As Connor Stevens sat in his English class, he couldn't help but be disinterested. He really didn't care about how to form a proper sentence using every part of speech. He'd been speaking English his whole life, and he was pretty sure he knew how to form a sentence. Summer school was stupid, anyway. He got an education for nine months, and although it was only for half a day, there were still better things he could be doing. The only reason he'd decided to do summer school was because his boyfriend, Jude, was participating. He knew Jude still felt like he wasn't smart enough to be at Anchor Beach, and wanted to make sure he was on par with everybody else, having had shaky education most of his life.
The only thing on Connor's mind at that moment was Jude. Connor used to always make fun of movies where the protagonist's whole world revolved around their love, but he understood now. He knew he was completely in love with Jude, although he had yet to tell the other boy that. He'd considered telling him at prom, but things had been a bit shaky for a while, and Connor didn't want anything else to go wrong once the night had turned completely perfect.
Although thinking of Jude always made Connor feel happy and safe, he also was inevitably forced to think of the hate and hurt that was felt towards Connor for being who he was. His dad had told him that he was choosing to be gay, and if his dad meant gay as in happy, then yes, Connor had chosen to be gay 100%. But he knew his dad, along with any other homophobe, would not mean happy. Connor didn't understand how something as beautiful and natural as his relationship with Jude could be looked down upon by anybody, let alone his own father. Granted, he knew Adam was trying to accept him, but he wished he would try a little harder and a little faster.
Connor wished he lived in a world where he could feel free to hold Jude's hand whenever he wanted, or kiss him in school like he'd seen all of Jude's siblings do countless times. At school, overall they weren't picked on, thanks to Lena, Taylor, Daria, and all of Jude's brother's and sisters, but neither of them wanted to start any trouble. The only thing he missed about his relationship with Daria was how open they could be. Connor had to stop thinking about it after a while, or else he'd just get fired up. He tried to think of happy things, such as the first time he'd kissed Jude, or their first dance at prom. He smiled to himself at how far they'd come, but also how much farther they had to go together.
Connor was pulled abruptly out of his thoughts as Lena knocked on the open door of the classroom before entering. She kept her face away from the students as she went up to the teacher and whispered something to her. She immediately made eye contact with Connor.
"Mr. Stevens, Mrs. Adams Foster needs to see you in her office, now."
Connor ignored the jeers and questioning stares from his classmates as he gathered his possessions and followed Lena out the door. As he walked beside her, he noticed that her eyes were red, and a few tears had fallen, streaking her face.
"Is everything okay, Mrs. Adams Foster? Is something wrong? Is it Jude? Please tell me Jude's okay!" Connor's worry grew as the two walked to Lena's office. Lucky for Connor, it was a short walk. Lena stayed oddly silent, but smiled at Connor through her red eyes.
Once they reached the office, Connor found Stef, still in uniform, and Jude, standing together. Jude looked as confused as Connor felt, and immediately rushed over to Connor upon seeing him.
"Are you okay? My moms wouldn't tell me anything until you got here," Jude grabbed Connor's hands, not afraid to hold them in the presence of his mothers.
"I was going to ask the same about you. I'm fine. But what's going on?" The boys turned to Lena and Stef. They were holding hands as well, mirroring Jude and Connor. The women looked at each other and Stef gestured for Lena to speak first.
"Well boys, something amazing has happened today, and we wanted you two to be the first to know. This is very important to Stef and I, and we're sure it will be to you as well."
Stef took over, getting more to the chase.
"The Supreme Court has ruled same-sex marriage legal in all of America. Before today, you had be married in certain states for it to be considered valid and legal. Now, no state can deny a same-sex couple marriage," Stef grinned. Although she and Lena were legally married, it was nice to know that anybody as in love with their partner as Stef was with Lena could be married anywhere in America.
Both boys smiled as wide as they could, squeezing their hands even tighter than they already were. Connor looked over at Jude before asking,
"Does this mean that Jude and I could get married anywhere in the U.S? Anywhere from New York City to Dallas, Texas?" Connor's face beamed as he could imagine all of the places they could get married.
"We are NOT getting married in Texas, Connor!" Jude giggled, feeling nothing but pure elation. Lena and Stef laughed as well, happy that the boys realized how monumental this was.
"Hey! Nobody's getting married yet! They didn't legalize marriage between two young teenagers," Stef joked. "But yes, Connor. Both you and Jude, whether it be to each other, or to somebody else, can get married anywhere in the U.S your hearts desire." Lena turned to Jude. She didn't want him to think they were labelling him.
"Jude, I'm not trying to put you into a box, okay honey? You can get married to whomever you would like, whether it be a boy, or a-"
"I'm gay, Momma."
Connor realized that Jude had never officially come out to his parents. He'd been just Jude, and while that was fine with Connor, he was also happy to hear Jude admit it out loud again, solidifying that he meant what he said at prom. Not that he wouldn't still love Jude if he was bi, pan, or anywhere else on the spectrum, but it was nice that Jude was comfortable admitting his sexuality to himself, as well as others. Connor noticed Lena and Stef smile wider, if it was even possible.
"That's great, Jude. What do you guys say we go out for dinner tonight to celebrate?" Stef questioned the others. All four of them had tears visible in their eyes, yet Connor couldn't be more happy.
"Only if we can get ice cream afterwards!" Jude flashed his moms his most innocent smile, knowing there was no way they could say no.
"I think that can be arranged," Lena laughed. The four enveloped into a group hug, and for once, everybody was only focused on the positivity in the room. Although nobody voiced it, they all knew that the fight wasn't over, but it had just became a hell of a lot easier.
