Not One of Us

It was cold in Minnesota. Considering it was winter that wasn't all that weird, but this was extreme. Huge piles of snow lay on the once so neat made gardens to make room for the car on the driveways. The small watery sun wasn't enough to melt the large amounts of snow that fell every night, but for the kids it's was a Walhalla. The lake at the edge of the village was frozen and all kids, young and old, loved to skate and slide on it. It was like a huge village tradition.

Another village tradition, was sticking to your own side. Two families practically reigned the little village. The first, and the richest, were the Knight's. Mr. and Mrs. Knight owned a really large part of the land in northern Minnesota and had a Mansion that had view on said lake. The Knight's had two children. Seventeen year old Kendall Donald Knight was the oldest, he was the heir that would inherit all the Knight's owned. He had a sister, Katherine Mary Knight, but she was only ten years old. Nevertheless, she was Mr. Knight's proud and everyone could see it. Another thing that everyone else could see, was the obvious difference between Kendall and his father and mother. Both Mr. and Mrs. Knight had dark hair and dark eyes, while Kendall was blonde and had green eyes. It was a popular rumor that Mrs. Knight had had an affair with another man and that Kendall had been their love baby. That he wasn't a real Knight. But the boy was treated well and had more than all other kids in town together, so no one could judge Mr. Knight's love for his wife and her bastard.

Only of three other kids you could say different. Together the three Mitchell boys owned more than Kendall Knight. The sons of the states most praised doctors were loved by everyone. The Mitchell's owned a large house at the other side of the little village, in a district where mostly poor people lived. Both doctors did very much for the society. They helped the people who couldn't afford going to a doctor and raised money for many charities.

Their sons were their biggest pride. The oldest, Liam, proved to be just as smart as his parents and skipped a total of three classes and attended Harvard at the age of 15, as the youngest student ever. He finished law school in four years and was just back in the village to help his parents setting up their own foundation.

The second son, Lucas, followed his brothers example and went to Yale after proving to be the cleverest student in Mathematics since Pythagoras. Naturally, he studied math and stayed behind to be a teacher.

The third son, Logan, was his parents baby. He was very promising when it came to languages, but failed horribly at everything that includes numbers. Needless to say, his parents ignored his weak points and encouraged him to learn what he was good at, but because of his inability to work with numbers, little Logan Mitchell disappointed his parents by not being in High School by now like his older brothers had done. Even with his disabilities, he was the smartest kid in his class.

All Mitchell brothers had brown hair and the beautiful brown eyes of their mother, their difference was their built. Liam was 23. He was tall, having amazingly long legs. He had done athletics before contusing his ankle and quitting the sport to focus on his school. Lucas was 20. He wasn't any longer than his younger brother, but a lot broader, being quite a good boxer. But Logan was small, even for a sixteen year old. He was fast, but not as Liam. He was strong, but not stronger than any other regular twelve year old. He was, in comparison to his brothers, average. Normal.

The Mitchell's and Knight's hated each other and all the other people in the village had chosen sides. The most of them are loyal to the Mitchell's, being poor or normal families and have gotten help from the doctors. The rest of the people, mostly the rich families, sided with the Knight's. The reason of the fight between the two families was unknown, but it was an important part of everyone's daily life. If you sided with the Knight's, you didn't talk to anyone that sided with the Mitchell's and the other way around. You bought your food and clothes in stores that were owned by your people and went to church and school from your own side. Everyone was prejudiced.

"Did you hear that that slut of a doctor has an affair with at least two other men?"

"Mr. Knight might own much land, but he's parsimonious as hell. He doesn't even pay his housekeeper. One said he let her work in prostitution for more money"

"Have you noticed Lucas Mitchell seemed to have disappeared? Yeah, they say he's gay and have him hide for the society for a while"

That was another thing in the little religious village. The hatred against homophile people. The Mitchell's were Protestants and the Knight were Catholics, but both families were fiercely against everything that wasn't heterosexual. It was not done.

Two boys suffered intensely under this. They had never met each other, but were in the exact same situation. Both had the pressure of doing everything good, being the very best at everything. Living for the proud of their parents, keeping up the family honor. The first because he has to prove to be worthy of inheriting all his parents owned, the second to live up to his parents expectations. Both were living a lie, pretending to be something they didn't were: Heterosexual.

One of us~One of us

I was done pretending. This wasn't who I was. It took me a long time, but I decided I was done with this. I'd everything ready, for the last few months I'd been putting money on a bank account in another state, for the big change I would be kicked out. Surprisingly, I did no longer care for that. The only one I would miss here was Katie, but even without that spoiled brat I could live. It was about a million dollars I saved, enough to stay alive for a couple decennia and honestly, I was glad I could go away from here. My dad was too strict and expected things from me I just couldn't do, my mom loved me, of course she did, but she never stood up for me. She always agreed with my father on everything and I was done with being treated like the bastard I was. Never did they say it, but I knew it was true. My dad wasn't my biological father. Most certainly not. And I was glad, living with him for seventeen years learned me I didn't even want to look like him or live up to him. He was a monster.

I sighed and stepped over the threshold into the kitchen. My mother and father were already sitting at the table. Like every night. I wasn't even nervous. I was always certain for what would happen and my suitcase with clothes was right around the corner, the only thing left was to tell them and listen to their screaming before grabbing my baggage and walking out of their life.

"I've to tell you something" I said and sat down across from them. They looked up, dad put down the book he'd been reading and mom stopped knitting.

"Go ahead, son" She said.

"It's not something you're going to like" I warned them. I had no idea why, but it seemed only fair to warn them before I told them such a big thing.

"You can tell us everything, Kendall" She said friendly.

I took a last deep breath. "I'm gay" I blurted out.

It was dead silent in the Kitchen. My mother smiled nervously and was glancing between me and my 'father'. The real Knight stared at me, slowly growing more and more livid. "Get out" He said.

"What?" Asked my mom afraid. "No! Harold you promised to-"

"I'd always had my doubts about that bastard of yours, but I never said anything. I let him live under my roof, even while he wasn't my son. I'm not letting a fag live here. It's a disgrace. He's going" He said coldly and turned to me again. "I've always known you weren't my son, but I hoped I could raise you as my own. Apparently, you've learned nothing from me the past years. You're a deception. Not one of us. Get out" He whispered dangerously.

I nodded. I'd nothing to say to someone that never loved me. I turned around, grabbed the trolley and walked out of the door. Into the world.

One of us~One of us

I'd no idea why I was doing this. I had a good life, I didn't want to risk that! But the urge to no longer live a lie was much bigger than pretending to be someone else to please my parents. I hoped that they could learn to accept me as how I am.

I stepped into the living room where my mom and dad were watching the news together. My father had an arm around mom and her hand was on his knee. It had always been clear how much they loved each other and I hoped I could find love like that at some point in my life. Hopefully, with the bless from my parents.

"Hi, Logie. Come sit with us" Said my mom. She patted next to her on the couch. My dad smiled at me. I nervously smiled back and sat on a chair next to the couch, to confusion of my mom.

"I need to tell you something" I started nervously. The feeling that this would end badly began to increase in power. I didn't want to be kicked out. I loved my parents and brothers, which was why I didn't want to lie anymore. I couldn't pretend anymore. I wanted to be myself.

"Then go ahead, son" Said dad friendly.

"Well, f-for a while. I've been… confused" I said hesitantly.

"About what, boy?" Asked dad curiously. They'd always been very patient and willing to help, but this… I doubted it.

I inhaled deeply. "My sexuality" I said softly, not meeting their eyes. I heard my mo breathing in sharply.

"What are you insinuating, Logan?" Asked dad strictly.

"That I might be- You know, gay" I whispered.

The silence that followed was killing me. Couldn't they just tell me what they thought?

"Get out" Hissed mom then. I looked up at her and saw the obvious hatred on her face. "I've not spending all those years raising a fag. Leave, Logan"

Out of all people, hearing this from your own mother must be the most painful thing ever. "Mom, please" I begged, tears forming in my eyes.

"You heard your mother. Get out!" Yelled my dad.

"I'm not his mother" Said mom. "You're a disgrace, Logan. You're no longer one of us. Get out of our house, our life"

My dad stood up and walked up to me, I quickly stood up too and ran away. Out of the door on the street, trying not to listen to the things my dad yelled after me. I ran and ran, thinking of where to go, what to do. I had no idea. I couldn't believe they just kicked me out, without even letting me get my stuff. The only thing I'd with me now was my phone and my wallet, that had only sixty dollar.

I tripped over a curb and fell flat on my face in the snow. That was the moment I realized I didn't even have a jacket. I sat up and cried, tears freezing on my face. Like my parent's feelings for me froze