Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Thirteen
When Preston got to the mall, he headed toward the food court and sat at the table he and Robert first met at. As he sat there waiting for him, and he was starting to feel nervous about seeing him again. He didn’t know why he would be nervous, it’s not like he is gay. It’s not like he needs to impress him so Robert will like him. Robert will never like him because he has a p where a v should be.. He was really getting frustrated with himself for wanting a straight guy to like him. He had a boyfriend who loved him and he was thinking of another guy, who has a girlfriend by the way. What was wrong with him?Prestonwas pulling at his hair, he knew it must look messed up already. He had spent almost an hour fixing it to impress a straight guy. He felt bad, he had a great boyfriend and the second a good-looking guy talks to him he is ready to throw Grant aside.Preston was in such deep thought; he didn’t see Robert approach him.
“Hey Preston” Robert said as he pulled out a chair for his girlfriend, then he sat down in front of him. Great he must look like a mess; he tried to smooth his hair back to how he had it before. When Preston looked at Robert's girlfriend his heart sank, she was beautiful. He had been hoping she would at least be a little ugly.
“Hey Robert and friend”Prestonsaid with a fake plastered smile on his face.
“Preston this is an old family friend Vera, Vera this is Preston my new friend.” Robert said.Preston thought great they must have been going out for a long time now, most likely going to marry her.
“It’s nice to meet you Preston.” Vera said flashing him a 100-watt smile that show her perfect teeth.
“Likewise Vera”Preston said. He wanted to ask how long they have been going out, but decided not too. He didn’t need to be reminded that he could never have him. What was he thinking he had a boyfriend; he needs to stop having these thoughts for another guy.
“So Preston, Robert tells me you’re gay. How has that been working out with your family?”
Preston looked at her and wandered  who does she thinks she is to  be asking me about my personal life. What is it to her? She doesn’t need to know what happens at home.  Preston was mad, but he knew it wasn’t at her. He was feeling jealous because Robert had a girlfriend. He needed to stop it already; it was never going to happen.  He needed to change his attitude; plus he could use more friends.
“Not good but not really bad either. Half my family supports me and the other half thinks I am disgusting.”Prestonsaid.
“That doesn’t sound too bad, do you have a boyfriend?” Vera asked.
“Yeah he does, but I think he could find a better one.” Robert said.
“Why do you say that, have you met him?” Vera asked.
“No but from what I have heard about him, I don’t like him.” Robert said.
“Damn it Robert, you don’t know him. So you have no right to be judging him.”Prestonsaid his tone laced with anger.
“What guy forces his boyfriend to come out to his family, when  clearly he is not ready?” Robert said his tone matchingPreston.
“He forced you to come out to your family?” Vera asked in disbelief.
“Yes and no, Robert doesn’t know the whole story. He just likes to think he does, plus he doesn’t understand how hard it is for Grant to have to be hidden from my family.”Prestonsaid.
“Oh that is a load of bullshit, if he loved you the way you claim he does he would have never forced you to come out before you were really. He should have been happy with just being with you. I know that deep down you wish you didn’t come out, because of how it is tearing your family apart.” Robert said.
“He does love me; you just don’t understand and you will never understand how different it is for gay couples. You’re perfect you live up to the world’s standards.  I don’t and I will never live up to the world’s standards, I will always be seen as a freak.”Prestonsaid. Tears  started to spill out. He hated to cry in public, just another thing to make him look weak. He hated that Robert was right; he did wished he could have put off coming out to his family until much later.
“Presto nlook I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you. Your right I don’t know how hard it is for you and I shouldn’t sit here and pretend I do.” Robert said as he reached over and gavePreston’s hand a gentle squeeze.Preston looked up at Robert; his eyes were filled with remorse.
“Thank you”Preston said as he took his hand away from Robert and wiped his eyes. The way Robert showed how much he cared for him, had him thinking Robert might have feelings for him in a way that was more then friends.
“Well what are we going to do today?” Vera asked.
“How about we grab a bite to eat, I didn’t have breakfast.”Prestonsaid.
“Ok” Robert said. Just then, Roberts’s phone went off. He got up to answer it away from the table.
“I wonder who he is talking to,” Vera said. They both stared at Robert as he talked on the phone. He didn’t look to happy when he hung up and went back to the table.
“Who was that?” Vera asked.
“That was my girlfriend; I’m having dinner at her house tomorrow. She just wanted to make sure I didn’t make any plans. She said it is very important I be there.” Robert said.
Preston thought Vera was his girlfriend. But he was mistaked.  He felt like an idiot for thinking that old family friend was code for girlfriend. Now he wondered what his girlfriend really looked like. How ok was she to let her boyfriend out with another girl?
“So your girlfriend lets you go out with another girl, while she stays at home?”Prestonasked.
“Vera is just a friend and she knows I would never cheat on her with another girl. I was brought up to respect women and if my mom was ever to find out I cheated on a girlfriend, she would beat me to an inch of my life. While she tells me that I was raised better then that.” Robert said.
“You’re kidding” Preston said.
“Oh my friend my mom might be a small women, but never underestimate a Latina woman. They are vicious people, just ask Vera.” Robert said.
“Yup I’m halfLatinaand Italian, so my mom was just like that. She used to give my bothers a beating whenever they would mistreat me. To this day my brothers are still scared of her and my brothers are big guys too.” Vera said with a chuckle.
“You Latinos are something else.”Preston said.
“What about you, does Grant mind you being out with another guy?” Robert asked.
“I told him I was hanging out with friends and he was ok with that,”Preston said.
“Really, I’m finding that hard to believe.” Robert said as he raised his eyebrow.
“Well believe it” Preston said.
“So Preston are you going to college and if yes where do you plan to attend?” Vera asked.
“Yes and I will be starting my first year at Florida State University.”Preston said.
“Oh my god, I’m going there too and it is also my first year. Cool we will all get to go together.” Vera said.Prestondidn’t know that Robert was going to school there. He had never asked him.
“Yeah that is great, what are you majoring in?”Preston asked.
“I’m going for art, I like to paint. I know that it’s nothing as good as Robert who is going into law, just like his dad, but it is something I enjoy doing.” Vera said.
“Yeah that’s me, following the old man’s footsteps.” Robert said sarcastically.
“You don’t sound so thrilled to be going into law.” Preston replied.
“Don’t get me wrong I like law, just not the kind of law my father practices. I would rather do something to help people who need help; instead of defending people I know did the crime.”
“Preston what are you studying for?” Vera asked
“Journalism, I have always wanted to be a reporter.”
“That’s pretty cool; did you ever work at your high school paper?”
“Yes I did, in fact I was the editor. That’s the same reason I went to a private school up north, because they had an excellent writing program.”
“Wow you could have gone to any school why did you pick Florida State?” Robert asked.
“At the time it was to be closer to my family. I had been away for four years and just thought it would be closer to my family.”
“I can relate to that I was going to school inItalyand decided to come home and go to college closer to them. I missed my family too.” Vera said.
“Well its nice chit chatting but can we get something to eat I am starved.” Preston asked.
“Yes lets go” Vera said.
Preston and Vera got up and went to the PF Chang.  Robert watched as they walked ahead of him, he had a feeling that Preston told Grant another story. If that was true then Robert was right about Grant, he had a feeling that if Grant found out about his friendship with Preston it wouldn’t be good for Preston. He just hoped he was wrong about Grant fo rPreston’s sake.