Living Or Dying

Chapter Three

Sherry blushed even more throughout the get-together. Byern had obviously never talked to a girl outside of family and work. The fact that Sherry had talked a lot with guys and even flirted to a few made the conversation seem weird on her side.

"No. That'll never happen." Sherry explained. "No one wants to date a pregnant girl."

"I made a bet and I will stick to it." Byern grinned again.

Sherry shook her head furiously. Byern just didn't get it. Straight relationships are very different from same-gender relationships. Sherry noticed that Ebony had appeared out of nowhere and was staring over them.

"Sherry, right?" Ebony snapped a piece of gum. "Don't worry. Byern here keeps his promises. Besides you're a pretty girl. Speaking of which, mind if I get your number?"

Sherry was stunned. Ebony was the opposite of her brother. Byern was happy, bright, and considerate. Ebony was a little on the wild side.

"Ebony," Byern scolded. "Your boyfriend will not be happy that you flirted with Sherry."

Ebony snapped her gum and blew a raspberry at Byern. Then stalking away she went to go greet a new customer.

"Wait, what just happened?" Sherry demanded.

Byern laughed again. "Don't worry about Ebony! She's just super flirtatious! She sees a person she likes, she goes in for the kill. Girl or guy."

Sherry just sat there in shock. I had just been flirted to, by another girl? It made no sense to her at all. Sherry resolved to staring down into her coffee.

"Let me explain." Byern volunteered. "No one in my family is straight. Both of my parents are bisexual. Ebony is also bisexual. And as you know, I'm gay."

Sherry mentally reeled back in shock. She hadn't met a lot of homosexuals, and all of a sudden there was a whole family of them? But Sherry put on a happy face. "That's great! I'm sure you get lots of support."

Byern nodded. He admitted he did get support, "But every once in a while I do meet a homophobe. That's when it gets stressful."
Byern took a sip of his tea. Sitting back in his chair he closed his eyes. "Now, tell me about your ex."

Sherry stuttered. "Well, his name is Robbie,"

"Boring! I don't care about that! What was he like, where did you go on dates, what were his friends like? How close were you? I want the juicy details."

Sherry started again. "We had been dating for about a year, he was really into sports, he and all his friends were on the basketball team at school. He was in the popular crowd-"

"Basically a fuckboy." Byern summed up.

Sherry had to nod. She had heard that term used to describe guys like Robbie before, but she herself had never used it. Byern, however, had no problem saying the word. Byern took another sip of his tea. Sherry went to take another sip of her coffee when she saw the time.

"Oh no! I need to get home!" Sherry had almost forgotten about her father. She put the lid on her coffee and stood up, grabbing her purse. Byern stood up with her.

"Let me walk you home."

"No. It won't be good if you see my father, or if my father sees you. I'll just go in my own. Thanks for the coffee!"

Sherry turned to leave but Byern slipped his arm into hers. He absolutely refused to let her walk home alone. Sherry only gave up because she needed to rush home if she was to be back home before her father noticed. Byern walked her all the way to her front door. He never let go of her once. Either by holding her arm or holding her hand. His hands were big and strong, but gentle and soft. Sherry felt glad. They even passed Robbie. He was with yet another girl. However he looked up to see Byern and Sherry. He greeted them with a scowl. Sherry smirked over her shoulder at him. Byern was oblivious to all of this.

Sherry threw open her house's door. Her father's room was still closed, and the sounds still were coming out. Sherry motioned for Byern to be quiet. He zipped his mouth shut. He took her hand and she led him up the stairs. Quietly she opened her own door. After she made sure it was closed she turned around.

Byern had already made himself at home. He had flopped on the bed. He was lying stretched out far. His shoes had been kicked off and lay in the middle of the floor. He was currently trying to guess the password to Sherry's laptop.

She lunged for it and tore it away from his hands.

"I was looking at that!" He whined.

"Please don't." Sherry blushed. Why must he look so darn CUTE? "It's personal."

"Ooh. Now I'm even more intrigued. Does it have picture of Robbie?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

A roar of anger came from downstairs, followed by a woman's scream.

"Oh-oh." Sherry motioned for Byern to be quiet. "Father's angry."
"OUT, BITCH!" Her father screamed.

The sound of a slamming door rang throughout the house. Byern pulled up a pillow and hugged it out if fear.

"Stay here, out of sight." Sherry whispered to Byern. He nodded fearfully.

Sherry started to head down the stairs. Byern stayed in the room and listened intently. He could hear most of the conversation anyway.

"EXPLAIN! EXPLAIN THIS CALL!" His voice was loud, and heard easily.

Sherry was quieter, more reserved. "I had a test done today. That's it, sir."
"AT THE CARE CENTER?!"

Byern could almost feel Sherry pulling in on herself. Sherry must have nodded, because a roar of rage came through the door.
"OUT! OUT! OUT!"

Sherry scurried up the stairs. Byern heard the crash of a glass bottle as it was thrown. Sherry yelped. She came into the room with a bleeding heel. She sat down, wincing, and started pulling pieces of broken glass from her heels. Byern got off the bed and helped.

"Why do you stay here?"

"I don't have anywhere else to go." Sherry answered. She winced as Byern pulled a piece of glass out.

"Now you do." He grabbed a few pieces of clothing for her in a bag. Sherry sat bewildered. What? Where? What? "You're going to come with me." He smiled.

Handing the bag to Sherry he picked her up. Byern swung her over his shoulder. Like a knight in shining armor, except she wasn't a princess.

Byern carried her back out of the house, even managing to sneak past her father undetected.