"What?" I asked. I have to be hearing this wrong. My mother has to be losing her mind for the millionth time. She hasn't change one bit over the years. Still sporting her now dyed red hair sky high although you can start to see the age in her face. Mom has done an excellent job not putting on more weight. Dad pretty much looks the same except for the small amount of weight he has gained.

"I know this comes as bit of a shock Kyle," she explains. "I just think you spend too much time with Stan."

"He's my best friend mom," I reply in shock. "That is what best friends do. They are around each other all the time!" I watch as my father pats my mother knee to calm her as she shakes her head.

"Kyle," says my father with his face stern. "What your mother is trying to say is this is not natural. For you and Stan to spend so much time together, in school, out of school, the sleepovers. It's getting out of hand." I am so livid I don't even know what to say. I folded my arms not knowing what else to do.

"I disagree," I reply determine to stand up for myself. "Are you going to tell me you don't have a best friend? You can't relate to what I am saying or how I am feeling about this?"

"I have a best friend," replied mom sounding appalled. "Yet we were never the way you are with Stan. I will not have you," she clears her throat. "I will not have you doing gay stuff. You are going to settle down and marry a nice Jewish girl." I frown. We are the only Jewish people in this whole town! Wait, did she say gay stuff?

"Why do you think we would do gay stuff?" I asked clearly confused.

"Look," said my father. "We are not saying that you can't see Stan but no more sleepovers and you can't see him every day."

I scoff. "I will see him almost every day at school."

"We are not going to worry about that since school is almost over," dismissed mom. "I just want to see my little man become a man with a real woman. As long as you stick up underneath Stan that will not happen. You have been single for two years!" Most parents would be glad to have their kids not dating and focusing on studies. What the hell is wrong with them?

"I am not interested in dating at this time and I don't see anything wrong with that," I reply.

"Don't you take that tone with me!" my mother growled. "I have said my peace. You're in my house, under my roof. You are to report here immediately after school."

"I feel like you're punishing me and I didn't do anything wrong!" I stand up screaming.

"Don't yell at your mother!" said dad. "The decision is final, just go to your room." I can't believe this is happening. I go up to my room and see Ike in the hall. He has this guilty look on his face, I sigh.

"What did you do Ike?" I asked.

"Can we go in your room?" he asked. I open my door allowing him to walk in first. I close my door and go sit down at my computer that is to the left next to my closet. I am not sure if I will talk to Stan or Kenny first about the bomb my mom just dropped.

"What's going on?" I asked. Ike was sitting on my bed looking at the floor.

"I think it is my fault mom is um making you not hang out with Stan as much," he said.

"Why would you say that?" I asked.

"I was talking to one of my friends and I think she overheard me. I was talking about the time I saw you and Stan cuddling during one of your sleepovers." I groan.

"Why didn't you just ask me about it if you had a problem with it?" I asked. "Stan was sick. He gets clingy when he is sick. Why where you talking about this anyway?"

"I don't want to talk about it," said Ike with his face turning red.

"Um okay," I replied wanting to dig deeper but I let it go. "I forgive you. I don't have any feelings towards Stan in that way."

"Really?" asked Ike looking at me now.

"Yeah," I replied. "We really are just best friends. Did you think otherwise?"

"Well…" said Ike. "You guys kind of carry on sometimes like you're a couple. You're all flirty and stuff." I laugh because that sounds ridiculous.

"What the hell do you know about flirting?" I asked.

"More than you think," Ike said poking his chest out. I laugh at him. Ike is actually a little shorter than me at 5'6. He likes to wear hair shaggy like Stan's and tends to wear a lot of plaid shirts and ripped jeans. If this was the 90's he would fit the grunge look very well.

"Yeah okay Ike. Anything else? I need to make some phone calls."

"Nope," he replied standing up. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I lied. On the inside I am pissed off. I know Ike didn't mean to do this on purpose so I can't be too mad at him. I sigh again as he closes my door. I click on my computer entering my password before clicking the link to go to Skype. I see Kenny is online and hit the video call button. He answers on the 5th ring.

"Yo,"

"Dude, you're not going to believe the shit that just happened," I said looking at him on the screen. "Can you put on a shirt please."

"What? Does my naked bod turn you on?" Kenny is still just as handsome as ever. Most people are now aware of his beauty thanks to him not wearing his parka all the time. He hasn't shaved in a few days making his stumble very noticeable.

"Kenny, I don't have time for jokes right now. Like seriously, my parents told me I can't hang with Stan."

Kenny goes out of view and comes back with a white tee shirt on. "Are you serious? Why would they say that?"

"They overheard Ike talking about something Stan and I did that was nothing," Kenny raises one eyebrow.

"Like what?"

"That's not important," I replied not wanting to put Stan out there. "The point is they think Stan and I are going to do gay things." I used the finger quotes when I said gay things. Kenny starts laughing so hard I think I see tears in his eyes.

"That is rich man," he said. "Whew, so are you not allowed to talk to him at all?"

"We can talk but I can't do sleepovers anymore and we can't hang out after school or on the weekends."

"Man, have you told Stan yet?"

"I am pretty sure you would have known by now if I had told Stan," I replied. "I think he is working at the junkyard today anyway."

"He is," replied Kenny. "I got this evening off. I hate working there when the weather is warm, hot trash smells disgusting." I almost feel myself wanting to vomit just imagining the smell. "What do you have planned for the summer?"

"Not a damn thing now," I growled. "I was suppose to be hanging out with you guys during your free time."

"Why don't you get a job where we work?" asked Kenny. "I know they're hiring for the summer. Plus, that means you could be around Stan without breaking your mom's rules."

"Fuck her rules," I replied rolling my eyes. "Ken, I seriously don't know if I can handle the smell of hot garbage. You know how I am."

"Alright, just let me know when you are desperate then I guess."

"Whatever," I laughed. I talked with Kenny some more before ending the call. I cut on my TV although I am doing nothing but surfing the net. After some time has passed I am laying on bed reading when I hear my phone ring. I answer knowing who it is already.