What I Long to Hear Him Say

The statue of Athena wasn't that far away; I didn't even have to get back to my car. My heart was suddenly pounding; I knew Nathan was there and I knew he was waiting for me with an answer, but what that answer would I didn't know.

It seemed all the noise was muted, I could only see the statue, the people looking up at it and taking pictures. There by one of the pedestals was Nathan.

As I got closer I noticed he was holding something and as I approached I finally spoke.

"Hey…" I sounded braver than I felt.

"Hey." He replied his eyes smiled softly, but he didn't say anything else.

Swallowing, I spoke again.

"So… You have an answer for me?"

"Yeah, I do." Nathan replied. Then he handed me what he had been holding, a notebook with writing on the facing page. Looking down, I read what it said.

The short paragraph was written in Nathan's neat handwriting.

I know you been waiting a long time for this, and I know I've taken a long time answering. I don't mean to be that way I just had a lot to think about. I don't want to lose our friendship; that's very important to me. I started asking myself "what if we break up"? Have you even thought about that? The thought my sexuality was what was standing in the way, but that's not true either. I could date anyone (literally) and I do want a relationship… To be married, you know.

So I guess my answer is this: give me 3 months and will see where it goes. In short, yes I will.

I looked up from the paper and slowly a smile spread across my face.

"Really?"

Nathan only nodded. He still wasn't smiling, but his expression had sought looking more thoughtful than tense.

Then I threw my arms around him. I didn't care that they were probably hundreds if not millions of tourists watching. It felt like a humongous plate been lifted off my shoulders I grinned into Nathan's shoulder, and I knew he was smiling too.

Then I pulled back and only looked at him. I knew we were both waiting for something; waiting for someone to make the next move. There was something I had been wanting to do since I was about 12, but I didn't dare.

Nathan was only looking at his eyes soft again and I saw the distinct blue of the irises sparkling from the light streaming in behind us.

I licked my lips.

Very slowly, Nathan leaned down as if he didn't want to break the invisible bubble that seem to form around us. I knew what was happening before it happened and closed my eyes in response. I don't think I was even breathing.

Slowly, gently, his lips touched mine.

They were how I always imagined, soft and warm, like he was. It sounded cliché, but I wished it could have gone on forever. I guess that's what happens when you're kissing someone you really like.

Finally we pulled apart and smiled at each other.

"I think," my voice sounded hoarse from not talking for several minutes, "I finally have a boyfriend."

Nathan chuckled, his eyes still smiling.

"Now who could that be?" Laughing softly, he leaned down to kiss me again.