the park bench

t h i r t y t h r e e

t h i r t y t h r e e

"i'm fine, jo. stop checking up on me," joanne huffed.

joseph rolled his eyes and grabbed joanne's wrist, hoisting her off her chair. "time for a family talk."

"oh, dear." the brunette's eyes widened in alarm. "do we have to?"

"...i shouted some pretty shitty stuff to mother," joseph muttered, his head hung in shame. "i realised that i shouldn't have said those things and that i should at least be happy they're choosing to live together after heather told me lark's story."

his twin snarled, "what? no more telling anyone things that aren't their fucking business." she glared at a flummoxed jo. "you and heather have to butt out of me and lark's fucking shit."

joseph digested the knowledge before beaming. "lark might be good for you, you're standing up for yourself. jojo, i'm so proud of you and i'm sorry." he hugged her, chuckling when she hissed and pushed him off. "don't be mad at me, i really am sorry."

"whatever." then they found themselves on the sofa facing their parents again.

"i'm going to start off with an apology, mother, for what i said to you. however, i am still pissed at you and just know that not everything is back to your normal, happy family," joseph said right off the bat.

their mother nodded, there were rings under her eyes and she was slouched in her seat. "yes, of course, jo. i'm so very sorry for all the trouble and drama i've caused," her voice broke, "i'm very fucking sorry."

mr. gibson grimaced at the language before smiling at his kids. "alright, now that that's over, i'm going to continue with my newspaper and you two need to finish homework, 'kay?"

joanne looked up from her fiddling hands, she reached over and gripped her brother's equally clammy hands with a nervous look on her face. "jo, i'm going to tell them."

"are you sure?" joseph sent her a worried look.

she nodded, taking a deep breath. "mom. dad. i'm bisexual."

her mother beamed after a fleeting second of stunned silence. "i'm happy you're telling me this and i accept you."

joanne sent her a smile, her attention focusing back on her father.

mr. gibson didn't even look up from his newspaper when he replied, face neutral. "good for you, honey."

joanne scoffed at his reaction, pulling her entire family into a hug and ignoring her father's disgruntled huff when his newspaper was wrecked in the process.