know. Who else would put up with you, missy." I said closing my eyes, making a kissy face.

"Ha. Ha. Funny." He grinned, then softened his features, "No, but really, Blanca. I would. I'd marry you in a heartbeat."

Looking at my hands I mentally kicked myself. There was no need to look away, he had always been there when I needed him to be. I can be honest with him, just as he's been honest with me, and has told me everything, even his secret about being homosexual -which was considered worse than murder here. I was the only one who he had revealed it to.

Saliva collects at the base of my tongue as we both wait for something.

It was my turn to reply, right?

My brown eyes waltzed from hand to hand as I tried stringing a sentence, but Kyle spoke just in time before I said something stupid. "You know, I should have enough money to leave and move in with my brother in Oregon. I should have enough to study there, too."

I know. A small chuckle escapes my lips as I finally collect words from the back of my throat. "You've had enough money since last year now, liar, but you just don't leave, Kyle."

His expression changed, he was hurt. Lifting himself up, he confessed what I already knew, "My parents want me to leave in a month, though. They said I've been avoiding college ever since I graduated high school last year... but, why would I leave you behind?"

Oh, don't start, please. My heart was tightening, and the pressure around my ears was increasing. That fucking look he is giving is making me want to caress those cheeks, then kiss his forehead while apologizing. Exhaling with a smile, I replied, "Another year in this town, you'd put up another crappy year till I turn 18? Pfft, even I wouldn't stay."

"Liar." He pouted, then crawled next to me, and rested his head on my lap. He took my hands and placed them over his eyes. "You would stay, even if you were homeless, you'd stay."

I tilted my head, then snapped open his eyelids, "Are they kicking you out if you stay?!"

"Ow." He shook his head, rapidly blinking till his eye sight adjusted.

"Kyle!"

"Ha, ha, ha, calm down. I'll handle it. Don't worry."

"You have to leave. You know no one would allow you to live with them here, they want you gone. Not even the one motel would accept you."

"How about you?" He joked. Smiling, he raised his head, whispering if I would like to live with him.

"Funny. You know my parents don't like you. They themselves would drive you to a train station, then see you off."

Kyle let his head fall back down. "Ah, so then we are doomed."

"We were doomed the second we met," I muttered, smacking my cheek for still crushing on him.

"Come on. Let's go see a movie." Perking up, he stands and lifts me up by my arm. "We need a change of mood right now."

"The cinema is in the next town," my deadpan tone shows him I was still worried about his issues, and not in some movie night.

"Ah-huh."

"That's almost an hour --hour-and-something away."

Strapping up his bag, Kyle held my hand, then winked. "Oh, hush up. We're already in trouble. Might as well enjoy the freedom we have now before we get home tomorrow morning."

Shaking my head I snorted, "Oooh, such a bad boy."

He scoffed, then smiling he turned, replying, "there's worse."