It was the 11th of May. Troy and Hunter were still broken up as Troy hadn't revealed to his friends he was bisexual. And Troy still struggled with telling the truth. Yes, Troy loved Hunter, but he cared about his friends too. Troy knew that it wouldn't be cool if his friends did learn and decided to walk away from him over it, also it would double to prove Hunter was right; his friends weren't really his friends at all. That would hurt to know too. Troy was just at a crossroads with things and he just wanted it to all work out, but he couldn't determine that and it scared him to find out. He had no help because the only other person he could learn from had also not spoken up, and that was Blake, who was bisexual and no one knew. Troy had hoped if Blake came out as bi then Troy could see how those reactions went, but since Blake wasn't revealing anything; Troy had nothing to go off of. Troy missed everything with Hunter, and the only time they saw one another was during school hours. Troy didn't like that his ultimatum was revealing the truth about his sexuality or not get Hunter back, but Troy understood Hunter's side of things. Hunter already went through losing friends and being bullied for being different and gay; he'd always known young that he liked boys. And Hunter had years to build up his courage where now he was open and proud about it all, also never letting the disapproval of others get him down.
Troy wished he had that kind of confidence, and he was more than grateful to have Hunter's help in how to tackle it all, but that wasn't enough for Troy to feel like he could handle losing his friends over things. At the same time, it was wrong of Troy to hope Hunter would just accept staying hidden as a secret boyfriend. Troy was also wrong to have promised Hunter they'd go to prom together and that he'd tell his friends the truth last Monday and he choked, even saying something awful to Hunter. No, Troy knew he was wrong in so many ways. He wanted Hunter back, he missed it all, but he knew the price; Troy would have to tell his friends about being bisexual and also that he had been dating Hunter since the middle of January. Troy was trying to get up the courage to do just that, but every time he said to himself he would do it; he hesitated and never said a word. Right now, it was about 6:30 am; he would leave for school at 7:00 am, plenty of time to arrive, park and see his friends before the bell rung for 7:30 am.
Troy was quiet at the table where his mother, father, and siblings were all sitting around to eat breakfast; he had his phone out and looking at pictures of himself and Hunter. His mother and father knew something was wrong, but hadn't been sure how to bring things up.
"Kids, if you've finished eating; you can go watch TV until 6:45 pm," Drake spoke up. As expected, Cooper, Dominic, Elliot, and Abigail all cleared their plates and put them in the sink and hurried out of the dining room. Troy still sat there, as if he hadn't even heard his father talk.
"Sweetheart," Rebecca touched Troy's arm to get his attention.
"Yeah, Mom. Sorry, got distracted with reading something…" Troy put his phone down and lifted his fork to stop eating.
"Troy, is everything okay?" Drake asked.
"Of course," Troy replied.
"Are you feeling alright?" Rebecca inquired. "You've barely touched your food." She reached a hand over to check his temperature.
"I'm okay…" Troy said softly. "Just not hungry."
"I know you better than that, baby," Rebecca smiled a bit. "I work with patients all day who give the same looks. Deep thought, and sadness. But doctor aside, I'm your mother and I know when something isn't right," She paused. "What's wrong?"
Troy set his fork down and eyes closed as he had his head lowered. "Hunter broke up with me…"
"Did you two fight about something? Or has he just reached a point where he realized he wasn't actually ready to move on from his former fiancé?" Drake questioned.
"It's my fault…" Troy admitted.
"Talk to us, son," Drake pushed lightly.
Troy took them through the situation that happened last week, leaving nothing out. By the end of it, his siblings had come in to say goodbye then leave to get on the bus. Troy, however, still had time before he had to leave. "Hunter said the decision was mine to make. If I wanted him back, I have to tell my friends the truth…But I just can't bring myself to tell them." Troy sighed.
"Why are you so afraid to tell them, sweetie? You've been friends with them since we came here, I don't think they'd abandon you over liking both men and women." Rebecca inquired.
"Not knowing for sure is what makes it hard. And at the same time…I don't think I'm bi anymore," Troy paused. "When my ex kissed me, I didn't feel anything. And yes, I know she's my ex and we broke up but it was more to not being any kind of attracted to her. Maybe I was never bi, it was just an in between while I got used to the new feelings of something I hadn't experienced before." He admitted. "Maybe they could have been fine with me being bi, but I don't think it'd go the same way for being gay."
"Well, Troy…In all honesty, as much as it would suck to lose those friends if they didn't support or accept your sexuality...Do you really want to be friends with people who wouldn't support and accept you? I know it would hurt that they walked away, but in all seriousness; I think I'd be more happy that anyone who didn't walk away showed that they were your true friends." Drake mentioned.
"I know…Hunter said the same thing. Guess I just don't want to get bullied again," Troy mumbled.
"I don't think they would, Troy. And even if they walked away, again…Your real friends would have your back. School is almost over. You told us once before that you used to bully Hunter for whatever reason, but look where you ended up with him." Rebecca said. "Do you think for a second Hunter would let someone bully you? That any of your friends would."
"Probably not. I saw what Hunter did to the guy who roofied Jay…" Troy recalled the fight against Marcus, who didn't stand a chance.
"Sweetheart, you have two choices here. You can keep hiding, stay miserable…Or you can come out and be happy. You say you love Hunter, and while you do…Understand that everything in relationships is trust, understanding, communication, mutual feelings and sacrifice." Rebecca informed.
"She's right, son. It may hurt that Hunter left you, but he already made his sacrifice to things with you. He trusted you would come out as you promised. He was open and honest with you. He even returns your feelings and understood you needed time to settle with things. You said Hunter informed he would never hide or change himself for anyone, but he did all that for you." Drake stated. "Hunter hide himself and lied to others to allow you your time to come out. He did exactly what he said he wouldn't, and the reason he left was more than just you not saying anything. He saw another girl, your ex, kiss you. And you said what did to him. I'm sure that hurt, but regardless; he's already giving you another chance. He's waiting for you to prove what you said to him about caring and loving him. All he's asking is your honest with yourself and others."
"But understand that he won't wait forever, Troy. If Hunter believes you're still holding back out of fear, he'll let go. If you want him back, you have to fight for him; the same he would for you. You have nothing to be afraid of…So go tell whoever that you're gay. Then tell Hunter you love him and you're sorry…That you want him back." Rebecca encouraged.
"But work all that out while you head to school. We'll see you tonight," Drake kissed the top of his head as he cleared his plate away and prepared to leave for work.
"Okay. Thanks, guys…" Troy eventually got up after Rebecca kissed his cheek, clearing away hers and Troy's plates.
Troy grabbed his bag and headed out to his car. Troy sat down and took a minute; his parents were right. Troy shouldn't have ever worried about anything, and all the psyching himself out cost him Hunter. Troy was going to make this right, but for now; he was giving Hunter that space he asked for. There was a lot going on in preparation for nationals, but Troy was fixing this before prom. He'd keep his promise to go with Hunter, and he didn't give a shit what anyone would say. Troy took a breath, sure of his decision, then he buckled and went to start his car. The car sputtered a bit and Troy sighed, then tried again and the car kicked on. That was a problem if his car was having problems again, but he'd see how things went.
. . .
Troy's car was definitely having a problem, and he knew nothing of cars, so he wasn't even sure what was wrong with it this time. Troy parked and pulled up the number to the garage Hunter worked at. He wouldn't trust any other place with his car after the crap he dealt with from others before Hunter stepped in to fix things. Troy sat there in the car and made the call to get his car in to be looked over. The woman said she wasn't sure because of something to do with the booking system glitching, but she took his name, number, year, make, and model of his car. The woman said she or someone else would call back later to get it in as soon as possible. Troy finally got out of the car and locked it once he had his bag and closed the door. Time for another day of school, but at least it was almost over.
Hours went by and soon it was lunch hour, everyone sat together and discussed how the practice would go that night. Hunter was sitting pretty quiet and doing something on his computer and Troy was eating. Talking got interrupted by Hunter's phone vibrating on the table, he grabbed it and pressed the accept button before putting it to his ear.
"If you locked your keys in the car, again, I'm not coming to pop the door…You're a mechanic, and ex-special ops soldier…You should be able to handle that without calling your teenaged, high school godson for help…" Hunter answered the call. Obviously, he was talking to Gregory. "I'll be as sarcastic as necessary when you keep calling me to save you…And don't try to say you never do because you always do. I have the call logs and text messages to prove it…" Hunter remarked. "Now, what is it. I'm busy doing homework," Pause. "Greg, I'm not in the mood. I'm exhausted, and have a pounding headache that's threatening to go migraine…So what do you need?" Hunter stated. "I'll ask," Hunter looked at Troy now. "Hey, Troy…You call the shop this morning about your car?"
"Yeah. I talked to…Ruthie, I think." Troy replied.
"What's wrong with it? Ruthie didn't put down what you said this morning," Hunter inquired.
"She never asked what was wrong with it. Just name, number, year, make, and model. Then told me there was something wrong with the system and someone would call me later to set a time to bring it in." Troy informed.
"You catch all that, Uncle Greg?" Hunter questioned. "You didn't upgrade the system last night, did you?" Then his eyes widened. "You did what?! I told you to click update and restart! How do you confuse that with reset!?" He scolded. "Greg, resetting the computer literally wipes it clean! It is NOT the same as a restart! You erased the computer's hard drive, that was everything on it! Files, programs, everything! That computer is now, basically, as new as it was when you bought it! Back when it ran windows fucking eight!" A pause. "Don't you oops me! I swear to Odin…Between mom and dad never being home and me having to be a parent to my younger siblings, to work shit, and everything else I'm dealing with right now…My stress level is sky high. Do not touch anything else…Leave it alone until I get there tonight. For now…Go in the long file cabinet directly behind where the computer chair is, there's a folder labeled May 11, 2022. It's all the appointment sheets for today. Go through them, and work on whatever is assigned for today," He stated. "Take calls and use the blank appointment sheets in the Forms drawer of the file cabinet directly next to the computer. Fill everything out in the personal information and notes sections. And do not lose them…" Hunter sighed and took a breath.
"Of course I keep physical records. I know how technological inept you are…" Hunter commented. "You are that bad with it. And if you can't figure it out, you end up breaking it…" He sighed. "Uncle Greg, you literally called me in the middle of the night from your friend's phone while deployed because you, and I still can't figure out how, shot your own phone with an automatic rifle!" He reminded. "Accident my ass. But whatever you say. What excuse you got for the times you, and I quote…Ran over your laptop, baked your tablet, and by far the craziest thing I've heard, got it blown up by an RPG…" Hunter listed off. "Oh, suddenly ya don't remember any of those times. Face it, Uncle Greg…You and technology mix about as well as you deal with women." He chuckled. "I did say it like that because I know you're gay, but it doesn't change the comparison. You don't deal with women because you find them frustrating and confusing. Same as you see technology." He smiled, then laughed. "You've lost, Greg…Give it up. You can't beat me and you know that…" Another pause. "You can't beat me in a fight either. I'm younger, faster, and wayyy more flexible. Aside all that…You trained me, remember? You taught me everything you know, and we didn't stop until I was as good as you."
Hunter's academy friends found it hilarious that the conversation went from Hunter and Greg arguing to now Hunter teasing his uncle. But the friends were happy to see Hunter in a slightly better mood. "We'll hang soon, Uncle Greg. I promise…Besides, you promised to take me out drinking, remember?" Pause. "I know I'm already eighteen, but take it up with mom and dad. It's their house rule that you're not allowed to get me wasted until after I graduate." He smiled. "We're not going to a gay bar for you to get me laid…" Another pause. "I most certainly do not need your help. I can get laid any time I want, I just choose not to. Oh pfft…Says the guy who hasn't been laid in months. I got laid two weeks ago…"
"Fuck you, laddie," Gregory said aloud, Hunter must have accidentally hit speakerphone.
"I'm a bit too young for you, Uncle Greg…" Hunter joked.
"You can't get laid whenever you want anymore! You're single now, like me!" Gregory argued.
"What age do you think we live in, Greg? You don't have to be dating someone to get laid…I got plenty of people I can call, two of them are sitting right here at the lunch table…" Hunter chuckled.
"Like whom?" Greg wondered.
"Jase and Eli, who else? Could even kick up a notch to a three-way, just saying." Hunter shrugged.
"Oh, please?" Jason and Elijah hoped.
"Maybe if I get bored or desperate enough," Hunter winked at them.
"Don't tease!" Elijah whined.
"I hate you…" Jason mumbled.
"You may hate me, but you'll love what I could do to you…" Hunter grinned. "See, Greg…Doesn't take much."
"You're such a pervert," Gregory sighed.
"Learned from my equally as perverted gay uncle," Hunter chuckled.
"Aye, that be true," Gregory admitted.
"Now, are you done harassing me at school? We can chat later at work, or next time we hang," Hunter stated.
"I'll take ya out this weekend. Couple drinks?" Gregory hoped.
"Mom and dad will literally kill you in cold blood if you go against their order of getting me drunk…" Hunter warned him.
"Neva said I'd get you wasted, lad. Just out for a couple drinks…Besides, how they gonna find out I took you drinking if you spend the weekend at my place?" Gregory chuckled.
"Oh, good point," Hunter agreed.
"That a yes?" Gregory asked.
"Okay, okay…I'll leave work Friday night with you and stay over at your place til Sunday night. We can hang and drink…" Hunter told him.
"Yes! Won't regret it, laddie. Besides, you've been miserable for a couple weeks now…This'll help." Gregory said.
"I trust you," Hunter replied. "Oh, why did you call again? You asked me about Troy's car?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with it, so I can make that file…" Gregory asked.
Hunter looked to Troy now. "Had trouble starting this morning, but everything else I can't figure out…It's making sounds." Troy stated.
"Hunter?" Gregory mentioned.
"I'll look at after school and give you a more detailed report." Hunter confirmed.
"Good, lad. See ya later. Remember, won't be at Glee practice tonight." Gregory reminded.
"Yeah, yeah. Myra, Timothy, Devon, and Ethan will be there in place of you," Hunter replied. "See ya at work, Uncle Greg."
"Love ya, laddie!"
"Love ya too," Hunter said, then ended the call and looked at Troy. "Meet me at your car after the last bell, Troy."
"Okay…" Troy responded. "What about Glee?"
"We'll be a couple minutes late is all," Hunter told him. "Maddy can handle things for a little bit, I'm sure."
"No prob!" Madison gave a thumbs up.
"So…Were you serious about that whole hooking up and three way thing?" Jason questioned.
"What did I say?" Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Bored or desperate enough…" Elijah sighed.
"And you both should know by now that I'm never that bored…" Hunter reminded. "It was a joke, guys…Said to imply that I could get laid whenever. I just won't hook up with strangers at a bar, though." He added.
No one else really knew what to say, but it was clear Hunter had been upset or in a bad mood as he said he was. He ended up laughing and smiling, so the conversation with Gregory cheered Hunter up. One thing was for sure, Hunter was apparently going to be drinking this weekend with his unofficial uncle and godfather. So far, the day had been pretty interesting. The sad part was that it wasn't over yet.