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Malcolm woke up startled, his mother and Reese were having a shouting mach over in the kitchen. As he got up he noticed he had slept in, highly uncommon in this household. Ahh, the luxuries of summer. It was already about 10:30, so he decided to skip breakfast. As he got up to go to go to the bathroom and brush his teeth he remembered his plans with Stevie. Just because its summer doesn't mean there is no work to be done. Despite going to different colleges they both still have their placement exams at the start of June, so there is still a bit of studying to be done.
He dreaded going over Stevie's. This was the last summer they had together. If he doesn't say it now he might never have the chance. He knows that Stevie is gay, he had come out to him a few years ago. Malcolm, however was deep in the closet. He still struggled admitting these feelings to himself, let alone pouring all of them out to Stevie. How would his parents react, what about Reese, Dewey or Francis?
At lunch time, as he sat at his usual spot at the table he got lost in thought. His parents were talking about something boring that happened at his dads job, Reese was pestering Dewey. So business as usual. All except for Malcolm, who was as quiet as a church mouse.
Eventually his mother noticed. "What is it with you today? What wrong honey?" Lois said with a furrow in her brow, genuine concern. Malcolm was a common chatterbox, him being quiet was a bad sign. She reached across the table and gently held his hand. She had noticed his peculiar moods as of late. Initially she attributed it to "teenage angst", but she couldn't deny that it was starting to become concerning.
"Nothing mom, you shouldn't worry about it" came the automatic reply. He couldn't even look her in the eye. He was usually a much better liar, but you can only say the same lie so many times.
"No, its clear that something's bothering you, so how bout you just tells us. Whatever it is, im sure its no big deal." She was persistent today, she usually gave up after one try.
Maybe she was right, how bad could it be if he just told them. At the end of the day his parents never struck him as the bigoted type. They never spoke bad about gay people or minorities. His brothers were his main concern, mostly Reese. Reese was always quite crass, a born bully. As far as Malcolm knew he could be homophobic. On the other hand, him and Reese get into an average of two fist-fights per day. Surely it cant get much worse, right?
With a deep sigh he made up his mind. Im telling them right now, when am I going to get an opportunity this good? "Mom, dad, I have something important to say. Please no interruptions." They both nodded.
But Reese just couldn't contain himself. "Always the dramatics with you, just spit it out"
"Im about to, jerk, don't interrupt." Another deep sigh, Reese had completely derailed this. Come on Malcolm, just soldier through this. They're all here, you just have to say this once. Just once, whys it so hard then? Eventually he managed something just above a whisper "I-I thing im gay. Im sorry mom."
The whole table was shocked. Hal was just silent. Reese was staring at him, mouth agape. Dewey wasn't paying attention and had no idea what was going on. So it fell to Lois to end the stretching silence. She cleared her throat with a quiet cough and got up from the table. As she rounded the table, she tapped Hal on the shoulder. Telling him to get up and follow with no words. They were both standing to either side of Malcolm and he was terrified. Then they both hugged him. His eyes were full of tears, he was really worried for a moment there.
"Its alright honey, don't worry about it. We all still love you, its okay." Even tough he couldn't see her, he could hear the slight tremor in her voice.
His dad was next. "Its okay sport. We all still love you, right guys? What are you two waiting for, get in here." Reese and Dewey immediately joined in the family hug.
"I guess I always knew, I called it when you started hanging out with all those Krelboynes" He could hear the smug grin in Reese's voice, it was insufferable. Alas, better than most of the other possible outcomes. Dewey on the other hand really didn't seem to care at all.
Lois, of course, interrupted this moment of family bonding. "Is that really what's had you so grouchy lately? Is that what you think of us? That we would hate our own son. We've put up with plenty from all four of you and we don't hate any of you yet. Trust me, this is the least of our concerns."
Malcolm choked out through slow tears. "Im sorry mom, i was just worried about how you would react. I-In hindsight I really shouldn't have been so worried."
"Damn straight you shouldn't have been worried. We all love you Malcolm, nothing's going to change that." Hal's usual straightforward demeanor helped calm him down.
They all sat down and after that things went back to normal. The conversation started up again, if a little tense. And all seemed regular in the Wilkerson household.
That afternoon, as Malcolm was getting ready to head over to Stevie's he couldn't help but worry. It took him a few minutes just to comb his hair, on account of his shaking hands. Every step in his routine felt at least twice as difficult and took up twice the time. After what felt like a century he was finally done. He showered, brushed his teeth, fixed his hair, got dressed, packed his bag with books and snacks which he knew Stevie liked. Taking far more care in his appearance than usual. Luckily no one noticed by the time he got to the front door.
And then Lois interrupted his frantic train of thought. "Are you heading over to the Kenarbans? Want me to drive you?"
"No mom, its fine. I wanna walk, its a really nice day." His mom just kind of nodded at him and gave no verbal response. He hoped she couldn't hear how tense he was. Truth be told, he hoped to use the walk over as a time to reflect, clear his head and hopefully ease his nerves.
As he started walking he couldn't help but think back on all the times with Stevie. He was his best friend. Sure he had other friends, but Stevie was special. He was first. Could he really risk losing him over something so trivial, especially when Stevie had never even hinted at feeling the same.
The walk didn't last anywhere near as long as he hoped it would. Nevertheless it had helped. As he knocked on the Kenarbans front door he was a man on a mission. He was telling Stevie today. Damn what happens afterwards, he has to tell him.
As Kitty Kenarban opened the door and let him in he greeted her politely. He was shocking even himself with how calm he was. However, he could feel the nerves prickling as he made his way over to Stevie's room.
It was when he saw Stevie that he stared to have the same dilemma he already had in the shower and on the walk over. Is this worth it? We are already best friend, why gamble for more? Quit when you're ahead, right?
Stevie hadn't noticed him yet. Already deep in study, nose almost pressed up to the page. Malcolm greeted him quickly, startling the poor boy. "Hi Stevie, what are you reading."
He jumped up slightly, shocked. "Hey Malcolm, you were late. I thought maybe you weren't coming" He wheezed out.
"And what, deprive you of my presence. That would be too cruel, even for me."
"Ha-Ha Malcolm, are we going to study or what?"
They began their usual routine. Starting with the harder subjects, pacing each other. Helping only when necessary, letting the other figure things out most of the time.
After a few hours of that Malcolm got lost in thought again. It had been a while since they had interrupted each other and Malcolm finally let his mind wander to the second reason he came over here today. He couldn't help but stare at Stevie. He looked particularly cute right now. Brows furrowed in concentration, in his nerdy sweater.
"Hey Malcolm, heeey. What did you put down for question 45." Stevie just had to notice and break him out of his thoughts.
Malcolm was completely lost. He had been staring at Stevie for at least five minutes and hadn't even made it to 40, let alone 45. He looked away embarrassed, an unfortunately obvious blush creeping onto his face. "I-I don't know, I haven't gotten there yet"
"What, seriously, Im ahead of you! You must have really been slacking lately. What got you so preoccupied?" Stevie wheezed out, completely unaware of Malcolm's predicament.
"Im just a bit distracted, lots on my mind lately." He said intentionally slowly. Trying to set Stevie up to ask him what its about, then he's going to confess his feelings.
Stevie, bless him, seemed wise to Malcolm's plan. "Really? What on your mind? You know you can tell me ANYTHING, right?" The added emphasis on anything really helped Malcolm out.
He bit the bullet and answered. "I think gay, Stevie. No scratch that, Im sure I am. Im telling you because you're my best friend." He fired that whole speech of in a second. Just a jumbled mess of words.
Luckily, Stevie caught most of it. He seemed quiet for a moment, almost considering his options. Eventually he said "That's great Malcolm. Im glad you could tell me something so important. Is that all?"
Malcolm was dumbfounded. 'Is that all?' What could that mean? What does he want me to say. The look on his face is clear, like he's expecting something. There is no way he actually feels the same. Still, this is probably the only time I'm gonna have the nerve to say it. So here goes nothing. "No Stevie, that's actually not all. I'm telling you because, jeez this is hard to say." Stevie just sat there, staring at him. Almost staring through him with a hopeful, yet forlorn look on his face. It was then that Malcolm realized Stevie felt the same, still best not rush it. "Im telling you, because I like you, a lot. You have been more than a best friend to me for a while and i figured out why. I like you Stevie." He said slowly.
Stevie just sat there, quiet. Tears slowly gliding down his face. After a few torturous second he rolled over to where Malcolm was sitting on the bed. "I like you too, a lot. And have for a while. Can i kiss you?"
Malcolm could feel the tears pricking at his eyes and he was so happy. "Of course Stevie."
It was soft and slow. It was the first kiss for both of them. Made all the more special, because they shared it with each other. They separated after a short time and just stared at each other while giggling.
"Can't believe it took you this long to tell me." Stevie wheezed out.
"Just shut up" Malcolm reply was supposed to be biting, but it came out unbearably soft. They hugged and stayed like that for a while.
Even if college separates them, they will be fine, they will always have each other.