I watched as Theo crept inside the door, “Mom? Dad?” He called out, not receiving an answer, “Alright, we’re good.”
“Why are we acting so suspicious?”
“I’m supposed to give them a notice a week before,”
“Uh, why?”
“I don’t know, and I won’t ask, because I do not want to get in any trouble.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“You have a lot to learn, dude…” He lead me up to his room, and sat up on his bed, after shutting the door, “This house is actually a cult. You either fit the mold and stay, or you run, and are never spoke about again.”
“That’s… depressing.”
“I’m aware. Why else would I want to leave?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, “ I guess maybe if y-“
“Shh…” He went up to his door, and put his ear up to it, “Oh god, they’re home… Um, go into the closet!”
“The closet?”
“Y- Get in!” He shoved me in the closet, right before his mother came in,
“Theodore? Why are you being so rambunctious?”
“I was looking at test scores, and I got an A.”
“You always get A’s Theodore.”
“Yeah, but this unit was hard!”
“Then I want you to study every night after dinner, you hear me Theodore?”
“Yep. Got it.”
“Good. I’ve got to run and get groceries, so let Xavier come in here, okay?”
“Of course.” There was a bit of scuffling around, until I heard a higher pitched voice, similar to Theo’s,
“Do you think Tyler will come back for Christmas this year?”
“I… I don’t know buddy, we’ll have to see.” Theo muttered, before opening the closet door, “We’re clear.”
“Theo… Is this your gay lover?”
“I’m not gay, Xavier.” Theo ruffled his hair,
“You sure act gay.” Xavier scoffed,
“There’s no way to act gay.” I whispered,
“Exactly! Like how the fuck do I act gay? The only way to act gay is to suck dick, and you shouldn’t be watching that, you’re five-”
“If he’s five, we the fuck are we talking about sex?!”
“Because your gay!”
“Neither of us are gay!” I groaned,
“Says the guy in pink, hiding in the musical theatre boy’s closet.”
“You’re five, so your opinion is irrelevant.” I scoffed,
“Alright Xavier, knock it off.” Theo sighed, “Besides, I doubt Tyler would like you saying things like that.”
“Tyler wasn’t gay!”
“Yes he was! Or at least he liked dudes!”
“How would you know?!”
“Because it came out on the news that he was dating Preston.”
“He was? That is disgusting!”
“Y’know, maybe that was part of the reason why he left!”
“Good, we don’t want him here anyways.”
“That’s not what you’ve said before.”
“Well, I didn’t know he was a dirty sinner!”
“God, where do you get this language from?!” I asked,
“Our parents.” Theo rolled his eyes,
“Well, I-“ My phone buzzed, “Hello?”
“Hey, Cole. I’m sorry for blowing up on you.” Salem sighed,
“That’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have.”
“I get it. From what you, and Paisleigh have said about Dysphoria… It’s destructive.”
“Yeah, it can be… I have to go out to dinner now, though. I'll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Alright, bye Salem.” They hung up the phone, and I sighed, “I think I'm gonna go home now.”
“Aww, okay.” Theo frowned, following me out of his room, “Did Xavier put you off… or?”
“Yeah, but that's fine.” I shrugged,
“I'm sorry. If you're gay, I don't care whatsoever.”
“I'm not gay, but good, you shouldn't care anyways.”
“Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow, right?”
“Um, yeah.” I smiled awkwardly, not wanting to be rude, and deny him.
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