Love, Victor

Dear Simon,

you don't know me, but my family just moved to Atlanta,

and today was my first day at Creekwood High,

and I heard all about you.

How you started messaging with another secretly gay kid at Creekwood.

How you wound up making a crazy romantic declaration of love.

And how you had your first big kiss on the Ferris wheel

in front of the whole school.

And I just want to say...

screw you.

Screw you for having the world's most perfect, accepting parents.

The world's most supportive friends.

Because for some of us, it's not that easy.

I can't believe that 24 hours ago,

I was actually looking forward to having a fresh start at Creekwood.

That I thought I'd finally get the chance to be myself.

Or at least... figure out who that even is.

‐ Okay, this is it, Salazars. Our beautiful new home.

‐ Ooh, Armando, it looks nice.

What a great building.

I think we're gonna be really happy here. ‐ Yeah, right?

I miss you so much.

I would crawl back to Texas on broken glass

just to have five more minutes with you.

‐ Pilar, say goodbye to your boyfriend.

I'm trying to have a nice family moment here.

‐ My kidnappers are making me hang up. Send help.

‐ Hey, can you cheer up?

Maybe Atlanta won't be so bad.

‐ Mom and Dad made me move a thousand miles away

from the love of my life.

If you had a girlfriend, you'd understand.

‐ Yeah. Yeah, you're probably right.

Ah, so you're gonna do the wiring for all these old buildings?

‐ Oh, not do the wiring, flaco. Oversee it.

Middle management, baby.

‐ Congratulations! What a great gig.

‐ Uh, thanks? I saw you guys pull in.

Hi, I'm your new upstairs neighbor, Felix.

If you guys need a cup of milk, I'm your guy.

‐ I really need to pee right now. Oh. Yeah.

‐ Oh. Small bladder. I feel that, man.

So, you guys going to Creekwood?

‐ Yeah. Uh, Pilar's a freshman, and I'm Victor, a sophomore.

‐ Awesome. I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven.

‐ Okay.

‐ Oh. And I got a little something for us to keep in touch.

‐ Um, can't we just text?

‐ Ah. But where's your sense of whimsy?

‐ 'Kay. You ready?

Aah? Aah? ‐ Oh, my God!

Mi amor. ‐ Yes? You like it?

‐ I do, I do. ‐ What'd I tell you?

Nice sunlight. Oh, this is great.

You know, Simon,

most kids would hate changing schools midyear because their dad got a new job.

But honestly, I was excited to start over.

It's not like my life back in Texas was so terrible.

There just wasn't a lot of room to be different.

‐ Look, you guys. Ethan's got a salad instead of ribs.

You're like my Aunt Karen.

He's Aunt Ethan.

And if you were different,

it was so much easier to pretend that you weren't.

‐ You are so stylish.

You have to let me set you up with my sister.

‐ Oh! You're so sweet.

But things are so busy at the salon right now.

‐ Well, okay. Well, let me know if you change your mind.

‐ Hey, he's a little, I don't know, but he seems a little flojito.

‐ Stop it! ‐ I don't know. I'm just saying.

I don't know. Whatever.

But I figured here, in a big, diverse city,

people would be more accepting.

And maybe I'd finally have the chance to figure out who I really am.

At school, at least.

‐ If I were Jesus, where would I want to be to watch over this family?

‐ Probably not nailed to a cross.

‐ Good morning, everyone.

‐ Good morning. Hey.

Happy first day of school, flaco.

‐ Who is that?

‐ Hey. I couldn't remember if we said seven, or 7:15.

‐ So you showed up at 6:45?

‐ 6:40. I stood outside your door for five minutes before knocking.

I didn't want to seem too eager.

‐ Okay.

Man, you're lucky.

I would kill to be the new kid at school.

‐ What? Why?

‐ The whole world is your oyster.

New school, you can be whoever you wanna be.

The rest of us had our destinies determined years ago. Take me.

First day of fifth grade, I got hit in the crotch playing dodge ball,

and this jackass named Andrew started a rumor saying I lost a testicle.

Ever since then, they called me "Lone Stone."

I mean, now it's hilarious. I've reclaimed it, but...

for a while there, it really hurt.

But the point is, you are blank canvas.

Today, you paint the brush strokes that define who you want to be.

So, who are you, Victor?

Welcome to Creekwood!

So, who do you have first period?

‐ I don't know. I think I'm supposed to meet with the vice principal

and get my schedule. Is, is he cool, or‐‐

‐ Oh, well‐‐ ‐ She's very cool. Hi.

Hi. ‐ I am Ms. Albright. Vice Principal.

‐ Hi. ‐ Head to class, Lone Stone.

All right.

‐ Uh, Victor Salazar. The new kid.

‐ Oh. Well, I'm new, too, as vice principal.

Just got promoted from drama teacher.

‐ Wow, that's a big promotion.

‐ Thanks. The old VP, Mr. Worth,

decided to go to India, you know, to find his bliss,

and got bit by a monkey. Look. Yikes.

Oh, my God. ‐ Now he's in quarantine in Delhi

until further notice, so here I am. Vice Principal.

‐ Well, um, congrats. ‐ Thanks.

Let me take you to your locker. Pull up your pants, Brian!

So, um, you make any friends?

‐ Uh, yeah, yeah. Just, just Felix.

‐ Oh, okay. Well, you gotta start somewhere, right?

You know, the Winter Carnival's tonight, so maybe you'll meet your crew there.

‐ Maybe. ‐ Hey, hey, hey.

Don't dismiss the power of the winter carnival.

Good things happen there.

You know, my favorite Winter Carnival story belongs to Simon Spier.

‐ Uh, who's that?

‐ Well, he's kind of a Creekwood legend, you know?

He made a big declaration of love

to this mystery guy he'd been texting and emailing.

And then he rode the Ferris wheel 'round and 'round

until the guy showed up.

And then, in front of the whole school, they had their first kiss.

Aw.

Mm.

Your locker's over here.

‐ Thanks. So, um,

you know, people here are cool with that?

You know, him being...

‐ Gay? Yeah. Oh, they cheered. It was...

It was beautiful.

You know, it reminded me of my first kiss,

which was also with a gay boy.

Where's your backpack? You're at school.

I couldn't believe it.

Creekwood seemed even more accepting that I'd dreamed.

‐ Hi, new kid.

‐ Uh, whoa. Hi. What are you doing?

‐ Taking a picture for my new Creek Secrets post about the new kid.

Name?

‐ Victor Salazar.

‐ Well, give me some deets.

Where are you from? Why'd you move? Are you cuffed?

‐ Cuffed? ‐ Locked down.

‐ I, I'm sorry. I really don't‐‐

‐ In a relationship. Did you move here from 1984?

‐ Easy, Lake.

Hey, maybe let the new kid open his locker before shoving a camera in his face.

Hi, I'm Mia.

‐ Victor.

‐ Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about her.

‐ No, it's cool. No one's really been that excited to take my picture

since my mom used me as a model for her piano lesson flier, so...

‐ Wow. You were a piano lesson model.

‐ Oh, yeah. Yeah. Check this out.

‐ Wait, uh, why is the piano the same height as your face?

‐ Well, you see, it's a standing piano,

so it's good for my back. Yeah. Oh.

‐ Okay, well, hi. Hi.

Still waiting for my answer.

Is there a girl back home, or...?

Here was my chance.

All I had to do was tell these open‐minded city kids I'm still...

figuring out that department.

But instead, I said...

Nope. No girl back in Texas.

‐ Mm. So do mess with Texas. Got it.

‐ Uh, I'll, I'll see you around, I guess.

Yeah. I'll see ya. ‐ Yeah. Bye.

‐ Dude, you just made Mia Brooks blush.

‐ Okay. So? ‐ You don't understand.

She is the hottest girl in our class.

She basically never dates, and you just made her blush.

You're blushing, too.

‐ No, I'm not. ‐ Yes, you are.

At first, I couldn't tell because of your beautiful cinnamon complexion,

but you totally are.

You're falling in love!

Being your best friend's gonna be a wild ride, isn't it?

‐ All right. Here you go.

The locker rooms are right here.

Gym first period. I do not envy you.

Just got dressed. You're still digesting breakfast.

Why do we even have P. E.?

I mean, it's not like we're gonna become professional dodge ball players.

Oh. Baby powder. Bring it...