The Closet Butterfly

FAMILY

Once I get inside my warm home I slam the door shut pressing my back against it. After a few slightly panicking breaths I poke my head around just barely moving the curtain to look out the window. As soon as I see Mr. Larson's vehicle pull out the drive way and head down the street I go back to leaning against the door. I run my fingers through my wet hair trying to calm myself down. That was the most stressful car ride of my entire sixteen year old life.

With my nerves still of edge I walk over to the middle of the living room. It was a big open space with just a few bits of furniture and a lot of unpacked boxes. A flat screen TV hangs over the fake fireplace with door ways on either side. The doorway on the right -closest to the front door- leads up stairs. On the other side a door way leads to the large dining room. opposite to the fireplace was my mothers favorite part of the house, the kitchen. With its tall ceiling, fancy cabinets, high end appliances, and fancy counter top with black bar stools. She had that part of the house custom built. She said she wanted every detail to be perfect. Me I don't care about the small details, as long as I have my own bed and a roof over our house I'm okay.

Going up the brown carpeted stair case I leave a trail of water behind me. My mom is going to be mad if I ruin her brand new hardwood floors and her fancy carpet. At the top of the stairs I look down the short hallway staring at the bathroom door. I really need to get a bath and relax. Before going into the bathroom I first go into my own bedroom. Looking around my own room I sign seeing all the boxes I still have to unpack and all the furniture I have to find the perfect place for. Right now I just have my bed on the right wall and my desk right under the one arching window. I don't have any curtains put up yet so light from outside lights my room up enough for me to see.
I quickly toe off my shoes and drop my pants, kicking all of it to the side. Then I whip off my shirt and toss it across the room. I'll clean up later. Right now I need to relax. Now standing in my door way completely naked I stride out my room and down the hall to the bathroom. I know my parents aren't home yet so I can be naked all I want, until someone shows up. Opening up the bathroom door I look surprised as it doesn't squeak. In our last house every door squeaked and every step on the floor made a loud groan. I walk over to the refurbished iron tub and turn on the hot water. The room quickly steams up. Once the water is the tempiture I want it to be I put the plug in and let the tub fill.

While the tub is filling up I open the cabinet above the sink and fiddle around until I find my nerve medicine. I take a couple pills and pop them into my mouth swallowing them with almost no liquid. I grip my throat in pain as the pills almost got stuck halfway down. Shaking my head trying to ignore the pain I walk over to the tub, turning off the water and slowly stepping in. A soft moan escapes my lips as the hot water touches my skin. I slowly lower myself all the way into the tub letting the water relax my muscles.

I end up staying in the tub for a couple hours, my skin now pruned and the water cold. I jerk up into a sitting position as I heard a car pulling up into my driveway. Thinking it's my mother or father I quickly jump out the tub, water splashing everywhere. I reach down and pull the plug before exiting the bathroom and dashing down the hallway, my naked body dripping water as I run. Just as I enter my room and close the bedroom door I hear the front door open and quickly close. "I wonder if it's mom or dad?" As soon as I hear the clattering of a purse hitting the counter sound through out the house I know my mother is downstairs. I quickly throw on some black boxers, star wars pajama bottoms and large red shirt.
"Is anyone home? Or do I need to pick someone up from school?" My mother calls hoping someone will answer. I could stay silent and let her drive to the school and freak out as she can't find me. Nah, I can't be that mean to my mother no matter how much she dislikes gays. Though I've always wondered if she would change her mind about gay people if she knew I was one. Rolling my eyes playfully I walk over to my bedroom door and open it wide.