I'm Not Gay, I Swear! | McPriceley

Chapter Twenty-Seven

TW: Homophobic slurs used

As the day for Connor's discharge neared, so did the day of Kevin's departure for his mission. His parents had gotten the callback from the church about a week after Kevin's application had been sent in, and soon a place for him to be transferred for two years had been decided.

And he was meant to leave the day after Connor got let out of the hospital.

At least he could say he was lucky enough to see Connor well on his way, finally getting better. But it had been three weeks and still there had been no sign of Connor's parents. No good sign could come from that.

But what was an even worse sign, was when they finally returned.

Mrs. McKinley came storming into the lobby, with Mr. McKinley walking awkwardly behind her, as if he was embarrassed by all of the ruckus that his wife was making. But before she could go far, Naba stood in front of them with her arms crossed.

"I thought that I told you to leave," Naba narrowed her eyes at them. "Unless you finally have something nice to say, I think you should take the same advice that I gave before."

"I came here to talk to my son. I assume he's finally getting better? No thanks to you lot," she glared daggers at the group surrounding her.

"He is getting better, yes. But what are you going to talk to him about?"

"That is none of your business. But, please, just let me be able to talk to him."

Naba studied her face before letting out a small irritated sigh. "Fine. But I'm going to walk down there with you."

Mrs. McKinley stared hard into Naba's eyes before finally speaking. "Fine. Show the way, then."

"Wait," Kevin gently grabbed onto Naba's arm. "I want to go with you."

"Kevin, I do not think that would be a good idea. Connor's parents already hate you as much as it is. I am sure that they would not want you to interfere with this."

"You're right... you're always right," Kevin said, which made Naba laugh softly. "Just make sure that he's okay."

"I would do nothing but that," Naba told him, gently patting his hand before continuing on her way to show the McKinleys to Connor's room.

Naba stopped in the doorway, telling Mr. and Mrs. McKinley to wait behind her as she slowly entered the room.

"Naba! It's good to see you," Connor smiled as soon as he saw his friend.

"Hey Connor... you, er, have some visitors."

"Visitors...?" He trailed off as soon as Naba stepped out of the way, showing his parents behind her. He could feel his heart racing at just the sight of them. "What're you doing here?"

"Connor, oh, it's so good to see you all well," his mother said, rushing in to give him a hug, which he did not return. His father followed her, though only gave Connor a small nod.

"What are you doing here?" Connor asked again, looking his mom in the eyes.

"Can't I visit my son after he's been in the hospital?" she asked, looking hurt at his question.

"I've been in here for three weeks, Ma. Why now?"

She glanced over at Naba, who still stood guard at the door. "A certain someone used very unmannered ways to tell your father and I to leave."

"You hit Chris and accused Kevin for everything that happened!" Naba defended.

"Your friend was accusing us of being horrible parents, and frankly, so were you! And it is that little fag's fault for all that happened to my Connor."

"What did you just call him?" Connor demanded.

"Honey, please, there is no need to defend him. You're safe out of his reach now."

"What do you mean safe? I was much safer with him than I ever was with you."

"Connor, you're just confused. This fag is just trying to teach you wrong things-"

"Stop calling him that!" Connor yelled. "And I am not confused... I love him!"

As silence flooded the room, Connor realized what he had just said, and his eyes widened as he glanced between his parents.

"You what?" Mrs. McKinley hissed.

"I-I love him. So say what you want about me, but don't ever blame Kevin for what I did."

"We have tried to help you about this countless times, Connor. And yet you still choose to pick this way of life. Is this just your way to rebel against us?"

Connor let out a dry laugh, humorless and short. "Yes, I'm sure that I did all of this just to go against your ways. It was my choice to be hated by my own family. To be hated by my own self. I never needed your help. Your so-called 'help' only made my self-hate worse. And I tried so hard to make it up to you. To try and show you that I wasn't this horrible son that my own parents looked down upon. But nothing I did made it any better. Then I met my new friends, and they showed me that I was okay to be myself. That it was okay for me to be gay. I got the love and care that I never got from you. I finally learned to accept myself. And, honestly, I only started to get worse again when I was staying with you. So maybe instead of trying to change who I am, you two can change your parenting skills."

His parents stared at him for a while, taking in his words. Eventually, his mother turned to her husband, arguing in a hushed conversation, Connor's anxiety levels rising with every second. Eventually, Mrs. McKinley said something to her husband, causing him to become quiet, though an irritated expression remained on his face.

She turned towards Connor, and instantly he knew what was about to happen. "Connor, we cannot handle having a son like you with us any longer. You have disappointed us too many times, and we can't help you any further. Don't bother coming back to our house after your discharge. You are no longer a part of our family."