Gabriel (Rewritten Version) - LGBT, manXman

16

Liam and Rose, who had finished their cereals, were having a thumb-war at the table, half-listening to Phoebe and Bailey's conversation with bored expressions.

"Go and get dressed guys, and fetch your rucksacks for school."

The twins disappeared obediently.

"You too, Pheebs. I'll dry up here."

Gabriel was still trying to process what had just happened. He wanted everyone to go away, to leave him alone so that he could think, but he had to get the kids to school.

"Hey." Bailey came over and rested a hand on the small of Gabriel's back. "Are you alright? You don't look well."

"No, I... I do feel ill," Gabe said faintly. "I have a headache."

"Why don't you stay here," Bailey said. "I can drive the kids to school."

"No," Gabe whispered. "No, I need you here. I need your help. Pheebs can take them. Please..."

"OK." Bailey nodded. "OK, I'll stay."

"Thank you."

They finished getting the kids ready for school, making sure the twins had their packed lunches, and Phoebe had her geography homework, before they settled down in the living room.

"So, what's the matter?" Bailey asked, squeezing Gabriel's hand. "You looked really shaken earlier."

"I need your help with something. And... I don't know how to approach it. I don't know what to say. Or if I even should say something. Jesus!" Gabe fisted his hands into his hair, groaning.

"What's wrong?" Bailey asked.

"I think... I know Jordan likes me. In a totally I'm-your-lover-not-your-brother way."

"OK," Bailey said slowly. "And how do you know that?"

"He kissed me. Just now. I pushed him too far. I should have just let it go. He clearly didn't want to talk about it, and..."

Bailey sat back on the sofa and was silent for a long time.

"What were you talking about?" He asked finally. "Was it something sexual?"

"No. I was trying to talk to him about his mood swings. A friend of mine suggested I talk to him about bullying. Just in case someone was picking on him. And I asked if perhaps something had happened with one of his teachers."

"You mean abuse?"

Gabe nodded.

"And... was it...?"

"No, he said nothing had happened. But I just kept pushing. Kept asking if it was something I'd done, or not done. I should have left him alone."

"Maybe," Bailey said slowly, thoughtfully. "Maybe he doesn't like you," he suggested. "Maybe he's struggling with his sexuality. He might be bisexual, or even gay, and he's confused about it. Maybe he's transferred his desires onto you because you're the only person he knows who's gay."

Gabriel stared at Bailey.

"Plus, he's fifteen. His hormones are probably going nuts, and he's probably started to experiment with sex. All of his friends are probably bragging about who they've been with, and what they've done."

"You really think that's it?" Gabe asked hopefully.

Bailey shrugged.

"It might be. It might be the only way to look at this, that doesn't leave you both incredibly awkward around each other."