Reasons To Love You {bxb}

Chapter Thirteen: A New Beginning

"Hike," Jake called out, beginning their final game of the season.

He caught the ball and then scanned the field to find Shane. He threw the football and Shane caught the ball, getting the first down.

"Go Tigers," the crowd cheered along with Nikki and the cheerleaders.

Jake and the rest of the offense huddled up for the next two plays. Once they clapped their hands, they all scattered out to get to their spots. Jake looked out at the crowd, scanning around trying to find his parents. He sighed before getting in his position for the next play.

"I can only imagine how he's feeling right now," Faith spoke, looking at Chase.

"Who? Jake?" Chase asked, looking at her.

"Yeah," Faith said. "It's not like his parents to just not show up."

"The game just started Faith," Kylie spoke, looking at her. "Just give them some time. They'll show."

Kylie placed her hands on top of Faith's and they both gave a nod and a smile. She took her hand off Faith's and watched the game go on.

Meanwhile at Jake's house his parents were talking in the living room. Tanner sat on the island counter-dressed and ready to go while he watched his parents argue.

"Ray," the mom spoke, looking at the dad. "His game already started, honey."

"Good," Ray spoke, flipping through the channels. "Hope they lose. Teach him a lesson for thinking that he can live in this household being gay."

"Don't say that," the mom snapped. "He's our son."

"I didn't raise my son to be gay," the dad snapped back, looking at the mom.

"Do you hear yourself right now!" Tanner exclaimed, hopping off the counter to head over to the living room.

"Tanner stay out of this," the dad said, looking at him.

"No," Tanner snapped. "Mom's right. That is your son and that's my brother. So, what if he's gay? That shouldn't change how you look at him. He's still the same Jake you've loved and raised for the past seventeen years. The same Jake who helped you get your job back. The same Jake who-"

"ENOUGH!" Ray shouted, cutting Tanner off.

"I get it. I'm in the wrong," he spoke calmly. "But I'm not going to fake a smile every time I see him. I'm not going to do it."

"Then why bother being his dad," Tanner spoke in a harsh tone. "Why bother being our dad."

Ray quickly looked at Tanner with a harsh look like he wanted to knock him out. But he didn't. Instead, he stood up and tossed the remote on the couch.

"Where are you going," the mom called out.

"Who cares," Tanner spoke. "He's barely around anyways."

"Tanner don't say that," the mom spoke calmly, looking at him.

"He's right," Ray spoke and they both looked at him. "I'm taking up space in the house. I think it's time I move on. For you guys."

He opened the front door, left the house, and closed the door behind him.

Back at the football game, they were now at halftime. Jake's team was leading by five points over Lake View but even that didn't take his mind off the fact that his parents weren't here.

"Hey," Shane's voice called out which knocked Jake from his thoughts. "They'll be here."

"But what if they're not," Jake spoke.