Protests and Proposals

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

I

“YOU can’t say things like that. Jesus!” “You called?” Leo glared at his partner. “That’s not funny. Especially in light of what just happened.” “They were asking for it,” Paul said dismissively. “Don’t start.” Leo tried to count to ten before he said anything more; putting the keys into the ignition helped calm him. Unfortunately, Paul continued speaking and interrupted his search for inner peace. “They were! I mean, there we were, innocently minding our own business—” “We were protesting.” Could Leo make it any more obvious?

2

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “Anyway, they just came along and started berating us—” “Talking to us.” Leo had felt that the other group had actually been very polite. Annoyingly so, in fact. It was hard to hate your enemies when they put on such a pleasant façade. “Berating us. Haranguing us. So I think I was justified in defending us.” “You’re just lucky the cops didn’t come along.” Leo finally turned over the engine, and their car roared to life. “What could they do? Arrest me for having an opinion?” Paul settled his feet on the dash and drummed his fingers against his knees. A nervous habit, although he was likely still just running off adrenaline from the protest and the subsequent confrontation. “Arrest you for yelling, creating a public nuisance—” Leo threw the car into gear, and they were off. “It was a protest!” “You can’t have it both ways, you know.” “Fine, take their side.” “I’m not taking anyone’s side. And take your feet off the dashboard!” Paul scowled at him. “Really?” “Really what?”

3

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “You’re not taking their side?” Leo sighed. “Yes, I have suddenly become a conservative Christian fundamentalist.” “Wouldn’t surprise me.” “You’re just trying to annoy me now. You can’t expect me just to automatically agree with you on everything—” “On this issue, yes, I should be able to!” “But—” “They’re trying to take away our rights! And you expect me just to shut up and—” “And I do believe in this issue. But we were there to protest the Mormons because of all the money they donated. You were harassing the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” “Really?” “Really.” “One and the same, so what?” “There are vast differences between them.” Leo peered ahead at the traffic before them. “Blah blah blah. When someone’s trying to trample your rights into the ground, they all blend in to one another.” “Well, one difference is that they didn’t vote against us or for us. It’s against their faith.”

4

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “They’re still not fans of the gays, though. And they weren’t at the protest to help us. All you had to do was read their signs.” Paul was honestly flummoxed that Leo couldn’t see the obvious. “You just didn’t make the situation any better.” “Well, it’s past the time to sit back and be polite.” “How sweet.” Leo snickered, although not unkindly. “You’re my little own Che Guevara. Can I put your portrait on a retro poster for you to be idolized by college students worldwide?” “Don’t make fun of me.” “I’m not making fun of you.” With one hand still on the wheel, Leo reached over and grasped his partner’s hand. “I think you’re adorable.” “Great, now you’re being patronizing.” Paul tried to pull his hand away, but Leo wasn’t having it. “No, I’m not, Norma Rae.” Leo laughed to himself at the thought of Paul jumping onto a table with sign in hand, a captive audience below him. Except that Paul would then be more likely to jump down and start…. “I said to shut it!” “What are you going to do, whack me with your sign like you did the Jehovahs?” Yeah, Paul would definitely be the antithesis to Norma Rae, smiting people with the “union” sign rather than making a peaceful statement.

5

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “It was a tap, not a whack!” Paul managed to finally extricate his hand from Leo’s and buried both of them deep within the pockets of his jeans. “Good thing no photographers captured that touching Hallmark moment.” “You’re right. Lucky no cops were there to arrest me, no cameramen to photograph me, nor a frustrated artist to paint my moment of shame. Give me a break!” “Okay then.” Leo started to count to ten silently again, waiting for Paul to start again. He didn’t even make it to four. “Just….” “What?” “Nothing.” Paul glared out the window. “Now you give me a break. What?” “Fine.” Paul turned back to look at him earnestly. “I just wish you’d show some passion about something. That it wasn’t just me out there making a fool of myself. I’d like you to show that you care.” “I do care.” “Then show it! Just don’t say it.” “I was there, wasn’t I? Isn’t that showing you?” “It’s not enough.”

6

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy Glad that they were almost home, Leo gave in. “Fine. I’ll tell you what, at the next protest, next weekend, I’ll personally whack another right-winger. Just to prove to you that I care.” “Thank you,” Paul said, satisfied. “Nobody else annoys me like you do.” “The feeling’s mutual, believe me.” “That’s why we have to be in love,” Leo said, grinning. This finally got a smile out of Paul. “We are.” Leo pulled into their drive, and Paul gave a small sigh. “What was that for?” “I’m just wondering what will be next. Take away our marriages, then maybe they’ll outlaw us again. Freeze our bank accounts so we’re powerless and then round us up?” “You’ve been watching too much V For Vendetta.” “Oh, laugh it up. You’ll be wishing you listened to me when you’re in your cell.” “In all likelihood you’ll be there to constantly remind me. Or we’ll be dead. Even then, I won’t be getting any peace.” “Jerk,” Paul said, his lips twitching. “Drama queen,” Leo shot back.

7

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy They threw themselves at each other, their lips meeting roughly, but even though the kisses were true they didn’t last long before both of them dissolved into laughter. They broke away to wipe tears from their eyes. Leo’s diaphragm was aching from laughing so hard. “Seriously,” Paul said when he regained enough breath. “That was some protest.” “Yeah, it was pretty good.” “You’ll really come again with me next week?” “I said I would. And I meant it.” Paul leaned in to kiss Leo again, this time more tender. “I love you. That’s why this is getting to me. I feel like….” He drifted off, lost for words for the first time that day. Leo stroked the side of his jaw as if to calm him. “By them telling us we can’t get married, it’s like they’re telling us our love means nothing. That what we feel isn’t real in comparison.” “Yes,” Paul said softly, barely above a murmur. “It might take time,” Leo assured him. “But we’ll get it. Don’t let what those bastards think change what you feel.” “I won’t,” Paul said. “And I don’t.” “Good. Because nothing anybody else says will ever change the way I feel about you.”

8

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “I like you so much better when you’re mushy.” Paul grinned. “It does make me pretty damn irresistible.” “Especially when combined with your natural modesty.” “It helps balance us out.” Leo ran his fingers through Paul’s hair. “Stop dwelling on these worst-case scenario possibilities. They do nothing good for you.” “I’ll try. I can’t promise anything.” But when Leo kissed him again, those worst-case scenarios were the last thing on his mind.

9

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

II

“LEO! Paul!” A group of their friends rested beneath the shade of a tree where they had arranged to meet at the corner of Fifth and Maple. Leo pointed them out to Paul, who was staring in the wrong direction, and they made their way over. “Hot enough for you?” Rick asked, fanning himself with a protest sign. “It’s God sending us his approval,” snickered Miguel. “I’d have preferred God sent us some clouds.” Leo shrugged. “I can’t believe Leo let you out of the house again after your shenanigans last week,” Rick said to Paul, playfully shoving him with his hip. Paul almost stumbled but regained his balance and frowned. “It’s not like he’s my lord and master.”

10

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy The other men hooted. “Sure he’s not.” “Better watch out,” Mark told Rick. “I’ve heard he’s going to tape a brick behind his sign this time. Just to be prepared.” “You’re all so fucking funny.” Paul grimaced unhappily. Leo hugged him from behind and kissed his cheek. “Don’t listen to them, baby.” Paul was still frowning as Miguel handed him a sign. “Let’s get this show on the road.” All of them were heartened by the fact that the marchers were more impressive in number than the previous week. Rather than waning, it seemed that people’s desire for justice was growing. Unfortunately it also meant that the groups protesting them had grown as well, especially now that rumors were filtering through about the State Supreme Court getting involved to overthrow the recent vote. “Think of all the money they’re spending to try and stop us,” Paul said bitterly. “If they were true Christians, they could use it to feed the homeless or something more worthwhile. What a fucking waste.” “No use getting up on your soapbox,” Leo told him. “You’re preaching to the converted here.” “I’m allowed to complain if I want to,” Paul muttered. Leo stroked the back of his neck as they walked along. “Sure you are.”

11

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “I don’t mean to be so….” Paul fumbled for words for a moment and then shrugged helplessly. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I know I’ve been a moody shit lately. This is the first time in a while that I’ve felt personally attacked and rejected for what I am. It makes me feel helpless, and I hate that.” Leo just let him speak, wanting him to get it all out. “I mean, I haven’t felt this low about myself since I was in junior high. I thought I was all over that. So this makes me feel like I’m actually doing something instead of just accepting that it’s ‘how things are’. Otherwise I would just sit at home and feel like they’re out to get me and be resentful of everyone, whether they’re helping or just ignoring the issue.” Leo pulled him off to the side of the road to allow the rest of the marchers to continue past them unobstructed. Paul allowed himself to be led, a pleading look in his eyes. “Do you get it?” “Yeah.” Leo nodded, his throat dry with a sudden swell of emotion overcoming him. “I understand.” In fact, he understood even more than he did last week on the car ride home. “Really?” “Yes, I totally get it.” Paul stared at Leo’s hand, which now crept up to rest gently upon his shoulder. “Uh, what are you doing?”

12

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “I was just thinking how amazing you were. Plus, how much I love you.” “Did you get into the liquor cabinet before we left the house?” “Hey, I’m being serious now. Do you get it?” “I get it, I get it.” Paul rolled his eyes. “I’m amazing.” Leo’s hand cuffed him around the ear. “Hey!” “What?” “Why do you always act like I’m joking when I tell you I love you?” “I don’t think you’re joking,” Paul protested. “But don’t you think this conversation would be better at home?” Leo peered around him to observe the crowd that was still making its way up the street. “No, I think it’s perfect.” “Okay, maybe you’re not drunk. You’re just going crazy.” “Oh, I am crazy,” Leo agreed. “Just not in the way you think.” Paul dropped his sign upon the ground. “Okay, what are you getting at, exactly?” “There you are!” Miguel suddenly appeared from behind Paul, having backtracked through the crowd to find them. Leo sighed with exasperation, especially when Mark ran up to them as well.

13

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “What are you guys doing?” “We’re having a moment here,” Leo explained brusquely. “A moment?” Mark echoed. “A strange moment,” Paul clarified. “We’re going to miss the speeches,” Miguel reminded them. Mark waved his hand dismissively. “Rah rah, equality for all, blahdy blah.” Miguel socked him on the shoulder, his mouth a perfect ‘O’ in shock. “Will you two go away?” Leo asked brusquely. “You can’t even tell which one is the cranky one these days,” Miguel said in an aside to Mark. “I was about to send out a search party!” cried another voice. “Oh, great.” Leo fumed as Rick sidled up to them. “Now the gang’s all here.” “What are you all doing?” Rick asked. “They’re having a fight about something,” Miguel accused, pointing at Leo and Paul. “Again?” Rick said, like it was nothing new. And to him, it seemed that way.

14

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “They’re having a moment.” Mark snickered, turning Leo’s words back on him. “I am trying to propose to my boyfriend!” Leo yelled. That got everybody’s attention. Frozen in a perfectly staged tableau of surprise, it was a few moments before anybody could speak. Including Leo, and especially Paul. “Speaking for everyone else,” Mark said, “What?” “Shut up, Mark,” Paul said hurriedly, his eyes on Leo. “But, yeah, what?” “It wasn’t meant to come out that way.” Leo groaned. Miguel laughed and received a dig in the ribs on both sides from Mark and Rick. Paul’s tone was very low and controlled as he asked, “What way was it meant to come out then?” “Do you want me to be all traditional?” Leo gestured to the ground. “Should I get down on one knee?” This only brought another muffled laugh from Miguel and another dig in the ribs from his friends. “Oh, come on!” he cried out, wincing. “That was just begging for—” “Do you mind?” Leo snapped. “You’re ruining the moment!” “Sorry,” Miguel said, abashed. “Continue.”

15

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy Leo sighed and looked back at Paul, hoping for some sign of help. Paul nodded. “Continue.” Leo took a deep breath. “I didn’t know that I would be the first one to say this—” Mark couldn’t resist. “Neither did we.” “I always thought it would be Paul too,” Rick agreed. Exasperated, Paul grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled him away from their interfering friends. They sheltered in the shade underneath a tree. Leo was sweating, and it wasn’t just from the heat. The moment had overtaken him. It wasn’t like he had left the house this morning after a week of planning with two rings burning a hole in his pocket. In fact, that kind of thought had been the furthest thing from his mind. He thought they had everything all figured out; he knew they were committed to each other and just assumed that they would just coast along from there. But when he had stood with Paul before him, he knew it was right. And he knew he wanted to say it, and to receive a yes in return. His life stretched ahead of him, and he couldn’t do it without Paul. “Go on,” Paul said, searching for some sort of response from Leo, not letting go of his hand. “I’ve been kind of stupid,” Leo continued, after heavily swallowing. “I never really thought of marriage, and how

16

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy important it was until we had it and then it was taken away again.” Paul ducked his head slightly so he could give a warning glare to their nosy friends gathering behind Leo’s shoulder. “I guess I never did either.” “Seeing how important it was to you made me realize how much it meant to me as well. Because honestly, I can’t imagine the rest of my life without you in it.” “Wow,” Paul whispered. “This is pretty full on for you, you know.” Leo grinned. “I know. I think in the face of things like this—” he gestured to the protest still milling around and past them, “it’s time to get over the small crap and focus on the future.” “Leo,” Paul said firmly. “Yes?” “Marry me.” Leo laughed. “That’s what I was going to ask you!” “Then ask me,” Paul shrugged. “But you just did!” “And you didn’t answer me.” Leo pulled him in closer. “Yes, I will marry you.”

17

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy Before their friends could react, Paul’s arms slipped around Leo’s waist. “Now ask me.” “Paul,” Leo said, unable to wipe the smile off his face even if he wanted to. “Marry me.” “That wasn’t a question, but yes.” “Can we yell now?” Miguel asked, his hands clasped and his eyes as wide as an anime character. Not taking his eyes off Leo, Paul smiled. “Yes.” The cheers and congratulations that flowed around them soon caught the attention of other marchers. Word spread, and the happy couple quickly became the focus of more attention than they could have possibly ever wanted. Especially when a local news team, sniffing out the change in atmosphere, came over to find out what all the ruckus was. “We didn’t do this to end up on a news bulletin,” Leo said weakly when questioned by the reporter. “But while we’re here,” Paul said quickly, facing the camera head-on and directing the audience at home. “Overturn Prop 8! Let us get hitched like everybody else! Equality now!” The reporter’s next question was drowned out by the cheers of the surrounding crowd.

18

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “Come on,” Leo said in an aside to Paul. “That’s enough show-ponying for now. Let’s do our civic duty and ensure that this will happen one day.” “There can never be enough show-ponying.” Paul laughed. Miguel was shaking his head as they made their way over to join the others. “You two are nuts.” “But congratulations on getting the word out in the quickest and biggest way,” Rick said dryly. “Drinks are on us later,” Paul said, “but right now we’ve got some marching to do.” “What he said.” Leo slung his sign over his shoulder again and reached for Paul’s hand once more. “You know,” he murmured in his partner’s ear, “that’s going to look damn good with a ring on it.” Paul looked down at the hand that was entwined in his. “They both will.” “They should have been handing out vomit bags at this rally,” Mark groaned. “These two are sickening.” “You’re just jealous,” Miguel told him. “I can get married too if I want to.” Mark shrugged. “Hey, Rick, marry me?” “Get fucked,” Rick said, rolling his eyes.

19

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “Is that an offer?” Mark batted his eyelids, so ridiculously fey that even Rick had to laugh. “So much for the sanctity of marriage.” Leo laughed. “Well, maybe they’ll prove that us homos can be just as bad at marriage as the heteros are,” Paul teased. “Couldn’t be any worse, at least,” Miguel agreed. As they rounded the corner that led to the park where the rally was congregating, they immediately saw the counter-protest had taken up its position. The signs proclaimed hate and rage and misery, and although Paul still felt the same potent and justifiable anger beginning to burn within him, he was able to control it better this time. As he and Leo marched past the Proposition 8 supporters, their shouts and jeers becoming a cacophony without sense or meaning, Paul made sure that he stared them down. But he wasn’t tempted to engage them in fruitless argument this weekend. Leo’s hand tightened its grip on his. “Are you okay?” “Yeah,” Paul said in all honesty. “Really?” “Really.” “Why the change?” Paul stared at him in amazement. “You have to ask that?” At Leo’s surprised look, he groaned, but continued.

20

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy “Everything’s different this week. It wasn’t like I didn’t have hope before, but today—” “You have hope?” “I think everything changes eventually. And we may have lost this time, but we won’t lose forever.” “So you haven’t lost that Norma Rae spirit?” “Hell, no!” Paul laughed, hoisting his sign up higher in the air. “You aren’t getting out of marrying me that easily now that you’ve proposed.” Leo kissed him with a grand gesture. “Don’t forget you proposed to me as well.” Paul kissed him again, slower, sweeter. “I’ll never forget.” As the squawk of a microphone being turned on reverberated around the park, it sounded like the oddest of wedding marches.

21

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

III

“AND in local news, a protest for gay marriage was brought to a standstill when one protestor picked a novel way to propose to his partner of seven years….” “Look at that,” Paul teased from where he sat on the couch watching the screen with Leo. “Now who’s the drama queen?” Leo shrugged. “Don’t worry, baby, you still hold the honors.” “Damn straight, future husband.” Paul laughed as their landline and cells began ringing madly at the same time with well-wishes. “Now pass the popcorn. We’ll let the machine pick up.”

22

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

“When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him.”

—Bayard Rustin

23

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

SEAN KENNEDY lives in the second-most isolated city in the world, so it’s just as well he has his imagination for company when real-life friends are otherwise occupied. He has far too many ideas and wishes he had the power to feed them directly from his brain into the laptop so they won’t get lost in the ether.

Visit Sean’s blog at http://kennsea.livejournal.com/.

24

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

25

Protests and Proposals ♥ Sean Kennedy

Protests and Proposals ©Copyright Sean Kennedy, 2009 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design by Mara McKennen This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America June, 2009

26