Gabriel (Rewritten Version) - LGBT, manXman

21

The next afternoon, Gabe was putting a load of laundry in the washing machine when he heard the front door open and close. He hesitated for a moment, before continuing to load the washing machine. He heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, and some clattering around upstairs.

A few minutes later, Jordan came back downstairs, carrying a cardboard box full of his school books.

"Before you go-" Gabe told him quickly, before Jordan could slip through the front door. "I got you something for your birthday in a couple of weeks. Would you take it? If you won't... be back by then."

Jordan scowled and started to shake his head, before sighing at Gabe's pleading expression and nodding shortly.

"I don't care if you sell it or... if you can't stand to use it, but..." Gabe ran up to his room and fetched the present.

Jordan's eyes widened slightly when he saw the guitar in Gabe's hand. He stared for a moment, before taking it from Gabe, running his fingers slowly over the neatly painted wood.

"I thought... we were always strapped for cash," Jordan said quietly.

"Well... it was for your birthday," said Gabe awkwardly. "And it's not brand new, I'm afraid. Just well looked after."

Jordan glanced at him for a moment, seeming reluctant to hold his gaze.

"Thanks," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper, before he slung the guitar over his shoulder, hefted the box, and slipped out the front door.

Gabe stood frozen in the hall; he really thought Jordan would stay. He thought he'd be able to talk to him about everything.

He heard a car engine start outside and glanced out of the window. He saw Florence's father in the driver's seat, Jordan sat huddling in the back. At least they'd given him a place to stay, Gabe thought dully.

He walked back into the kitchen and turned on the washing machine, before running upstairs.

He hesitated for a moment, before opening to door to Jordan's room and going inside.

At first glance, it looked as though only Jordan's school things, and a few more clothes, were missing.

His sports awards were still on their shelves, the posters on the wall, the picture of his dad on the dresser.

It looked as though Jordan did at least plan to come back.

He went back into the kitchen, watchingd the washing machine bouncing slightly on the floor tiles, before making a start on the housework.

He worked straight through the afternoon, working out his anger, his guilt, his frustration, on cleaning. He mopped the kitchen floor three times before deciding it was clean enough.

When he finally finished, his hands were sore from cleaning with bleach and scrubbing the bathtub so hard.

He heard the front door open and glanced at his watch before swearing. He'd forgotten to go and collect the twins.

He ran downstairs and saw Phoebe dumping her rucksack in the hall before kicking off her shoes.

"Hey Pheebs. I'll be back soon. I've got to-"

"I fetched them for you," Phoebe said quietly. "I figured Jordan might have come by. He wasn't in school today."

Gabe nodded.

"He did come back. Long enough to get his school things."

Gabe rubbed his eyes wearily, before going back into the kitchen. He dug around in the freezer for a few minutes, before pulling out a bag of oven chips and some breaded pork chops.