Falsettos College AU

The Good Bagels

Marvin

A few days later, we're still at the cottage. I've really started to get used to this, and I don't really want to go back. It's peaceful here, and since it's spring break, we have no school and we get to sleep in.

Well, I want to sleep in. But this morning, Whizzer shakes me awake at, like, 6:30. "Get up," he whispers in my ear.

"What?" I open my eyes and grab the digital clock by our bed. "No, Whizzer, it's not even 7:00. Just let me have a few more hours." I close my eyes and try to go back to sleep.

"Marvin, get up. Your phone's ringing."

"My phone's ringing— oh, shit." I sit up suddenly and turn to him. "Where? Where's my phone? Do you know who's calling?"

He grimaces as he hands it to me. "It's your mom."

No, no, no. I can't do this right now. Why did I ever send that fucking text message? Whizzer was right all along. I wasn't ready for this, and I'm still not.

"You should answer."

"I know," I sigh. "I'm just scared."

Whizzer stares at my phone for a while, then quickly presses the accept button before ducking back under the covers. "Whizzer!" I scream, but he's already pretending to be asleep. I take a deep breath and hold the phone to my ear.

"Marvin?" It's my mom's voice. I don't know what I was expecting. "Hi, honey. I feel like we haven't spoken in ages."

"Yeah," I reply, since we probably haven't. Actually, the last time we really talked was over winter vacation, other than a quick "how's it going" text from time to time.

"Where are you right now?"

"I'm at my friend Mendel's cottage." I pause. "Look, Mom, I know that's probably not what you called me about."

I can hear her thoughtful silence. "No, you're right. I guess I should just cut to the chase. This is about that text message you sent us on Monday."

I was right. Excuse me while I go die.

"I don't know all of the context, Marvin, but was this one of your friends playing a joke?"

My heart sinks. "No."

"Okay." She's quiet again, and it feels like a hundred years before she starts talking. "Obviously, we have a lot to unpack here."

"Yeah," I say. I can't get anything more than one-syllable answers out right now.

"This is a lot to process."

"Right."

"And of course, it's going to take some getting used to. The fact that you're gay."

I try not to let it show in my voice how much I'm suffering right now. "'Kay."

"But, Marvin, your father and I are going to love you no matter what. I wish that you could have told us sooner, but we're always going to support you and we're so glad you felt comfortable enough to share that with us."

Is this a dream? Because this is literally what she said when I came out to her in one of my dreams. Well, in another one, she sold me to One Direction, but we don't talk about that dream.

"Thanks," is my one-syllable reply. I'm sure she doesn't know the half of how relieved I am to hear her say it.

"Did it go well?" Whizzer whispers from beside me.

I pick up my pillow and push it into his face. "Yes. Shut up now."

"I want to talk about this more when you have the time, of course," my mom goes on from the other end of the phone. "But just remember that we love you, and we'd be delighted to meet your boyfriend."