Wow. Seriously, I had forgotten how much I loved this site - and all you guys. has made it not allowed to thank you all personally, but believe me, I'd love to. I'm feeling so happy right now, but I recognize a few names in those reviews that need to update themselves! You know who you are!
So here's the last part, and it's a long one (by my standards, at least).
Billy nervously walked through the ornate glass door leading to the main room, feeling like he was on Death Row. He felt Kenny take his hand and he squeezed it gently, grateful for the support. His mom and dad were seated by Janey, listening intently as she spoke animatedly, hands gesturing and she passionately attempted to explain. Her ash-blonde hair fell about her face, having just escaped from her hard hat, and she stopped as soon as Billy came in, smiling brightly.
"Hullo, Billy! I was just telling mom and dad - my play has been cancelled! Now, what do you think of that?" Her expression changed as she saw Kenny, and her eyes narrowed. "What is he doing here?"
"I-" Billy started, but Janey was in no mood to listen.
"Don't give me that look, Mom, don't you know what he is? He's a fag, a queer, call it what you want, and I don't want him in this house. Now I'm going to ask one more time; what is he doing here?" Her voice had risen to almost a shriek, and Billy decided it was time to intervene.
He stepped forward and said coolly, "He's with me." His parents noticed their clasped hands for the first time, and his dad gave him a tentative smile, his mom a knowing look.
Janey obviously didn't grasp the significance in this statement, as she stood up and glared at Billy. "You don't want to be hanging around with things like that, William, you might give people the wrong idea." Full name. Ouch.
Kenny seemed to be thinking along the same lines because he whispered in Billy's ear. "Your sister's cute, but the girl is like, a she-devil."
Billy was about to making a reply but Janey strode across the room and, in one quick movement, she pushed Kenny away with such force that he stumbled back a few steps, almost falling. "Get your dirty mouth the hell away from my little brother," she hissed, and Billy couldn't help letting a snort escape him.
"That 'dirty' mouth's been a lot closer to my own," he retorted, and Janey swung round to look at him with shock and disgust in her eyes.
"Excuse me?" she said quietly, shaking with suppressed anger, and Billy swallowed.
"Kenny and I are... well, we're together." The whole room was silent, waiting for Janey's reaction, and she slowly turned to their parents.
"You... You knew about this?" she questioned them in disbelief, fire in her brown eyes, and Billy's mom and dad glanced at each other, unsure of how to calm their elder daughter. "Tell me!" she demanded impatiently, and their mom swallowed, hard.
"Janey, darling... we didn't know, but we had a fair idea... I mean, the boy wanted to be a stylist when he was ten-"
"But... But I just thought he was a bit camp!" Janey stammered hopelessly, and Billy discreetly went over to Kenny, giving him an apologetic look. "I... I never thought..." Billy wondered if she was going to accept it, but the idea soon vanished as she glared at Billy.
"How long have you known?" she snapped, as though she was talking about some sort of disease, and Billy glanced at Kenny, silently asking whether to tell the truth. Kenny gave a barely noticeable nod and, sighing, Billy turned back to face Janey.
"About a year," he mumbled, twisting his fingers, and his mom gasped.
"All that time and you couldn't even tell me? Billy, sweetie..." Her voice gave out and she tried to subtlely wipe away a tear. Billy felt a few pangs of guilt.
"Mom, I'm sorry," he whispered, hardly daring to look up at her through his lashes. "I just didn't know if you'd accept it..."
"William darling, I'm your mother! Me and your father will always love you, no matter what!"
"It's true, William," his father agreed gruffly, and Billy felt his eyes fill with tears.
"I told you, honey," said Kenny softly, and Billy gave him a faint smile.
"So sorry to interrupt this touching moment," drawled Janey sarcastically, "but I am NOT sleeping in the same house as this... this fag!"
"Janey!" Their mom tried to reprimand her, but Janey was in full flow.
"No, Mom, I don't care what you say. It's not right, it really isn't, it's unnatural and... and sick!" She paused, catching her breath, and Billy took the opportunity to talk to Kenny.
"You can leave if you want." It took a lot of effort to speak calmly, and even more to keep his back turned on Janey, but Kenny smiled, his handsome features warm and open, and determinedly stuck his hands in his pockets.
"I'll stay."
A look of fury masked Janey's usually beautiful face, and she reached out, jabbing Billy's shoulder. "You're sick," she said viciously, "sick and twisted. It's disgusting, that's what it is, and you and your boyfriend are going to burn in hell."
"I don't see what your problem is," Billy cut in coolly. "I'm still your brother, after all."
"No, you're not," Janey replied, with utmost conviction, and it chilled Billy to the bone. The tears that had been threatening to fall spilled over, and it broke Kenny's heart to see the younger boy like this and not be able to do anything. But he knew that this was a family thing, and it would be worse if he got involved, so he contented himself with slipping his arm around Billy's shoulders.
"My brother," Janey continued, "is not a fag. My brother does not like other boys. If my brother did all those things, why, then he would not be my brother."
"Janey!" Their father spoke to her for the first time, rising from his seat. "I will not tolerate homophobia in this house! This has gone far enough - out! NOW!"
"But... But where will I go?" Janey stammered, looking about her with pathetic, puppy-dog eyes, and her mom shook her head, looking disappointed.
"Don't try that trick with me, young lady, it's not going to work. I am positively ashamed of you and the way you have acted today, I'm only angry that we didn't put a stop to it sooner. You have disgraced yourself in front of William's new friend. I am sure he would not act as you have done if you had brought a new girlfriend home."
"It looks like we'll both be bringing boyfriends home," Janey shot back rebelliously, and their father frowned.
"That's quite enough from you! Go to your room - now!" Janey sighed loudly, and flounced off. She paused and turned at the door, determined to get the last word in.
"You and your filthy little boyfriend are going to burn in Hell!" she spat, with a certain amount of satisfaction, before running upstairs to her room and slamming the door.
Their parents glanced at each other, then slowly sat back down. "Kenny, Billy, I think we need to talk. For a start, don't let Janey get to you," their mom said sincerely. "She may or may not come around, but either way this was a a brave thing to do. I know how hard it must have been, and it must have taken a lot of courage. Your father and I are very proud of you, darling."
Billy's eyes filled with tears again but this time for a different reason; he'd imagined his parents reacting like this but would never have expected it in reality. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely, and Kenny smiled.
"It's going to take a lot of getting used to," his father warned him, "but I suppose we knew this was coming. And young Kenny seems like a nice boy. All I want to do is add that the public won't be so accepting. A lot of people - not all, but some - will react like Janey. And although we will punish her for saying such cruel things, we can't force her to change her views and opinions."
"I know, Dad," Billy said solemnly, although there was a slight sparkle in his eyes.
The doorbell rang, breaking the slightly awkward silence that had fallen among them, and Kenny said cheerfully, "We'll get it!" Billy led his boyfriend towards the door - once they were outside the room then Kenny could relax, running his hand through his hair. "Sorry, honey, but I just had to get out of there. Your parents are lovely, but that banshee of a sister..." He winced as Billy gently slipped his arm around his waist, and Billy remembered for the first time, in all the excitement, that Janey had violently pushed Kenny over.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, and Kenny nodded, seeing the concern in the younger boy's eyes.
"I'll be fine, sugar," he reassured Billy, pulling open the door. Two girls stood there, about Janey's age, and Billy could see them looking Kenny up and down. He smirked to himself as he could see why: messy black hair, clear blue eyes, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth... Kenny had it all. Billy possessively took his boyfriend's hand, sending out a clear he's mine signal, but also smiling at the two girls who immediately smiled back. Janey appeared at the top of the stairs, looking down suspiciously, and caught sight of the two girls.
"They haven't contaminated you, have they?" she called down, and one the girls called back up to her.
"Janey, why didn't you tell us your brother was gay? That's so cute!"
"He's not," replied Janey simply, coming down the stairs, and the girl looked confused, smile still in place.
"Not what? Gay? Cute?"
"My brother," Janey said coldly, grabbing her coat and pushing past them both. The girl who had spoken followed her, briefly flashing Billy and Kenny a thumbs up as she did so, but the other girl stayed.
"So, uh... are you two together?" she asked uncertainly, and Kenny nodded, tightening his grip on Billy's hand as he wondered how she would react.
She beamed.
"I think that's wonderful," she said sincerely, before hurrying off after Janey and the other girl. Billy and Kenny kissed each other lightly, on impulse.
Yes. It was wonderful.