FREE FLYING HEARTS -- A collection of short stories from Tonig73

### 9 ###

"Hey sweetie, twice in one .... "

"Mumma !  Stop, please .... "

"What ?"

"Do you know what you've done ?"

"Well, obviously not.  What did I do ?"  She had rarely heard this kind of accusatory tone from her son, maybe when he was a rambunctious teenager, but not recently, not for years.  

"The video you put up.  Did you watch it, really  watch it ?"  

"Yes, it was so sweet, and lovely, and .... "

"You and Lau, but me and Larry, did you see what me and Larry were doing ?"  Beth was still scrunching her brows together, as if that might help her remember.

"You were being your usual silly, affectionate selves, Avery .... "

"Affectionate.  What do you call affectionate, mum ?"  Suddenly, Beth's eyes went wide, and she reached for the nearest chair, plopping herself down into it heavily.

"I outed Larry" she said matter of factly, blinking quickly, her nose starting to prickle.  She knew what that meant.  No wonder Avery was so mad at her.  She had just seen Avery and Larry become so close during the time the Twins were here, seeing them share a hug, a peck on the lips, was just so normal, it literally hadn't occurred to her.  Larry had been so utterly comfortable with Avery, with all of them.  She hadn't even thought twice.

"But Lau said it was OK .... "

"He'd barely seen it mum !  He's been so caught up in you, that was all he could see too.  God, this is a mess .... "  Avery heard his mother clear her throat, knowing she was about to cry.  He realized he needed to pull back his anger.  It wasn't her fault, he knew.  Well, yes it was, but there was no malicious intent behind it.  She hadn't done it on purpose.  

"Mum, I'm sorry."  Beth nodded.  "It's just that .... "  He didn't know whether he should tell her, knowing it would only make her feel worse, but he knew she would want to know what was happening.  "Everything, and I mean everything, has gone pear shaped."

"Tell me .... "

"Larry and Lau's phones just went ballistic, they blew up.  They're in meetings with Eleni and their management team as we speak.  They've brought in PR to handle damage control.  They have to decide what events they can cancel, and what they have to keep, so they don't lose money and their reputation.  I have to basically be in quarantine again, I can't be seen anywhere near Larry .... "  He knew she was crying now, but desperately trying to hide the fact that she was.  He knew his mother was a hard nosed business woman, and could be just as hard in her personal life.  But if she had inadvertently caused anyone she loved pain, he knew she would be devastated.  Just like now.  

"I'm so sorry, Avery, you know I would never .... I never meant .... "

"I know mumma."  Avery took a deep breath, and let his logical mind and his calming sensibilities take control.   "Hopefully, it's just a storm in a teacup.  Hopefully, it'll be over before it starts.  Everyone will have forgotten about that kiss by this time next week." Beth didn't pick up on Avery's weak smile.  The tiny ray of hope in his voice, however misplaced it was.  

"But I don't get, why is everyone so up in arms about this ?  Love is love is love, surely ?"  

"Not everyone thinks like us, you should know that.  You selectively look at life through rose tinted glasses, don't you ?  See only the things you want to see ?  Whoever the guys are with, the fans don't usually like them, because it's not them.  Add into the mix that it now seems apparent that Larry likes boys, yet he's always had girlfriends. They feel lied to, and cheated somehow.  And the industry they're in ... "  he didn't know what to add about that, "so hypocritical.  It projects one face to the world, says and does something completely different behind closed doors.  These poor guys don't know which way is up right now, their loyalties are so divided."  One thing, or rather, one person, came to mind then, and Avery was bracing himself for her question.  He had to be truthful.  He always had been, Beth had taught him that, and he wouldn't stop now, even if it was his own mother.