"You really went to jail?" He looks shocked which I find funny.
"Yup apparently that's what happens when you whip it out and let go on a cop car, well hand said cops foot." The laughter crinkles his eyes and make him of all things look younger.
"I bet your parents were so proud."
"Oh yes that was a great weekend. After a lavish graduation party the model son gets smashed off stolen schnapps and jump in the neighbors pool. To my defence though, I thought it was our pool. All that posh crap looks the same when you're drunk."
"So they didn't bail you out?" he is holding his sides from all the laughing.
"Nope they left me there overnight. It was a life lesson they said. Frankly all I learned is I will never drink anything peach ever again." Shifting on the couch I stretch my leg out and it lays along the edge close to him. Not touching but close enough to feel his warmth. Long after the pizza was gone we sat here, watching the sun go down and sharing stories, watching his bird, Craig. Or just looking out the window.
"So how about you, and do any time in the big house?" I know things can go south from here with the one question but if we are ever going to stop being dramatic and start getting somewhere it had to happen.
Shifting back and forth he puts his arm on the back of the couch and leans he head into his hand. He does a bit of a hair pull head scratch thing but then looks at me.
"Nah, I was a straight to Betty Ford kind of guy. Did my first stint at a rehab before I was even out of high school." I didn't want him to be uncomfortable and honestly didn't know how much I could take. Hearing how far back his problem went kind of make me ache.
"It was bad, so bad." his face is blank. "My parents were so scared, they found," he puts his hand to his mouth and turns his face to the wall. I am on the verge of telling him to stop then he burst out laughing. "They found a joint in my sock drawer."
I just stare at him processing what he said then my jaw drops.
"They sent you to rehab for pot?" I live a very clean life but even I think that is extreme. "What the hell?"
"I know they thought that was bad, sent me to a 'camp' but it was kiddie rehab. Little did they know I learned more in there about drugs then I ever did anywhere else."
Sadly it is probably true. But I wonder if it made a difference in the tale of everything.
"I think we are all on a path that is predesigned do you think it would have?"
"Yeah I do, I agree it was going to happen no matter what." We both ponder that for a good long time, the silence is comforting especially as he lays his hand on my leg, his fingers trace the pattern.
"Did your parents ever have a problem with you being gay?" we are back to question and answer time. It was just an easy slide back into it.
