=Normal POV=
(Wednesday, 12/25/2019; 4:30 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Raseri Residence)

The holiday was cheerful as always. After Trayden's brother, Dexter, arrived, the family spent time opening presents to one another and catching up since the last time they were together. There was quite a bit of downtime between opening gifts and lunch, Trayden decided while sitting around to give his first decision more thought and maybe he was anxious to stop being afraid of intimacy with a male. At the same time, Trayden still held his feelings regarding wanting to know what it was like, but only with a trusted friend. Trayden did push things back when everyone started talking again about life was going, and then through dinner at 4:00 pm. Now, Trayden had time to think about things again while his siblings were helping clean up from the meal and his parents were preparing the desserts to eat at 5 pm. After earlier texts exchanged with Hunter when he got so serious about having Trayden make sure of his choice, Trayden understood that his decision had not changed.

Trayden still wanted to experience pleasure-related things with a male, and he wanted that male to be Hunter. Trayden was heeding the advice Hunter gave about not jumping into things with a stranger, and Hunter wasn't a stranger. Hunter was also a caring, amazing friend who basically offered himself to Trayden for them to have sex as long as it was what Trayden wanted and ready for. Hunter was also not new to being gay or a first-timer to male pleasure. Trayden knew he wanted to see what everything was like, that decision had been made. And Trayden knew that he wanted Hunter to be the one he experienced it all with. However, Trayden's area of struggle was the being ready. Trayden was ready enough to try some things, but perhaps not all of them.

Hunter kept talking about moving at Trayden's pace, so Trayden felt like he could still tell Hunter that he was sure about what he wanted, just maybe not all at once. Trayden suspected that it might become a topic of conversation anyway, that Hunter would ask him right out if he wanted to do it all or in sections. Trayden didn't know what to expect in male pleasure, surely it wasn't the same as female. Regardless, Trayden knew, for now, what he wanted to do and was sure of his choice. Next was letting Hunter know. The two of them were already messaging anyway, and Hunter was currently telling Trayden that he couldn't wait for 6:30 pm when Trayden came over for them to hang out.

Trayden smiled and prepared to write back when the sound of his mother's voice pulled his attention from the phone. "I'm surprised your phone hasn't died yet with how much you've been using it," Rachel Raseri giggled. "Is that your friends asking when they can hang out with you again?"

"Yeah, we're trying to work something out for a New Year's party," Trayden replied. "Really depends if I can get the night off work,"

"That sounds fun," Trayden's father, Dustin Raseri, mentioned. "Which friend is hosting?"

"Well, it's a new friend I met and introduced the others too back in the beginning of December," Trayden said calmly.

"Oh, a new friend? You didn't mention that in recent updates," Rachel beamed.

"Is this the guy who fixed your car at his house for free? The one you met because you found his wallet and located him to return it?" Dexter wondered and Trayden was silently wishing he hadn't told his brother about Hunter when he came over to ask if he could borrow $10 for gas and would pay it back when he got paid. It just happened to have been the next morning after Trayden and Hunter's thank you date that continued on to Hunter's house to fix the car and then a party. Dexter had shown up at 7:30 am, on his way to work and Trayden had been asleep still because he was up so late. Dexter caught Trayden's initial lie about being tired from work and Dexter knew Trayden didn't have work that weekend. So Trayden gave in and told him basics.

"Yes…" Trayden muttered, nodding.

"Is that who you're talking to right now because you keep smiling like a school-girl with a crush every time that phone vibrates?" Dexter grinned.

"Shut up," Trayden shot him a glare.

"Alright, boys…It's Christmas. No fighting," Dustin stated firmly. "Dexter, don't tease your brother," He sighed.

"I'm not, just pointing out that he's never gotten like this with a guy before. We all know he's bi, but it's always been girls. Sorry if I'm excited to see that he's interested in someone finally, after a year. Not even…When was that break up…June? So like, six months," Dexter smiled.

Trayden grumbled under his breath, looking at his phone to reply to Hunter.

Remind me to never tell my brother anything again…

"I was truthfully starting to wonder if the bi thing was just a phase," Dexter added. "Good for you, big brother," He gave a thumbs up.

Scratch that…Remind me to find a way to kill him and make sure no one finds the body!

Trayden added that to his message after what Dexter said and before Hunter had replied after reading the first one.

Hunter's Cell, 4:32 pm
Lol, if you're really going to go through with killing him, I don't advise leaving a body to be found. Fishing boat, chum the water, let the sharks handle it ^_- Tiger and Great Whites are known to be aggressive at feeding time XD, so go sunrise or sunset.

Trayden had to laugh a little at Hunter's response, forgetting momentarily that he was with his family.

I don't want to know why you were able to come up with such a detailed murder plan…Were our friends right, should I be concerned about what you could do to me? XD Just kidding, of course. Lol.

Hunter's Cell, 4:35 pm
I have a creative mind and vivid imagination ;) The only thing you should be concerned about with me and you is all the things I can do to you if we were in bed together, with our clothes off and pressed skin to skin with no interruptions…

IS HE TRYING TO TURN ME ON?! Trayden thought instantly, hoping to Odin his eyes weren't wide in shock and that he wasn't blushing. Trayden paused a moment thinking about what he just said to himself silently. What am I saying? It's Hunter…He's itching to get me in his bed. A second vibration alert made me check the phone again where Hunter had written something else.

Hunter's Cell, 4:36 pm
I know what I said, and I know it made you do that adorable blush where you get bashful and surprised because it actually turned you on think about all the possibilities XD Right?

Trayden started to type out no and deny it, but he noticed his brother leering over. "You should probably tell Hunter that you totally are blushing…" Dexter teased. Trayden glared and shoved him away. Dexter laughed a bit.

"Dexter, enough…" Dustin sighed.

"So is he really your friend, or your boyfriend, son?" Rachel asked softly, with a loving smile. "It's okay to tell us the truth, we know you're bisexual and you know we love and accept you no matter what,"

"Yes, I do know that…" Trayden replied. "And we're just friends…" He informed.

"Just friends talk about what they could do to you in-," Dexter began.

"Dexter!" Rachel scolded.

"Yes, we're just friends. Hunter is gay and extremely comfortable as such. He's open, forward, and a major pervert…But he does it to all his bisexual and gay friends who don't mind being flirted with or hit on. And I don't mind," Trayden remarked. "And you shouldn't be looking at my private conversations!" He pointed to his brother.

"Well, if you'd stop getting lost in conversation with him, maybe I wouldn't have to go looking to find what keeps pulling your attention away from your family on a holiday when we're trying to ask you about your new just a friend," Dexter folded his arms with a scowl. Trayden glared at Dexter again. "He's not just a friend when you're smiling, giggling, and blushing at the things he's saying. That's a called a crush and what he's doing isn't flirting, that's a suggestive hint that he wants to screw you senseless and he clearly knows that you know that, which is why he mentioned knowing you blushed thinking about it!" He added.

"As true as that is, Hunter is still just a friend. We're not dating," Trayden stated.

"Oh, so you know he wants to do you and as he said, you're getting turned on thinking about him doing you. Or does it turn you on to remember having sex with him? Is that why he didn't charge you when he fixed your car? Did he convince you to sleep with him as payment?" Dexter pushed.

"NO!" Trayden denied instantly. "He doesn't charge his friends. Any of them. I tried to pay him, he refused,"

"Yeah, well just friends who fuck are friends with benefits," Dexter commented.

"We're not dating, and we're not friends with benefits! We've never even had sex! I've only known him a month, what kind of person do you think I am?" Trayden snapped.

"I'm trying to figure it out because nothing about you has been right since you and the girl broke up," Dexter stared.

"Where do you even get that idea?" Trayden scoffed.

"I don't know, it might have something to do with the fact that you're developing, or have developed a crush on the guy who wants to fuck you that happens to be a stripper!" Dexter announced as Trayden's eyes widened a little. "You think I didn't know Hunter works at Wild Fantasies? One of my best friends is a bartender there and told me he saw you there, twice! Once to return that wallet, and the second, with your friends watching the strip shows! I know Hunter took you on a date to thank you for giving him his wallet back. I know you were at his house so he could fix your car. I know you kissed him and then stayed there to party!" Dexter informed. "For the hell of it, I know you've stayed overnight at his house! My girlfriend lives in that neighborhood, she saw your car in his driveway at 10:00 at night when she went to work, and it was still there the next morning at 7 when she got home!"

"So what? We were hanging out, he's a good friend regardless of his job. I was bored, had two days off from work and he invited me over. We had drinks, got drunk, and I spent the night in one of his spare bedrooms. All we did was drink, eat, and talk with background music," Trayden remarked. Okay, maybe it was a little bit of a lie. Hunter and him had made out too. "We woke up, had breakfast, and I left."

"A good friend who is clearly trying to get in your pants, and by the sounds of how well you two have gotten to know one another, it doesn't sound like it will take much!" Dexter accused.

"How dare you!" Trayden growled.

"What happened to you, Tray? It's not just me who noticed something was different since that breakup, we all have. Even your friends. We know that the fight had some kind of negative effect on you, there's something you're not telling us," Dexter said firmly. "You two were perfect for one another, and then after a year and a half with no issues, you just break up after one fight?"

"It was a big fight," Trayden defended.

"About what then? What was so bad that one fight caused things to end?" Dexter pushed.

"It was a long time ago, it doesn't matter and it's none of your business," Trayden huffed.

"It was six months ago, but you met this Hunter a month ago, so technically five months after an eighteen-month relationship and you're okay with this guy talking to you the way he does? So what happened with your ex? Was the fight because she caught you with a guy or-," Dexter paused. "No, no…Wait. I know what it's about now. I mentioned it before that despite you saying you're bi, this is the first time we've seen you happy and it's because of a guy you're talking to. You never even got like this with girls. So, the only things that cause big fights that end in break ups after a relationship that long with no fights prior is because someone found out something about the other or unfaithfulness. So…Did you cheat on her with another girl, or a guy?"

"I would never be unfaithful," Trayden glared.

"Then she obviously found out something about you that was immediate break up worthy…And I think I know what it is…" Dexter said calmly.

"Please, enlighten me?" Trayden rolled his eyes.

"You're not bisexual…You're gay," Dexter informed as Trayden didn't say anything. "Aren't you?" Still, Trayden stayed quiet. "You thought you were bi, but that wasn't it, was it. Being bisexual was just a temporary and drawn out phase. You weren't attracted to both, you realized you were attracted to men and accepted calling yourself bisexual, but it truth…The attraction to guys started becoming stronger and you lost the attraction to girls…That's what your ex figured out, and caused the fight where you two broke up. She learned you were gay, didn't she?" Trayden's glare slowly faded.

"Is…That what happened, son?" Dustin asked.

"Trayden, sweetheart?" Rachel was up on her feet to approach her son. "Are you gay?" She tried to reach his hand, but Trayden moved away and sighed, finally lowering his head a bit.

"Yes…" Trayden finally admitted. "Yes, I am. And yes, Dex…What caused the fight was her figuring out that I must be gay because we tried to have sex and I couldn't get hard. It wasn't the first time we'd tried to be intimate and it happened. So she packed her things and left, we haven't spoken since…" He informed quietly. "I didn't say anything because I was dealing with everything and trying to come to terms with it myself. I gave up trying to fight it in October and just settle into it…But work was busy, never really had time, and had no idea how to even begin with being gay because I've never done anything with males, not even during that bisexual period…So as my friends put it, I've just been in my shell, and working on coming out. They only know I'm gay because Ethan pointed out that I even give a glance to all the girls at some costume party they dragged me to…But not even they know what happened with my ex, I just told them a big fight because I didn't want anyone knowing what happened…" He explained. "Thanks for not letting it go and pushing me…"

"Tray…Big brother, I'm sorry…" Dexter tried, feeling awful that he cornered Trayden, and basically forced him to come out before he was ready to. "I didn't mean to-I know how strippers are and when I learned everything I did…I just wanted to know what happened, why you changed and got so distant, and then all this with Hunter…I wanted to protect you, so you wouldn't get hurt by him…"

"Maybe you do know what some strippers do, but Hunter isn't like that. You don't know him or anything about him, so don't class him with the others you're thinking of. Hunter knows I recently settled with being gay, and he just wants to help me get used to being in the community. And yes, he wants to screw me…He's admitted to it, but only if its what I want and ready to do. But as long as I haven't told him that's what I want and ready for, we're strictly friends and he won't cross that boundary. He's a major flirt, forward, and open. There isn't a shy bone in his body, but he's funny, caring, smart, talented, and has a huge heart…" Trayden paused. "Hunter would never hurt me. In fact, the only thing he's done is protect me from my friends who just want me to put myself out there and get laid by a complete stranger. All Hunter has done is be supportive, give me advice, and make sure that I don't push myself to do anything before I'm ready to because I'll end up hurt, and he didn't want to see that happen…All of that is coming the guy you think will be the one to hurt me, so you feel you have to protect me? No. Hunter is the one protecting me from the people who want to hurt and push me before I'm ready…People like you…"

Without another word, Trayden turned away from them and briskly exited the house. Trayden went straight for his car, slid in, buckled, then got the car running. Trayden saw the house door closest the driveway open, revealing his mother, then father and younger siblings minus Dexter behind her. Trayden instantly shifted the gear into reverse, backed out, returned the stick to drive and sped off in legal limits. Trayden didn't want things to go like this, he was going to come out to his family tonight because everyone was together and it had been a great day until this happened. Trayden didn't know if he was angry, upset, or hurt. Maybe it was all three, but he needed to get away to think for a bit. Keeping focus on the road as it was falling darker, Trayden had both hands on the wheel and headed for his apartment.

. . .

(5:00 pm)
(Trayden's Apartment)

Getting home, Trayden parked and moved inside the complex. Taking the elevator to the sixth floor, Trayden reached his door and unlocked it, then walked inside and flipped the deadbolt lock above the handle. Trayden carelessly kicked off his shoes, tossed his wallet and keys on the counter, then went to the bathroom. After that, Trayden walked to the couch, tossed his phone on the end table and plugged it in to charge. Taking a deep breath, Trayden let it out with a sigh as his mind began racing with what happened at his parents' house. He wasn't mad at any of them except Dexter, because he's the one who did everything. His younger siblings stayed quiet, already figuring out that it wasn't their place to join in. And Trayden's parents only spoke to try and make Dexter stop, or ask for confirmation when Trayden went quiet at Dexter's reveals about the breakup and Trayden being gay. Not only was Trayden mad at his brother for what he did, Trayden was hurt too.

And it made Trayden wonder if this is the hurt Hunter referred to, about doing something before he was ready to. Maybe it wasn't in the same situation, but it was the same area. So yes, it still hurt at how things went down. Trayden didn't know what he should do, how to deal with this right now and like it did with most, when someone didn't know how to handle emotions piling up, they eventually found their way out through the spilling of tears. And that's what Trayden did, he bowed his head and covered his face with his hands as he started to cry.