Strawberry Lemonade

Chapter 3: Crisis

I didn't mean to hear anything. I was really drunk, i swear

I know you didn't mean to pry, don't worry. I just dont want Taika to feel uncomfortable with someone knowing about all that

Dont worry i wont tell. He's my friend.

Good.

Are you gay, Fresita?

He's been staring at that message for a while now. There isn't a clue in his mind as to how to answer this stranger.

He is his friend's boyfriend, and he would get to know him in the coming weeks, but... It feels intrusive to be asking that question.

Gently, he types a message back to him.

No

He types that out, but even his brain thinks he's wrong as he remembers the man at the mall. He remembers the smell of chocolaty cologne that was subtle around the man with light hazel eyes that twinkled in ways that made Tank want to ask questions.

Liar, his brain issues him, and he chooses to ignore that.

Oh, baby are you having a crisis? Do you want someone to talk to?

Ugh, no he doesn't want to talk about it, he just wants the subject to be dropped.

I'm not having a crisis. I just. Don't know you that well and this is weird

Thats fine! Do you want me to bring this up to Taika?

No thank you

You know he's here for you, fresita. They talk well about you.

Dont worry about texting me back, just keep yourself safe

He smiles at that. Putting his phone down, he stands up and starts to clean up the messiness of his room, knowing that his parents would probably complain if they saw it. Ordering his books in alphabetical, he thinks back to what Giles had said.

Is he having a crisis?

Well, it had been a while since he had enjoyed sex with Maya. Nothing against her, she's a lovely woman, and an even lovelier partner, but something about it hasn't been the same. He still finds himself attracted to women, he knows that, but the act itself.

Ah. Fuck.

This is confusing. Why can't things just be... easy. He likes women, he should be okay with heterosexual, missionary sex and be that way because everyone likes it like that. It should be a given, people should be normal.

Tank frowns.

Except he's not. He has a trans father and a parent who uses he and they pronouns. His sister makes clay sculptures of dead Musicians and, for some god awful reason, drying out mouse skeletons. His brother is into heavy metal and uses a leather jacket in Summer, and can recite most of his favorite songs from hearing it by ear alone.

He's not normal in his own household. While he was playing video games and doing Football, his sister and brother were entering art contests and dressing up in black clothes.

Of course, his Dad and Papa loved him all the same, even if he chose greens and pinks, while they chose blacks and blues. They were there on the sidelines, cheering for him even though they had no idea what was the difference between a linebacker and a quarterback.