The Farmer and The Rich-Boy

Chapter Ten

Sips' Point Of View

I open the large door to my house, buzzing with excitement and happiness. My mind flips through what just happened, making my pulse quicken and steps lighter.

Obviously life wouldn't let me keep this happiness.

"Where exactly have you been?" I freeze at the bottom of the staircase, breathing in. He sounds angry.

I turn slightly towards him, "At S- a friend's." I hasten to cover up my slip, hoping that he wouldn't notice.

"Come here." I swallow before turning to look at him, walking over. He looks irritated, his face the kind that you would wear if there was a particularly irksome fly that wouldn't stop flitting around your face. For some reason I feel like I'm the fly.

"Yes dad?"

"I heard that you broke up with Holly." Oh god... "Now, Holly is a lovely girl. Why would you ever want to break up with her?" Because I'm gay and have a bigass crush on my best friend.

"I just don't think it was working out. She's not my type, ya know?" I look into his black eyes, seeing my own face reflected back in the steely orbs.

He makes a little 'tsk' sound, "I think you should date her again."

"What, why?!" He is not fucking doing this right now.

"Now Sips, her family is very respectable-"

"Rich you mean!" I can't help myself, cutting across him. His face turns an angry red in seconds.

"Don't interrupt!" He growls threateningly, "They are a well respected family in the community-" 

I don't even try to stop myself from cutting him off again. I can't stand how closed off his mind is, "What if I don't want to marry someone 'in the community'? What if I want to marry someone for who they actually are not for how much fucking money they have?"

His coal eyes harden and for a second I think that he's going to hit me, his hand twitching, "You will not use that language with me and you will marry whoever I want you too!"

His eyes widen at what he said and he tries to take it back. I just cross my arms.

"I- I mean, of course you get a choice... I don't... Control you..." I step away from him, "Look, our business has been falling for years! I can barely afford to keep this place. We need the money Sips! Just... Just marry someone rich and I'll take care of you financially for the rest of your life."

I shake my head in disgust, "I'm your son! You would put getting more money over your only child being happy..."

He grabs my arm, "Money can make you-"

"Don't give me that crap! Do you even know what subjects I chose for my GCSEs? Do you even know how old I am?!"

He stammers, "Eigh- no, seventeen. Seventeen."

"I'm sixteen!" I burst, wrenching free of his grip, "You don't even know me! You can't tell me how to live my life!"

"Who do you want to marry then?!"

"Sjin!" I clamp a hand over my mouth and step back.

His face drops, "The farmers boy? The one who... Kissed you?" I nod silently, "I knew this would happen! He's turned you gay, I told you to stay away from him!" Understanding floods his face, "Is that where you were today? At his house?" He hisses the last words like they're venom on his tongue.

I barely breath, "I'm sorry dad." I wonder dully in the back of my mind why I'm apologising. It's his fault.

"You're not gay. I know you're not... We just have to get the gay out of you and then you can marry Holly... Yeah..." He's talking more to himself but I still protest indignantly, hoping that maybe he would hear me.