I Kissed a Boy [complet]

The Press conference

The press conference was a showdown. When they arrived in front of Peter's building, the entrance was full of reporters with their microphones. They hadn't yet got out of the car when the journalists crowded in and shouted their questions. Marc looked at Gavin before leaving. His manager had told him that he couldn't be near him because he was involved in the story and if he stood by his side it was that he was taking a stand and he had to keep his neutrality for work. He tells him he'll be right on the other side of the door. That he trusted him. Marc pursed his lips. He felt small. Yet parting with Amy was the best thing to do... so why all the fuss as if it was a serious act, a crime? He took a deep breath and got out of the vehicle. For half an hour there was a deluge of questions. Between the why, the how, the ins and outs. His sexuality was once again exposed. Its ancient stories were unearthed and dissected. He had to justify all his choices. Marc also had to deal with disguised homophobia, increasingly personal issues. The singer had to remain calm and respond in a clear and constructed way to all of this without showing his increasingly physical discomfort. He knew Gavin just on the other side. He knew his lover was there and supporting him. But he felt terribly alone and vulnerable. He was afraid too. His life was spread out before the world for something that, in normal life, was common. When Peter finally felt that the whole issue had been covered, he ended the press conference.

When the doors closed behind Marc, cutting him off from the crowd of reporters, he closed his eyes, completely drained of energy. Shocked too. Then he felt the warmth of Gavin's body pressed against him. His arms wrapped around him. Marc didn't have the strength to move yet. Gavin hugged him even tighter, as if to absorb the bad things inside him and rocked him slowly. Marc ended up shuddering. A very long shiver that shook his whole body and he clung to Gavin, burying his face in his neck and inhaling his scent hungrily. In that moment Marc was happy that Gavin was as tall as he was. He felt safe, protected, loved...yes loved. He pressed his lips under Gavin's ear in thanks and felt him smile. Gavin patted him on the shoulder.

— We must go, Mark. We have work.

Marc sighed and inhaled Gavin's scent one last time, then tore himself from his embrace. He was calmer and the warmth had returned to his eyes. Gavin was relieved and let Marc hold him close.

They went up to meet with Peter and his team. The morning was supposed to be spent choosing contracts, but a lot of it was spent with the legal team, and then mid-morning they left for drama class. The afternoon was devoted to filming a show with the band accompanied by the singing of their first single. Then after a few free hours, they had to go to the charity gala. The whole day had been placed under the sign of tension. Gavin spent his time answering stressed or angry emails. He had to reassure future employees, save contracts, define the terms of termination, if necessary, not to mention the management of social networks. Well for now, Gavin couldn't do anything. Twitter was going up in flames like there was World War III. Several old stories about Marc came out and were twisted to serve as argument for certain sections of the fandom. Feminist movements got involved, taking Amy as a martyr on the fight of men against women. Homophobes also titillated on one side or the other. The fans defended Marc. Others involved Gavin in all this. He had to keep an eye on social networks, but some messages turned his stomach and his heart. People could go to great lengths to defend their opinion or interpret an image and make it fit their reality. They decided, with Peter and the group, not to say anything for the moment. Peter thought the situation would calm down quickly.

After taping the show, the group was free for a few hours before the Gala. Marc decided to return to his parents. He needed to breathe because he was nervously close to his limit, he needed to be alone. His apartment horrified him. So, Gavin dropped him off at the manor and told him he would pick him up in two hours.