Obsession

Secret: Chapter 21

Over the next few days, the tension did not dissipate. It only grew thicker, and by Thursday of that week, Gabriel's sexuality was all anyone in Shaw could talk about. People continued to speculate, and comment, and others continued to fan the flames with ridiculously far-fetched stories made up for their own amusement.

He could no longer walk the streets of Shaw without being on the receiving end of speculative or condemning stares, yet no one had really approached him to find out the truth with genuine curiosity. They approached – he would not deny – but they had done so with a high and mighty attitude, condemning him before he opened his mouth. Even with the tone, and the needless authority they felt to toss in a slur or two in reference to his homosexuality, it did enough to discourage him from entertaining them past two seconds.

Going to school had also become a task. Nico Hoffman, his girlfriend – Lyssa Isaacs – and his band of followers, namely Rod Maxime, and Coby Becker never missed on the opportunity to make a snide remark, comment, or joke at his expense. His day would usually begin as smoothly as it might, given all that had unfolded since Monday morning when he was partially outed to the public without his consent, and he had fallen into the routine of simply ignoring the condemning stares that accompanied his journey to school. But it was a different story – an irritation, more than worry – when he was hassled by his fellow schoolmates in a place where he came to learn.

At first, Gabriel had grown worried and wondered just what the impact maybe on his reputation within the town – he was quickly learning it – and what it may also mean with his place on the team. Would it jeopardize the team's chance at bringing home the championship once more? Quite a few members of the soccer team were senior students at Shaw Public High School, and they'd remained undefeated even up against an incredibly tough opponent like the Roaring Tigers. They remained victorious and it would pester his soul if something such as his sexuality was the factor that diminished their chances of victory in that year's soccer championship tournament.

It had not gone unnoticed to Jeremiah Hastings that things were now different in Shaw. Even the atmosphere seemed to have changed, and he'd noticed first, that there was something strange about Gabriel's behaviour. In the way that he moved, and in the way that he spoke, it appeared to the man that something was troubling the boy. But he hadn't pressed for answers, only once again reminding Gabriel that he was there if there was something that needed to be said or talked about.

Though, Jeremiah would soon learn of the origins of what seemed to trouble his son – or so he thought, not realizing that it was a combination of various factors. It was Wednesday morning bright and early when he had been confronted by one rather nosey co-worker who felt the need to approach him, and query – quite boldly – as to the nature of Gabriel's sexuality. The co-worker was quite condescending to say the least, deciding that a reminder of why homosexuality was wrong and unholy was required. Jeremiah was quick to shut that co-worker down, making it crystal clear that the business of his teenage child was no business of a grown, and nosey adult. It pleased him quite a bit to see his co-worker offended, and he brusquely commented on the audacity of one to be offended when it was they who acted out of needless inquisitiveness wrapped in virtuous signalling.

Thursday afternoon of that week, Gabriel did not have soccer practice. Jeremiah had to make a stop at the local supermarket to stock up on grocery items for the remainder of that week. Gabriel had joined his father in the errand and together, they chatted idly about random topics, cracked a joke here and there as was the custom of their relationship, while making trips down the aisles of the supermarket.

Little did they know, it would be far from a mundane and casual, relaxing trip to the supermarket.

For the most part, Gabriel ignored the occasional side-eye from another customer wheeling a cart down the aisles coming from the opposite direction. He ignored the finger-pointing and the whispers, finding that such behaviour by the locals of Shaw was beginning to get old rather fast.