Why Pride? - 1. Why Pride?

"I mean, why do gays need Pride anyway? If you want to prove you should be treated like everyone else, why have this thing just to celebrate how different you are?"

Jace shot an irritated look at Myles, his very straight, usually cool roommate. "Because straight people aren't attacked or verbally assaulted in the street for holding the hand of the person they love. That's why we need Pride. And it's why I'm going tomorrow."

Myles curled his lip, never looking away from the screen. He physically moved to dodge along with his avatar on the television. "It's 2021. That shit doesn't happen anymore, not in the city."

Jace barked a laugh. "Wow. You have no idea."

"It doesn't!" Myles kept playing, grimacing as a grenade went off close, causing his avatar some damage.

Jace walked over and stuck out his hand. "Bet me. Loser cooks and does dishes all week."

Myles paused the game and regarded Jace with narrowed eyes. "How are you planning to prove it?"

"Easy. We walk five blocks holding hands. If we get no negative comments or attitude, you win. If we do, I win."

Staring, Myles wet his lips. "Where? Not some hood."

"Nope. Right here, around the apartment. One of the best neighborhoods in the city." Jace smirked at Myles's hesitation. "Aww. It's okay. I know you're scared."

"Fuck you, man." Myles stood up and gripped his hand, hard. "You're gonna hate making my dinner all week."

Jace squeezed right back and grinned. "Don't forget, I prefer chicken over beef."

Myles snorted and sat back on the couch. He began putting on his shoes. "Let's do this shit."

≠≠≠

Jace and Myles had only just left the apartment building when Myles grabbed his hand.

"All right. Five blocks."

"Yep. You choose the direction." Jace smiled at him.

"Fine." Myles predictably headed deeper into the downtown area. With all the coffee shops, businesses, and offices, the area screamed 'liberal elite.'

They walked the first two blocks quickly. Myles kept looking around, noticing the attention of all they passed. "Fuck, this is bullshit," he mumbled.

"Relax. This is pretty nice. I'm surprised; you might win."

"What? Getting stared at by everybody you pass is 'nice?'" Myles's hand sweated against Jace's palm.

"Welcome to my life. Well, if I had a boyfriend."

They stopped to wait for the light, and that's when it happened.

"Faggots!" A guy hung out of a window as a car drove past. In moments, the vehicle had disappeared down the street. Others who had gathered on the corner to cross looked at them.

Myles stared after the car. He blinked and released Jace's hand, then turned.

Jace followed. "Myles?"

"Yeah, you win. Whatever." He clenched his jaw.

"No. That's not important." Jace gripped his shoulder. "Hey. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Myles said, then shook his head. "No. I'm not fine. That shit was messed up. We weren't hurting anybody."

"No, we weren't." Jace patted his back. "Come on." They started walking and he felt a twinge of guilt. "Hey. So I knew this would happen. It wasn't really a fair bet, so you don't have to cook and do dishes all week."

"You knew." Myles slowly nodded. "Fuck." He sighed deeply. "No. We stick to the bet." He looked over at Jace. "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

≠≠≠

The next day, Jace giggled at himself. He'd dyed his blonde hair pink, and wore a skin-tight sequined rainbow shirt. His white jeans looked sprayed on, and he completed the look with a wide black belt and chunky steel-toed black boots. "Oh, yas queen!" He smacked his ass and laughed.

He'd seen very little of Myles all day, but thanks to his preparations, he'd not had much time to dwell on it.

Exiting the bathroom, he ran directly into his roommate in the hall and stared in shock.

Myles wore his leather riding gear, jeans, boots, and on his head perched a new rainbow-colored beanie.

"So, I don't have rainbow stuff, really. Well, other than this thing." Myles fiddled with his hat. "You think this is okay for the parade?"

Jace laughed. "Ah, yeah! Yeah, it's great." He realized he was crying and wiped his eyes. "Dude, you don't have to do this."

"Come on. We're gonna be late."

Jace chuckled and snagged his jacket. "Okay."

They left the building, and Myles grabbed his hand. He pulled Jace along, eyes roving the street - seemingly begging for someone to say something to them.

They made it to the same corner as the day before, and Jace squeezed his hand. "Thanks, Myles."

Myles nodded. "Happy Pride, Jace."

"Happy Pride, Myles."