<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 18px">
<div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg&amp;hash=c09805a1b78960f0d10acd02eb20a1fd" title="0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg">
<img alt="0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg&amp;hash=c09805a1b78960f0d10acd02eb20a1fd" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="" title="" width=""/>
<noscript><img alt="0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F0a8e29beee54491024dbc900f6bf7978.jpg&amp;hash=c09805a1b78960f0d10acd02eb20a1fd" style="" title="" width=""/></noscript>
</div>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"></span></span>​</div><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><br/>
While Gabriel was nibbling at the remainder of what was left on his plate, he was trying to figure out which team Jaxon Pierce was batting for. There was a slight measure of disappointment when some of Jaxon's answers definitely revealed that he was straight, which was the news that he was dreading. It was usually the straight male fear of homosexuality that always put a damper on getting to know him on a deeper level as a gay male, that became problematic for Gabriel.<br/>
<br/>
It wasn't the first time, and probably wouldn't be the last time he was friends with a heterosexual man. Most of the time, his straight male friends would fret that if they got too close to him, other people would see them as gay; which in their minds meant effeminate, weak, and perverted. Perhaps even scarier was that the emotional connection between them would somehow magically morph into sexual attraction.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel could only turn on the television to see how gay men were suffering physical, social, and psychological abuse at the hands of heterosexually identified males who, thanks to homophobia and heterosexism, felt fully justified to inflict these terrors. A legacy of physical and psychological violence inflicted by straight men toward gay men naturally fueled Gabriel's caution and distrust at the thought of befriending Jaxon and his friends. <br/>
<br/>
He tried to shake the feeling of unease in order to trade it in for the soothing balm gay guys used when forming a close friendship with a heterosexual man. Acceptance, and yes love, from a guy who obviously wasn't interested in him sexually but accepted his sexuality could begin to heal the abuse he had experienced from bullying peers, and society.<br/>
<br/>
For Jaxon, friendship with Gabriel offered him the opportunity to learn an important lesson about masculinity, male identity, sexual orientation, and diversity. Since there was a significant payoff for both men, Gabriel didn't make an excuse to leave the table and vanish into nothingness.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sure we'll both learn a lot about each other. Besides I need someone to laugh at my straight guy jokes." Gabriel replied with a poker face, which crumbled when he started laughing.<br/>
<br/>
His own friends would probably think Gabe was nuts, and in the past they said stuff to Gabriel that sounded like this: <i>He's just going to wind up hurting you, Gabriel. If you have to swallow your feelings for him everytime you're around him, its just not worth it. Ok, so you like the guy but he's straight. Sorry to break your heart but he's not likely to change his mind. I once spent 4 years chasing after a really sweet friend of mine who knew I was gay but was completely oblivious to my feelings for him. Eventually he got a girlfriend and I knew I had to let go. How? Step 1: Find a hobby you can do without him. Video games, exercise, (morning runs are nice) learn to cook, buy a cheap guitar, etc. Step 2: Expand your social circle so that he isn't the center of your world. The best way is to join social groups in your community. Sports, art, theater, music, hobby clubs, volunteering, etc. You may have to work a bit to find him but it's worth it. Step 3: Be patient. The downside of being gay is that we have fewer partners to choose from. Realize that it may take time to find a guy who can love you back</i>.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I sure could use some new friends, Jaxon." Gabriel replied, dousing water over the flaming words his friends that he could still hear echoing in his ears.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel was sipping his lemonade, and listening to Jaxon talk about his brother. "What's your brother's name? Are you older or younger than him?" asked Gabriel.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm the oldest in my family. My brother Francisco is twenty, and my sister Araceli is seventeen. I'm usually trying to teach them something. Frankie likes music, he wants to become a producer. Cely she is just into boys now. Everything is boys." he chuckled.<br/>
<br/>
Since they were talking about music anyway, Gabriel added to the lively conversation as Kiv stirred under the table. His cousin, Miguel, had come back outside to provide refills as needed and to clear away any extra plates on the table that were in the way.<br/>
<br/>
"Everything was great cousin, let Fernando know and give him my compliments." Gabriel replied to Miguel.<br/>
<br/>
Kiv's wet nose met his hand under the table. Gabriel couldn't help it, but he loved to sneak a treat to his own pets, and a piece of flank steak couldn't possibly hurt Jaxon's dog, especially since it wasn't spicy. After the Belgian Malinois snapped up the tiny peace offering, Gabriel gave his furry head a few pats under the table. Gabriel enjoyed going to concerts, and wondered why Jaxon didn't care for them, but his answer was explanation enough.<br/>
<br/>
"What about small venues, live bands in a small crowd? Would that be better? It would kind of be like listening to the mariachi music right now." Gabriel asked, curious to know.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel's lips formed a happy smile when Jaxon complimented his mother's establishment once more. "Thank you for coming out tonight, Jaxon. And sorry you have to see me like this. I think I should be better looking the next time you see me," he winked, teasing him a little.<br/>
<br/>
Gabriel smirked, softly snorting at the assumption he couldn't line dance. "Well, I don't mean to brag or anything, but I want to let you know that I can line dance very well, Mr. Pierce. Maybe you should invite me out dancing some time. If there's any lack of skills, I'm sure you can teach me a thing or two. Then maybe I can show you some of my <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Da8CVEROeWPg&amp;hash=135adb3a8af6c768a36512e8a6546337" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8CVEROeWPg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"><i>cumbia wepa</i></a> moves." Gabriel said with a proud grin.<br/>
<br/>
There was one thing for certain, Gabriel Alcantara grew up on a different end of the spectrum compared to his all-American counterpart. Jaxon Pierce would soon come to realize that there was rampant racism, homophobia and overt ignorance in the Horizon City, and perhaps amongst his own friends. Miguel thanked Jaxon for his service to the country and for coming to Picaduras for veteran's night, hoping he would come again or more frequently with his service dog, Kiv. The check for Jaxon's portion of the meal was left on the table with the discount attached.<br/>
<br/>
"I am absolutely stuffed, I don't know about you Jaxon." he grinned, eyes sparkling despite the nasty bruises underneath.<br/>
<br/>
"This was fun. I hope you'll come back to Picaduras and eat and have a great time. And yes, I will be at your barbeque with a dish. I won't forget, four o'clock sharp. I still have your address."<br/>
<br/>
As he wished Jaxon goodnight, it occurred to Gabriel that a week seemed like such a long time from now. Although their friendship was in the preliminary stages, Gabriel sure wished Jaxon was gay, or felt some kind of attraction for him the way Gabriel was beginning to feel for him.</span></span>