Into The Devildom

Jesse's Intro

TRIGGER: Homophobia

"Dan you idiot! Don't fucken die again! I ain't saving your ass!" I yell into my headset as I blow the head of another in game zombie. "Stop being a dick Jesse and help me!" I grumble and moan at my useless online friend as I rescue him from a horde of zombies. After a couple hours of me saving Dan's butt, we managed to complete the area. I stretch in my chair and glance at the time. "Damn. Dan we are going to have to do this later, I gotta get ready for work."

"Aw come on man, I can't do this without you! Another hour?" he pleads. I laugh before singing "Bye!" into my headset and switching off my console. I stand up and stretch again, both hands above my head as I shake out the ache of sitting for so long. I make myself a quick dinner before heading to the bathroom to shower and shave. I throw on my uniform and style my split dyed pink and black hair to make it fall in an artfully messy way. Once I get it just right, I wink at myself and chuckle. "You are such a weirdo Jesse."

I grab my bag and keys as I head out the door. My foot lands on an envelope as I step into the hall. 'What the hell?' I think as I bend down to pick it up. I flip the red and black envelope and see my name scrawled in gold ink. I shrug as I stuff it into my bag and head down to the garage in the elevator. As I walk to my car I hear my phone ring. Looking at the screen I groan. My mum is calling, again. No doubt to try and convince me to go to my dad's 50th birthday party. I take a deep breath and answer it. "Hey mum, what's up? I'm heading to work."

"Jesse dear, how are you? You are still working at that bar? I thought you would have gotten a real job by now." I grit my teeth as she blabs on about how I should be working a great office job for less money than I am already making.

"So why did you call?" I interrupt her mid-sentence. She clicks her tongue at me before huffing. "It's rude to interrupt you know. As you well know, your dad is turning 50 soon and he would like you to come celebrate with us. We are having a dinner party at home."

"What about me being the 'problem child' of the family?" I snap at her as I slide into my car. Dad has always hated me for not being the perfect eldest son he had always envisioned.

"Well, I am sure you can just change your hair and not mention your.... preferences, and it will be fine." I slap my hand to my face and groan out loud. "Jesse? Are you ok? So will you fix your appearance and come for your father?"

"Mum. My 'preferences' as you put it is who I am. Just because you don't except it doesn't mean I have to hide it. And I like my hair! Why do I have to keep hiding myself for you when you have made it clear you hate me for being the way I am?" I half shout down the phone as the feelings of insecurity and worthlessness well up inside me. I try to take some deep breaths to calm myself. I can hear my mother's breathing on the other end of the line.

"Listen hear Jesse. We did not raise you to be this way and I am tired of your shit! You will come to your father's birthday. With normal looking hair. You will stand beside your brother and sister and make a good show of being part of this family. Do you hear me? I cannot believe you have turned out this way! Show some respect boy!" I feel tears well up as my mother yells at me through the phone. I brace my arms against the steering wheel and place my head on my arms.

"No, I am not going to make it. I have work then. Tell Jason and Jane I said hello." I hang up the phone and hold my breath as the tears threaten to spill. I take a deep breath as I pick my head up and wipe my eyes. I look in the rear-view mirror and see my light blue eyes looking red and slightly puffy. I glance at the time on the dash as I start the car. "Ah fuck! I am going to be late!" I curse as I peel out of the garage and rush to work.

I get there 15 minutes late, running through the doors. "What the hell Jesse? We need you to open, dumbass!" my co-worker, Patrick chides.

"I know, I know. My mum called and ugh! Same shit, different day." I wave my hand at him as I head behind the bar and wrap an apron around my slim waist. Amber, my other co-worker, pats me on the back as she walks past. We have been working together for a while and they both know what my parents are like.