Suzie’s House 554 : Gabe and Pete on State Street

“Ooooh, hot!” Gabe spun in a circle as a good looking couple passed them on State Street.

Pete liked State Street. He liked the crowds, and the fact the only motor traffic allowed was the occasional bus. He liked the diversity of faces and fashion choices. He did not much care for the way his true love was ogling some other man. He slapped Gabe across the chest with a backhand.

“What? The skirt. I’m talking about the skirt. Wouldn’t you like to see me in that?”

Now it was Pete’s turn to look behind them. He hadn’t registered the clothing at all. The girl wore a tight black stretch skirt that bound her up around the knees and showed off her rear. It didn’t do much for him on her, but when he thought about Gabe wearing it…

“Hawwt!” He agreed.

“Right? No need for either of us to get jealous.” Gabe grinned at him with the twinkle in his eye that kept Pete coming back for more.

Pete grabbed his hand. Gabe smiled, but he also flinched. In a minute he would let go with a murmur about being in public. Before he could build up to it, Pete nodded toward another all-male couple holding hands.

“Look. We aren’t alone here. It’s alright. No one is going to try to shove either one of us into the back of a van so they can dump out battered bodies on the railroad tracks. No one’s going to spit on either of us. No one’s going to try to burn down our house. Not here. It’s not that kind of place.”

“You don’t know that. That haters, they’re everywhere.” Gabe let go.

“So what? Now it’s too scary to love me?” Pete knew he was sulking but didn’t care.

“If it was just me taking the risks I wouldn’t care. I mean, who am I? A pizza guy. If not for you I’d still be delivering it instead of owning the business. I know, I know. I’m not putting myself down. Because I know you don’t like that. But…”

“No buts. You know how I feel.”

“Yeah.” Gabe tentatively bumped the back of his hand against the back of Pete’s.

That was all the invitation Pete needed. He latched on to Gabe’s, squeezing hard. Yeah, the got a few stares, but Pete wasn’t willing to let go, and Gabe didn’t fight him. They managed to walk like that for several blocks before a jock took exception.

Why was there always, always some jerk ruining the mood? Would it have hurt the guy to just keep walking? Let him think what he wanted to think, so long as he kept it to himself. But no. He had to get in Gabe’s face, shouting words like “fag” and “homo.” Even here, where they knew there was a strong gay community, there was no respite.

Gabe just took it until the guy turned toward Pete. Then his fist balled and he took a step forward. This was going to get real ugly real fast. But right before I could, they got surrounded.

It was the kids in that band their host’s daughter belonged to. First the one who liked to do her hair up in peacock colors lunged between him and Gabe, grabbing both by the shoulders like they were the best of buddies and did this all the time. Then all the rest caught up and just swallowed them like an amoeba.

It was a wonderful feeling. The kids clearly put themselves on his and Gabe’s side. The jock looked shocked. He took a step or two back. He’d been walking with a couple of friends who were also in UW athletic gear, but when he started yelling they just walked away. Now he finally noticed.

“Weirdos. You’re all weirdos.” The guy backed away with a horrified look on is face.

“Got that right.” The peacock girl wiggled her eyebrows.

The jock ran away. No one, not a single passersby had stood up for the him. He ran off alone.

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