Look! New chapter out, in record time! (I don't know why I always announce this...I think it's a little evident.)

"Wake up!" barked a gruff voice at the doorway.

Jeff blinked his eyes open drowsily, lolling his head over to look toward the door. His father stood there, hand over the light switch. "What time is it?" Jeff mumbled, his voice a little hoarse.

"9 in the morning. Get up."

Jeff sat up groggily and smoothed down his ruffled hair. "Why?" Jeff mumbled. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes. We're going to church. Now get up and take a shower. And dress yourself appropriately!" He turned away before Jeff could respond.

Church? What? The Griffin family almost never went to church. Maybe only on Christmas and Easter. And that was just because their religious extended family always came to visit at that time, and they were all dragged to church with them. Why the heck would they go to church today? It wasn't even Sunday!

Jeff wasn't even sure what his family's denomination was. Showed what he knew about religion. The subject had never really interested him. Jeff chose to not ask any questions and stood up. "Tyler, get up." He grabbed a pillow at threw it towards the bed. "We're going to church."

Tyler groaned and pulled the covers over his head. "Church?" he questioned sleepily. "Ugh. You know, you go have fun without me. I'm going to sleep in."

Jeff rolled his eyes, although he wished he could do just that. He was a little apprehensive of this whole church thing. Who decided that they were going to go to church on a Thursday?

Jeff got ready without question, and he even managed to get Tyler up and moving eventually.

"What a nice way to start my birthday," Tyler was mumbling sarcastically from where he sat at the corner of the bed, buttoning up his dress-shirt.

"Oh, I didn't even realize that was today," Jeff said. "You haven't even mentioned it before now…"

"Yeah, well, it isn't such a big deal. Plus, I was wondering if anyone would remember without me going on about it days before." He sent a teasing look at Jeff. "Don't tell me you forgot my present?"

Jeff laughed. "Since when do I ever get you a present?" he teased. "Happy Birthday, though. Do you have anything planned?"

"Well, I was planning on sleeping in late," he said, "at least til noon. And I'm going out to dinner with Vivian tonight," Tyler answered. "I suppose it wouldn't kill me to go to church…"

The whole family gathered up to leave for church, including Lily, Kandy, and their mother. On the car ride there, their mother kept going on and on about how nice it was that they were finally going to church again as a family. Meanwhile, Lily and Tyler both complained about having to wake up so early.

They met up with their Aunt Gracie and Uncle Timothy at the church. They were regular church patrons, and Jeff only really saw them during the holidays. Their father spoke with them privately for a little while. Jeff was feeling even more anxious being here.

"Jeff," his father called to him. Jeff broke apart from his mother and siblings to see what he wanted. "Your aunt and uncle wanted to say hello."

Jeff looked at them uncertainly. "Hi, Aunt Gracie," he greeted. "Hi, Uncle Tim."

"This is Jeff?" said Uncle Tim. "He's gotten so big!"

"Last time we saw you, you were only this tall," Aunt Gracie said, holding her hand in the air to about to where Jeff's chest reached.

Jeff smiled awkwardly. "It's nice to see you two again."

"Jeff, why don't you sit with them for the service?" his father suggested.

What? Why? He didn't want to protest out loud, for it would be rude, but…it would be so awkward to sit with the aunt and uncle he hardly knew during a church service he attended maybe twice a year.

"That's a great idea!" Aunt Gracie said cheerfully.

Jeff hesitated. "Um, okay…" he gave in reluctantly.

"We'll meet up after the service and we can all go out for lunch," his father decided. With that, he said goodbye to Aunt Gracie and Uncle Tim before heading back to rejoin Jeff's mother and siblings.

Jeff felt strangely isolated now. As if he could feel any more out of place at church than he already did, now he had to sit through it with his religious aunt and uncle. This promised to be a long and awkward church service.

The service was incredibly boring. Jeff hardly paid any attention to the preacher the whole time, just trying to stay awake. As it was wrapping up and people were passing around the donation bowl, Aunt Gracie spoke to Jeff. "So, you're 16 now, right?"

"17, actually," Jeff corrected her. "18 in November."

"You're almost a grown man!" she exclaimed. "How is school going for you? You're going to that all boys' school still right?"

"Dalton Academy, yes," Jeff told her. "And it's going well."

She nodded thoughtfully. Suddenly, she queried, "I hear that you recently started dating a boy…?"

Jeff froze. "Did dad tell you that?" he asked stiffly.

"No, actually, I heard it first from your mother," she said. "So, you are dating a boy?"

Jeff felt instantly uncomfortable. "Yes, I am," he muttered. "Why does it matter to you, anyways?"

"Don't get so defensive," she eased. "I just…your family is worried for you, Jeff."

"Worried for me?" Jeff echoed.

"Homosexuality is a sin. You know that." She looked Jeff in the eyes. "None of us wants you to suffer the consequences of such a choice."

Jeff clenched his jaw. "Is that why dad dragged us all out here?" He was struggling to contain his anger. "To get you guys to preach to me about how I'm going to hell?"

"Jeff, honey, that isn't what this is about," Aunt Gracie said. "We love you. But you don't want to go against God for a little crush, do you? You're a teenager. You don't realize the mistake you're making."

He almost told her to shut up, but managed to contain himself. "I'm not making a mistake," Jeff muttered. "I love him. And if God is against love, then I don't know if he's the God I want to believe in."

"It's not love, Jeff! It's the devil, filling your mind with lies. Find God and fight this lust. God can save you."

Jeff stood. "Maybe I don't want to be 'saved!'" he snapped. "I hoped my family could accept me for who I love, but I guess that sure as hell won't be happening. You're a bigot, that's what you are. All of you!" The last part was directed at everyone in the room. He whirled around and stormed off. Heads turned to stare at him in shocked silence and he didn't stop until he was out the church doors.

…

Jeff walked home instead of waiting for his parents to reprimand him for his behavior. He was still seething from the whole ordeal. He would never go to church again.

Just as he arrived home and unlocked the door, his father pulled the car into the driveway. Jeff didn't bother to close the door behind him and moved through the house to the living room. He contemplated retreating to his room before his father came inside, but too late for that.

"Jeff!" came his father's voice at the door in a near scream. He heard his father's pounding footsteps through the entryway and kitchen until he came into the living room, red faced and fists clenched. "The hell is wrong with you, boy?"

Jeff backed up as his father approached him. "You're that desperate to fix me?" Jeff challenged a little timidly. "By threatening that I'll go to hell?"

"If you continue this way, then yes! You will go to hell!" his father snapped furiously. He grabbed Jeff's wrist and held him in place. "And when you do, you'll regret this. I won't feel a shred of sympathy for your sorry ass, either. You'll deserve it."

His voice was almost menacing. It took a lot of self-control to keep from shaking and to meet his father's eyes straight. "If the devil will accept me, then I'd rather go to hell!" he spat.

His father abruptly shoved him, hard, towards the floor. Jeff staggered and hit the floor with a thud. "You're sick! You're a sick bastard!" he screamed at his son. It looked as though he completely lost his cool. "If you want to live your life as a sick pervert, go ahead! I don't give a god-fucking-damn! While you're at it, why don't you molest your little sisters, too?"

"What?" Why would he even say that!

"Why stop at just being homosexual? Why not go all the fucking way? Live your perverted life to the fullest!" His father glared at him venomously.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Jeff snapped. "I'd never do that!" His views were the most warped out of all of them!

"Don't you dare speak to me in that tone of voice!" his father rounded on him.

Jeff pulled himself back to his feet. "Why are you treating me like this? I'm the same as I always was! Why can't you accept me? You're my father!" His voice was becoming hoarse. "You're treating me like I'm some sort of monster, like I'm not even your son anymore…"

"I didn't raise you to be gay!" his father muttered. "No son of mine is going to be a homosexual."

"So, what? You're disowning me?" Jeff guessed. "You're just going to pretend that I'm not your son?"

"If that's what I have to do," his father said coldly.

Jeff's throat constricted and he swallowed hard to fight the emotion building up. "You're the worst one of them all."

"Shut your mouth," his father grunted.

"I'm not going to change just because you don't like who I am," Jeff said. "Stop trying already."

"I said shut up!"

"I love Nick, dad," he said. "That isn't going to change, no matter what you do."

That was a mistake. His father seemed to snap at that one. He whirled around and heaved one of the dining room chairs into his arms. Before Jeff knew it, the heavy wooden chair was flying in his direction. On instinct, he threw his arms in front of him to deflect it, protect his head and face. The chair, however, was a lot heavier and harder than he had initially hoped it was. The impact was painful, and his arms did little to protect him. He was thrust back to the ground and he felt an incredibly sharp pain shoot up his right wrist. He cried out in pain and hurriedly pulled his right arm close to his chest and out of any more harm's way.

Everything suddenly seemed really dim compared to the burning pain in his wrist. He groaned and rolled over to one side, clenching his teeth. He heard his father's heavy footsteps storm back out through the kitchen and front door.

"What in the world happened in here!" he heard his mother gasp. She sounded so far away, even though Jeff could see her standing across the room from where he lied on the floor.

"Jeff?" Tyler was suddenly kneeling by him. "Are you okay?"

Jeff closed his eyes tight. "No," he winced. He couldn't control his gasping breath. His wrist felt like it was on fire. "My wrist hurts." And that was a major understatement.

"Let me see it," Tyler said. Jeff hesitated before loosening his grip on his right arm, letting Tyler see the damage. It must be bad, because Tyler winced at the sight. "Damn. I think it's broken."

"Oh, really?" Jeff muttered between his teeth.

Tyler helped Jeff sit up against the wall. "It's already really swollen. Do you want some ice?"

Just simply nodded yes, and Tyler stood and headed for the kitchen. Jeff sighed shakily and opened his eyes to examine his wrist. It was hideously swollen already to maybe twice its usual size and bruised badly. Probably definitely broken.

Jeff's mother came from the hallway where Lily and Kandy's rooms were, probably coming back from sending them to their rooms to clean or something, pretending like nothing was wrong at all. She hurried across the room to pick the chair up, but it was broken now. One of the legs was completely broken off and another was hanging on by a thread. She sighed sadly, as if it was some sort of loss on her behalf. "Do you need me to take you to the hospital, Jeff?" she asked him.

What, so no comment on the fact that his father had just done this to him? That was just like her, always pretending that nothing was wrong.

"I'll take him," Tyler announced, returning from the kitchen. He had a bag of ice in one hand. He helped Jeff to his feet and handed over the ice pack.

Their mother hesitated. "Are you sure you don't want me to go…?" she asked, a little hopefully. Her eyes were nervous.

"Don't worry, Mom," Jeff muttered. "I won't rat dad out." Because I know that's what you're worried about here. Not me.

She frowned and nodded at Tyler. "Go on."

…

Tyler took Jeff to the hospital, where they spent a large amount of time. They had to wait for a doctor to examine Jeff's wrist. The doctor x-rayed his wrist to find it was broken in two different places, and eventually, casted the injury.

"So, how did you even manage to hurt yourself so badly?" the nurse asked as she wrapped the dark tape around his bandaged wrist.

"Um…I was skateboarding. And I wiped out," Jeff lied.

"Ah," she mused, nodded sympathetically. "Well, that should do it for the cast…" she said as she finished.

"Thank you," Jeff said. He looked across the room where Tyler stood against the wall, cell phone to ear. He'd planned a date with Vivian tonight, but thanks to this unfortunate setback, he was forced to cancel. The nurse had let him borrow her cell phone to make the call.

"Vivian? Yea, it's Tyler." Jeff could barely make out his whisper. "I can't make it tonight. Jeff broke his wrist, and I had to take him to the hospital…" A pause. "Yeah, he's fine. Skateboarding accident…Maybe we can do something tomorrow?…Sounds great. Thanks…Love you. Bye." He hung up the phone and handed it over to the nurse. "Thank you," he said.

Jeff was feeling pretty miserable, for a number of reasons. "I'm sorry, Tyler. I'm sure this isn't your idea of a good birthday," Jeff apologized. "I'm sorry you had to miss your date with Vivian."

"It's no big deal," Tyler assured. "I go out to dinner with Vivian almost every night I'm free. I wasn't even planning a birthday dinner until tomorrow night."

"Oh…"

Tyler looked at Jeff. "Honestly, I think you're the one having the bad day." His voice was slightly teasing.

No kidding. "Thank you, Tyler," Jeff murmured. "I'm really glad to have you around." He never thought that he'd ever be so thankful for his brother, but he was. He didn't know how he'd cope with this if he didn't have Tyler around. He felt almost like his whole family was against him, so it was nice to have his brother, who accepted him no matter who he was deep down.

He doubted Tyler would ever detect the amount of sincerity in that one thank you. It went a lot deeper than his words alone could express. Which was probably a good thing. He liked his normally unserious relationship with Tyler.

Right now, it was just nice to have someone there for him.

Review, please! Tell me what you think!

And don't worry about the lack of Niff. There will be more next chapter :)