You and me | Pacey Witter

twenty-seven

AURORA GOT up for school. Her outfit consisted of a pair of light baggy jeans and a slightly cropped t-shirt. She grabbed her black backpack from the end of her bed and began to head downstairs. Her eyes landed on her uncle and brother first. Both of them stood in the kitchen. She decided this morning she would tell them about her recent discovery.

"Hey, uh, Uncle Josh," Aurora spoke up with a soft tone. "Could we talk, please?" Joshua furrowed his eyebrows but nodded anyways. Lucas was about to walk away, but she stopped him, "no, Luke, I want you to hear this as well."

The two boys looked over at each other, equally confused. Aurora fiddled with her fingers as she took a deep, shaky breath. "Um, so, recently I had found out something about myself. I refused to accept it because I was scared- I was scared that I would be judged for it, and I know I will, I just hope that this is something my family could be supportive about."

Aurora teared up as she shut her eyes to process what she was doing before she opened them up to look at them. "I- I like boys and girls," she admitted. "And before you say anything, let me tell you. I can't control who I like, okay? I didn't choose to be bi, but I am. I'm sorry, I am so sorry, just please don't hate me."

Joshua looked at his niece teary eyed. The more she had looked into his eyes, the more confused and scared she had gotten. She wasn't sure if he was mad or not. Her question was answered, when she felt Joshua pull into his embrace.

Aurora melted into his embrace. Her arms were wrapped around his torso and her head rested on his chest. Joshua pulled away and placed his hands on each side of her face. "Sweetheart, I could never hate you, never in a million years," he told her. "I am so proud of how brave enough you were to tell me that, and I'm glad you did. I love you so much, Rora, and nothing could ever change that. As long as your happy, I'm happy."

Aurora let out a small sob as she nodded. Joshua used his thumbs to wipe the tears from underneath her eyes. "Don't apologize for who you are. You don't need to be sorry for anything, okay?"

Aurora nodded, before she turned to face her brother, who had a surprised expression on his face. She sniffled and tried to study the look in his eyes, but it was hard to tell. "Lucas?" her voice was soft.

Lucas didn't say anything instead he just pulled his sister into a hug. His chin rested on the top of her head. "I love you, sis. That's not going to change, alright? Whether your straight, gay, bi, whatever, it doesn't matter to me. Your still my sister at the end of the day."

"I love you too, Luke," Aurora stated.

"What the hell? Enough with this sappy shit," Tom exclaimed as he came out from around the corner, Eas dropping on the conversation. "You aren't gay, that's bull crap. I don't know who put that stupid thought into your head, but it isn't true. I didn't raise you like that. I will not have a gay daughter."

Aurora felt the tears roll down her cheek as she heard him. Joshua stood in front of her and pointed a finger in his face. "You aren't going to talk about her like that. You didn't raise her to be like anything, because you weren't there. You can't tell her who she is and who she isn't."

"Like hell I can," Tom replied. "I'm her father. If I tell her something, she better listen. She isn't gay. I will not have a gay daughter. That would be a disgrace to our family name, and I won't allow it."

Aurora shook her head as she glanced down at the ground. She licked her lips because she looked back up at him. "I don't need your opinion, and I sure as hell don't care about what you have to say. If you don't like it, then leave! You've left before, you could do it again, it's not going to hurt us."

Tom clenched his jaw, his hands slowly balled into a fist. Without another thought, he lounged forward toward the girl. Lucas and Joshua jumped in the way and held the man back. Aurora jumped back and gripped the edge of the counter behind her.

"You're out of here, Tom," Joshua shouted. "It was a bad mistake to let you come back here. I should've known better that you haven't changed. You are the true disgrace to our family name, so if you don't get the hell out of my house now, I will call the cops."

Tom attempted to push the two of them away from him but failed. "You can't kick me out, Joshua, they're my kids, not yours."

"These are my kids," Joshua corrected, "and by law, you have zero custody of them, so you're lucky that I let you see them in the first place."

Tom finally shoved their hands away from him. He looked between the three of them, a mixture between anger and sadness was revealed. He shook his head and began to walk toward the front door. "You're making a bad mistake, Joshua. I could raise these kids the way they are supposed to be raised."

The front door opened and was soon slammed shut. Lucas turned around and pulled his twin into a side hug. Aurora felt the tears re-enter her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, because if she did, nothing but a sob would come out. Joshua joined into the hug, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her head. 

Aurora sniffled, "I knew I was going to get judged; I just didn't expect it to be from my own dad. But I don't care for what he has to say anymore. He doesn't deserve an ounce of my sadness," she confessed. "I don't need him anymore. Uncle Joshua, you have raised us way better than he ever could've. Thank you, guys, so much for, you know, not judging me. I love you both, so much."