"Wait!" his mom barked, sounding suddenly wide awake. "How would Kyle and Jason get back?"

"They'l drive the car back."

"But then how wil you get back?"

"Um ... I hadn't thought that far ahead." Immediately, he knew that was the wrong thing to say.

"You haven't thought how you'd get back?" His mom's voice grew loud. "Nelson, you do not have permission to stay out there."

"Mom?" Nelson's own voice grew louder. "I'm not asking for your permission. I'm teling you." He looked to Kyle and Jason. Jason nodded enthusiasticaly, but Kyle motioned him to calm down.

"I realy like him, Mom. And he likes me. I like it out here. I feel like I belong. And I want to try this."

"Nelson, you just met him. Of course he seems wonderful. But you can't just decide to stay three thousand miles from home. Come back first, we'l talk about it, then if you stil want to, you can visit him ..."

Her plan sounded reasonable. But that wasn't how Nelson wanted to do it. "No, Mom." He sat up straight. "I'm staying here."

"Nelson!" his mom shouted and went into a rant about how she'd trusted him with the car, yadda, yadda, yadda ... til she asked, "Is Kyle there? Let me speak with him."

Nelson held the receiver out to Kyle. "She wants to talk to you."

Nelson could see the lump in Kyle's throat as he took the phone.

"Hi, Mrs. Glassman. Sorry to wake you.... Yes ... Yes ... I know ... Yes ..."

Nelson leaned forward, trying to imagine the conversation and dreading the worst. Would Kyle cave in to her?

"No, ma'am, he's a very nice young man, the same age as Nelson. I think he'l be good for him.... Yes, I know you do.... I think they'l be fine. I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it.... Yes ... I think that would be great. Okay, I'l put him on. Good night. Sorry to wake you." With a weird grin on his face, he handed the receiver back to Nelson, who covered the mouthpiece, whispering, "What did she say?" When Kyle didn't answer, Nelson put the receiver to his ear. "Yeah?"

"If you're determined to stay out there, then I'm coming to visit."

"What?" Nelson leaned into the phone, stunned. "You'd do that?"

A visit seemed so clingy, so kidlike, but ... He'd missed her, and he'd like for her to meet Manny, and she could bring some of his stuff and ... it suddenly struck him: She was agreeing that he could stay in L.A.

After hanging up the phone, Nelson just sat there, feeling a little dazed. "Wel, I guess this means you guys are going back without me." He walked over to the window and stared at the city lights of ... his new home?

He turned to Kyle and Jason. They stared at him expectantly. He knew he'd miss them like crazy. Yet a surge of excitement coursed through his arteries.

"Woo-hoo!" He leaped onto their bed, snapping his fingers, bouncing Kyle and Jason up and down on the mattress. Then he recaled one more thing he needed to complete this journey.

He jumped from the bed and grabbed Jason's basketbal. "I want you to teach me."

chapter 37.

At first Kyle didn't understand why it was suddenly so important to Nelson to learn basketbal. Only as they walked through the night streets with Nelson jabbering about Manny and asking Jason's advice did it occur to Kyle to ask Nelson, "Does Manny play basketbal?" Nelson answered with a sheepish grin, "Yeah."

At the court Kyle watched Jason patiently walk Nelson through the steps for a right-handed layup, demonstrating each move, while Nelson ran from the bal, covering his head.

But in less than an hour, Nelson scored the first basket of his life. Jason jumped and woo-hooed with him, snapping his fingers too.

And Kyle began to sense that the events on the court were about more than simply Manny. The two boys' interaction had become a parting tribute from Nelson to Jason, and from Jason to Nelson in return; a reconciling between two very different boys who'd become unlikely best friends.

By one that morning Nelson had mastered a fairly decent layup, and Jason offered up finger snaps at every play.

Once back in their hotel, stil hyper with energy and sadness, the boys recaled stories of their trip together. Nelson led them in the steps of Britney's "Boys." And even after they'd turned out the lights they kept talking for another hour before they were finaly wiling to sleep.

Yet at nine next morning Kyle somehow managed to answer the door when Manny showed up with doughnuts.

Nelson puled the bedcovers over his head. "I don't want to scare you away."

But Manny yanked them down, teling him, "No such luck."

"Then I guess I'm staying." Nelson grinned, puffy-eyed from lack of sleep.

"For real?" Manny asked, his voice anxious with hope. "Don't kid me about that. You're realy staying?"

"Yeah." Nelson shrugged. "Be careful what you ask for. My mom's coming to check you out."

"Huh?" Manny said, bewildered.

"Speaking of check out," Kyle reminded everyone. "We need to get moving."

The three of them took turns showering, in between doughnuts and sorting through clothes for what was whose.

In the garage Manny had parked next to the boys' car, and Nelson moved his stuff over.

"Hey!" Jason held up Nelson's dol. "You want your Aladdin?"

"Nah," Nelson told him. "Keep it for good luck!" Then he turned to Manny with a look of sudden recognition. "Did anyone ever tel you you look like Aladdin?"

"Wel ..." Kyle announced to Nelson. "I guess this is it." Except how would he say "Laters" to his best friend ever? Then he remembered that kooky Horn-Boy in Tennessee.

Slowly he placed his hand over Nelson's heart and looked into his blue eyes. "I wish you peace, joy, love, and lots of hot, groovy lovemaking." Then he hugged Nelson, harder than he ever had in his life.

"You're worse than my mother," Nelson exclaimed as he hugged him back.

"I know." Kyle let go, grinning, and trying not to cry. "Don't be surprised if you get a visit from me, too."

"You'd better come visit!" Nelson swung an arm around Kyle again, his own eyes puddling up.

"Take good care of him," Kyle told Manny, giving him a hug too.

And naturaly, Jason also gave them hugs. "Hey, remember!" he told Nelson, as he climbed into the driver's seat and tossed an imaginary basketbal through the open window, emphasizing his folow-through.

"Right, Coach," Nelson saluted. Then he turned to Manny. "Hey, you want to shoot some hoops later?" Everyone waved and Kyle watched through the rear window as Nelson wiped his cheeks. Then Kyle's vision blurred, as tears misted his contacts and he lost it, choking up while Jason held his hand.

An hour later the boys cleared the San Bernardino Mountains, leaving L.A. behind. Jason remarked, "It seems so quiet without him." Kyle knew he meant Nelson, but he thought it wasn't just Nelson's absence that made it so quiet, it was knowing their journey would soon end.

They'd planned a straight shot along I-40, to make it back East in four days. But late that first afternoon, in the middle of Arizona, Jason took an exit onto a deserted side road, explaining, "I have to pee."

A mischievous grin played on his face as he puled the car over, and Kyle was right there with him.

The two quickly stripped off shorts and tops, staring "dare you" into each other's eyes. Then they were running naked through the sandy, scrubby desert as they danced and jumped and shouted "Woo-hoo!"

That night in New Mexico they finaly made love again, beginning a little fiercely, like starved animals, but then their moves became gentler and more tender, holding one another, as if welcoming each other home.

Their second night, when they unloaded their tent in Oklahoma, Kyle came across the can of Nelson's blue corn facial mask. He remembered the little boy Esau and noticed some cream remained inside.

"I pray the little guy's safe and healthy," Kyle told Jason.

"And I pray he's getting big and strong," Jason said. "So someday he can whip his dad's butt."

"In honor of Esau and Nelson ..." Kyle raised the can ceremoniously in the air. Then he turned to Jason. "I think we should use this stuff up." They smeared fingers of icy paste across each other's faces. Kyle's skin tingled as he watched his boyfriend become a primitive-looking tribesman. And as they gazed across their campfire exfoliating, they became possessed with the desire to dance like wacky Faeries, encircling the charcoal flames.

By the third night, in Tennessee, it was raining so hard they decided to splurge on a cheap roadside motel.

"How about that one?" Jason pointed. Next to the highway, a neon sign blinked: MOTEL ROMEO.

Kyle had heard of such places. His cheeks grew warm as he grinned at Jason.

On their motel room bed waited a pair of mints and condoms. Mirrors lined the ceiling. "Just like in Graceland." Kyle laughed.

But after they made love, Kyle felt more sad than happy, knowing this would be their last night together until ... when? In three days he'd leave for Princeton. How could he be certain he and Jason would be able to survive weeks apart? He couldn't. But hadn't they weathered two weeks together and become closer than ever before?

He reached for Jason's hand, recaling what the two older guys had said was their secret. Trust. Communication. And commitment.

On the fourth day they reached I-81 and crossed into Virginia. Late that afternoon they turned into Kyle's driveway, trumpeting the horn as his parents hurried out from the house.

His mom and dad hugged them almost equaly, as though they were both their sons. Kyle's dad helped unload the car, while his mom set out plates steaming with turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, and creamed corn, their first home-cooked meal since New Orleans.

Between ravenous mouthfuls, Kyle and Jason recounted stories from their journey, each filing in where the other left off.

"And the sunrise on the Grand Canyon!" Kyle exclaimed.

"That was so amazing!" Jason continued.

"That's what I was going to say." Kyle grinned.

"I know." Jason smiled back across the table.

And Kyle recaled another table, one with a boot vase ful of flowers during lunch halfway across the continent.

Now he softened his gaze, trying to picture Jason in twenty years, his hair starting to gray and tiny wrinkle lines forming at his eye corners. He imagined their life unfolding as a road before them. And he wondered: Would they one day celebrate their own RV journey?

He realized he was getting ahead of himself again, but every time Jason smiled at him, Kyle couldn't help seeing a lifetime ahead.

Also by Alex Sanchez.

Rainbow Boys.

Rainbow High.

for younger readers.

So Hard to Say.

for more information about ...

organizing a peer group GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) 90 Broad Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004 Phone: (212) 727-0135 Fax: (212) 727-0245 www.glsen.org (Please visit this Web site to find the chapter in your region.) The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to ensure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN believes that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students, and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike.

GLSEN recognizes that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities, and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.

GLSEN combats the harassment and discrimination leveled against students and school personnel. GLSEN creates learning environments that affirm the inherent dignity of all students, and, in so doing, teaches them to respect and accept all of their classmates-regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. GLSEN believes that the key to ending anti-gay prejudice and hate-motivated violence is education. And it's for this reason that GLSEN brings together students, educators, families, and other community members-of any sexual orientation or gender identity/expression-to reform America's educational system.

GLSEN's student organizing project provides support and resources to youth in even the most isolated of places, supporting students as they form and lead gay-straight alliances-helping them to change their own school environments from the inside out. A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is a school-based, student-led, noncurricular club organized to end anti-gay bias and homophobia in schools and create positive change by making schools welcoming, supportive, and safe places for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSAs help eliminate anti-gay bias, discrimination, harassment, and violence by educating school communities about homophobia and the lives of youth, and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and their heterosexual allies.

issues with parents PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays 1726 M. Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 467-8180 Fax: (202) 467-8194 www.pflag.org (Please visit this Web site to find the chapter in your region.) Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons and their families and friends through support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. PFLAG is a national nonprofit organization with a membership of over 80,000 households and more than 440 affiliates worldwide. This vast grassroots network is developed, resourced, and serviced by the PFLAG national office, located in Washington, D.C., the national Board of Directors, and the Regional Directors' Council. The parents, families, and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity, and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize, this vision.

violence and hate crimes against gays and lesbians The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects 240 West 35th Street, Suite 200 New York, NY 10001 Phone: (212) 714-1184 Fax: (313) 714-3627 Bilingual hotline based in the New York area: (212) 714-1141 www.avp.org (Please visit this Web site to find a branch and phone contact for your region.) The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation's largest crime-victim service agency for the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities.

For twenty years, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for thousands of victims of bias-motivated violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP educates the public about violence against or within our communities and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people. The NCAVP is the nationwide network of anti-violence projects of which the New York's AVP is a part.

human rights campaign 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036-3278 Phone: (202) 628-4160 or 1-800-777-4723 Fax: (202) 347-5323 www.hrc.org As America's largest gay and lesbian organization, the Human Rights Campaign provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues. The Human Rights Campaign effectively lobbies Congress, mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress, and increases public understanding through innovative education and communication strategies.

HRC is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity, to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.

hiv (human immunodeficiency virus) and aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) Centers for Disease Control CDC-INFO (Formerly known as the CDC National AIDS Hotline) 1-800-CDCINFO (1-800-232-4636) In English and en Espanol www.cdc.gov/hiv/hivinfo/nah.htm The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships.

CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.

Behavioral science has shown that a balance of prevention messages is important for young people. Total abstinence from sexual activity is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection. Despite all efforts, some young people may still engage in sexual intercourse that puts them at risk for HIV and other STDs. For these individuals, the correct and consistent use of latex condoms has been shown to be highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and other STDs. Data clearly show that many young people are sexually active and that they are placing themselves and their partners at risk for infection with HIV and other STDs. These young people must be provided with the skills and support they need to protect themselves.

teen sexuality Advocates for Youth 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 419-3420 Fax: (202) 419-1448 www.advocatesforyouth.org There is much to do to improve adolescent reproductive and sexual health in the United States and in the developing world. Recent declines in teenage pregnancy and childbearing are threatened by growing political battles over adolescent sexuality. Societal confusion over sex and a growing adult cynicism about youth culture further fuel the debate. To date, conservative forces have successfully censored sexuality education in over one-third of American schools, confidential access to contraception is under attack in the United States and routinely withheld from adolescents in the developing world, and adolescent access to abortion is almost a thing of the past. Concurrently, poverty, homophobia, and racism continue to confound the battle against HIV, leaving gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) youth, youth of color, and young people in the developing world particularly vulnerable to infection.

Advocates envisions a time when there is societal consensus that sexuality is a normal, positive, and healthy aspect of being human, of being a teen, of being alive. Advocates for Youth believes that a shift in the cultural environment in which adolescents live-from one that distrusts young people and their sexuality to one that embraces youth as partners and recognizes adolescent sexual development as normal and healthy-will yield significant public health outcomes for youth in the United States and in the developing world. To ultimately have the largest impact on improving adolescent sexual health, Advocates believes its role is to boldly advocate for changes in the environment that will improve the delivery of adolescent sexual health information and services.