"I don't really want to go home." Dante spoke quietly, voice muffled. He had his face pressed into my body. We both sat in the truck with our pants pulled below our knees, leaned back. I was underneath Dante, and I'll admit- I didn't want to leave either. "Maybe we could have a beer and pretend that we didn't want to drive home drunk. Then our parents wouldn't be mad…"

"That's true, but I'd rather sleep in my bed. I love this truck to death but it won't be doing my back any favors." I could already feel the pressure on my tail bone and lower spine as we lounged around. Dante draped over me so casually only added to the pressure.

"I'm just fine here…" He said softly, and I groaned as I sat and then stood up, stretching out. I reached down and pulled up my pants, then looked to Dante, who was protesting. It was just his thing to do. He was sitting with his pants and boxers down still, no shame or embarrassment in his defiant act against my executive decision.

"Are you riding beside me or pouting with your pants down on the ride home?" I couldn't help but smile and stifle a giggle, noticing how he wore a look of inner conflict on his face. After a few minutes I took it upon myself to haul him over my shoulder and carry him to the passenger seat. He remained limp, protesting thoroughly, making it harder on me. This was the immature defiant man, or toddler, whom I loved so much. I leaned him against the car and pulled up his pants, then sat him in the passenger's seat. I then moved to the back and straightened out our stuff, and put on my shirt. I hopped in my seat and handed Dante his shirt.

"Why must all good things come to an end?" He inquired, pouting somewhat. I sighed softly and started the engine, then turned the volume down on the radio. My hand found itself rubbing Dante's knee reassuringly, and my mouth just opened, and I spoke.

"Because if they didn't ever end, they wouldn't be cherished. Life would be good all the time, and that would be dull and torturous." Sometimes I sounded smart out of thin air. I assumed it was all the books and poetry Dante made me read.

"You're right, Aristotle." He looked over at me with a glimmer of hope in his eye. I smiled and felt the warmth in the pit of my stomach. We both knew that we couldn't wait for another chance to be intimate. Dante made me feel sexy- He put me on a pedestal that no one else would. I was something he wanted; something he longed for. That made me feel good about myself, and kept me confident. I opened my mouth to tell him this as he said his first words of the new conversation.

"You make me feel worth something, Ari. You- you're this muscular, strong, intelligent guy. You could have anybody you want at your side. Yet you choose me. A white-ish, brainy, artistic, and bull headed guy. A guy! A very gay guy who very much likes to check out men. A very gay guy who likes to shop for clothes and go on and on in a naturally gay voice about the most pointless things. I don't work out or-"

"Stop right there. You have the hottest swimmers body out of all of the competitors at every single meet. I cannot stop admiring you when you swim. Don't even try to pull that card." I was firm, but only because Dante needed to hear it. I couldn't stand it when he tried to get pity complements. He deserved honest ones coming directly from my brain with no prerequisite. Dante deserved to hear why I loved him.

"Whaaat?" He turned to look at me. I had never told him that before. Even though I went to his meets, and secretly enjoyed the show, I had never been able to understand that I loved and was attracted to him. Thank goodness my parents straightened my out. I would still be lost if it wasn't for them.

"Yeah. You are the most attractive guy in the swimming conference. I stare at you whenever you aren't facing me. I can't help it." I started, driving on the long winding road home. I liked the long way because the interstate ruined the peacefulness of the desert. He was red in the face- I knew it without even turning my head. "I'm glad you're back into competitive swimming. You're talented. I also go to your art shows."

"You do?! How!? I try-"

"Try to hide the flyers from me? Yes, you do. But I figure it out and make sure you don't see me so I don't embarrass you," I laughed. "I bought one of your pieces anonymously. It's hanging in my room, and I love it." He was as red as a cherry now. I believed in him thoroughly, and was his number three fan- underneath his mom and dad. He smiled into his knees, which he pulled up into his chest. "I love you Dante, and I'm going to be supportive of everything you do in life, so get used to it. Also- I don't care if you like to shop or have a warmer voice or like to talk. It's what makes you unique and it's cute. You're gay, sweetie. That isn't a crime, or something to be ashamed of. And even though some dim wit decided that he didn't like your decision, he paid for it." I took his hand with the one I used to punch his attacker in the face with, and he held it right back. We drove for a while in silence, and as I pulled into his drive way, he looked me dead in the eyes.

"Our parents won't let us sleep together but I refuse to spend the night sleeping without you beside me. I'm sleeping right here in this truck with you." He flattened out the seats with me and we made a small makeshift bed. He took an empty soda can and relieved himself in it, and I did too. If either of us took one step inside that house, we'd wake Dante's baby sister and have hell rain upon us. So we used our tiny can bathroom and set it outside the truck, then curled up together. I spooned him and our legs intertwined. I sat up and kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Good night, Dante. I love you." He smiled in response, overcome with joy.

"Love you too, Aristotle. Sleep well." I resumed my job as big spoon, closed my eyes, and in a split second was asleep. It was hard to believe that someone like him could be so in love with someone like me.

Knock knock knock knock! I woke to the sound of someone knocking on my truck's window with reasonable force. I wasn't sure what was going on and it was outright irritating. Dante and I were so warm in our little paradise. I moved to the car door and rolled down the window a half inch.

"Aristotle Mendoza! Why did you not call us and inform us where you were!? We were worried sick about you! Dante's in there too, right!? Are you too okay?" I squinted and rubbed my eyes a bit. I nodded softly, Dante's mother's voice as loud as I ever heard it. At least, it seemed awfully loud. She had the wailing baby in her arms. I blushed and sighed.

"I am so sorry. I took Dante to the desert to tell him how I felt about him-" She made a sharp gasp and tried to keep talking, but I finished, "-and we didn't want to wake baby. So we slept in here…"

"How do you feel about Dante, Ari? What did you say to him?" Her voice was smooth and compassionate. All she wanted in the world was for her children to be happy, and I was the main reason the oldest was. I breathed out and shrugged.

"I love Dante, Mrs. Quintana. I told him last night. I think he was really happy, and I'm relieved. I feel better now than I ever have before. Realizing I loved him was the hardest part. I've been doing it all along." I smiled softly and rolled the window down more. Miraculously, Dante was still asleep. He was one of the heaviest sleepers on the planet though. She looked inside and nodded, pleased. She was obviously very happy that I was the man in love with her son, and that he was in love with me. Mrs. Quintana kissed my cheek and smiled.

"I'm going to call your parents and let them know you're here with Dante. It's seven o'clock- School starts in an hour."

"Thank you." I rolled up the window and heard the can fall over. Mrs. Quintana gasped and swore a few times, but kept walking. Maybe she didn't notice. I blushed and moved back to Dante, only to greet a big set of caramel brown eyes. I smiled first, then he smiled. "What?"

"Way to blow our secret relationship, Ari." He said, and I rolled my eyes. We were certainly not a secret, and I didn't want to be one. I wanted everyone to know about us. Our family, our distant family, our friends. I vowed that no matter what anyone said, I would still love Dante. He was my life now, the one I've always wanted, and it was about time the world knew about it. Quintana was the only man in the world for me.

"It won't be a secret for long. It's a Monday morning though, and it would be best for us to get our lazy butts to class." I whispered. I was a senior and really needed to pull some good grades out of my hat to be assured a spot in college. I so badly wanted to go to a literature school in New York- Dante was already accepted to a school nearby for his artistic talents. I couldn't go to a college far away from him- I would follow him wherever he went.

"No…" He whispered, really unwilling to go. I kissed his cheek and hopped in the driver's seat.