Zayn

Halloween was nice. By some miracle, Jason’s parents didn’t throw a huge fit, but I wasn’t sure he’d told them the full truth of what we were doing. With the time change and the weather getting cooler, our time together was limited. Dave came home for Thanksgiving. He was different. His dad seemed angry, but his mom was happier.

It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and I was home since school was out, but both of Dave’s parents were at work. I had gone for a run then showered. I forgot my clothes and had my towel wrapped around my waist. Dave stepped into the hall and froze.

“Oh God. I forgot you were here.” I clutched the front of my towel, making sure it stayed in place.

“It’s okay,” Dave said. His eyes traveled down my body then back up.

I moved quickly, heading into my room, vowing to never make that mistake again. With clothes on, I headed out to the kitchen to make some breakfast. He had parked himself on the couch and had flipped on the TV. I felt his eyes on me and wondered if maybe Jason wanted to come over.

After I finished making an egg sandwich, I turned, and Dave was right there, in my space. “Wow, I didn’t hear you.”

“So, how’s school?” Dave asked.

“Good.”

“So you’ve adjusted to living here in Georgia?”

I shrugged. “It’s okay.”

He moved, angling for the refrigerator, but that meant he came closer, brushing his body against mine as he passed. I shrugged it off and headed to the table. He finished with whatever he was doing and moved to sit near me.

“What are your plans this weekend?” he asked.

“I’ll probably work.”

“No, after work.”

I took a bite of my sandwich and shrugged again. His gaze was making me uncomfortable. Mrs. Johnson was nice, her husband, not so much. Dave wasn’t too bad, but this whole family thing was weird. After I finished the bite, I answered. “Maybe watch a movie.” I got up to pour a glass of milk when his chair screeched. I turned to find him almost on me. He pressed me back against the counter, his lips close to mine. I shoved him away and held up both hands.

“Whoa, what are you doing?” I yelled.

His face went red, and he glanced away. “Fuck, I thought…”

“What could you have thought?”

“You came out of the bathroom in a towel.”

I threw up my hands and waved them around as I shook my head. “Hold on. What the hell? I forgot you were here. You don’t just kiss someone like that.”

His eyes went wide before he spun and took off. My phone buzzed, and I checked the messages, seeing that Jason wanted to get together. I sent a message saying I’d meet him at the park in a few.

I grabbed my sandwich and left. Mrs. Johnson had helped me buy a bike, so now it was easier for both Jason and me to get around town. When I showed up at the park, I was still a little freaked out that Dave had tried to kiss me. Seeing Jason made me feel better.

“Want to go see a movie?”

I nodded. “I thought you had to work later?”

“Nope. I have the day off. I have to work on Friday.”

“Cool. I have some money. Let’s go sit in the theater and make out.”

He rolled his eyes. “We can make out in the bathroom over there. Let’s really go on a date and watch the movie.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s go watch a movie. Then later, I want to make out.”

We picked an action flick and sat at the back of the theater. It was busy, but we were alone in the back row. I leaned over and kissed Jason just as the lights went dark before the movie started. We held hands, and my troubles with Dave were forgotten.

It was nice being able to do fun things with Jason. My life had changed so much in the last five months. Living with Mrs. Johnson was so different than my life had been before. It was easy to see how she cared.

At the end of the movie, before people got up, Jason leaned in and brushed his lips over mine. It was sweet and gentle. Warmth spread. I was grateful we had some sort of relationship. I don’t know what I would have done without Jason.

We grabbed a burger after the movie, but I was lost in thought, thinking about everything and wasn’t saying much. Jason stopped talking. When I glanced up, I realized his eyelids had narrowed and he was staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Something is wrong.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“You’re acting strange. What’s going on.”

“Nothing. Let’s head out.”

He nodded. I thought we were done discussing it, but when we stopped at the park, he locked our bikes together and pulled me into the bathroom.

“Spill it.”

His words were like cold water over me. I guessed I’d been stuffing everything about Dave trying to kiss me and for some reason, it was bothering me again. I didn’t want to be upset, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind that maybe I’d screwed up.

“It’s nothing.”

“No, something is wrong.”

I pushed Jason away and stomped over to the urinal. He followed but didn’t touch me. I guessed he was waiting to see if I would piss. I stood there, doing nothing long enough for him to make a decision. He placed his hand on my shoulder and tried to get me to turn. After a few seconds, his touch worked.

“Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Okay, then it won’t be hard to tell me what it is.”

I didn’t want to talk to him about Dave. I got the feeling they didn’t like each other.

“Just tell me,” Jason whispered.

My gaze fell on him and I saw the sadness. I couldn’t hide this from him any longer. I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. “Dave tried to kiss me today.”

“What?”

I opened my eyes and saw he was angry. “It’s no big deal.”

“He tried to kiss you. It’s a big deal.”

“It’s not. I told him to stop.”

“Why did he try to kiss you?”

“He’s an idiot.” I didn’t want to talk about Dave or my issues with him.

Jason leaned in and brushed his lips over mine. We ended up plastered against each other as we kissed long and hard but broke up when my phone buzzed. Mrs. Johnson was coming home late and wondered if I’d turn the chili in the Crock-Pot to low. I texted her back that I would.

“I need to do something at home. Come over there with me.”

Jason nodded, and we left the bathroom and rode over to the Johnson’s. We parked our bikes in the backyard and entered through the side door. I flipped the chili to low and opened the refrigerator, pulling out a soda.

“Want one?” I asked Jason.

“Sure.”

I passed him a soda, and he was taking a drink when Dave came in. I saw Jason’s lips turned down in a frown. The last thing I wanted was them fighting. I moved, but Jason spoke before I could get to him.

“Don’t kiss my boyfriend again.”

Dave held up his hands and shook his head. “Hey, I’m sorry. I don’t want any trouble.”

Jason blew out a breath. “What made you think you could kiss him. This is the same shit you tried to pull with me.”

“Wait, what?” Zayn said.

“He tried to have sex with me, and I said no.”

“Sheesh, Dave, stop trying to kiss people.”

“It’s not my fault,” Dave said.

“It is your fault. I didn’t remember you were here,” Zayn said.

“I’m sorry. I won’t try to kiss you again,” Dave yelled. “God, quit being a bitch.”

“What the hell?” Mr. Johnson shouted the question. The three of us froze.

Dave glanced at me, and then Jason. Mr. Johnson moved fast, yanking Dave closer by the front of his shirt. “Are you a faggot?” Bitterness tinged his words. His face molted red and I took a step back.

I felt sorry for Dave. His dad was an ass, and he had to live with having him for a father. Heck, my mom was an ass too. It sucked, but this went beyond Mr. Johnson being an ass.

If I didn’t help Dave, what type of person would I be? I took a step toward them and Jason grabbed my arm, holding me back. Dave and his dad were much bigger than me, and I wasn’t a match for them. No way would I be able to help Dave without getting hurt, but I couldn’t do nothing.

“Hey, let him go,” I yelled.

Mr. Johnson dropped his hold and turned on me. “You’re the real problem here. I never should’ve allowed Cait to bring you into this house.”

“Stop,” Dave yelled as he grabbed his dad’s arm.

Jason had grabbed me and pulled me behind him, but I would fight this out if I had to. Mr. Johnson spun, his fists flying. The sound of his fist contacting Dave’s face was only matched by the crunch of the chair behind Dave as he went down.

Jason gasped. I gasped. Dave cried out in pain, and Mr. Johnson shook his hand, acting like he’d done nothing. At that moment, the door to the garage opened, and Mrs. Johnson stepped in, her face flushed.

She stopped, her mouth open wide but nothing came out. Then she took another step then another. Finally, she spoke. “What are you doing?”

At first, I thought the question was directed at Dave, but I could see now she wanted an answer from her husband. He sputtered, and she stood straighter. “Get out.” She flung the words out, her voice harsh. Then she whipped around and pointed to the door. The rest of us were frozen in place. Did she really want her husband to leave?

He narrowed his eyes, and for a brief moment, I thought he would hit her. Then he threw up his hands and headed to their bedroom.

“Fine, I don’t want to stay here with that faggot in our house. You brought this terrible thing upon us. Our son wasn’t gay until you brought that runt in here.”

“You’re wrong,” Dave said so quietly I almost thought I hadn’t heard correctly.

“What?” Mr. Johnson spun around, his face red and his fists clenched. “What do you mean? Tell me what you mean by I’m wrong.”

Dave stood tall and squared his shoulders. We’d not had many interactions, and our most recent wasn’t really cool, but he wasn’t a bad guy.

“I’ve been gay my whole life.”

Mr. Johnson looked like a bull, angry and huffing. His nostrils flared, and Jason’s hold on my arm tightened. I could feel his fear mount along with mine.

“What about all those girls you banged in high school?”

Dave scoffed and waved his hand. “There were only two I actually slept with, and every time I imagined I was with a guy. So yeah, I’ve been gay the whole time. I’ve been seeing a guy at school, but we’re not serious.”

“You’re lying,” Mr. Johnson shouted.

Mrs. Johnson moved to stand next to Dave and put her arm around his shoulder. “He’s not lying, and if you’d been paying attention, you would have seen it.”

“I won’t stand for this in my house,” Mr. Johnson roared.

I flinched, and Jason pulled me closer. Guilt filled me. I figured I’d be homeless again by the evening. Great, my first Thanksgiving here, and it was already over. Memories of holidays with Mom washed over me, and I think I might have let out a little sob. Mrs. Johnson flicked her eyes to me, and she stood a little taller, her chin lifting and her eyes going hard.

“Well, then I suggest you leave.”

“You can’t do that.”

Her shoulders grew even more stiff, her eyes narrowed. “I can, and I will. Out. Get a bag, get your stuff and leave. Don’t come back either.”

“You’re picking that runt over me?” Mr. Johnson roared.

Her gaze settled on me, and I couldn’t suppress another shiver. I hated conflict like this.

“If by runt, you mean Zayn, you sure as hell bet I’m picking him over you. If anything, he’s brought me happiness because now I can accept our son because Zayn not only came into our house, he opened me up to the beauty of acceptance. I love Dave. I don’t care if he brings home a guy for Christmas. I love Zayn. He’ll bring home a guy when he’s an adult, and I’ll call that man son too. So yes, I’m picking my kids over you.”

I couldn’t believe she really wanted me. The anger from Mr. Johnson didn’t matter. Nothing he said mattered. All I cared about was right here.

She lifted her brows, and her lips thinned. “Leave.”

Mr. Johnson huffed down the hall and banged around in the bedroom, breaking something, we didn’t know what, but by the sound of glass shattering, I figured it was a photo. Mrs. Johnson hugged me and Jason on one side, Dave on the other. We stayed huddled together until Mr. Johnson left. The sound of his tires squealing on the blacktop was the last we heard of him.

After he left, she dropped to a chair, her hands over her eyes. “Oh God, I can’t believe I stood up to him.”

“Mom, are you okay?” Dave asked.

She nodded, though tears streamed down her face. “I think so.”

“Okay, so what do we do?” Dave asked. “Do you think he’ll be back?”

“No. He knows I’m friends with the police chief. He won’t come back.” She looked up, her eyes wide. “The store. Shit, I have to go back. I just came home to check on the chili and grab that bag of coats for the charity thing this weekend.”

“I could go for you,” Jason said.

She shook her head. “That’s sweet of you, Jason, but it’s my store. I need to be there.” She stood and blinked a few times before shaking her head. “Okay, Jason, you need to head home soon. I know your parents will wonder where you are. Dave and Zayn, could you two just make sure dinner is ready when I get home. The store closes at seven thirty tonight.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. Dave nodded. We both looked at each other over her head. Dave looked shell-shocked, and I felt the same way. How had this happened? She’d stood up for me, and I didn’t think I deserved her help, not with my past. She’d put me above someone else.

She stood and turned away then spun around, her gaze landing on me. “What I said was true, I think of you like a son. You don’t need to call me mom, but Mrs. Johnson isn’t appropriate either.”

“He could call you mom,” Dave said. “That’s what you are. And I guess I need to get used to the idea that you’re my brother.”

I rolled my eyes at Dave. “But you’re the pesky one.”

That caused us all to laugh. It felt good standing in the room with something that looked like a family. We may have been yelled at, and Dave had been hit—his eye wasn’t looking too good—but we were family.

“Okay, I’ve got to go,” she said.

The word was in my thoughts, and my tongue let it loose. “Mom.” Again, everyone froze. The word felt right though. I could call her mom. The other person who’d given birth to me wasn’t a mother. I saw that now. She’d been a drunk who couldn’t cope with life. I was glad to be rid of her. She still hadn’t called. It’d been since July, and I hadn’t heard from her once.

She hugged me again, and I tested the word one more time, this time earning me a tighter hug.

“I need to get back to work. Jason, I’ll see you on Friday.”

She left the kitchen. We all breathed out a sigh of relief. I moved to the chili pot and turned it low. It was bubbling and smelled delicious. Mom had grabbed her bag and waived on the way out. After she’d left, Dave blew out a breath.

“That was weird. I can’t believe she stood up for me finally.”

“I’m sorry it took that long,” I said.

“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re part of our family. I’m really sorry about that. I just, I thought…”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Dude, you have got to stop kissing people. You did that to me. How many other guys have you done that to?”

Dave shrugged. “Okay, I’ll stop.”

Jason looked at his phone. “Ugh, I’ve got to go.”

“Let me walk you out,” I said.

We moved to the garage door and stepped into the space. It was cold, but Jason’s warmth was enough. We kissed, his lips gentle, his touch soft. It turned me on more than if he’d pressed me up against the door. He cared. Mrs. Johnson, who I guess I’d call mom, cared. And in his own way, I felt that Dave cared or would grow to care for me as a brother. My life was better here than it had ever been with my mom.

“I’ll see you on Friday. My parents won’t let me leave tomorrow. I’ll try to turn on my phone and text you, but I may not be able to get away.”

“I understand. You’re going through your stuff, and I’m going through mine.”

“Be safe. If that bastard comes back, call the cops.”

I nodded, wondering if the cops would really help. They’d been jerks to me earlier, and they might just be jerks again.

I waved goodbye to Jason and then shut the garage door. When I entered the house, Dave was mixing something in a bowl.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Making a cake. I figured Mom would want something after what happened.”

“Want me to help?”

“Sure.”

I sprayed the pans and turned on the oven while Dave finished mixing the ingredients. When he poured the dark batter into the pan, the magnificent scent of chocolate hit me. I moaned, and Dave rolled his eyes.

“So, the guy you’re dating, what’s up with that?”

He shrugged. “I lied. I just wanted my dad to think I was seeing someone. I haven’t been brave enough to ask him out yet. But there’s this one guy in my theater class who is so hot I just want to pull him into my arms and kiss him.”

I laughed as he slid the two round pans into the oven. “Don’t do that. Maybe ask him on a date first.”

He chuckled. “Scary. First dates, that’s a lot of pressure. And he’s really hot.”

“Do you have a photo of him?”

Dave’s face turned a bit more red and he snorted out a laugh. “I snapped it when he wasn’t looking, but I have a profile picture.”

“Oh, let me see.”

Dave set the timer and grabbed his phone. He pulled up the photo, and I took the phone, staring at the thin guy who was everything Dave wasn’t. He had a pink stripe of color in his shoulder-length hair. I glanced at Dave who looked like he wanted my approval.

“He’s very cute,” I said.

“Do you think he’d go out with me?”

“Let’s ask now.”

“No, I can’t.”

“Come on. Sent him a friend request on Facebook.”

Dave’s eyes were wide. He was breathing hard. “No, what if he doesn’t accept?”

“Oh come on. It’s a friend request. You’re not asking for his hand in marriage. If he doesn’t, then you know it wasn’t meant to be. And this way, you can play it off as something casual.”

He shook his head, his eyes wide. “I’ll think about it.”

“What do you think your dad broke?” I asked.

“I don’t know. We have twenty minutes left on the oven timer. Let’s clean up the mess he made.”

“Sure.”

We headed to their bedroom and saw three frames on the floor. Tiny slivers of glass glinted on the carpet.

“This sucks,” Dave said.

“Yeah.” I stared at the mess, wondering how we would get it all. “I guess we should pick up the larger chunks first.”

“Sure.”

“The little stuff we could vacuum.” Dave nodded, his brows bunched together. He looked upset. So I placed my hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”

“I guess, it’s just that was my favorite photo of our family.”

“We could reprint it and get a new frame.”

He shook his head. Maybe it wasn’t just the photo he was upset about, maybe it was the fact his family was broken. We were both from a broken family, but maybe with enough chocolate cake, hugs, and time together we could mend this to be something other than the fractured existence life had given us.