Many years later...

"This is the story of my life," Kevin told his wife, Kristin, and kissed her long and hard on the lips. Then he opened a big photo album for her to see. "I'm glad that you're now part of mine," he added. On the first page of the album was a photo of him together with the other five students he was with in the detention room in high school. A bond formed after that incident which created a long and lasting friendship which has been tested by time.

"This picture was taken during my high school graduation. Nick and Jade were still sophomores but they never failed to attend our graduation. There are Brian, Leighanne and Samantha," Kevin pointed to his other friends in the picture. Samantha and Leighanne, who were sitting nearby and munching potato chips only listened to the two.

"My bridesmaids," Kristin laughed as she looked at it.

"It was hilarious when that picture was taken. Everyone was trying to be in front to get the best shot but we ended up falling off towards the photographer. Nick, who thought he got the front all covered, was pushed by the other girls and ended up under the pile when we fell." Kevin laughed at the memory. "Imagine that Brian and I were on top. Poor Nick." He shakes his head.

"It must have been really fun in high school," Kristin looked at the other pictures. Nick always wanted to be the center of every photograph.

"It was fun. We won't trade it for anything else." Samantha told her.

"I never thought that Jade could look so boyish then. Her hair was so short and she always wore baggy clothes." Leighanne added, receiving a replied nod from her friends.

Kevin laughed. "I was grateful that we convinced her to wear a gown for our wedding."

"I heard that," Jade arrived and winked to them. Her fiancee, AJ, followed behind. "I was practicing in wearing a gown since I've already considered marrying AJ even if he doesn't know about it yet."

"I wouldn't allow you to wear pants on our wedding day, Jade. I couldn't imagine explaining it to our grandchildren why their grandmother was wearing the same thing like their grandfather," AJ caught Jade's hand and pulled her down on the nearby couch. They kissed. Samantha and Leighanne rolled their eyes. These two were inseparable since they finally got together.

Kristin looked at her watch. "It's almost dinner. I wonder where Nick and Brian are." She turned to them. "So, you said your friendship started after that fateful day in detention. What happened after that?"

Kevin, Samantha, Leighanne and Jade looked at each other. Memories came back to them during their high school days...



~~~



High school days...

"Oh, please, Sam. You can sleep over in my house," Leighanne pleaded a she bit her lower lip. She clutched her books in her arms as she and her classmate, Samantha, are walking down the corridor. The classes are out for that day and they will be going home then.

"I need to ask my Mom about it first, Leigh."

"Home alone again?" Kevin asked. They didn't notice him and Brian are walking behind them and heard their conversation. Leighanne is inviting Samantha to stay for the weekend because her parents are on a business trip, as usual. She doesn't want to be alone even though there are people working for her parents in which she knew are bound to look out for her while they're gone. She hates being alone in a big house.

"After the detention incident, I felt alone." Leighanne tells them. She felt comfort just merely being surrounded by these people she was with in detention. She trusted them more than the ones she used to go with. The people she called her friends before were now avoiding her. Just because she spent the rest of the day in detention with these people who were branded as geeks and weirdos, they didn't want to be associated with her too. It wasn't her loss anyway. She found her new friends to be greater and more trustworthy than them.

"Your followers ditched you?" Kevin smirked. He looks like the typical football jock but he's more into academics. He's the president of the senior class, apart from his brothers who graduated before him and established a legendary name in the high school football team.

Brian chuckled too, but he didn't say anything. Leighanne blushed. She loves the attention she's getting from him. They always teased them together but she didn't mind. She actually likes him, a lot more than anyone thinks. He's the epitome of the man she wants, the one who is serious with his life and the one who knows what he wants in his life. He amazed her in many simple ways.

"I ditched them. They don't want to be with me anymore when they learned that I bonded with you." She smiled. They are outside of the school building and now walking across the lawn towards the main street.

"I'm right then," Samantha concluded. "They just wanted to be with you because you do modeling. They have hopes of getting a break if they are associated with you but when you chose to be with us, they're more concerned of their reputation here in school." She shakes her head.

"Hi," Jade suddenly came from nowhere and put an arm on Samantha's shoulders. The four turned to her. They also saw her friend, Nick, coming their way. These two sophomores won't leave them alone since detention. They always seem to came from nowhere and accompany them wherever they go. Kevin sighed, but he's amused. He looked at them like younger siblings he never had.

"Wow, Leigh. I love your new do. Where did you have your hair done?" Nick exclaimed as soon as he gets near them. The seniors stopped as the two sophomores now begin to do their thing of asking them about anything they could think of. They're always full of energy.

Leighanne laughed. "Yesterday. I modeled for a brand of shampoo and they gave me an amazing new hairstyle to match with the project they had for a commercial. I can refer you to the hairstylist, if you want."

"No, it's okay. I'm fine with my hair." Nick ran his fingers through his soft blonde hair in vain. Brian shakes his head. It's really a waste that this young man is gay. If only he's straight, he can attract girls without any effort. "By the way, I made some pasta last night. I invite all of you to come over my place and try it. I just had this amazing discovery called mozzarella and parmesan cheese," he and Jade chuckled, "and I'd like you to have the first taste."

"You love cooking, Nick?" Samantha asked.

"I intend to be a chef someday." Nick pulled Samantha and Leighanne with him. The two women were trying to make fun of his hair. When he raised his arm to avoid their hands, his three-fourths sleeve moved higher and they saw a mark on it. He didn't notice it as he continues to laugh. Kevin and Brian looked at each other but didn't say anything.

Jade, on the other hand, is concerned about her best friend. "Your dad hurt you again?"

The three stopped at her question. Nick smiled bitterly. "Do I have a choice if I'm more in touch with my feminine side?"

Jade rolled her eyes. "You should not allow him to do that to you!" She went to him to pull down his raised sleeve. The others only watched them, looking like lovers in quarrel. It's just that Jade is overly concerned for her best friend's sake.

"Jade...we've already talked about this."

"And I said that you should have reported what you're dad's been doing this to you. You don't deserve this just because you're gay."

Nick's jaw clenched. "Let's drop this, okay? He's still my father. He just won't understand but someday, he will. He will be proud of me." With that, he shakes his head and walked ahead, still inviting them to come over his place to taste his pasta.