Life Support {ManxBoy} | Original Write Up

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

The feeling in his chest was getting worse by the moment, crushing his heart in the most unbearable ways. She was perfect. Maxine as everything Cyro could ever imagine having in a child but he'd never imagined having children before certainly not at twenty two. He wanted to be selfish, explore the world, explore love, maybe if he'd been able to in high school like other gay boys he wouldn't feel this way. Maybe his grandmother was right, maybe twenty two was more than an acceptable age to be settling down with children but he didn't want that or he didn't think he wanted that but looking at Maxine how could he not want that.

"So right now I really love fish and flowers." Maxine giggled as she guided Cyro around to the small pond. She had been giving him a tour around what he quickly learned was her favorite park as Renee and Vance hung back a few feet making sure to keep them in view but probably unable to hear their conversation. Maxine had told him about school, her best friend Alice and their crazy science project they'd started over summer break and her home life and how she wanted to be an explorer when she was older. She seemed to have so much to share even when she had to pause to think of what else she could possibly tell him that she hadn't told him already and Cyro wanted to listen. That's what killed him, he wanted to hear all her stories even the silly ones that didn't make much sense.

"See that blue one that's Joshie, I don't think dad like the name very much, I'm not sure why but that's my favorite fish." She quickly squatted down in front of the pond looking down at the fish. Cyro cringed as she stuck her finger carelessly into the water, he hoped it was clean and properly managed. She swished her finger by the fish but it simply looked at her finger and continued its path, Cyro figured she must do this a lot so maybe even a fish could get used to constant activities, like a dog remembered it's name. The thought of Maxine training a fish made him laugh.

"Oh, he's very pretty!" Cyro exclaimed when Maxine quirked an eyebrow at his sudden laughter, he squatted down next to Maxine to watch the fish as Maxine continued to point them out naming each of them as she went along.

"Cici, do you like me?" Cyro's heart lurched as Maxine question popped out suddenly.

"I like you very much, Maxine."

"I like you too Cici, I really can't wait to get a real mom, Renee isn't a very good one." Maxine pouted flicking her finger in the pond water making small circles. "I think you'll be a really good mom Cici!"

"Thank you, let's go get something to eat, I think it's almost time for everyone to go back home."

~x~

"So what did you think of Maxine?" Vance asked sitting carefully on the bed as to not disturb the mess of papers Cyro had sprawled out on it.

"She was wonderful." Cyro smiled as he set down the paper he was looking at, closing his laptop gently before turning his full attention to Vance. "You are an asshole."

"I wasn't planning on you to find out ab-"

"No." Cyro cut him off waving his hand dismissively. "I don't want to hear any excuses, you could have given me a heads up, even a half ass note in the car over would have been better than Renee telling me and now I'm supposed to go out with just her and Renee next week to give her my answer what bullshit is that?"

Vance wasn't sure what to say at that point he looked own at the papers half filled out adoption papers mixed in with Cyro's college assignments. It looked like he'd tried to complete both but only ended up half doing each. Vance wanted to say it was okay if Cyro didn't want to do it but the selfish part of him wouldn't let him, he knew Cyro, this was a permanent leash for them and if Vance let it go Cyro would leave. There wasn't any doubt in his mind about it, Cyro was in his first relationship and like anyone it wasn't what he'd expected at all. Everyone expects their first relationship to be the perfect one that works out like a fairy tale but it never is, even Vance knew that.

"I want to say I'm sorry so bad, but I'm not Cy, I love you and I want this to work out. I know I agreed to this stupid experiences thing but I still want you."

"Well I'm twenty two and I want to be a selfish brat not a parent!" Cyro screamed his head hurt he didn't want to say it like that but it as the truth, why did it feel so bad to say it? "I'll adopt her, she can live with you and I'll spend time with her, but I'm moving bck in with my mother and I'm seeing other people I don't care what you think!"

Vance looked at Cyro for a moment nodding slowly as he watched Cyro gathering the adoption papers from his homework assignments. He looked at them with an uneasy gaze, he bite at the inside of his cheek for a moment before raising his eyes back up to Vance. He looked like he was about to start crying but Vance could tell it wasn't about Maxine, it was something different, something he'd be sensing coming for a while.

"So this is the end of the line then, huh?"

"I'm not sorry."