Peter the Meteor(ologist) - 7. Transitions and Surprises

Yesterday it seemed to me
My life was nothing more than wasted time
But here today you've softly changed my mind
Baby, what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes

Chicago - 1977

20

Since I didn't need to send any furniture from Texas, and I guess a television isn't really furniture, taking everything out of the Carlton's on Sunday didn't take very long. Aaron had an SUV, and everything was moved in two trips. I had sold my car before I left, the new owner picked it up Friday evening. I wasn't about to try driving twenty-one hours, so I would go without a car for a while. There was a bike shop not too far away from the Carlton's house. Aaron brought me there so I could buy a bike. My apartment was a twelve-minute bike ride from work. I felt I could go that route for a while. We stuffed the bike into the back of the SUV and brought it to my apartment. It was on the ground floor, so there wouldn't be an issue with bringing it inside.

I treated Rebecca and Aaron to dinner at a local restaurant to thank them for helping me move. It was a long weekend for me, and with starting a new job the next day, we called it an early evening. After a hug and cheek kiss from Aaron, and a somewhat longer lip lock with Rebecca, they went home with a promise from me that I would call Rebecca after work the next day.

I woke up Monday morning disoriented. It took me a few moments to realize where I was. I'd spent Saturday night in the Carlton's guest room, so the third different bed in three nights left me a bit confused. I quickly recovered, though, and took care of my morning routine. I'd bought a mount for my cell phone to put on the bicycle. I wasn't about to risk getting lost on my way to work on the first day. I locked the bike to a light pole, took a deep breath, and went inside.

Even though it had been three weeks plus a weekend since I was there last, it seemed everybody already knew me. I headed to the HR department so I could fill out the final necessary forms, the key one being my direct deposit. I had to remotely open a local account, which fortunately, the bank I chose was able to do. I only needed to go in and provide a physical signature and my ID. The NHC needed the banking information so I could get paid. After that, it became a typical job, doing similar things day-to-day, and in my case, learning how things worked there.

After a month, hurricane season was over, so my duties expanded to cover the analysis of the year's hurricanes and tropical storms. My task was specifically to look at the data and try to determine why the occasional storm had a mind of its own and varied significantly from any model. It wasn't a deadline per se, but Miguel challenged me to have a theory and some data to back it up by the end of April. With the hurricane season traditionally starting June first, that allowed the programmers a month to make any adjustments to modeling by the start of the season. My words from the World News interview came back to haunt me. Mother Nature doesn't use computers. I hadn't solved the riddle yet. But I did buy a car; the mornings got a little too chilly.

Fortunately, the 2055 hurricane season would still have the benefit of my predictions. Early in each storm's lifetime, I would work with a programmer to enter that path as a model. Technically it was called NHC-Model-2054, but in the NHC, it was affectionately known as the Noonan-Barclay route. My work to identify some unknown variable continued.

21

Rebecca and I had continued our relationship, but we both felt something was missing. We were affectionate, but not overly so. I got a clue just before our first Christmas but like the recognition of my hidden talent, it wasn't obvious right away. Fortunately, we didn't suffer through a troubled relationship for long, the second clue came a little later in that holiday season. Aaron junior found me under the mistletoe a second time and kissed me again. No-one saw the kiss, like the first time. That was lucky for us, because it lasted much longer. But it made me realize what was missing from mine and Rebecca's relationship. It was New Year's Eve when the relationship ended.

Rebecca knew something was wrong, but I started the discussion, "Rebecca, we need to talk about where we want to take our relationship. I liked you from the start, and I still do, but I'm not sure, um..."

"I've gotten the feeling you weren't, uh, as into me as you were at first. Did I do something wrong?"

"No, Rebecca, you're great. I've just never had a lot of success with women, and it wasn't until just recently that I figured out why. Maybe I knew all along but was fighting it."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Wow, this is tough. Something happened recently that told me something about myself, that like I said, I kept fighting. There's no easy way to say this, but I think, no, I'm pretty sure, I'm gay."

She frowned, "Oh. That would explain why we've never gotten really intimate. What was this something that happened?"

"Hmm, the task gets more difficult. Um, the first time, I wrote it off as a joke, just someone being playful. But when it happened again, it was a lot more serious."

"Okay. But what was it that happened?"

"I was kissed by someone else, another young man."

I think it took a second for 'young man' to click, "Ano... Oh!"

"And it felt different from kissing you. More, I don't know, right, I suppose. Like there was a deeper connection."

"So, we're breaking up? Who was it?"

"Yes. I think it's better if we stop dating. I don't want to make you think we could have more when it wasn't possible. I can't say who it was without talking to him first."

Aaron walked into the room, apparently, he was listening, "It was me, Becks."

Rebecca's initial reaction was shock, "You... When? Why?"

"When was when I caught him under the mistletoe a couple days before Christmas. Last night was the second kiss."

Shock had started migrating to anger, "Here? You kissed my boyfriend practically right under my nose?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry, like Peter said, the first time I made it seem like a playful joke, but it didn't feel that way to me. I've wanted to do that almost since the day I met him."

"So, you're gay too?"

"Yeah. I've been hiding it, obviously."

"Do mom and dad know?"

"No. I wouldn't know how to tell them."

Her anger reached a pinnacle, "Here's an idea. Mom, dad, I think I love Rebecca's boyfriend. I'm a fag."

"Don't put it like that. And no, I don't think I love him yet."

"You... And you PC... Faggots?"

I jumped in, "Rebecca, I don't think it's fair to say it that way."

"FAIR? I don't care about fucking FAIR! You. My brother. I, I can't believe it. You'd do something like this to me."

"I never meant to hurt you. I wasn't going to say anything, but then I was heading to the kitchen, and I heard PC talking about it."

"I don't give a fuck what you did or didn't mean to do. I'm..."

She stood up and stormed out of the living room. Slamming her bedroom door. Unfortunately, that brought her mother running to check on her.

"Rebecca, honey, what's wrong?"

"Go ask your faggot son. He's in the living room, probably making out with my ex-boyfriend."

"Faggot son... What?"

"Aaron stole my boyfriend. Can I fall apart by myself now?"

"I want to hel..."

"Mom. Please. Leave me alone right now."

Mrs. Carlton came into the living room, "Aaron, is what she's saying true? You're gay? And Peter, you are too?"

"This isn't the way I wanted you to find out."

"Peter?"

"I, um, I think so."

"I'm not happy, Aaron. And I'm sure your father is going to be even less happy than I am. How could you do this to us?" Her volume increased for each sentence. That last was nearly a scream.

"I'm not doing anything to you."

Alessa probably didn't hear him, she was crying and had already walked out of the living room.

"I'm sorry, Aaron. I wasn't going to say it was you."

"It's okay. I was getting too frustrated to keep it in much longer. After we kissed... I just knew I had to say something sooner or later. Turns out sooner won."

"Well, I guess I should be going. I don't think Rebecca's going to be in any mood to celebrate the new year."

"I don't want you to leave."

"I can't stay Aaron. It will hurt her even more."

"Then, can I come with you?"

"Um..."

"Please. I won't do anything. But she's not going to want to see me either. Not that I want to be here when dad gets home, that's for sure."

"I guess. I'm just going back to my apartment. I obviously didn't make other plans."

Aaron got my jacket and one of his own and we left, him following me over. Once there, we sat in the living room.

"I'll text mom to let her know where I am, although I don't think she's going to care."

Aaron was right. The response to his text 'I'm with Peter, don't worry,' was met with a very cold response.

'I don't care. Don't come home while we're here. You have three days to come get your things before they go out on the curb.'

She followed it up with a few safe times for him to get his stuff.

"They hate me, PC."

"Oh, geez, man. I'm so sorry. But I had to tell Rebecca why."

"It's alright. Was just a matter of time. I expected something like this. Um, this is kind of awkward after what just happened, but can I crash here for a couple days?"

I was suddenly happy I chose the two-bedroom apartment.

"Yeah, considering I'm pretty much the reason you can't go home."

"Don't blame yourself. It was inevitable. I'm kind of glad about the timing, though. I have about two weeks before classes start again to find somewhere else to live."

"University of Miami, sophomore, right?"

"Right uni, wrong year. Junior, for Marine Biology and Ecology."

"But you don't work, how..."

"No. Dad pays... Fuck! I bet he won't cover my expenses now. I'm screwed."

"Geez Aaron. I feel so bad."

"Don't! I started it. I guess I can apply for residence at the school. But damn it, my scholarship only covers tuition, books, and lab supplies. I need to find a job, and quick."

"What other options do you have for places to live?"

"Do you still have the box the refrigerator came in?"

"Oh, God, Aaron. Bring your stuff and stay here."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"Hey, your dad paid for nearly everything here. You may as well take advantage of it."

"But what about, you know, the kiss and stuff?"

"One day at a time. We start out as roommates, and if we don't kill each other, we'll see where it goes. I've never been with another man, except typical teenage experimentation. Anything we decide to do has to move slowly."

"Yeah, same here. Okay. Just roommates to start. But I'll still look for a part-time job, so I can contribute something, and not have you pay for everything."

"I'd appreciate that."

We watched TV until just after midnight, kissed each other on the cheek, and went to bed.