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It was his 21st birthday when he felt the burning of the mark into his flesh. He looked down to see a still red "S" on his right hipbone.
'No,' he thought frantically, 'This isn't happening. There must be some mistake.'
The second boy was also waiting. Waiting and staring at the "G" that had been burned into his hip two years ago and doing something he hadn't done in years, wishing.
Charlie came out of his room trying to remain calm. There was just some mistake… He would find someone to call… Alex was still asleep so he didn't have to worry about waking him.
He looked in the phone book and dialed the number stepping outside the small flat…
"Hello, and thank you for calling," said a peppy women's voice, "How can I help you today?"
"Hello…" said Charlie a little awkwardly, "Today is my 21st birthday."
"Oh, Congratulations!" squealed the woman making Charlie blush a deep red, "What can I help you with on this very special day?"
"I think my Mark is wrong…" said Charlie quietly.
There was a long silence.
Uncertain Charlie whispered, "… Hello?"
The woman on the other end recovered enough to reply, "I don't think that's possible dear," she said a little uncertainly.
"Well, I think it is," said Charlie a little stubbornly, "Is there a way to reverse it?"
The woman recovered herself fully, "There are never mistakes," she said more firmly, "Just learn to live with it."
And she hung up in a huff.
Charlie slid down the wall. He was Marked as Straight… but he was in love with his best friend.
He put his head in his hands.
Alex came padding out of his room on cat feet. He was going to cook breakfast for Charlie… Or try to. Last time he made anything more than tea he had almost burned the house down…
He poked his head around Charlie's door to make sure that he was still sleeping to find an empty bed where a boy was supposed to be. Looking around frantically he saw the slightly open flat door. He raced to it panicking to find a pale Charlie sitting on the floor.
"Charlie!" Alex cried immensely relieved dropping to his knees and throwing his arms around the boy.
Charlie was jerked from his thoughts and put on a smile.
"Breakfast time!" cried Alex.
"Oh, no," Charlie groaned, grinning.
Alex jumped up and bounded into the flat.
Charlie followed him more slowly willing himself into a good mood for the benefit of the boy he was no longer allowed to love.