Gypsy man

Saying goodbye

I arrange for my friends to meet us at Rockets.

Lulian and I are the first to arrive so we get a big table for 7. The girls arrive before the guys.

"Hi, Zander." They hug me then Lulian.

"Break his heart and we'll break your bones." They whisper in his ear.

Tash sits next to me and Abi sits next to her. "This is Natasha, we call her Tash." She wipes a stray black hair out of her eyes and smile.

"And Abigail or Abi for short."

"Yea the only two girls you've ever slept with." Abi sticks her tongue out. She and Tash laugh softly.

"What are we laughing about?" Tiffany suddenly stands behind them. "And this is Tiffany, my Sabina. I just didn't sleep with her." I inform Lulian. "So this is the guy you cheated on me with." Tiffany states.

"We were never anything so I couldn't have cheated on you."

"You kissed me!"

"Actually, you kissed me, Tiffany." I correct her.

"You-" "Is there a problem, Tiffany." Deck stands over her.

"This isn't over." She says as she walks away.

"Hey, I'm Declan, but you can call me Deck." He introduces himself. "Excuse me Abi, but may I sit next to Tash." He asks her nicely.

"Of course." She smiles and moves to the another seat.

Deck sits next to Tash and throws an arm over her shoulders. She melts into his side. They can do that. They're straight. Under the table Lulian takes my hand.

Daniel and Brendan show up a few moments later. Danny and Abi also cuddle up.

"So, Alex, I have a serious question for you." Danny smirks.

"Ask away." He leans forward a bit.

"Did you go to the rodeo?" The girls giggle and Lulian laughs. I blush.

"I'm guessing you did." Danny laughs.

Deck and Bren are confused. "Uh do you mind sharing." Brendan asks.

"Yesterday one of the Gossip express hosts told Alex to ride the bull." Tash informs them. "Lulian being the bull." She laughs into Deck's shoulder.

"Oh was it fun?" Bren asks with his mischievous eyes.

"We didn't do it, Brendan." Lulian says matter-of-factly. "But you were laughing."

"Because Alex did tell me about it." Lulian explains, but I don't remember telling him.

"Why didn't you?"

"Bren. Can we talk about something else." I don't want to talk about this anymore. "How was your date."

We talk for a long time. Until Abi's parents come looking for her. They weren't too happy to find her all over her boyfriend.

Lulian and I walk home in the dark.

My father is back. We find him in the living room with my mother.

"How could you!? I didn't ask for a gay son. Why did you give me a fag!"

"It isn't her fault!" I interrupt.

"And you, you think you're a man. You can do whatever the fuck you want." He raises his hand to hit me. Lulian takes the punch.

Dad was aiming for my face so I think he hits Lulian in the chest. "What you think you're better than me because you're taller than me." My father hits Lulian again.

"I do think I'm better than you." That really pisses dad off. He goes in for another hit.

Lulian blocks it and punches dad in the gut. It happens so fast. One moment my father is standing the next he's pinned to the ground by Lulian.

Dad struggles but he's no match against Lulian's strength. "Get off me you dirty fag."

"Uh no." Lulian teases. Glass shatters.

A living thing jumps through. It is stopped by black flames.

Lulian lets go of my father and walks over to inspect the creature. It struggles but can't escape the flames. It doesn't seem to hurt it.

It looks like a black lion with glowing red eyes.

"It's a cimora." Lulian informs me. "Their highly aggressive temper make them top tiered guard dogs. If you have the patience to earn one's trust it'll do anything for you. The insignia on its ass indicates that he belongs to the Merino household. In other words he belongs to Sabina's dad. Beat that Governess Liona." He looks so proud of himself.

"And that's bad." I say

"Yes." He proudly smiles.

"Why the fuck are you smiling, Lulian." I shriek. "Language, Alex." My mom scolds.

"I did focus in school." He is still smiling.

I shake my head. "Seriously." I grunt.

"But you still love me." His head tilts to the side.

"You're unbelievable." I sigh. "What are you going to do with it?"

He looks back at the lion thing. "Yea... I have to do something, right."

"Trap it in your domain?" I suggest.

"Mhm... that wouldn't work..." he's deep in thought. "I see smoke. Stop thinking before you hurt yourself, Lulian." I tease.

"Harhar." He rolls his eyes. "I'll have to exorcise it."

"What?" Mom reminds me that my parents are still in the room.

"Kill it." He simplifies it for us.

"Wait. Can't we earn its trust?" I don't want to kill it.

"I like the way you're thinking, Alex, but we don't have the time. The Marino's know where you live." His eyebrows knit together.

He looks furious. "They wanted to kill you while they thought I was gone."

My father finally gets to his feet. "This Is fucking crazy. The three of you," He gestures to me, Lulian and mom," and that thing should get the fuck out of my house. And never come back here again. I don't want either of you fags or you slut here ever again. Take your things and leave. Pretty boy over there probably have a place to stay for you." He glares at Lulian.

Mom looks dejected.

"I have a place." Lulian says quietly.

"See all sorted."