"Lovino!" Feliciano cheered as a black car pulled up in front of his house. He ran down the stairs and hugged his brother before he was even half out of the car.

"Woah Feliciano, it's good to see you too but least wait until I'm out of the car."

"Oh sorry." Feliciano took a few steps back.

"So are you all packed?" Lovino asked as he shut the car door.

"Almost, I just have to pack a few more drawings supplies to pack." Feliciano opened the door and the two walked inside.

Lovino looked at his watch for a second. "Alright but don't take too long."

The two walked upstairs to Feliciano's room. There was a red duffle bag sitting on his bed. His sheets were all pulled up and wrapped up together. Feliciano walked over to his desk. Carefully he unplugged his tablet and picked it up. He gently placed it in his bag and zipped it up tight.

"Alright, I'm all set," Feliciano said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.

Lovino nodded and grabbed the sheets. Feliciano grabbed his suitcase and they headed downstairs. As he started to walked outside, Feliciano turned and looked at the inside of the home before walking outside.

"Okay so here's the plan," Lovino started to explain as the car entered the highway. "We're going to drop all this stuff off at home. Then the two of us are just going to hang out for a few hours."

"For how long?" Feliciano asked quietly.

"As long as we can."

Feliciano smiled and looked out the window. "How have Mom and Dad been?"

"Nothing's changed since you left," Lovino said bluntly still looking at the road. "At this point, you might as well give up."

"Harsh."

"All I'm saying is that it might be a good idea to give up." Lovino started to speak softly. "Before it's too late."

Feliciano looked down and wrapped his arms around his chest. "Believe I want to. I think about it every time they dead name, misgender, or anything of the sort. But no matter what I can't."

Lovino placed his hand on Feliciano's shoulder. Feliciano looked over and smiled.

"Okay how about we head to the mall and grab some make your pasta?" Lovino suggested as Feliciano throw his sheets in the laundry room. "My treat."

"Lovi I can pay for myself," Feliciano said.

"I insist." Lovino gently grabbed Feliciano's arm.

Feliciano walked upstairs and grabbed his wallet along with his phone. He ran downstairs and met his brother in the car. The two kept quiet on their ride to the mall. Looking out the window Feliciano watched the scenery change. Despite being gone for two months hardly anything had changed. The houses, trees, and even a few animals were the same as they always were.

Once at the mall, the two didn't bother to stop at any stores. Feliciano remained a few steps behind his brother. He looked around and after a few seconds he zipped up his jacket. Lovino turned around and stopped. When Feliciano caught up to him he placed his hand on Feliciano's shoulder making sure the two remained by each other's side.

"So how's senior year going?" Feliciano asked once the two were sitting down eating their lunch.

"Same as the past years. Get up, go to class, grab lunch, go back to class, work, and go home back to bed. Rinse and repeat every week." Lovino gestured with his fork a little. "How have things been with you?"

"Going good." Feliciano took a sip of his drink. "I'm doing that art contest again."

"Do you think you'll win this year?"

"I hope so." Feliciano looked down a little. "There are just so many good artists at Heartsdale."

"And your one of them." Lovino paused for a moment. "So what's the deal with this Ludwig guy?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've mentioned him a few times over the past month. Is there something between you two?" Lovino raised an eyebrow.

"We're just friends."

"If you say so. But I'll tell you until I meet this guy I don't trust him."

"Lovi you've never even met him."

"He's just giving me some vibes." Lovino took a sip of his drink.

Feliciano took a bite of his pasta. "You say that about everyone."

"When I'm given a reason to, I'll stop."

Feliciano looked down for a second. "I wish you didn't have to in the first place."

"Oh, there's my baby!" Ludwig turned around to see his mother standing in his bedroom's doorway.

"Hi Mom," Ludwig said before his mom ran over and hugged him. Ludwig stayed there for a few a seconds before his mom stepped back.

"What, just because you're twenty now you can't hug your own mother?"

"Of course not," Ludwig said before hugging her. His mother smiled.

"Now I know you probably want to get settled in." His mom started to walk out of the room. "I just wanted to come up and say hi. Your father should be home in about an hour. Dinner should be ready by then, I'm making your favorite."

"Mom, you don't have to."

"I insist sweetie."

Ludwig smiled and climbed onto his bed. He sighed and just laid there for a moment. Coming back home was always felt so surreal to him. After months in the dorm, the thought of being in his room by himself most of the time just felt unreal. But it came at a price, that he truly could not express himself. He sat up and stared at out the window. He watched cars, birds, leaves, anything go by as he remained still.

"Ludwig, could you help me set the table, please?" His mother called.

"Be right down," Ludwig said as he got off his bed. He ran downstairs to the dining room, where his mom was placing some plates down. Ludwig followed suit and grabbed some silverware.

"Oh, your father called me," his mom said as she put down the last plate. "He's going to be a little late tonight due to traffic."

"I can wait until he gets back."

"That's what I figured. I didn't want you worrying about him when he wasn't home when he said." His mom looked back a little before looking back at her son. "So anyone caught your eye?"

"What do you mean?" Ludwig asked confused.

"Like, I dunno if there a girl you're interested in at school?"

"No, Mom there's not."

"What about that Emma girl you always talk about. Any interest in her?"

"No, we're just friends." Ludwig paused for a moment. "She uh has a girlfriend."

"Oh, she's gay. My mistake, I didn't know."

"It's okay Mom," Ludwig said quietly.

"Honey is something wrong?"

Ludwig looked up for a second and started to walk out. "No, everything is fine."

"You know you can tell me anything right?" She asked following him.

"I know." Ludwig paused again. "Just getting a little stressed about finals that's all."

"Ludwig, Ludwig, Ludwig you say that every year and every year you do great."

"Still get those nerves, you know."

"I understand dear."

The two remained quiet for a while. When the table was set Ludwig went into the living room and started reading. After a few seconds, a pillow fell on his leg. Out of habit, he placed his free hand on it. After realizing that the pillow wasn't moving, he awkwardly moved his hand off it.

"Anyone home?" some asked as Ludwig heard the door open.

"Hi, honey," his mom said. Ludwig stood up and walked over to see his father in the kitchen.

"Well if it isn't my youngest son?"

"Hello Father," Ludwig said with a smile.

"How does it feel to be home?"

"To be honest it feels so surreal."

"I can't wait to hear about it." His father picked up his briefcase. "Let me just change out of my suit first."

"So your professor won't be back until after break?" Ludwig mom asked as she poured herself some water.

"No, she's been out for a family emergency for the past two weeks. She should be back on Monday."

"Are you handling this alright?"

"Of course he is," his father said before Ludwig could answer. "Pop quiz what is the maximum sentence a person can earn for second-degree robbery?"

"Wolfgang give him a break. He just got home."

"Karla dear, if he's going to make it in the law world he has to be prepared for anything."

"Fifteen years," Ludwig said not even looking up.

"See he can handle it," Wolfgang smiled proudly at his son.

"I know but he still has a lot of stress to go through as a student." Karla crossed her arms. "We can't be adding more to it."

"Mom don't worry. I don't mind."

Karla and Wolfgang looked at each other for a second. Quietly Ludwig looked down and continued to eat his dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, Ludwig thought he saw his mom gesture her head towards him. But he couldn't be too sure.

"Did I tell you about the case I denied taking last month?" Wolfgang asked after a few seconds.

"I don't think so," Ludwig said looking up.

"Well, a potential client came in claiming wrongful termination from their job."

Ludwig nodded a bit. "Doesn't seem to bad so far."

"I thought so at first, but over time I noticed that there were some holes in the story. I ended calling up the company to hear their side of the story and hopefully get a consistent story. It comes out and I find out that this person got fired for repeatedly calling a fellow employee a homophobic slur."

"They fired him over that?" Ludwig asked trying to sound surprised.

"From what I gathered they kept repeating the slur after the employee and the management told them to stop."

"Is something wrong sweetie?" Karla asked grabbing Ludwig's hand.

"Of course Mom. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh," Karla sat back up in surprise. "Well, it's just you seem to be acting a little, upset recently. Like there's something you're not telling us."

"I'm not Mom."

"You know you can tell us anything, right?"

"Of course."

The rest of dinner was uneventful. The three were rather quiet. When they were all done Ludwig offered to help clean up but both of his parents told him he was all set. Ludwig went back upstairs and on his bed. He grabbed his headphones and turned on a random playlist. He leaned on the back of his bed and just let the music play.

He started to think about what his mother said. He had heard over a million times before but for some reason, it stung today. If could tell them everything he would but why was it so hard. He noticed the framed family picture on his nightstand. Carefully he picked it up. Looking it over he saw how happy they were back then. When was the last time he truly felt like he did in the picture?

"It's the most, freeing feeling the world." Ludwig thought back to what Feliciano told him the other day.

He sighed and looked at the photo in his hands. "I have to do it. I'm going to come out."