Hey, everyone! Thanks for sticking with the story! So, in this chapter, I mention a book, but the book doesn't exist. At lease I don't think that it does.

Chapter 11

Cole is excited, yet terrified at seeing his tutor again. Only a day passed, but Cole is still recovering from what happened, and he isn't sure what he would do or say to Mr. Phillips next. The feeling of that man's lips on his was all he could think about since he left Cole's room.

"Is something the matter, Cole?" Aunt Josephine asked as they sat at lunch, and Cole silently ate his plum pudding. "I didn't say anything through breakfast since I thought you were just tired after staying up all hours, but now... it must be something else."

"I'm alright, Aunt Josephine," he lied, and took another bite of his pudding.

Aunt Josephine was silent a moment, then put her utensils down and leaned in a little, her eyes slanted. "Does this have to do with Mr. Phillips?"

Cole's lips pursed together as he set his spoon down. He suddenly wasn't hungry for his lunch. His silence was answer enough for Aunt Josephine.

"I see. That is what is going on. Something happened between the two of you."

Cole's hands balled in his lap. She his the nail on the head. "I... don't know what to do."

Aunt Josephine nodded after a second, thinking. "I think you should let things pan out the way they should. If something has happened, let the natural course of events take their place."

"I don't even know what the natural course of events would be after this. I mean... how can there be a natural course of events when I have no idea what I should say or do when he comes in an hour. I..." He took a breath though his nose, and shook his head. "I can't see him. Just send him away when he comes."

Aunt Josephine gave him a stern look, like a mother would when reprimanding her child. "And do you think that will solve whatever problem this is? The best way to deal with it is to face it head on. And if it is awkward, get past it at all costs. That is what Margaret and I did."

Cole glanced at the older woman and eyed the wrinkles on her contiguously-aging face. "I... well, I can try. But... it just won't be normal anymore."

"Since when are things ever normal? What is normal, anyway?"

Cole smirked, and took his utensils, suddenly hungry again. "So... do I talk to him about... our problem, then?"

She leaned a bit more, and Cole could see the silver in her eyes. "Natural course of events, Cole. If it comes up, talk about. If not... just go on like you have before."

He nodded. "Alright."

The two got back to their meal, and Mr. Phillips soon showed up. Aunt Josephine was kind enough to answer the door, and as soon as Mr. Phillips saw Cole sitting at their tutor table reading the assignment, he stopped and stared for a moment. Cole's neck and cheeks heated up intensely at noticing.

"Cole," Mr. Phillips said in greeting as he sat down next to Cole, and Cole still had his eyes on the page.

"Mr. Phillips," he greeted back. "Sorry, I just need to finish the reading assignment. I was busy painting last night and forgot. I only have a page left."

"Very well."

They sat there in silence as Cole read that page. Cole attempted to concentrate as Mr. Phillips sat there, looking at a book himself. He glanced over and stared at Cole again. Cole finished reading the page, yet still had his eyes on the book. What should he do?

"Are you finished?" Mr. Phillips asked.

He closed the book. "Yes."

"Alright, then. Now, what did you think of the section I had you read?"

"Interesting."

"Is that all?"

"Honestly, I wasn't paying too close attention. I was... distracted by other things."

Mr. Phillips didn't say anything for a moment, then, "Well, you read it, so we can discuss it." He opened his own copy of the book. "Alright, so the protagonist is hiding a secret that can very well ruin his life, and get him into a heap of trouble."

"I know how that feels..." Cole said, staring out the window at the green grass and a bird flew passed the window. "Keeping a secret that can ruin my life and get me into a heap of trouble."

Mr. Phillips sighed, and Cole suspected that the man knew exactly what he was meaning. "Yes. Many people can relate. So, according to what you read, what does our protagonist Leonardo do?"

"He chooses not to reveal that secret, and forces his friend who knows it to not reveal it as well since it concerns them both."

"And what do you think they should do about it?"

Cole's hand balled into a fist in his lap. "I think they should talk about it, but... both find it difficult to because it is a sensitive subject."

Cole met his tutor's eyes. The two stared at each other for a moment, the atmosphere tense. Mr. Phillips leaned in a bit, heightening it. "Why is this a sensitive topic?" he asked quietly.

"Because—as you said, it will ruin their lives and will get them into trouble."

"But why?"

Cole's heart began to hammer as the answer pushed at his lips. "Because... it's illegal."

Mr. Phillips frowned. "Is that what they are so afraid of?"

"Yes. Among other things, like not knowing how to voice it, and not knowing what to do about it."

"Is that really the case?"

"At least for one of them. Leonardo's friend told him not to say anything about it and to just forget it, but he doesn't want to." Emotion caught Cole's throat. "There is no possible way that he's going to forget about it, even if what they're hiding is illegal."

Mr. Phillips gripped the lace tablecloth near to where Cole's other hand sat. "Well, his friend had good reason to say that."

"Like what?" Cole demanded hotly. "What good reason could there be that he will not be able to forget it just as much as Leonardo can't?"

Mr. Phillips eyes began to redden. "Because of the consequences."

Cole bolted up out of the chair and stood away from the table, his chest tightening, and anger coursing through him. He heard Mr. Phillips stand up out of his chair. "It seems you paid more attention to the story than you let on, Cole."

Silence ensued between them for a minute as Cole's heart hammered so hard, it hurt. Why did Mr. Phillips have him read this story that is a reflection on them and what they're going through?!

"I suppose it's my fault that you know exactly how he feels," he heard Mr. Phillips say after a long silence.

"Why does this have to be so difficult? Why... does it have to be illegal?"

Cole instantly regretted saying those words, but they couldn't be taken back.

"Because it's the way it is. What we are... it's not normal. You know that. And to many people..."

"It's disgusting and unnatural."

Mr. Phillips took a deep breath through his nose. "Yes."

Cole whirled around, desperation suddenly taking hold of him. "But you wanted it, right? Just like me. That's why what happened yesterday happened. Right?"

Mr. Phillips simply stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at Cole, and frowning. Cole's hands started going numb as he waited for an answer.

"As much as I want it..." his tutor began, "it should not go on. That is why I said to forget about it."

Happiness and shock shot through Cole's system, and he took a couple steps to Mr. Phillips. A sliver of happiness entered his heart. "You feel the same way? You're admitting it?"

"I already did that, but not through words," he shot. "Yesterday. But it doesn't matter. It can't go on. It's illegal, and we both could be put put into prison!"

Cole stared at him incredulously as his eyes began to burn and chest tighten, wishing that all those facts were not true, that the world could be different... for them. Mr. Phillips stepped away as he got his things together. "I should go. This lesson is over."

Cole's chest hurt so badly, tears seared his eyes and both of his hands balled into fists. Mr. Phillips slung his bag strap over his shoulder as he turned towards the door, not saying a word. Cole's will couldn't hold on any longer...

"I'm in love with you, Mr. Phillips. Do you really want the law to get in the way of that? When you essentially just said you feel the same way?"

Mr. Phillips stopped. "The law will get in the way of it."

"We shouldn't be afraid of that! Aunt Josephine and Margaret weren't."

"It was different with them."

"Was it? They were the same as us."

Mr. Phillips turned and stared at his desperate pupil, his look fierce. "Just let it go, Cole! It was a mistake letting things go this far. I should have left when I first discovered your growing feelings for me, and my..." He paused. "And my growing feelings for you. So, now... I think it would be better if I just go and not tutor you again. Goodbye."

He turned and walked on. Cole ran after him, out the door into the comfortable spring air, and down the gravel walkway. He caught his arm. "You can't just leave after saying something like that!" Cole shouted at him.

"Yes, I can! Now unhand me!"

Hot tears fell down Cole's cheeks as he gripped Mr. Phillips' arm as he tried to yank it free, and as tears fell from his bloodshot eyes as well. Cole stared at him hard, his grip tightening. The glare ended when Mr. Phillips pulled his arm out of Cole's grip and started walking off.

"Please!" Cole screamed as the man he loved walked away. "Mr. Phillips! Joseph!"

Mr. Phillips continued to walk and Cole found his knees hitting the gravel and tears falling down in cheeks. He felt like he was going to die from the physical and emotional pain of this.

"Please..." he muttered, but Mr. Phillips was already out of sight.