Serendipity

Chapter 2

By seventh hour, which is English Literature, and the last class of the day, I'm over today, and just ready to go home. Halfway through the class, Ms. James tells us we have a partner project due in four weeks, and she's already picked out our partners. She's going to give us the sheet with instructions once we are with our partners. She starts call out partner names, and I'm silently hoping that I'm with Harry, Travis, or Tyler. Hell, I'd be happy with one of Harry's friends, and by the time she's almost done with the list, my hopes are dashed as everyone I'd be comfortable with already have partners.

"Ethan Henderson and Liam Swanson," Ms. James says before reading off the last three set of partners.

She paired me with the new student, why would she do this? He will not want to be my partner since I'm the quiet, nerdy, gay student. Quietly picking up my stuff, I walk over to Liam, and sit down next to him.

"Hi," I murmur with my face tinted bright red.

"Why are you being so quiet? he asks with a frown as I fidget next to him uncomfortably.

Shrugging my shoulders as I avoid eye contact as Ms. James hands me a sheet of paper. I can feel Liam starring at me as I read of the requirments and instructions.

"Hasn't your parents to be bolder, and be a man?" Liam demands a little louder than I would like him to be.

Tears well into my eyes before a couple slip down my cheeks as I keep my head down as I gather my stuff, and leave the room with Ms. James hollering for me to come back. Running to my locker, I fumble with the lock until I get it open, leave the stuff from that class before grabbing my bag, and run out to Harry's truck. Yanking the passenger side door open, I scramble inside, as my bag drops from my hands to the floor. Bringing my knees to my chest, I can't contain the harsh sob that bursts from my body.

Sometime later there is a tap at the window, and I snap my head up while wipping my sleeves over my face. I make eye contact with three sets of worried eyes of Harry, and my two best friends. Opening the door, I step ou to tell them I don't want to talk about it, and that I'm being too sensitive about what Liam said.

"Eth, you're not being too sensitive about what he said," Tyler gently says with a frown. "He was being a jerk."

"Harry put him in his place, so don't worry about him," Travis chuckles as he pulls me into a bone crushing hug. "We've got your back."

"That's because you guys are the best," I mumble into his neck. "How pissed is Ms. James that I left class?"

"Not much since she understands what happened," Harry replies as he wraps his arms around Travis and me from the side while Tyler joins from the other side.

"Hey man, I'm sorry for upsetting you, but I'm not exactly sure how I did," Liam says coming over to our group hug.

The four of us pull apart, and I look Liam directly in the eye while flatly replying; "My mum died four years ago from cancer, and I have no idea who my dad is."

"Oh. I'm really sorry for putting my foot in my mouth then," he frowns. "Then who do you live with?"

"My aunt and cousins," I answer, unsure as to why I'm being honest with him since I really don't know him, and he has foot-in-mouth syndrom.

Focusing on Harry, I ask; "Shouldn't we be going, so we can get your siblings from school?"

I know if we leave now, we'll be early to pick Hannah up, but I'm ready to leave, and I hope Harry pick up on my uneasyness.

"Yup, if we don't leave now, Hanna will be mad that we're late, and so will Harley," he agrees with a nod of his head, and a knowing smile.

"Bye Ty, bye Travis," I tell my friends as I hug them tightly, and they bid Harry and I goodbye, too.

After picking Hannah and Harley up from their schools, we head home to do our chores, and then homework before dinner. Harley bounces out to the chickens, and sheep with me to help feed and water them while Hannah feeds the goats, and pigs, while Harry milks and feeds the cows. Harley and I will feed the horses, and then after dinner the four of us will take the horses out for a walk on the trail while aunt Harper starts the process of patorizing the milk from the cows.

As we sit down at the table to have dinner with aunt Harper, and she has made goulash, and garlic bread, which is one of my favorite meals. Aunt Harper ask us how our day was, and Hannah and Harley had great days, and before Harry or I could reaply, aunt Harper tells us that the school called about last hour.

Adverting my eyes from her's as I gnaw on my lower lip in anxiety as I stay quietl while Harry answers her for the two of us; "It was fine untl that hour."

"May I be excused, please?" I softly ask with a frown, as I don't want to cry in front of everyone.

"You haven't finished your dinner yet," Hannah comments before aunt Harper can even reply.

"Go ahead, Ethan," aunt Harper softly says, and her voice is filled with sadness.

"Thanks," I mumble as I quickly leave the room, and rush up to my bedroom.

Lying on top of the bed on my stomach, I dig my face into my pillow before facing toward the wall, which I stare blankly at. I hate that I still miss mum, and I hate that I don't know who my dad is as the tears freely pour down my face, and I try to cry quietly. I'm startled when Harley crawls onto the bed and lies on his side facing me.

He carefully wipes under my eyes with the pad of his thumb as he says; "I miss my daddy like you miss your mummy."

Pulling Harley closer, I end up falling asleep for about an hour before aunt Harper is waking both Harley and I up; "Hey my sleepy boys. Why don't you two take Strider and Copper out for a ride? Harry and Hannah are getting ready to take Bella and Beau out."

She swipes the hair off my forehead and then Harley's before we climb off the bed as I say; "Sure, aunt Harper."