Starstruck

According to an old horoscope book found by Speedy in his mom's auction contents, my sign (Scorpio) is a compassionate, determined one that oozes with creativity and frequently adorns blue and white clothing. Perhaps, then, my going to the University of Kentucky was predestined. However, if my life truly is the result of some preordained plan of an astrological star sign, then not only can I blame it for my college choice, but also the adoration I possess for a certain Pisces in my life. According to the stars, scorpion + fish = eternal pleasure and happiness for both parties involved. Of course, this is coming from the same set of principles that allow a dwarf planet to rule my astrological sign. Oh, the irony.

So, here I sit in the first UK shirt I remember ever wearing, one I've had for about five years now, and a pair of blue and white ball shorts that I stole from my sister Krystle, who probably stole them from somebody else. An air conditioner blows out cold air to my left, sitting in its path three of my best friends. Speedy, Curtis and Heath.

Speedy's playing the Playstation 3 demo of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Curtis is essentially playing the part of the gay friend to some girl in Ohio. Heath is exhausted, attempting to sleep on the couch that for three weeks served as my bed.

All three of them are indulging themselves in different pleasures, in their own ways subconsciously avoiding the reason we all came together in the first place - this is the final day we'll all be able to spend with each other before college life begins to take us over.

I'm leaving Thursday for Huntington. From there I'll travel to Lexington on Friday.
Curtis will be leaving for Marshall Friday afternoon.
Speedy will be moving into his dorm at Berea next Saturday.
Heath will remain in Martin County, traveling to BSCTS's Prestonburg Campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays and detailing cars each other day of the work week.

Separated. That's not how it was supposed to be, was it?

Heath Wilson and I were supposed to be neighbors forever. We were going to hang out in that lane together into our late teen years until high school was over. That road has heard a lot - everything from tales of heartache to Yu-Gi-Oh victory cries - and it was supposed to hear a whole lot more.

I moved. It didn't. Heath and I remained strong friends regardless. I like to think we'll always be able to remember the times we spent playing with trading cards in the middle of the road, discussing our latest scheme to obtain the girl we'd never obtain in our wildest dreams. If not, at least the pavement will always be stamped with our souls.

Inez kids and Warfield kids weren't supposed to become friends. Curtis Goble wasn't supposed to do anything but trip me in defense of one of his Inez brethren during an altercation our freshman year. Maroon and orange would never go good together.

Through line judging for the girl's volleyball team, academic trips where I'd make him feel uncomfortable by singing cheating songs, and McDonald's conversations that went deeper than any discussion taking place over Big Macs should, Curtis and I persevered and created a bond that eventually culminated in me moving in with him in a time of crisis. Maroon and orange can clash at times, but I've never given a damn about matching anyway.

Chris Anderson was some kid everyone made fun of in middle school. Gay, faggot, retard - a kid subject to every damn demeaning comment that an unimaginative 13-year old can generate in his puberty stricken mind. He wasn't supposed to have friends.

A kid who gave me a rose for being his best friend at our high school baccalaureate three months ago. I'm proud to say tears rushed to my eyes at that moment, right before I got up and hugged one of my best friends.

All kinds of things were supposed to happen, supposed to last forever or supposed to just be true.

My mom and dad were supposed to stay together until death do them part. So were many other of my friend's parents. We all were supposed to live lives where mommy and daddy love each other forever.

Only two of my best friends have parents who have so far remained together all of their life.

I was supposed to grow up and spend the rest of my life with Heather Workman. The foolish teenage heart often disguises inadequacy with beauty and more beauty. Inadequate she was, but my heart was in full throttle for her every foolish second.

She left me because I was born with the wrong set of reproductive organs.

All kinds of things were supposed to happen, supposed to last forever or supposed to just be true.

Mommy, I have no doubt in my mind that you leaving daddy was the best decision of your life. Shawn seems like a great man and has shown me kindness that I rarely experienced from my own father, but more importantly appears to love you like you deserved to be loved. You've done too much for me, Brittany and Krystle, and I'll speak for all of us when I say that we could never be able to return the favor. I love you.

Curtis, Speedy, Heath, Corey, Carrie, Jamie, C.J., Cameron, Byron, Ricky, Gauze - each of you deserve a blog of your own, seriously. The friendship you've shown me over the years is too much of the reason why I am who I am today. Although most of you I've known only for a handful of years, and as cliché as it is, a man has never known better people. It is for each of you that I keep going on, in the hopes that I can somehow make the world a better place for you, as you each have for me. I love every one of you as much as I would a brother or sister.

Separated. That is how it was supposed to be. From the very beginning, it's the only thing that was certain, despite if we wanted to admit it or not.

Each of us will be better for it, too. We'll go away to college, whether it's in Lexington, Prestonsburg or Tokyo, and we'll love every second of it. Any changes we overtake will be only beneficial to our future lives.

The stars are aligning for something magnificent. How do I know?

That's how it was supposed to be.

Prince Batman, AWAY!!!
Joshua Aaron Moore