Wonderful reviewers – thank you so much! And even some new people – that is great! You motivate me to write more…so keep 'em coming. I can't really rely on running into Adamo Ruggiero everyday for inspiration (much as I'd love too...sigh).

A more serious chapter – Enjoy!

Chapter 8: I Will Survive

"So I hear you're the culprit in making our graduation dance Bollywood themed," Dylan approached the grade 10 lockers, smiling accusingly at Marco.

"Well, I can't take all the credit…It's an Ellie and Marco brainchild…How cool is that? Saris, colours, rockin' bollywood music."

"You know," Dylan took Marco's hand as they walked down the hallway to the cafeteria, "if I didn't know you, I'd think you were pretty crazy-"

"And gay - admit it – you'd think who's the queen who came up with this campy theme?"

Dylan burst out laughing, "Definitely."

"Well, it's a good thing you know me then."

Dylan playfully pinned Marco against a locker outside the cafeteria, "So sexy…it's my formal, and I haven't asked anyone yet."

"Oh yeah – who're you going to ask? John on our soccer team's pretty cute," Marco teased, "or Craig – Craig's proven he's cool with the whole gay thing…"

"I mean Craig's okay…but he's not really my type…I prefer deep dark eyes, dark hair, short-that-just-adds-to-the-cuteness, grade 10 soccer players,"

"Yeah – definitely John-"

"who are organizing the campy dance," Marco smiled at just the slightest bit of vulnerability in Dylan's eyes, "So Marco – will you go with me to the dance? Will you be my date?"

Marco smiled up at him, "You bet." Marco kissed him quickly, "but babe, I'm not wearing the sari."

Marco had asked Dylan to meet him after school to go for a walk before heading home for dinner. "What's up, sexy?" Dylan asked as they made their way to the park, "or did you just want an excuse to make out behind a tree?" Dylan playfully grabbed Marco, biting his neck.

"Well that too," Marco laughed, "But actually," Dylan's eyes turned serious as he noticed Marco's energy shift, "well, I wanted to talk to you because…well…I'm thinking of coming out to my mom tonight."

"Wow, Marco…" Dylan was amazed and didn't know what to say, "let's sit."

"So Dylan…this has basically been the best year of my life,… coming out, having all my friends accept me, new friends at the group – you know how amazing it felt to be out at the club with Ellie and Craig beside me? And well,.. you with your arms around me…" Marco blushed his adorable smile, "Being with you has just opened up such an amazing world to me, and I'm so happy about it…You know, I never thought I would feel like I could actually love being gay…But I do…Because I love…this, what we have."

Dylan's heart raced feeling the emotion in what Marco said,…and what he almost said.

"And well, Dylan…I go home and I feel like I'm constantly lying…even when I'm not lying, I'm lying – how was school? Great – hung out with Ellie. How was the club? – can't wait to go back. The music was amazing…And I'm not ready to tell my dad yet,…but my mom, I just want her to know…I want her to know how happy I am, and how crazy I am,.. well, …about you."

"Wow Marco. This is a huge decision…I'm so proud of you…And I'll be there in whatever way you want me to be," Marco's eyes filled up as he crawled into Dylan's lap, leaning against him. He closed his eyes, savouring the moment.

Marco left Dylan's car apprehensively, walking slowly into his house. His dad was working late and this was his chance to be alone with his mom.

"Hey mama," he kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi Marco…was that Dylan dropping you off again?" his mom looked at him curiously in that way she always seemed to do when she thought something was up.

"Yeah actually, it was…why?" The conversation seemed to be planted for Marco, though he wasn't sure that he was ready for it.

"Oh…I don't know. He picks you up for school, he drives you home…it's very nice of a friend's older brother?" She was obviously suspicious. Did she really suspect?…well, he was about to find out.

"Yeah, ma, ….he is very nice," Marco paused, "Ma, there's something we should talk about…let's go sit down."

Mrs. Del Rossi put down the dish towel she was holding and looking intently at Marco as shewent to sit down at the table across from him.

"Ma, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a few months now, …but I didn't know how to" he took her hand.

"Marco, you can talk to me. I'm your mother."

"I know I can…that's why I'm telling you now," Marco took a deep breath, "Ma, do you know why Dylan is always around? I mean you keep asking…so I'm wondering,….do you?" Marco's eyes filled with tears as he saw his mother's eyes fill with love, fear, and sadness.

"Do I want to know why?" she asked shaking her head, "Oh Marco…are you and him?...are you?..." her voice cracked as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Marco's tears flowed as he just nodded his head quietly, "I am, mama…I'm gay." He said it. "But mama, even though I'm crying now because I know I'm making you so sad…I want you to know that it's okay…I mean, I'm okay."

"Oh Marco, I love you so much. You're my son. I just don't want life to be hard for you. For anyone to hate you…why this? How did it happen?" Marco's mother's feelings of love and fear interrupted each other.

"Oh Ma – nobody hates me…and actually, I've never had so many great friends…they all know, Ma. And they're okay with it…And as for how it happened? I don't know how it happens. I just know that it is. It's who I am…And I want you to know me….because Ma, being with Dylan these last few months has been the best thing I've ever experienced."

"I want to know you, Marco. I do," she paused taking a breath, "it will just take some time to get used to."

"I know, Ma…And when we're ready, we'll tell dad too," Marco's mom just nodded her head, "You suspected, didn't you?" he asked.

"Oh Marco…a mother always knows when something is going on with her child," she wrapped Marco in her arms.

"Well at least this one does…I love you, Ma."

"I love you too, Marco." She held him tight for a few more minutes, before getting a kleenex to wipe her eyes, "Now…I believe you have someone who is probably waiting to hear how this conversation went," she smiled at him as her eyes filled with tears again.

"Yeah…yeah, there is. Thanks, Ma…I'm going to go to Dylan's now, but I won't be home too late."

"I know you won't, Marco. I trust you…Now get out of here before I start crying again…"

As Dylan opened the door to his house, Marco fell into his arms, and cried and cried. Dylan held him tightly, not saying anything. When Marco's tears started drying up, he looked up at Dylan, exhausted and elated. "Dylan,…it was better than I ever could have imagined," Dylan took his hand as they sat on Dylan's front steps.

"But – " Dylan started the sentence he could sense was coming.

"But it is so painful to hurt someone you love…even when it's not your fault."

"Yeah, it is." Dylan and an exhausted Marco went to lie down on Dylan's bed. Dylan pulled Marco on top of him, gently kissing the top of his head, as Marco closed his tired eyes. Dylan played with Marco's hair as he felt Marco fall into a light sleep.

When Marco got home, he made sure to give his mother a big hug goodnight, feeling her hug him back, knowing she knew and that it was okay. He would have gone straight to bed, except that his boyfriend had told him to check his e-mail before he went to sleep.

From: Dylan.Michalchukdegrassi.ca

Subject: This

Hey Marco. Just wanted you to know that I'm so proud of you… and I'm so proud to be with you. You know how you said at the park today that you love this – what we have…well, I just wanted to tell you that I love…this…too. Goodnight, sexy. See you tomorrow.