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Joe was watching Nicky talking with a fellow classmate, Giuseppe. If you asked Joe, Nicky was the most beautiful man in the world, so Joe understood very well why Giuseppe was so interested in Nicky. And if Joe were to believe the girls who always were sighing very dramatically when they saw Giuseppe, Giuseppe was also a beautiful young man. Joe wasn't beautiful if you asked him because he was skinny, had braces on his teeth, and was pretty sure another pimple was coming. How could Joe compete with Giuseppe for Nicky's attention when he looked like that?
Joe had had a severe crush on Nicky since the start of this school year. Nicky had returned from the summer break looking like a God from Greek mythology. Something Joe had written loads of poetry about in an attempt to tell Nicky what he truly felt, but every time Joe had had the chance to tell Nicky about his feelings, Joe had chickened out. Like Joe did when the headmistress announced that there would be a Christmas ball and they could all invite someone to it. For weeks, Joe tried to ask Nicky if they should go to the Christmas ball together, but Joe couldn't find the right words when he had the chance. And that was why Joe was sitting on the bench all alone while Nicky was talking with Giuseppe.
Joe drank the rest of the cola before deciding to go home and be miserable by crying into his pillow and maybe eating some ice cream.
"Joe?" Mira said. "Where are you going?"
"Home," Joe replied. "I'm not in the mood for a Christmas ball."
Mira placed a hand on Joe's shoulder.
"I promised your Mother that you would have a good time tonight," Mira said. "How do you expect me to explain to her that my cousin got home before midnight? Please stay. I promise to spend more time with you."
"I know what you're trying to do, Mira," Joe replied. "I promise to take the long walk home, so it fits with after midnight."
Joe hugged Mira before she could protest and left. After getting his jacket, Joe left the school and decided to go down to the waterfront. It was a good place to clear your mind. Joe stopped walking and looked out over the water. Suddenly, someone placed a hand on Joe's shoulder, which made him jump on the spot.
"So sorry, Joe," Nicky said. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"That's okay," Joe replied while pretending he wasn't taken by surprise. "Everything is fine."
Joe looked at Nicky.
"What are you doing here?" Joe wanted to know. "I mean, why aren't you at the Christmas ball?"
"You do know that was the same question twice?" Nicky replied with a smile. It made Joe feel a bit stupid. "But to give you an answer, well... You see..."
Joe noticed that Nicky bit his lower lip while rubbing his hands. This was the first time Joe had seen Nicky acting nervously.
"Okay, okay, Nicolò, just do as your Uncle told you to do," Nicky said to himself. "I'm not good at this, Yusuf."
"At what?" Joe asked, a bit confused, when he realized something. "You called me Yusuf. Why?"
"Is what I call you in my diary," Nicky replied. It made him blush. "Sorry, you weren't supposed to know that part of my diary. Sorry if it makes me sound like a creep, which I'm not, I promise..."
Joe didn't know why he did it, but he took Nicky's hand in his in an attempt to calm him. Just as quickly as Joe had taken Nicky's hand, just as quickly Joe let go of Nicky's hand.
"Nicky," Joe said. "Please start again."
Nicky took a deep breath.
"Ever since I started at the school two years ago, I have had a crush on you, well, a severe crush," Nicky said. "Because I didn't have the courage to tell you in person, I told my diary."
Nicky looked at Joe, but when nothing happened, Nicky decided it was best to leave. Nicky had only taken two steps when he felt Joe taking his hand in his once again.
"Please, don't go, Nicolò," Joe begged when Nicky turned around and looked at him. "Sorry I didn't react faster when you told me about your diary, but my brain isn't the fastest in the world."
It made Nicky giggle.
"I also got something I need to confess," Joe said. "You see, I also have a severe crush on you, but only for the last few months. Where you told your diary about me, I might have been writing poetry about you. Okay, I did write poetry about you."
They both laughed.
"We need to work on our communication," Nicky said. "Or am I wrong?"
"Not at all," Joe replied. "You should also know that I wanted so much to invite you to the Christmas ball, but I was so scared to ask you because I feared you would turn me down."
"I also wanted to do the same thing and had the same fears as you," Nicky replied. "That was why I went alone tonight, hoping to ask you for a dance."
Nicky could tell Joe was processing something.
"Wait a moment, you wanted to ask me for a dance?" Joe wanted to know, which made Nicky nod. "But what about Giuseppe? I thought he was interested in you."
"Giuseppe is my Uncle," Nicky replied. "It's a very long story, but I can promise you all my Uncle was trying to do tonight was encourage me to speak with you, which is something I'm doing now."
"I'm such an idiot," Joe replied. "Being jealous at..."
Joe didn't get to finish his sentence because Nicky placed a kiss on Joe's cheek.
"Forget my Uncle," Nicky said. "Instead, should we dance?"
"I would love to," Joe replied. "But I don't have the confidence to dance in front of our classmates, my cousin, and your Uncle."
"Neither do I," Nicky replied. "So, let's do it here. The seagulls won't judge us for our bad dancing."
Joe laughed just as Nicky moved closer to him. Nicky took around Joe's lower waist before placing his head on Joe's chest. For a moment, Joe's brain stopped working because of what Nicky was doing, but in the end, Joe placed his hand on Nicky's shoulder, and they started to dance. They danced slowly on the spot until Joe sneezed.
"So sorry for ruining this moment," Joe sniffed while looking sorry. "I have this cold that I can't get rid of."
"Then we better get you home," Nicky replied. "Come, handsome."
Nicky reached out his hand, which Joe took with a smile.
"You called me handsome," Joe said. "Have you seen how I look? I still got braces and way too skinny, and not to mention the..."
Joe decided not to mention the pimple he was sure was on its way.
"Never mind," Joe said. "But did you mean it when you said handsome?"
"Uhmm, yes, I did," Nicky replied. "I love your dimples when you smile, your eyes and not to mention your curls. It all makes you handsome. And about being skinny, you're only seventeen, Joe. There is still time for you to grow into your body."
"Yeah, okay, you got a point," Joe replied. "Should we meet and compare notes once I'm over this cold? I mean, if you want to share what you wrote in your diary with me. I bring my poetry."
"Some of the things I wrote, yes," Nicky replied. "There are things I would rather not share with anyone."
"I respect that because I feel the same thing about my poetry," Joe replied. "So, should we meet tomorrow? I suggest somewhere warm."
Nicky stopped walking and looked at Joe.
"I would love that, but let's wait until you feel well again," Nicky replied. "Is that okay?"
"Only if you promise to call me," Joe replied. "Now that we're talking, I'll miss it."
"Deal," Nicky replied. "And I feel the same thing."
Nicky found a piece of bubblegum. After putting the bubblegum in his mouth, Nicky wrote his phone number down on the paper.
"Thanks," Joe said. "I'll treasure it."
"I have no doubt," Nicky replied. "This is the way home for me."
"And I'm going in the other direction," Joe replied. "Listen, Nicolò. I'm really glad that we finally talked."
"So am I," Nicky replied. "This might be the start of something beautiful between us."
"I feel the same thing," Joe replied. They exchanged a shy smile. "See you as soon I'm over this cold."
"I keep you that promise, Yusuf," Nicky replied. "Night. See you soon."
After an awkward hug, they parted for now. When Joe lay in his bed, he could feel butterflies in his tummy for the first time in his life. Joe took his pillow and let out a squeal of joy because Nicky had said yes to going out with him, and Nicky thought he was handsome. Maybe being seventeen and in love with his crush wasn't such a bad thing after all.