Practice had been fine and Hunter was able to do everything with little James attached to him. Of course, James was also nearly two and active, so Hunter did have to chase him around. It never stopped him from singing while moving around, and James got a kick out of it. Right now, it was only 4:15 pm. Fifteen more minutes of practice, but everyone was taking a small break. Hunter had stressed rest period after a few songs or they'd wear out their voices. While everyone was relaxing for a couple more minutes, Hunter was playing with James. The child roamed the music room, finding things to look at and touch.
"You're so good with kids, Hunter," Gregory chuckled.
"It's really not that hard," Hunter shrugged. James got to Hunter and tried to reach for his water bottle. "You thirsty?" Hunter asked.
"Dink, peas." James said.
"Okay, come on up," Hunter lifted James up and sat him on his lap, then twisted the cap of his water bottle off to help James get a drink. Afterward, James was back down on the ground to keep running around; the child quickly went behind a file cabinet from site and Hunter already knew the game.
"Shouldn't you be getting up to chase him?" Sean asked.
"Nah, it's part of the game," Hunter chuckled.
"What game?" Ford wondered.
"Watch," Hunter covered his eyes. "Oh, no! Where is he? I've lost little James!" He said dramatically. James peeked around the corner, then came out a bit more just as Hunter lowered his hands. "There he is!" James looked all excited and then hid again. "Not again, where is he!?" James popped out as Hunter moved his hands. "Boo!" The child instantly laughed out. This went on a couple more times before James walked over to Hunter's legs and then motioned with his hand towards the computer chair. "You want the chair?" James went over to it. Hunter got up, pulling the chair out and then setting James in it. "Ready?" James held the two arms of the chair as Hunter gave the chair a good single spin around and James laughed happily. This went on for a little bit before James put up his arms to be held and Hunter lifted him up.
"Pin. Pin." James told Hunter.
"Pin?" Griffin asked.
"Spin." Hunter clarified. "You want to spin?" James held Hunter's shirt as he adjusted his arms and twisted his body to spin around carefully. James tucked his head in but had the biggest smile on his face. Hunter did it several more times, even bending James backward and fake-dropping him. The laughs were unmistakable. After a couple more times, James hugged Hunter tightly and gave him the toddler's version of a kiss, which was an open mouth on the nose. Hunter then rubbed his nose to James's before the child gave a big yawn and laid his head on Hunter's shoulder. "Sleepy time," He smiled. Hunter shifted only a bit to reposition James into a laying spot, then he just began to bounce his arms and sway side to side, it didn't take more than two minutes for James to fall fast asleep. Hunter chuckled and then readjusted James to be on his shoulder. "See, kids are easy. Practice is over, see everyone next week." Hunter picked up the bag, car seat, and then the pack and play in his other hand before walking out the door to get to his car.
. . .
Hunter had left the school after getting James into his car seat and then that installed into his car's back seat. Hunter got the pack and play, and bags into the trunk before driving home. Of course, once there; his parents and siblings were all together in the living room and dinner would be served at 5:30 pm. Hunter got help from one of the maids to get the bags from his car while he carried a sleeping James in his arms.
"Hunter, you're home," Valerie stated gently. "And you have a child?"
"It's James, Mom. Noelle asked me to babysit overnight so she and Christian can go up to the city hospital because their mom broke her leg. It was surgical repair, but she can leave tomorrow." Hunter explained while sitting down.
"Would you like me to take him from you?" The maid offered.
"No, he's fine. Thank you." Hunter said. The maid bowed and left the room. "How's everyone's day been?"
"Busy," Salvatore chuckled.
"Same," Valerie nodded.
"School," Nathan and Hollie said together.
"Fun," Melissa smiled.
"I'm with Dad, busy…" Zayden laughed a little. "How about yours, little brother?" He inquired.
"And how's Troy been? We haven't seen him over in a couple weeks." Valerie wondered.
"Day has been the same as they all have been," Hunter replied. "Don't know how Troy has been. We only see each other at school…" He responded gently.
"You sound utterly miserable about that," Zayden pointed out. "Unless something happened between you two." He added.
Hunter hesitated a moment. "I broke up with him on the 2nd," He finally said.
"Did feelings change?" Salvatore wondered. "You two seemed happy together."
"It's because he didn't come out to his friends, isn't it?" Zayden frowned. Hunter nodded. "I'm sorry, Hunter."
"It's not your fault, Zay. Troy's just too scared to tell his friends the truth, he doesn't want to lose them." Hunter revealed. "That, and what he said on the 2nd to cover his ass was uncalled for."
"What did he say?" Valerie asked.
"He brought Jay into it…" Hunter mumbled. "Troy told me, in front of his friends to cover himself from being found out, that the relationship between me and him wasn't real. Everything was in my head to cope with mourning Jay's death." Zayden, Valerie, Salvatore, Nate and Hollie looked shocked.
"That was really uncalled for." Salvatore remarked.
"Did this happen at school?" Zayden questioned.
"Yeah, at the end of the day right before Soul Harmonics practice. Troy told me several weeks before that he'd tell his friends the truth before prom, so we could go together. He promised. When tickets went on sale, he told me he'd tell them on the 2nd. So he was late to practice to tell them. It was taking a while for him to come back, so I thought maybe he'd told them and they walked away. I went to see how he was doing and found his ex-girlfriend pressed him to the lockers and was kissing him. When I confronted him, he went on the defensive because his friends were there. Denying we were together, and said I made the whole thing up. So I walked away telling him that he was right; it was all in my head and none of it was real." Hunter explained.
"Didn't Troy come to the house later on? We saw the maid let him in, and he was headed to your room." Nathaniel inquired.
Hunter nodded. "He came to apologize, said he didn't mean to say what he did. So on and so forth excuses as to why he didn't tell his friends the truth when he had the opportunity to. He admitted he wasn't going to say anything until after graduation, so he wouldn't have to see them again if they didn't accept and support things. So I told him it was over, and if he did actually want to be with me; he needed to tell them the truth." He said. "He hasn't thus far."
"I'm sorry, son." Valerie frowned.
"You left the decision up to him, if you get back together?" Zayden asked.
"Yes, but also that he needed to give me time to forgive that comment about making things up due to missing Jay…Use whatever else to cover your ass, or tell the truth…But don't bring my dead ex-fiancé into it." Hunter informed. "I've mostly let that go, but still…The longer he waits to tell them, the more I let go. I've given it til prom. He promised we'd go, so if he wants to prove that he wasn't a liar…He can tell them before then. If not…Then I move on and he's lost his chance."
"Seems fair," Salvatore agreed.
"You think he'll tell them?" Zayden inquired.
"I don't know. He had told me over and over again he would tell them and never did…Then admitted to trying to wait until graduation, so that way he wouldn't have to see them every day if they didn't support him." Hunter stated. "He told me he loved me…"
"Do you feel the same, son? I know you'll always love Jay, but…" Valerie asked.
"I was starting to until nine days ago when he didn't tell his friends, then when called out…Lied to their faces." Hunter revealed. "I was gonna tell him at prom."
"You might still get too." Zayden offered.
"Maybe, but for now…It's only a hope that Troy's love for me is stronger than his fear of losing his friends." Hunter told them. "It's up to him."
"Are you going to be okay if he doesn't tell them and you know it's over for good." Nate wondered.
"It'll hurt, but…School, is almost out and then I want to enjoy the summer before college next September." Hunter told them. "My plans for the future haven't changed over this. The only change is if I'm going single or not."
"We're happy to hear that, son," Salvatore smiled.
Hunter nodded and continued to hold James, who slept peacefully on his chest. The maid had already taken the pack and play upstairs to his room for him, and made sure it was set up with the sheet and blanket, along with favorite stuffed animal. Hunter knew there was plenty of clothes, meds, diapers, wipes, and even a folding booster seat, Noelle made sure Hunter would have everything for an overnight stay. Of course, Hunter didn't mind watching James because he ate normal food, had regular baths, and basically slept through the night now. It would be an easy babysitting job, and keep Hunter distracted from thinking about Troy. Hunter could admit he missed Troy, and the relationship they had, but Hunter had to stand by his decision. Troy needed to come clean and stop hiding who he really was, he needed to stop being afraid of his friends leaving and understand that if his friends didn't accept or support things then they weren't his real friends. Hunter knew it was hard, but that was reality. At the same time, what more could he do? It was up to Troy.
. . .
Back at the school, the others were packing up to leave since there had been a brief delay in if practices were happening. When the cheer squad and baseball players left, but Blake and Samuel stayed back, the Soul Harmonics cornered Troy.
"Are you going to fix things with Hunter?" Shane suddenly asked.
"Eventually," Troy admitted.
"Eventually? The waiting is what got you here." Shane commented.
"Back off…" Troy remarked. "Didn't Hunter tell you not to be on my ass about the situation?"
"We're trying to help you, Troy," Blake stepped up, making Shane step back. "Chill." He warned Shane. "We know you're afraid to tell the others, and it's not without good reason. It's why I haven't said anything either, about being bisexual. So what do you need, bud? You want us with you? We'll rally around. I'll tell them about me with you, so you're not doing it alone. Then if they walk, they walk from both of us."
"I don't need help…" Troy sighed.
"Stop being stubborn then. Being this way is what lost you Hunter!" Addilyn claimed.
"It's not stubbornness. I'm just…Giving Hunter his time. That's what he asked for…He told me regardless of telling the others, he needed time and space." Troy informed.
"And the more time you waste is the more Hunter will let go of waiting for you," Alyssa said softly. "Yes, Hunter said it was up to you…But how long do you think he'll wait, Troy?"
"He moved on with you from losing the man he was going to marry after only a month…He was with Jay for years. And Jay died. What does that say about you, someone he'd only been with for three months. Someone who got caught in a lie, and refusing to accept himself?" Steven said as Troy glanced down.
"He's not going to wait forever, Troy," Whitney said softly.
"We know Hunter enough to know he'll probably give it to graduation, maybe prom as you promised to go with him. If nothing by then, he'll forget the whole idea of getting back together." Natalie stated.
"I planned on saying something before prom…Then surprising him," Troy admitted.
"Hunter won't take to that," Oliver remarked. "He doesn't do surprises like this. Not when it was a serious matter, he'll get mad and think the whole thing was a joke."
"Ollie is right," Lyla mentioned. "And you already pulled that telling before prom thing once. It's what got you in this position…"
"If you want Hunter back, you need to man up and be honest," Tessa commented.
"You need to tell the others the truth, Troy. What are you so afraid of, and don't say them walking away…You're only bisexual. It's almost perfectly acceptable to like both…" Samuel stated.
"Cause I don't like both…" Troy confessed. "I only like males. I realized that when Star kissed me."
"It's still nothing to be afraid about. If they walk away, fuck 'em," Sullivan said.
"And what about Soul Harmonics? If they walk away, they might not be willing to stay in the group and perform for nationals. And if they leave…We're disqualified." Troy reminded. "Hunter personally went to them to ask nicely if they'd rejoin. I don't want to mess that up,"
"Okay, we hadn't thought of that," Simon looked at the others.
"It doesn't matter…" Madison chimed in. "It's just a contest…And we placed and won first for the last ones. We did way better than we ever have this year," She pointed out. "It's not worth you losing Hunter for good. Maybe you break up later down the line, or it's not meant to be…But don't you think it's worth it to fight for things and see where it goes?"
"She's right," Chelsea agreed.
"We stand with you, supporting you and Hunter getting back together. You were both happy…" Cj told him as the others nodded in agreement.
"I know we were happy…He also told me I couldn't love him if I didn't love myself…" Troy mumbled.
"You…Told him you loved him?" Fredrick inquired as Troy nodded. "Did you mean it?"
"Of course I meant it!" Troy scoffed. "I don't just spout that off."
"Tell the others the truth, Troy…" Blake encouraged. "Hunter doesn't care if they walk away, if we get disqualified…He doesn't care about any of that. He just cared that you're not ashamed of yourself, and proud to call yourself what you are…Happy to be seen with him."
"And you shouldn't care if they leave either," Samuel added.
"It's not just Soul Harmonics. It's the baseball team too…I really don't wanna fuck up the playoffs or going to the school world series…" He sighed. "I'll think about it over the weekend…" Troy threw his backpack over his shoulder and left the room.
The group just sighed. "We did all we could do. Hopefully, he won't go to Hunter that we did." Tyler stated.
"Not likely," Serenity reassured.
"Still…" Ford sighed. "It just sucks we can't do anything. It's clear their both miserable…"
"We know, but there isn't anything more we can do. It's up to Troy to be honest to the others, to stop being afraid of how they'll respond," Blake reminded. "All we can do is sat back, support where possible. It's all Troy's decision, Hunter said that from the beginning."
"Yeah…" The others sighed.
"Are they going to be okay to perform for nationals? They've barely done anything together since the breakup, duets haven't been discussed," Madison wondered.
"I'm sure Hunter won't do anything to mess up the duet, we know what the judges and audience likes. They pair nice, so we'll have to talk about it as things get closer." Natalie shrugged.
"For now, let's just give them a little space…And hope Troy doesn't screw it up. You know Hunter's hurt will increase if Troy ends up not saying anything." Oliver looked to the others.
"We know that," Hailey nodded.
"Wish something would happen to kind of force it out of him. Even if he doesn't outright say he's gay, anything to get the message across that he cares for Hunter would work…" Lyla mentioned softly.
"We all feel that way, but I don't think there is anything to make that happen. It would have to be pretty serious for Troy to not care who knew, like on the side of worry and concern…" Rylee shrugged.
"Exactly. So our only hopes are prom, where Troy actually does say something to the others. And it's the other prayer that Hunter hasn't already let go." Steven mumbled.
"Let's just separate for now. Some of you have cheer, others have baseball. The rest have homework, studying for finals, or work…" Simon reminded.
"See you guys next practice," Serenity waves and leaves.
"Bye!" Others said and soon departed the room to go whichever way they were headed.