Edward and Robbie were settled in the living room watching "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" while Steve was washing the dinner dishes when the doorbell rang.

 

"Can someone get that?" Steve called from the kitchen.

 

"The last time I ate a salad was never?!" Edward cackled from the living room. The doorbell rang again.

 

"Edward? Robbie?"

 

"I can't stip watching," said Robbie. "Like I should, but I can't." The doorbell rang again.

 

Steve peeked his head out of the kitchen. "Robert James, if you do not get up and answer that door..."

 

"Uh oh," Edward said, nudging Robbie up "Middle name. You better get that."

 

Robbie kept peeking over his shoulder as he answered the door. 

"Hey Robbie," Alex said.

 

"Oh. Hey Alex"

 

"Can I come in? I need to talk."

 

"Keep the door open please," Edward called as Robbie led Alex to his room. "I'm too young to be a grandfather."

 

"That's not even possible!" Robbie called back, leaving the door slightly ajar.

 

"So...I'm leaving for college in a couple days," Alex started.

 

"Good luck and stuff," Robbie said.

 

"I just...I wanted to say goodbye and stuff. And you know...well, ask you why."

 

"Why what?"

 

"At prom, you said you wanted to be with someone that was nice. And that I wasn't."

 

"Oh. Yeah."

 

"What did you mean by that?"

"I mean, you're nice, when you want to be. Mr. Parker told me how concerned you were about me when I was going through that stuff with my dad and I guess a genuinely mean hearted person wouldn't have cared so much. But...I dunno. You seem so caught up on like expensive clothes and dating guys that can buy you stuff and how you look and gossip and being queen bee..."

 

"I get the idea...."

 

"That it makes me wonder, what makes you like that? Why don't we see the other Alex more?"

 

Alex was stumped. "I guess...I'm scared?"

 

"That's lame."

 

"Ok...well maybe it's just easier. Maybe it's cuz that's how all the gay guys I see on TV are. Maybe it's..."

 

"Maybe it's cuz you like being the way you are?"

 

"Maybe. I just look back at my time in high school and...maybe I wasn't as popular as I thought. Maybe I wasn't really queen bee. And college, it's a whole new ballpark, I mean...do you think people will like me in college?"

 

"I think they will if you let them get to know the real you."

 

Alex smiled. "Thanks Robbie."

 

Robbie hugged him. "I'll miss you."

 

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