Harry jumped with a start when he heard the knock at his door. Rubbing his hand, which he had banged on the side of his desk when the knock pulled him from his stupor, he called out.

"I'm still wrapping gifts, Ma!"

There was a chuckle on the other side of the door before a voice responded.

"Isn't it a little late for gift wrapping?"

Harry chuckled. "Get in here, Si," he said somewhat grumpily. The door opened and Simon walked in, carrying a small gift box. Simon sat down on Harry's bed while Harry finished wrapping the gift he had been working on.

"Seriously, though, you're still wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve?" Simon said incredulously when Harry was done.

"Oh, well pardon me for being the student body president, reporter for the newspaper, publicity head for the show on top of my class load," Harry retorted, grinning as he sat down on his extra chair next to the bed.

"All right, all right," Simon said, holding up in his hands in mock surrender, "point taken. Listen, I wanted to come by and give you your gift now."

"Well, aren't you my favorite best friend?" said Harry, smiling. "I just so happen to have your gift here as well," he added, picking up a gift from the pile that had formed on his desk and handing it to Simon.

Simon handed Harry the gift box while Harry gave him the flat package. Once the gifts were in hand, they both stared at one another.

"You first," Simon said.

"All right," replied Harry. He ripped open the box and was pleasantly surprised to a copy of The Audacity of Hope, a book written by then-Senator Obama that focused on many subjects that became themes of his 2008 presidential run. "Oh, Simon, this is great."

"Open it."

Harry obeyed. He nearly fainted with shock when he saw the inscription in it.

To Harry -

Congratulations on serving your high school as student body president. May you continue to find success, inspiration and hope as you go through life

At the bottom was a signature from the former president, whom Harry idolized as the ideal leader.

"Oh my god, Simon, how did you manage to get this?"

"Surprisingly, not as hard as you'd think. I just submitted an email on his website several months ago asking if I could get a copy. I emailed back and forth with his staff and before you know it, I had the copy signed by him.

"Thank you so much!" Harry exclaimed, close to tears of joy. "OK, open yours now."

"OK," said Simon. He ripped open the package, which had two picture frames inside of it. One of the pictures was of Simon, Harry, Nick and Leah back when they were in kindergarten and sitting on Simon's front porch. The other photo was the same group, now with Leah, taken a month before at homecoming when they had tried to recreate the same picture. Simon's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at the two pictures. "I love it," he said.

"I'm glad, cause that means the others will like theirs too," Harry said happily. "Abby's has one of her from those days photoshopped in. I thought she'd find that funny."

"Yeah she will," said Simon. "What made you think of these?"

"Well, we're all going off to college and the next chapter in a few months, I'd figure it'd be nice for us all to have something to remind us of each other since we won't see each other every day. They're to remind us how much we love each other, as friends."

"Yeah, as friends," Simon said quietly, suddenly looking crestfallen.

"Si, is something wrong?" Harry asked, sensing the mood in the room change.

"Uh, I know you don't look at Creeksecrets regularly, but have you looked at it today?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I've been busy wrapping gifts and I don't want to read up on the school gossip while we're on a two-week break from it."

Simon chuckled sadly as he took several deep breaths.

"Si, was there something about you posted on there?" Harry asked sounding concerned. Simon nodded. "Is it bad?"

"I don't know," Simon whispered. "Kinda but not really. It's super personal and some people might make fun of me for it. It's just not the way I wanted anyone to find out."

"Find out?"

Simon took some more deep breaths.

"We'll always be friends right, Harry?" he asked.

"Of course," Harry replied. "No matter what, you're always gonna be my best friend, Si."

Simon took one last deep breath before he finally let it out.

"I'm gay," he said.

"Oh," said Harry. "That doesn't change the way I feel about you, Simon, I promise you. Is that what you were worried about, coming out to me?"

"No, it's not that," Simon said, sounding close to tears.

Harry stood up from his chair and sat down on the bed next to Simon.

"Si?"

"I got outed. On Creeksecrets."

"What?" Harry fumed. "By who?"

"It doesn't matter," Simon said.

"But how did they out you? I mean, if you haven't told anyone else?"

"I told Abby, but that's it. Please don't hate me."

"Of course I don't, Si. I get it, she's easier to talk to about this."

"You are too," Simon interejected quickly. "That's why I felt comfortable coming out to you. I haven't told Leah and Nick, but they know because I was outed."

"Well I know Leah didn't out you, but how did the person who did out you?"

"I've been emailing Blue," Simon explained. "You know, that kid who talked about being closeted a few weeks ago?" Harry nodded. "Well, I emailed him and we've been talking back and forth for a few months now. And someone got on the computer after me at school and saw the emails. He's been blackmailing me with the emails and I guess he decided it would be a good idea to leak them and he did and I…"

At this, Simon broke down into tears. Harry scooted over and pulled Simon closer to him, hugging him tightly as Simon sobbed.

"Oh, Simon, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Harry said, trying to sound soothing. "Is there anything I can do?"

"It's OK," Simon said through the tears, "Nora's already reported it and it's gonna get taken down."

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine," Simon said, sitting up straight and wiping some tears off his face.

"Are you sure, Si? You know I'll kick whoever's ass needs kicking."

Simon chuckled.

"Yeah I know you will, but I"ll be OK. I just needed to tell someone about it in a normal way rather than finding out on that damn Creeksecrets."

"You said Nora already knows, do your parents?"

"Not yet," said Simon, shaking his head. "I think I'm gonna tell them tomorrow. Am I crazy?"

"Is that a rhetorical question or do you want an honest answer?" Harry teased. Simon gave him a light punch on the arm and laughed. "You know, Si, being gay is your thing. And you have the absolute right to come out on your terms. I know I won't be able to be there for you always about it and I hate that. I hate that you have to go at it alone, but whatever you do, I've got your back. You know that right?"

Simon nodded.

"I know," he whispered. "Thank you for listening, Harry. And for just being here when I need you. I know it's a crazy time for me to need you like this."

"All the time is crazy for me, Simon," Harry said. "With all the craziness of school life, this is about as calm a time I've had in months, so a little me being a friend was something I can handle. I love you, my brother. I always will."

Harry pulled Simon into another hug. Simon hugged him back harder, if that were possible.

"I love you, too, Harry."