Prelude:Leading Up To The Night Of Winter Carnival

After Martin leaked Simon and Bram's emails. Bram Simon's emails end ultimately. Bram knows that Jaques is Simon. Simon knows that Blue is Bram. This separation between them has just an uncontrollable heartache on both of them. To protect the emails, Simon had deeply hurt Nick, Abby, and Leah. There had been a disconnect between all of them also. Simon was just walking the world alone at this point. Shortly after the party at Bram's place, Simon had come out to his parants. The emails were leaked the following Sunday, the end of Home Coming Weekend. Marian had done it to get the pain of being made fun of off of him.

Coming into the kitchen alone, his Mom sat on the couch in the family room, working on some paperwork. She looks over at her son. He was so disconnected from everything. Finally, Simon asks, "Did you know" "I know you had a secret when you were little. You were so carefree, but I could feel you holding your breath these last few years." Simon smiled at this. It was the week of Thanksgiving.

"Simon, I need you to hear this. When you came out, you said Mom, I am still me. You are still you, Simon. You are still, son. I love to tease. You are the son your father needs help from for everything he does on the computer and the brother who tries his sister's food and compliments when her dish backfires."

Simon is listening to his Mom nodding. Finally, Simon just bursts into tears. He looks up and says to Mom, "Blue and I had an email relationship. Neither of us was out at school." He had saved every email and just read some of it to his Mom. His Mom listens until he stops with an understanding smile on her face. "Simon, you finally exhaled, and you were becoming more you than you have been in a very long time" She got off the couch and kissed him on the forehand. He feels connected and knows he needs to do something. But what is the question? He goes for a walk which he has been doing a lot. Come back home, his dad is out getting Christmas lights ready for the outside of the house. "Simon, can we talk? "Sure, dad" "Simon, I am sorry about all the stupid jokes I made for the last few years. I don't mean them. You have been so disconnected since you came out, and I just want you to know that I love you and can not be prouder of you." He finishes with tears. "Shit, dad, it's ok, you don't need to cry" "I know," Simon's dad hugged him, and again Simon felt connected and stronger. "Do you need help exporting the gift I help you with?" "Yes, his dad says, Thank God, look for help with the computer project." That night his dad played the gift on the Family TV. Simon watch and look at his parents. He knows what you need to do next. Simon had a great Thanksgiving meal with his family. He needs a meeting with Nick, Abby, and Leah. So in their group text. I will be at our favorite iced coffee place on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM. At 10:45 AM, Nick, Abby, and Leah arrive, get their coffee, and sit down at a table for four that Simon had chosen. Simon was relieved he had sent the message at like 10:30 PM Friday night.

There's an awkward and uncomfortable silence between them for a few minutes. Nick and Abby are together now, making him smile. " Guys, look, I fuck up so bad and ended up hurting the three most important people in my life out of this dumb ass need to protect my secret and the emails between me and Blue. I should never have done this when Martin started blackmailing me. I needed to immediately come to you guys and ask for help. I was so afraid that if I came out, everything would change, and I didn't want anything to change. Blue has permanently blocked the moment the emails were leaked. I've been so disconnected and in so much heartache. I didn't even know if you guys would show up. I made a choice last night and just went to bed. Even this morning, I didn't see if any of you replied in the group chat. I'm really sorry. I love you all, and I need my friends right now." After a moment of silence, when Simon stops speaking, all three of his friends smile.

Leah speaks for all of them. "Look Simon, what you did was fucked up, and you're right. You needed to tell us that Martin was blackmailing you. We would have done everything we could to protect you. But all of us have been friends for so long that even the major fuck up you've had here doesn't change the fact that we love you, and we all forgive you." Leah finishes. Their hearts all left as they know their friendship has come back together into what it always was. "What should I do about Blue? I don't wanna lose him. I fell in love with him, and I know he's in love with me." Nick and Abby say, "Are you brave enough to make big juster a big one to show blue you are entirely in love with him." "I would do anything to win blue back." Simon says. "Do something big at winter carnival the weekend before school resumes over Christmas break." "Ok," says Simon. "I'll need to think about what I wanna do."

After that day, Simon was no longer disconnected. The few idiots at school teased and picked on him a little bit, but they learned quickly not to do it. Ethan, who had been the only openly gay kid, always seemed to shrug off the idiots that picked and teased him. Simon, however, was brilliant. In fact, he and all of his friends were in six of their seven AP classes. The idiots on the third day of teasing Simmons made them look like simpering infants in front of the whole school. After that, they stopped picking on Ethan because they knew Simon wouldn't tolerate it. Ethan thanked Simon. He and Ethan have become closer, but they don't really hang out. They didn't have the same classes or friends group, which was ok. Simon, having been forcefully outed, Ethan did tell him. "Hey, I wish you would've told me you were gay. I could've been there for you when you were forcefully out." Simon, thank Ethan for the compliment.

There were two weeks away from Christmas break and Winter Carnival. Simon writes a post on Creekwood secrets, the school blog.

Dear, Blue

I told you, in the beginning, I was just like you. I feel like I am at the bottom of the world right now. So Friday night after The play was the last Friday before school back in class on Monday. So you know where I'll be no pressure on you to show up, but I hope you do because we deserve a great love story.

Love, Simon

Bram read the post and knew he would show up for the Winter Carnival and meet Simon on that Ferris wheel, and their first Kiss would be on Top of the world. So Friday shows up blurring moment. Bram was at the school production of Cabaret and watched Simon as an extra. Bram didn't understand why Simon didn't just steal the whole shower. Bram knew he was obviously the actor with all the talent, yet nobody noticed.

The Ferris wheel ride. Simon gets on the Ferris wheel, leaving an empty seat for blue. By the end of the fourth time, Bram could no longer hide in the crowd. He needs to sit next to Simon. Nervously, he walks towards the Ferris wheel, and then suddenly, he's walking so fast that it feels like he's running. Bram is on the platform of the ride. Simon is just about to start back upwards. "Can I sit there?" "I was kind of waiting on someone." "I know." Bram sits next to him, and the ride starts rotating them back to the Top. Simon, it's you. Yes, it's me. They hit the Top of the ride and world. Bram asks you, disappointed that it's me? Simon smiles. No, not at all. They look at each other, and their lips meet for the first time. The Kiss breaks off, and everyone cheers. They look down, laughing on the way back down to get off the ride. There is a moment of totally absorbing each other in their eyes. They both feel something they don't understand in themselves.

They get off the ride and walk down the platform. Their feet touched the Earth, and the world changed for them. Ethan had been at the edge of the platform. Looking at Bram, who was smiling in his naturally shy manner. "Bram, when one of us comes out in the world, it makes this world a better place every time." "Thanks, Ethan" Bram and Simon walk over to Nick, Abby, and Leah. Abby is in tears because she is happy for them. Each of them hugs the other in turn. For an hour or so, they hang out at Winter Carnival. Simon and Bram hear. Many congratulations on the celebration of their official relationship.

Simon and Bram walk around hand and hand. Simon feels totally whole and complete with Bram at his side. There is such bliss in Bram that he never wants to leave Simon's side again. After that, everyone went to go to Waffle House for some food. After kissing, Simon and Bram don't remember most of the night being in total bliss. Finally, the night comes to an end. Simon drops off everyone. Heading to Bram's place, Simon puts on the song Sway By Bic Runga and together listens in silence, and they smile by the end of the song. Now #pulling up to Bram's house to drop him off. Before Bram gets out of the car, he kisses Simon in private. The Kiss was good. He opened the car door and said, "I'll see you on Saturday." Simon smile and says, "Saturday afternoon at my place is a date." "I love you, Simon" The bliss of saying Simon and not Jaques was blissful. "I love you, Bram." Simon, not having to say Blue was the feeling of completion.

Friday night has a perfect ending and the beginning of what would be Simon and Bram's great love story.