Walter x Henry - a secret love story

Chapter 14 - The true you

Walter's pov

Things had settled down for Henry and me after we came out. The whispers stopped, and people began to accept us as a couple. It felt like we had finally found our place at school, and I couldn't remember the last time I felt this happy.

We spent more time together, often cuddled up in our dorm room or taking long walks around the school grounds. It was nice to just be with him. We'd often kiss, our lips meeting softly before he'd pull me into his arms, making me feel safe and warm.

One night, we were lying on our beds, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of the desk lamp. Henry was sprawled on his back, his arms behind his head, looking relaxed. I couldn't help but admire him. His red hair fell across his forehead, and the way his blue eyes sparkled when he smiled made my heart race.

"Hey," I said, turning onto my side to face him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he replied, glancing at me with curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I know we've been together for a while now, and I love spending time with you. But I want to know more about you, about your life. Like... your family. What are they like?"

His smile faded slightly, and I noticed a flicker of something in his eyes - maybe sadness? "Uh, my family?" he repeated, and I could sense a shift in the mood.

"Yeah," I said softly. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but I just thought... maybe it would help us get closer."

Henry shifted on his bed, propping himself up on his elbow. "It's not that easy for me, Walter," he said, looking away for a moment. "My family is... complicated."

I frowned, wanting to comfort him. "You can tell me anything. I promise I won't judge you."

He took a deep breath, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. "Okay, I'll try," he said finally, his voice quieter. "So, my parents... they're not together. They divorced a couple of years ago. It was really hard for me."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, feeling a pang of sympathy. "That must have been tough."

"It was," he nodded, his expression serious. "I didn't really understand why at first. My mom was always busy with work, and my dad... well, he's not really around much. He travels a lot for his job. I barely see him."

I could feel a tightness in my chest as I listened to him. "That sounds really lonely."

"It was," he admitted, his eyes reflecting a deep sadness. "I mean, I get it. They had their reasons. But I wish I had a normal family, you know? Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't."

I reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're not alone, Henry. You have me, and I'm here for you."

He looked at me, and a small smile broke through his somber expression. "Thanks, Walter. It means a lot. I guess I've just always kept things to myself. I don't want to burden anyone with my problems."

"You're not a burden," I said firmly. "I want to know what you're going through. You can talk to me about anything."

He nodded slowly, and I could see the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. "I'll try to open up more. It's just hard for me."

"I understand," I replied. "But I promise you, I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to face everything alone."

For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of his words hanging in the air. I wished I could take away his pain, but I knew that wasn't possible. All I could do was be there for him, to support him the best I could.

As the night went on, we shifted back to our usual playful selves. I leaned over, playfully poking his side, and he burst out laughing, his blue eyes shining with mischief.

"Stop it!" he giggled, trying to swat my hand away.

I grinned, loving the sound of his laughter. "Only if you tell me more about your family!"

He rolled his eyes but laughed again. "Okay, okay! Well, my mom is really great when she's around. She tries her best, but she's always busy. Sometimes I feel like I'm more of an inconvenience to her than anything."

"Don't say that," I said, a little more serious. "I'm sure she loves you, even if she's busy. Parents can be complicated too."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he admitted, his expression thoughtful. "It's just hard sometimes."

I reached over and pulled him into my arms, holding him close. "You don't have to talk about it all at once. I'm just happy you shared a little with me."

He snuggled into my embrace, resting his head against my chest. "Thanks for being so understanding."

We sat there for a while, wrapped up in each other. I felt a sense of warmth and connection, knowing that we were getting closer. I wanted to be there for him, to support him through everything, just as he had always been there for me.

As I stroked his hair, I thought about how important it was for us to be open with each other. I knew that whatever challenges we faced, we would face them together. In that moment, everything felt perfect.

***

Author's note

I hope you liked this chapter! We are close to the end