Rainbow High

NELSON GLASSMAN may have been exposed to the HIV virus and is terrified of testing positive...but what if being positive is the only way to keep the guy of his dreams?

KYLE MEEKS finally has the guy of his dreams and is ready to do anything to stay b

Alex Sanchez received his master's in guidance and counseling from Old Dominion University, and for many years he worked as a counselor of youth and families both in the United States and abroad. He received a "Flying Start" from Publishers Weekly for his work on Rainbow Boys, which was a Lambda Literary Award finalist as well as an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. When not writing, Alex tours the country, talking with teens, librarians, and educators about the importance of teaching tolerance and self-acceptance. He lives in Rosslyn, Virginia. Visit www.AlexSanchez.com for more information.

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Chapter 2 Monday after school Kyle offered to go with Nelson to his HIV test, hoping it would help calm his own worries. But as they pulled into the parking lot, a new unease came over Kyle. "You think I should get tested too?"He had, after all, made love with Jason. And Jason had made love with Debra."It depends," Nelson said. "What did you and Jason do together?"Kyle shifted in his seat. Such detail made him uncomfortable, even if he and Nelson were best friends. "Well...we didn't exactly...you know...sorf."Nelson's eyebrows arched."'Sorf'?Come on, Kyle, be a big boy. You're allowed to use grown-up words. "Why don't you ask the doctor what he thinks?"In the reception room Kyle thought back to his night with Jason. They hadn't done anything truly unsafe -- like Nelson had -- but he'd read so many conflicting things about what really was safe. The more he thought back on it, the more he squirmed in his chair. When Nelson's name finally got called, Kyle whispered, "I want to go in with you."Nelson's pediatrician, Dr. Choudhury, was a wrinkly South Asian guy with glasses perched on the tip of his nose. "That's very interesting hair," he told Nelson in a high, cheery voice.After studying Nelson's folder the doctor explained the test procedure. He placed a specially treated pad with a handle between Nelson's cheek and gum. "Now we leave it for two minutes."While Nelson held the swab in his mouth, the doctor monitored the time on his watch.Kyle wiped the sweat from his palms, debating whether to speak up. The procedure looked painless. It wouldn't hurt to at least ask about it. He cleared his throat. "Um, Doctor? I was wondering...if I should get tested too?"The doctor tilted his head back, squinting through his bifocals. "You too? Don't you boys know to use precautions?"Kyle squirmed in his seat, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut."Tell me," Dr. Choudhury asked impatiently, "did you engage in unprotected penetration?"Kyle cringed, sinking into his chair. "Um, no.""Any exchange of body fluids? Blood? Semen? Preejaculatory secretions? Breast milk?"Kyle slid further down his seat. "Um, no, not really."The doctor threw his hands up in exasperation. "If you want, I can test you. But my suggestion to both of you -- " he pulled the handle from Nelson's cheek and sealed the swab into a plastic tube " -- is to wait till you're older before you start fooling around with this sex business."Kyle decided there wasn't much point in being tested now, though he should definitely ask Jason: Had he and Debra used condoms?But how could he ask Jason that?Kyle's parents' cars were already in the driveway when he arrived home. He hadn't told his mom or dad he was taking Nelson to get tested. No sir. No way. When Kyle came out to them, one of their biggest concerns had been his health. Now that they'd calmed down some, he didn't want them getting hyper again.Kyle kicked his shoes off in the foyer and followed his parents' voices to the kitchen. "Did Jason call?"His dad glanced up from the tomatoes he was slicing. A goofy smile lit up his face. "The future college student is home!" he sang out.Kyle ignored his dad's goofiness, turning to his mom. "Did Jason call?""No, honey." She smiled, lifting a head of lettuce from the sink. "But you got a letter from Tech." She dried her hands on a washcloth and handed him an envelope.At the sight of the letter Kyle's heart jumped. The return address was from the admissions office. This was it -- his acceptance to Tech; the start of his college life with Jason -- unless..."Come on," his dad encouraged him. "Open it.""Honey," his mom chimed in. "With your grades I'm sure you got accepted. Go ahead."Kyle turned the envelope over, his hand trembling as he ran his finger beneath the flap. Slowly he unfolded the letter and quickly scanned the page. Halfway down, he looked up again.H