Dave was fidgety. His left leg was bouncing up and down, his head jerking from the left and to the right repeatedly. He wiped his brow a few times and took a sip of his Coke. He was waiting for Sebastian. He checked his cell phone.
3:33PM.
Dave sighed. Whatever Sebastian had planned, he was running late. He hoped he'd have enough time to talk to Seb, assuming that was his plan. Dave briefly smiled, lost in thought. He was thinking about Sebastian's beautiful smile. He very much preferred that to the now aptly named Smythe Smirk. Dave even chuckled to himself, yet again wiping sweat from his brow. It was probably the hottest day of the week and Dave was glad to be under the white umbrella, shielding him from the late afternoon sun. He checked his cell phone again.
3:35PM.
Dammit Seb, Dave thought. He quickly looked left and right – no Seb. So, Dave fiddled with his cell phone, going through his songs, his texts…. He really wasn't focused on anything in particular. He was just trying his best to keep himself occupied and calm. There was no way David Karofsky was going to get worked up about this. But he was very curious. Sebastian said he was going to prove himself today. Whatever that truly meant.
Dave checked his cell phone again.
3:36PM.
This time, Dave growled and looked up to the left. And that's when he saw him. Or, rather, he saw them.
Sebastian and Carolyn Smythe were quickly approaching him, broad smiles on their faces. Carolyn looked adorable, her dimples showing, a bright orange shirt and long white shorts. Sebastian simply looked radiant, a short-sleeved cotton shirt and khaki shorts.
"Sorry we're late!" Sebastian said, as they arrived. Dave was so incredibly absorbed in Sebastian that he just then noticed that Carolyn was carrying two things – a small boombox and a small backpack.
"Hi! What's in there?" Dave asked, looking at the backpack.
Sebastian smiled. Dave absolutely loved that smile and momentarily forgot his question.
"Oh, you'll find out." Sebastian said, deviously. Dave chuckled and looked at Carolyn.
"Hi Carolyn!"
Even her smile radiated. "Hi Dave!" She even waved at him. Dave laughed and put out a small wave of his own.
But then, Sebastian and Carolyn backed up about two steps away from Dave. Carolyn set the boombox and backpack down. Dave just watched all of this unfold, a curious expression on his face.
"David Karofsky." Sebastian officially announced. Dave looked at him, a slight frown on his face. "Whenever the Warblers want to say something. . .with sincerity, we sing it. New Directions probably did the same."
Dave laughed but didn't respond.
"So, I want you to listen to this." Sebastian said. With a slight nod to Carolyn, she pressed a button on the boombox.
Soon, a pleasant, familiar melody came on. Dave almost instantly recognized it and laughed out loud, relaxing a bit on the picnic bench.
Then, Sebastian and Carolyn began the duet.
We should get jerseys 'cause we make a good team
But yours would look better than mine 'cause you're out of my league
Dave's smile couldn't have been broader. Carolyn and Sebastian's duet was simply adorable. Dave even laughed out loud again as the song continued. . .
I'm racking my brain for a new improved way
To let you know, you're more to me than what I know how to say
If anybody at the carnival noticed any of this, nobody said or did anything. And the three of them didn't care. Dave's smile was now hurting his face. Carolyn was even doing a little 'happy dance', loving his reaction to the duet.
If anyone could make me a better person, you could
All I gotta say is I must have done something good
Then, the older brother and younger sister spun in their place, turning around facing Dave again. And Dave couldn't hold back the sheer joy in his heart. He started to stand up to dance with them, but Carolyn hurriedly waved him back down. So, Dave did as he was told, folding his hands together as the duet came to an end.
Dave clapped.
Suddenly, Carolyn reached into the backpack. Her little hands fiddled around for something and Dave watched, his smile now completely hurting his face. But he didn't care. Finally, Carolyn grabbed the item and handed it to Dave. Dave burst out laughing!
It was a bag of cotton candy.
As Dave was looking at the bag, he didn't notice Carolyn reach for something else. Dave turned the bag of pink, yellow, and aqua cotton candy in his hand, smiling and smiling. Finally he looked back up at them.
His smile faded. . .into an awed smile.
Carolyn and Sebastian put on football jerseys. The jerseys were red and white – Dave's old high school colors. And the red number on the jerseys was #68 – Dave's old number. Then, Sebastian motioned to Carolyn and, on cue, they both turned around.
Dave's jaw dropped.
Where the name should go, they both had the same name.
'Smythe-Karofsky'
Dave slowly stood up, happily shocked into silence. It was as if they were alone that late afternoon day on the last day of the Lima Carnival. Dave took one step towards them and came to a stop, stunned into silence.
Then, Sebastian and Carolyn turned around, enormous, beautiful, honest smiles on their faces.
"David Karofsky," Sebastian firmly said, "Will you be my boyfriend?"
Dave said nothing, mesmerized by the sweet performance. He stared at Sebastian, lost in those beautiful peridot eyes that had completely taken his heart. Carolyn watched him with anticipation in her small eyes. Dave finally shook his head a little, snapping himself out of his self-hypnotized state.
"Yes!" Dave happily said.
Sebastian launched himself into Dave's arms, as Dave held him tightly. Carolyn squealed and hugged them both. And, for a long while, the three of them held each other, as the summer heat poured down on them.
.
Dave didn't want to let go of him. He could feel Carolyn's tiny arms struggling to get around them and loved it. He also loved the boy now firmly in his arms. Sebastian Smythe was now his boyfriend – declared in a rather passionate way!
Finally, he pulled back, gazing into Sebastian's honestly smiling face. Frowning just a little, he looked at his cell phone and groaned.
"Go on." Sebastian said, still smiling, "We'll be here a little while."
Dave looked back at him, smile back in full force.
"OK!"
Then, it happened. Dave simply leaned forward and kissed him. It was just a short, soft kiss, of understanding, of passion, of love. Carolyn squealed again. The boys looked down at her and laughed. Nobody seemed to notice the short, sweet kiss that consumed their hearts.
Dave then stepped around them and casually walked towards the cotton candy stand. His own bag of candy twirled around in his left hand while his right hand found Sebastian's. Together, with Carolyn skipping in tow, they strolled back towards the stand. They couldn't stop smiling if they wanted.
Dave let go of Sebastian's hand and walked around the stand, entering it. He removed the 'Be Back in 15 Minutes' sign, and signed back into the cash register. When he looked up, Sebastian and Carolyn were standing right in front of him, holding hands. Dave couldn't stop the sweet chuckle that escaped his mouth.
"I would," Sebastian ornrily began, "ask for a bag of cotton candy, but I don't think we need anymore!"
Dave laughed out loud, reaching for Sebastian's other hand. Seb gave it up gratefully and the two boys just stared at each other. God, it was beautiful!
"Hey!" Carolyn objected. "I want some cotton candy!"
"Carolyn," Sebastian said, turning to look down at her, "we talked about this before. You eat too much sugar, get all wound up, and then I have to carry you to the car when you crash."
Carolyn whined. "But Seeeeeeb!"
Dave chuckled, watching the siblings argue. Sebastian simply sighed.
"Hey Carolyn." Dave softly said, leaning down a little. "How about half a bag of candy?"
Carolyn giggled and Sebastian glared at him. Dave briefly glanced at Sebastian and then right back to Carolyn.
"OK!" Carolyn happily said.
Sebastian didn't stop glaring. Dave had to look down to avoid laughing in Sebastian's face. He let go of his hand and went to get Carolyn her candy.
When Dave handed the half full/half empty bag to her, she took it with childish joy.
"Thank you, Dave!"
"Of course, Carolyn."
Then, Dave bravely looked back into Sebastian's eyes.
He was still glaring – but the smallest traces of a smile could be seen on Sebastian's face.
"Like I said before," Dave said with a smile, leaning towards his boyfriend, "I just can't say no to little girls."
Sebastian's glare held firm for one full second, before he had to look down. He didn't want to smile in front of Dave. Of course, Dave knew what he was doing and smirked. When Sebastian finally lifted his head, Dave was rewarded with the Smythe Smirk. This time, Dave didn't mind. Sebastian was his boyfriend – finally!
"Well," Sebastian began, "looks like we're headed to the tea cups, now that she's overdosing on sugar."
Dave laughed and the boys looked down at Carolyn, who was happily enjoying sticky handfuls of cotton candy. Sebastian looked up at Dave and the two boys shared a beautiful, passionate moment. Suddenly, Sebastian winked. Dave's smile broadened.
"Have fun, you two!" Dave joyously said.
"We will, Dave." Sebastian earnestly replied. "Call or text me whenever you want."
"I will. You too."
Sebastian stared for another second into those awesome hazel eyes before reaching down for Carolyn's hand. His facial expression soured as he realized his hand was sticky, thanks to Carolyn.
Carolyn just giggled.
"Bye Dave!" Carolyn said with a little snicker.
"Bye Carolyn!" Dave happily said. Then, he softly looked at his boyfriend. "Bye Seb."
Sebastian winked again and the two siblings happily walked away, towards the kiddie rides. Dave didn't want to take his eyes off them for as long as he could. And he didn't.
.
Dave had forgotten one thing.
They were sitting on the couch together watching a movie. But neither boy was really focused on it. Sebastian found it incredibly comforting lying on Dave's chest. His head rested on Dave's torso, with Dave's large arms completely engulfing his boyfriend. Occasionally, Dave with tickle Seb's stomach and was rewarded with a little giggle and a 'stop', which wasn't very forceful.
It was a pleasant summer afternoon. Cocooned in the air conditioned living room of Dave's house, the boys reveled in these wonderful moments. The carnival now over, both boys had plenty of time to be together. And they wouldn't have it any other way.
But a thought was bothering Dave. He felt prompted to say something.
"Seb?"
"Hmm?"
Dave paused. His arms came to a standstill while his body stiffened a little. Noticing the difference, Sebastian turned around, facing his boyfriend. Their eyes were close to each other, but Sebastian noticed Dave's expression was serious. Seb suddenly sat up.
"What's wrong, Dave?"
Dave looked down for a moment, hands sliding across Seb's back and clasped together on his lap.
"Have you thought about. . .college?"
Sebastian looked away. An uncomfortable, ugly silence filled the air conditioned room, making the cozy surroundings a little difficult.
"Well," Sebastian hesitantly began, "not really. I mean, my dad. . ."
Dave looked at him, concerned. Sebastian simply shook his head, not finishing his sentence.
"You know," Dave softly began, "I have a football scholarship to play at Ohio State."
Seb nodded.
"And," Dave finished, "I don't know where you're headed."
Sebastian said nothing, studying his own hands firmly clasped in his lap. It was as if there was an invisible wall between them, then, and they both hated it. This discussion needed to happen, but they didn't like it.
"My d-d-dad," Seb struggled to say, "wants me to. . .g-go. . .to an I-Ivy League school."
Dave's eyes narrowed.
"I thought so. . ." Dave whispered.
Silence. A very brief ray of sunlight splashed them when the air conditioned air brushed the curtain aside. The sunshine disappeared.
"What are we gonna do?" Sebastian whispered, not even looking at him.
Dave looked away before he responded. "I don't know. I just don't know."
No more sunlight filtered through the curtains that afternoon.
The movie ended.
.