We're Both Boys (Chapter 15)

Instructions

Chapter 15 "Yes?" Arch says. "Wait- that sounded unsure. And I'm not unsure, I am sure. The answer is yes." He leans in and I lean in, and suddenly I'm kissing him, and he's klssing me back. When we break apart my brain can't come up with any words to describe how happy I am. I can't quite describe how exciting is to have just been kissed by a boy, so my mouth decides to blurt out an all-purpose, extremely romantic word. "Dude." (All that stuff about being extremely romantic was sarcasm if you couldn't tell.) Arch laughs. "Really? You're dudeing me? Right after we kissed?" Then he pauses. "We klssed." I laugh. "Yeah we did. We really did! Why did it take us so long?" I pause for a minute. "Hey, does this mean we're boyfriends now?" Arch looks at me. He's a little flustered and it's adorable. "Yes. Yes, definitely, yes, as long as you want to be-" "I asked." I point out. Arch grins. "You did." He kisses my forehead gently. "Yes." Arch wraps his arms around me, and we stay like that for a while. There's nothing else to worry about. Just us. *** The next morning is exciting because I HAVE A BOYFRIEND! It literally feels like I'm dreaming. I literally do not believe it. And Mr. Shel might tell me that the previous sentences were incorrect usage of the word 'literally.' Do I care? No I don't. Nothing seems to matter as much as it did before. Everything seems to pale in comparison to I HAVE A BOYFRIEND. IT'S ARCH!!!!!!!!!!! *chill, Ace, chill* I sat next to Arch during English, which seems fine with Ivy. She's on the other side of the room flirting with Clementine, so I doubt she knows I exist right now. But it's okay. Although, I do get a little concerned when I notice Clementine is helping Ivy staunch a bloody nose. After class, I hug Arch goodbye (MY BOYFRIEND!) and head up to Ivy. "How goes the love triangle?" Ivy asks grinning. Oh right, she doesn't know. I realize I haven't actually told anyone. I don't know whether or not Arch wants to tell people. I don't like the idea of coming out to the entire school, but I think both of us are fine with Ivy knowing. "Uhm..." I lower my voice. "We kissed." "OMG!" Ivy shrieks, then quiets down. "Sorry, sorry, but that's so exciting. Does that mean you guys are officially a thing??" "Uh, yeah." I say smiling. "YES!" Ivy yells. "Oops. Sorry. But I'm so happy! Ach/Zalloy is finally canon!" "Ackza what now?" "Ach slash Zalloy." Ivy explains. "My roomie and I needed a good ship name for you two, but your names DO NOT mix well together, it is SOOOOOOOO annoying." I laugh. It's been like a day since I last talked to Ivy, but man, I have missed Ivy. "Anyways," She yammers on. "Then we tried combining your last names, which wind up with either Mamboni or Zalloy, which are also pretty weird, but it's better than Ach." Ivy pauses. "I mean...Mamboni is good... but it isn't as good as Iventine." I try to figure out how Ivy got Iventine from me and Arch. Then I realize I'm an idiot. "Oh...OH! Wait are you two a thing now too?!" Ivy smiles. "I may or may not have asked her to the dance." "She asked you, didn't she." I smirk. "Okay, she asked me." Ivy admits, "but that's still kind of a flex. Clem is sooooo pretty, and who does she ask? Me!" "If she didn't like you she's either blind or a closeted straight." "Ace that's not a thing." Ivy points out. "Shhhhhh I'm trying to compliment you." "Well thanks. But you're going to have to get better at giving compliments. Especially since you have a boyyyyyfriiiiiieeeeennnnndddddddd." Ivy smirks at me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. I laugh. Everything is finally good. Maybe I'm not doomed. Maybe it's all working out. "You have a boyfriend?" A voice behind me asks.