Timothy’s Terrible Prompt Stories - 64. Prompt 611 Do you think we can do it again?

“Do you think we can do it again?” Jasper rotated a ball in his left hand and winced as Carolyn dug her fingers into a sore spot on his shoulder. She was standing behind him after offering her chair to Maria. The two girls were having their own chat, while Nelson and Tony listened to Eric and Jasper discussing baseball.

“Our team will need to bring their best game. They almost had us last time.” Eric, who was sitting next to Jasper on the couch, pointed at the stats he’d printed from his laptop.

“Rob’s double gave us the go-ahead run we needed.”

“But if you hadn’t pitched two great innings before the ninth, they might have caught up.” Eric looked up to see Nelson smile at him from the other side of the low table. His boyfriend might not be a die-hard baseball fan, but Nelson was proud of his best friend’s abilities and obviously liked to hear him praised.

“It wasn’t just me; the defense was running hot. Ryan’s double play in the eight was perfect. And even though my wrist seems OK now, Coach won’t let me go above 30 pitches tomorrow.”

“You’ll have to make each of them count, and let’s hope Mitchell will do at least five innings.”

“We’ll miss him next year, and Alec as catcher too, but Tobias is improving fast. If we’re on top tomorrow, I hope Coach will rotate him in for my innings. We’ll need to get used to working together for next season.”

Tony, who was sitting between Nelson and Maria, groaned. “Enough of baseball. You can talk about that when Rob gets here. Eric, is it true you’re gonna be the GSA President next year?”

“No, where did you hear that?” But even as Eric tried to deny the rumor, Nelson spoke up.

“If we can persuade you to run, I doubt anyone will oppose it. Everybody here supports you, right?”

A chorus of “Yeah; Cool; I’m in; Sure,” and other positive exclamations answered Nelson, and Eric gave in.

“Fine. Yes, I am considering letting Nelson and my pushy brother set me up as the next GSA President if Trevor can’t find anyone better.”

“You’ll be great, and it’ll be nice for you to have a chance to shine off stage too,” Maria declared excitedly.

“Trevor has worked really hard to raise awareness and the status of West Hill GSA,” Carolyn added. “It would be a shame not to continue the good work. Nelson, Rob and all of us think you’re the best person for the job, so be confident and go for it.”

“All right, all right, enough with the cheerleading already. How did you know, Tony? Or is the answer ‘Rob, obviously’?”

Tony grinned and nodded. “He always brags about you, kind of like you do about him. And the way you talk about Nelson, lately.”

Nelson raised his eyebrows at him. “You brag about me, babe?”

“Awwww, he calls you babe. That’s so cute,” Maria gushed. Tony and Jasper fell sideways laughing, and Nelson gave Eric an ‘Ooops, sorry’ look.

Never had Eric been so grateful for Rob making his usual, boisterous entrance.

“Hey, guess what? I’ve recruited five more people from the team for the GSA. I think all of them are straight, but of course you never know. Eric, I think you should be there on Monday morning, when they sign up. Two of them are juniors so they’ll be able to support you as president.”

“I suppose you already told them I was running?”

“Of course, and they liked the idea. Especially after I told them you’d continue the idea of Prom Singles next year.”

Everyone looked from Rob to Eric, who wanted to groan in despair. Now what had his brother come up with?

“Yeah, so the other night Eric and I discussed how the pressure to find a date for Proms was getting out of hand. We should invent new traditions to make it cool to be single and arrive with friends. Maybe have a large group of guys and girls who take turns to escort each other into the dance. The GSA could be heading the change, and I bet a lot of single people would join to be part of that.”

When Rob stopped speaking, there was a short, stunned silence before Jasper stood up.

“Sir Knight, your faithful squire is ready to follow you into the battle of the Proms, even though I hope never to be single again.”

Once they had all stopped laughing, the talk went back to a mix of baseball, school gossip, prom plans, exam worries, and all the other matters which occupy high school students. Eric felt this group of friends would become tighter next year, even without Rob, but he was glad his brother was there to joke and smooth over the ‘dead’ spots in the party. It meant he could focus on getting to know Jasper and Carolyn better, and he noticed Rob making sure Tony and Nelson found out what they had in common, apart from being fans of the same music.

Maria was already a fan of Eric’s boyfriend, a little too enthusiastically at times. She proved this while helping him get more snacks and drinks from the kitchen.

“Nelson is an absolute darling, and sooo good looking. I can’t wait to dance with both of you at the Prom.”

“Both of us at the same time?” Eric wasn’t quite sure this was a good idea.

“Ohhh, that would be really hot. But I’ll settle for a photo with both of you. Mmmm, and perhaps seeing you snog on the dance floor. Is he a good kisser?” She nudged him and began to giggle. “Look at you going all red and bothered; I’ll take that as a yes. Have you done more than kissing?”

“Maria! Jeez, cut it out. Yes, he’s an awesome kisser, and no, I’m not going to tell you anything else. And we’re definitely not making out on the dance floor. Just turning up as a couple and dancing together will be enough of a statement.”

“Fair enough. Tony and I don’t like it when couples are all over each other in public either, but a quick kiss and a hug is OK.”

Eric sighed. “I want to be able to hold his hand, give him a quick kiss, sit close, touch his arm, his hair. All the little things you do with Tony which makes it obvious you’re a couple without doing anything you can’t do in front of family. But there’s always the risk of some hater making a scene.”

Maria immediately hugged him. “I know, and I’m sorry you have to think about this. But that’s exactly the sort of thing you should point out as GSA President. How it’s not about getting special treatment, but just having the same rights as straight couples.”

She picked up the bowls with snacks, and he grabbed the tray with cold cans of soft drinks. “Let’s ask the others what they think. Maybe it could be a good topic for your first official speech next term.”

“It’s a little early to be thinking of speeches. I haven’t even been nominated, let alone elected as GSA president.”

“Come on, Eric, do you really think anyone else will run? Nelson is the best-known gay junior and if he and Trevor are supporting you, it’s no contest.” She walked the last steps and put the snacks on the coffee table before turning around to point her finger at him. “Get used to the idea and start planning.”

Rob looked up them and grinned. “Don’t worry, all his after-Prom plans are ready. Or were you thinking about the wedding?”

“ROB!”