Author's Note: I used Aqua Lion's idea that all of the old Hawks went to Blake. Its not a big deal or anything, I think there are only a couple lines about it in here, but I wanted to just let her know that I used it. Thanks.
Chapter 9: AvalancheBy Victory Thru Tears
Adam's POVI lay on my bed, watching the Vikings battle with the Packers. Upon Mother Dearest's orders, I'm dressed in nice clothes, and trying not to wrinkle them. I've spent all day downstairs helping her in the kitchen, and listening to her tell me that I should think of a career in cooking if hockey falls through. She doesn't like the violence of the game at all, and I know she's glad that my brother Danny gave it up for a career in law.
The 'Queertet' and the girls had made the decision to come out to our parents this holiday.
Do you think I am going to go through with it?
Yeah right.
Not with my brother, or my father, or even my mother. They'd completely flip out, and my older sibling'd probably beat me senseless.
"Adam, sweetie, come on down!" I hear Mom calling even over the noise of the TV.
I shut it off. Oh well, I don't really like football, and Minnesota was losing anyway. I slide off of my bed, and into the hallway.
"Come on, Addie honey, time for eatsies."
I sigh, and roll my eyes at my eighteen-year-old brother. "Shut up, Daniel."
"Sorry, Princess. Wouldn't want to get your sweet Mommy mad at me." He shoves me down the stairs.
I fall down the first few, but catch myself on the railing. I quickly run down the rest of the way, and into the dining room. My mother and father are already sitting at the table across from each other. I take my seat. Usually there are more Banks' around for Thanksgiving, but my grandparents just moved to Florida, and all of our relatives are down there with them.
Daniel enters the room and sits across from me. He gives me a smile, and I'm faintly reminded of Luis.
No. He doesn't know about me and Charlie. He's not after me because I'm gay, he's after me because he loves to beat me up. Ok. Glad I've established that with myself.
We say grace before starting our meal.
Conversation centers around Danny, who is in his freshman year at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis right now. After we've heard a sufficient amount about his fraternity and his 'excellent' decision about giving up hockey (I know it's just a jab at me), Dad turns to me.
"So Adam, how are you liking Eden Hall? Are you glad that you went there instead of Blake?"
I nod. Because of the scholarship, my parents allowed me to go to Eden Hall. I probably would have been able to go there anyway, because money is no object for the Banks family. The private school in our area, though, and where all of my old Hawk friends went, is Blake.
"I talked to the Dean the other day. He told me about the award that you got for outstanding athletic achievement. Did you bring it home?"
Another nod. My dad is pretty good friends with the dean of Eden Hall, and he undoubtedly calls him to check up on me once a week.
"He mentioned you had a date to the presentation." My mom has a small smile on her face. I know she really wants to discuss things like girls with me, but it looks like that won't exactly happen in my life.
"Yeah, I went with this girl named Maya. She's really sweet." Hey, it's all true.
"Are you two dating?"
"Nope."
"Oh, why not?" Yup, Mom's on a roll.
"I, um...I'm just not ready for a girlfriend." When in doubt, always B.S.
"Yeah, but you sure are ready for a boyfriend." Daniel snorts into his turkey.
The three of us look up and stare at him, different expressions on our faces. Mom is scolding, I'm scared, and Dad is surprised.
"Now Daniel, stop." Mom is the first to speak.
"Oh, come on, Mom. You know Adam's always porkin' on other guys."
I can feel the blood draining out of my face.
"Daniel." My father speaks in a warning tone.
"I'm being serious. Come on, Adam, tell them!" Danny looks up at me, a malicious gleam in his eyes.
I shake my head and continue to push the stuffing around my plate.
"Tell them, Adam, tell them!" I feel something wet hit my face. I raise my hand just to get hit again. Danny is flinging mashed potatoes at me.
"Daniel, you stop right now!" He's never going to listen to Mom. He hasn't in the past, why would he now?
I scoot back away from the table, but the potatoes keep coming. Under any other circumstances, this would be funny. I'm almost cowering against the wall, waiting for the assault, both verbal and physical, to stop.
"Come on, you fuckin' fag, tell them how you like get your little Ducks in the locker room!" He's now picking up everything on his plate and throwing it at me.
"Daniel!" My father is about to stride in his direction and stop him.
"Daniel." My mother is covering her face with her napkin, on the verge of tears.
"Fag, fag, fag, fag, fag, fag-"
"ALRIGHT, I'M GAY!"
It's hard to believe that my voice can be so loud. Everyone stops, even Danny.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm gay. I'm a fag. A flamer, a queer, and whatever else you want to call me. I've been dating my best friend for two years. I'm in love with him. And…and…"
No other words are coming out. I've told them, which is more than I had intended on doing in the first place. I turn and run out of the house, leaving them in shocked silence.
- + - + -
I dial the numbers, and carefully hold the receiver up to my ear. I curse silently, my whole face is already swollen. The blood on my lip is drying, and I can feel the black eye forming. My wrist hurts most of all, though.
After leaving my family at the dinner table, I had gone down to the pond in our backyard to skate off my feelings. I had nowhere else to go. Danny had come a few minutes later. At first I was naïve enough to think that he might be coming with feelings of consolation. He didn't say a word, just beat the hell out of me. Right before he left he pushed me down, and I landed on my wrist in an attempt to catch myself.
My mom and dad are yelling right outside of my doorway. I'm not even listening to them anymore. At first he was blaming her for this, and she was blaming him. I got tired of hearing them talk in circles.
Somebody finally picks up on the other end of the line.
"Hello?" It's a male voice, and it's not Charlie's.
"Coach Bombay?" Even my voice sounds weird, probably from Danny hitting so hard.
"Yes, is this Adam?"
"Uh huh. Is Charlie there?"
"Of course. Hold on a minute."
I can hear laughter in the background. God, I wish I was there with him right now.
"Banksie?" Charlie's on the phone in an instant.
"Yeah. It's me. Hi. Yeah."
"What's wrong? What's the yelling in the background?" Leave it to Charlie to notice right away.
"I told them. They're not happy. Did you tell them?"
"Yeah…I did…" Yup, I figured that Casey would take it quite well. I can tell that Charlie feels bad.
"Adam, are you ok? Your dad didn't…you know…"
"No. He never does."
"Did Danny?"
Silence from me. There's some cell in my brain or something that won't allow me to lie to Charlie. So, I bargain for silence.
"Adam, did Danny hurt you?"
I nod. What kind of dumbass am I, he can't see me nodding. "Yeah."
"You're coming here tomorrow." It's definitely a command.
I can't do anything but agree. "Ok."
"We'll pick you up in the morning."
After a couple more details in our plan are made and a few I love you's are tossed around, I hang up with my boyfriend.
- + - + -
It's 3 AM. They've finally stopped arguing. I know I still won't be able to sleep, though.
My heart nearly stops as the door opens. I then realize that it had been locked, and the only one with a key is Dad. This isn't much comfort. He won't raise a hand to me, but I try to prepare myself for verbal abuse.
He sits on my bed. I know he can't tell if I'm awake or not. He moves his hand and I flinch. He rests it on my head, softly stroking my hair. He leans forward, and kisses my forehead.
Is this Dad? Or is some strange man inside of my house?
"Adam. I love you."
He hasn't said those words to me in years. I sit up, letting him know that I'm awake.
"You're my son, and that's all that matters. I've learnt the hard way how much it hurts you when I try to control your life, trying to make you live my life. If this is really what you want, I can only stand by you and wish you and your boyfriend the best of luck."
"It's Charlie, Dad." I whisper.
"You and Charlie, then." He pulls me into a hug. "Now get some sleep, it's late. Don't worry about Danny, your mother and I will make sure that he doesn't hurt you anymore."
He exits the room, locking the door again behind him. I'm left wondering if it was all a dream.
I hear their soft voices talking through the wall, and for once I'm grateful for my family.
I'd better call Charlie in the morning and tell him not to pick me up.