I Think I Just Legalized Love

Chapter 3

3

I grab my bag from Abby’s room. Miles offered too drive, which means he must be a year older than me. Not that much different. I sit in the passenger seat while Miles drives. We talk about music on the way to my house. It seems like forever.

            Miles pulls up to my house, and we sit for a minute. I see Dad looking through the window in the kitchen. I should tell him I’m gay, but he has a temper and he doesn’t want me to be gay. He will kill me. Would Mom protect me? Is she in the house? I see her walk up to Dad; I want her to stay there so if something happens like Miles kissing me, then Mom could help. I hope she does. I want her too. She knows I don’t like what they say about gays, so why wouldn’t she?

            “You alright?” Miles asks me.

            “Fine.” I forgot to tell him about my parents. How did I forget that? I turn toward Miles so I can reach in the back seat to get my bag, but Miles pulls me in so we can kiss. I don’t mind the kissing, but I mind if Dad sees. I pull away, and grab my bag. “Bye. I guess I’m stop by tomorrow.”

            “Bye, Jason.” I get out the car and slowly walk to my front door. Dad isn’t in the window anymore. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I walk in like everything is fine and I didn’t just kiss a boy, and then Dad smacks me out of nowhere. The door is still open, so I hope Miles is still there so he can see. I don’t know why I want him to see.

            “What the hell is wrong with you?” Dad shouts at me. He smacks me again.

            “Harold!” Mom screams in terror at Dad. “What is wrong with you?” She yanks him away from me, and asks if I’m okay. I say I am, even though Dad just made my bruises sting and hurt a lot. Mom turns to Dad.

            I check to see if Miles is still there and he is. I don’t want him seeing this anymore. I don’t. Why should he? Because he should know, I guess.

            “He’s gay!” Dad shouts at Mom. She freezes and turns to me. “He’s sinning!”

            Mom says, “He considers himself atheist because he doesn’t like religion. He’s be sinning if he were out religion, but he isn’t any religion.” Why would she say this? He’ll just get even more infuriated. “He has every right to love the same sex.”

            “He has no right!” Dad screams.

            “Jason, can you stay outside for a few minutes, please?” Mom asks of me. I follow her instructions and get in the car with Miles. “What was that about?” Miles ask, trying to seem strong, but I can see he’s been crying.

            “My Dad hates gays and thinks it’s a sin. My mom thinks it’s a sin but she knows I consider myself atheist.”

            “He chose now to hit you?”

            “He saw us kiss.”

            “It’s my fault then. I was the one who started it.”

I kiss Miles’s lips for a half second. I intertwine our fingers of one hand, and tell him, “It isn’t your fault. You didn’t know. I was hoping he wouldn’t see. I forgot to tell you. Don’t worry, though, he won’t literally kill me.” I turn to look at the front door which is shut now. I watch it carefully. It starts to open and Dad walks out. I get scared and tense. I decide I should lie depending on the circumstance. I can say that we were just talking. Or that Miles kissed me but I didn’t kiss back because I’m not gay. Something like that.