Scene 3: At the Beginning...Scene 3: At the Beginning...
We got through unpacking Kyle's stuff relatively quick. It was surprising to realize that he had the same taste in clothing as Scott, and they listened to the same artists, but it was also amazing because they were not twins. There were times that I looked at Kyle, and secretly wished that he was Scott coming back into my life. Then, I had to blink away the tears that threatened to fall. I missed Scott even though it had been a year since he passed away.
"Merry Christmas, Joshie." His sudden greeting awakened me from my reverie, and I was staring at what appeared to be a hastily-wrapped Christmas present.
"Ky...Kyle, you don't have to get me anything. Besides, where and when did you get this? I...I don't mean that in a rude way, but I am just...well, surprised," Joshua knew he was rambling and stammering, but his astonishment overwhelmed his common sense, or his good manners.
"I got this for you before I came here, but I just wrapped it up a few minutes ago. Not sure what you really wish for this Christmas so I just get you...well, open it up. See if you like it," he finished rather abruptly.
"Thank you so much, Kyle. I'm sure I'll love it. It's always the thought that counts, and as cliche as that sounds, it's the truth," Joshua reassured him. "Besides, I don't have anything for you. I just...you know, wasn't expecting your arrival."
"It's alright, Joshie. I understand. Open it up, and see if you like it." Kyle urged him again.
Joshua began to open the gift-wrapper slowly and carefully, and he saw a shoe box inside. Lifting it up, he came upon a smaller shoe box, and two even smaller shoe boxes later, his gaze was fixed upon a statue of a silver angel. Its eyes were looking down, and it was smiling.
"It's beautiful...really perfect. It truly reminds me of Scott, my smiling angel," Joshua said smilingly.
"He will always be alive inside your heart, Joshie, always..." Kyle reached up and brushed away the tiny tears forming on both sides of Joshua's eyes.
"Thanks, Kyle. You're sweet." Joshua smiled, blushing a little. No other man had come close to him since Scott, but Kyle had a strange effect on him. He was truly scared, yet at the same time he was feeling a spark of hope that maybe he could finally love again.
"No problem." Kyle whispered softly.
Kyle was filled with both joy and sorrow. He was happy that his gift had put a smile on Joshua's face, but he was also sad because it had unintentionally brought about the pain he could see in the younger man's eyes, who tried his best to conceal it.
"Earth to Kyle! Hello!"
"Uh, what?"
"You are lost in another universe, Kyle."
"Sorry, I was just thinking about stuff."
"That's cool. We're leaving for dinner with my parents in about one hour. You want to take a shower first? You have your toothbrush with you? You can use the soap and shampoo in the bathroom outside. That's where I shower ever since Scott..."
"I understand. You don't have to explain. That will be great. I have to make a great first impression, haven't I?"
Joshua laughed gently, and nodded his head. Kyle just smiled, and walked towards the bathroom for his shower. Joshua was still sitting on the floor when Kyle was done, coming out from the bathroom wrapped only with a towel. Unconsciously, Joshua averted his gaze and became very interested with the pattern on the carpet. Kyle had noticed that, but decided to remain silent.
"I think I'll take a shower now. You can start dressing up meanwhile."
"Any dress code that I should be aware of?" Kyle asked teasingly.
"No, don't be silly. It's just a Christmas dinner. We always wear whatever is comfortable," Joshua answered, smiling a little.
"Cool."
"Alright then. Let me take my shower now." Joshua jumped up from his sitting position and ran towards the bathroom.
After showering and putting on his clothes, Joshua exited from his bedroom to find Kyle waiting for him in the living room. Kyle was looking drop dead gorgeous in a dark blue turtleneck and a pair of white jeans.
"Hey..." Joshua wanted to say something nice to Kyle for being so kind and also so thoughtful with the gift, but the vision in front of him was confusing his emotions. On one hand, he loved Scott, and knew that Scott would always be alive in his heart, but another part of him wanted to get closer to Kyle, dying to get to know him better.
"Hey too. You're done?"
"Yeah...Kyle, my parents have always been very protective of me, especially since I lost Scott to cancer. They might be asking you lots of questions, but they are not trying to frighten you or anything. They do that to all my friends, which can be rather embarrassing at times, but they mean well."
"It's alright, Joshie. I understand. Besides, I'm a man. I can handle anything."
"Fine, Mr. Macho, let's go then." Joshua teased a little.
"Okay..." Kyle smiled a little.
Joshua got the car keys, and they proceeded to exit the house, walking slowly towards the car. The temperature had gone down considerably, and it was freezing outside.
"You should have worn something warmer. You want to get back into the house to get a jacket or something?" Kyle's voice was thick with concern, and his facial expression was a mix of worry and anxiety.
"Nope, I'm fine. I'll be warmer in the car with the heater on."
"Cool. You're sure though?" Kyle pushed on, still unable to put his worry aside.
"Yes, I'm sure." Joshua smiled reassuringly at Kyle, who forced a smile back at him.
The journey was mostly in silence as both men were lost in their own thoughts. Joshua was not thinking about anything in particular, yet he had a nagging feeling in his heart that there were a thousand and one things that he needed to think about. Kyle sat down on the passenger's seat besides Joshua, stealing a few occasional glances at the man next to him. He liked Joshua, A LOT, but something did not feel right.
"For God's sake, Kyle! Get a grip! He was your brother's soul mate, and you shouldn't even think about him that way," he thought to himself. The fact that he could not, and should not, think of Joshua in the romantic sense depressed him, and he sank further down into his seat, looking out the window contemplating about his feelings and what he should do with them.
They arrived at Joshua's parents' house, and stepped out from the car. A woman came out the front door and rushed towards Joshua, hugging and kissing him.
"Mum, mum...I've got a friend with me," Joshua looked slightly embarrassed, his feet shifting left and right.
"Oh, it doesn't matter, sweetheart. You are...Oh!" Mrs. McClendon wanted to give Kyle a warm hug, but she stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the similarities between him and Scott.
"What's the matter, Meg? Scott?" Mr. McClendon had come out from the house to greet his son, and he was also surprised at the sight of Kyle.
"I'm sorry, but I am Kyle, Scott's elder brother," Kyle explained apologetically.
"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I thought you were Scott. You guys looked awfully...I don't know how to describe it. You and Scott could have passed as twins," Megan McClendon replied, slightly embarrassed and at a loss for words.
"That's what I said too, mum. Hey, dad. How's it going?" Joshua said from the other side of the car, trying to break the awkward silence that enveloped them.
"I'm great, son. Meg, let the boys come inside, and we can continue talking in the living room. They must be freezing," William McClendon hastily reminded his wife.
"Oh, dear! You're right, Will, dear. Come on in, boys," Megan pulled Kyle into a hug, and reached for his hand, practically dragging him into the house. "Kyle, honey, let's go into the house. We have the fire burning in the fireplace. Josh can carry the luggage himself."
"Gee, thanks, Kyle. You're barely here for five minutes, and I've been disowned by my parents. Dad, say something!"
"Oh, shut up, Josh. You know we love you. Now haul the luggage inside." William McClendon smiled at his son, and went into the house, leaving Joshua flabbergasted.
"Kyle, come on, man. Say something for me," Joshua began to whine.
"Nah, I love the attention. Good luck with the luggage, bellboy. Don't worry, I'm a good tipper." With a wink, Kyle slid his hand through Mrs. McClendon's arm, and they walked into the house, smiling at each other.
"Great! Fine! Whatever! I am going to court, and complain of this injustice." Joshua shouted feeling completely exasperated. However, deep inside, he was really glad that his parents had not made things difficult for Kyle, and they had not asked him any awkward questions, not yet at least, but he was thankful for every little blessing. He lifted the various gifts he had put in the trunk of the car a few days ago, and some others that must belonged to Kyle. Kyle must have put them in secretly while he was taking a shower. He entered the house, balancing the various gifts awkwardly on his hands, and one on his head. The three people in the house took pity on him, and laughingly took some of the presents from him, arranging them under the Christmas tree.
"Our family usually does the whole Christmas gifts ritual after a Christmas dinner," Mrs. McClendon explained to Kyle.
"That's cool. It's refreshing," Kyle stated honestly.
"And I will read "A Christmas Carol" afterwards," Mr. McClendon added.
"Wow, that's a first for me. Sounds great," Kyle answered enthusiastically. Joshua beamed a tiny smile at his parents, silently thanking them for including Kyle in the family tradition. Mr. and Mrs. McClendon nodded gently to signify that they understood.
"Wonderful, dear. Now let us go into the dining room. Joshua's stomach is rumbling. I can hear it a mile away." Mrs. McClendon smiled teasingly.
"Fine, gang up on the innocent man; must be my luck," Joshua replied, pouting his lips, the hint of a smile in his eyes.
"Oh, stop acting like a spoiled brat, Josh." Mrs. McClendon gave Joshua's right cheek a loving squeeze.
"You know I love you, mum."
"I know, sweetheart."
"Hate to break this Kodak moment, but my stomach really is rumbling," Mr. McClendon announced, rubbing his stomach to show that he was hungry.
"Fine, old man. Let's eat."
"Meg, dear, I am not that old. Besides..."
"Oh, whatever. You're just as bad as..."
The friendly bantering continued all the way into the dining room. Kyle and Joshua just smiled at each other. Kyle was amazed at how loving Joshua's parents were, and it was obvious that they were not embarrassed to show their love for the entire world to see. He just wished that he could have such a relationship someday. Joshua was very proud of his parents, and he was also envious of their love for each other. They had been together since their early 20s, and had been married for more than twenty years, yet they acted as if they were teenagers in love. He used to have such a relationship with Scott until the cancer took him away forever...
"Oh, well! I won't think of that for now. It's Christmas, and it is a happy occasion," Joshua thought to himself.