Somewhere in Neverland (Lashton)

Ch. 20: Innocence is Falling

"How can you think that any of this was easy

With all the friends I've lost along the way?

When this is over, we're all getting older now

And we all play a part in it

Innocence is falling, can you hear them calling now?

But I'll be by your side until the end."

Mayday Parade

When Ashton got home from school, his dad was home for the first time in forever.

"Hey, dad, we won the finals," Ashton said, trying to get his dad's attention. His dad didn't say a word. He tried again.

"How was work?" Still nothing. Ashton was getting desperate now.

"Do you hate me?" he asked in a quiet broken voice.

"I could never hate you, son. I just don't understand why you would ruin your career and everything you've strived for," his dad said as he looked him in the eye.

"I didn't chose this, dad," Ashton uttered.

"You did, though. You could of easily ignored those sinful thoughts and married Katie," his dad said like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"So, you want me to hide for the rest of my life?"

"Yes."

"It's not that easy, dad. I love Luke and I can't just ignore those feelings just so I can fit in and be normal."

"But you can, Ashton. You have to, you can't be gay," his dad pleaded.

"But I am dad, I'm gay and nothing in the world is going to change that," Ashton said in a stubborn voice.

"Talk to me when that changes," his dad snapped as he turned his back on his own son. Ashton's heart shattered into a million pieces.

~~~~~~

"Mom, dad, there's something I need to tell you guys," Luke said to his parents. He sat at the kitchen table with his parents and brothers. They looked up from their plates waiting for him to continue.

"I'm gay," Luke said putting it all out there. His brothers gave him a look of admiration.

"Okay," his dad said in a careless voice.

"That's it?" Luke asked, his voice strained.

"Yeah, we really don't care who you date or who your friends are or how your social life is, as long as your grades are fine, we're happy." Luke's stomach twisted in knots as rage boiled inside of him.

"Would you care if I jumped off a cliff or if I shot myself in the head just like Nichelle?" he dared to ask.

"Of course son, we would care," his dad said in the most monotone voice as if he was reading from a script. Luke set down his fork and stood up from the table.

"That's the thing, you never care. Neither of you ever have cared about us our whole lives. You've never once told us that you love us nor have you ever given us advice. Why did you even have kids? You obviously don't care about us nor want us. You were probably relieved when Nichelle killed herself, one less child to take care of."

"Son, we do not speak of her in this house," his dad said in a firm voice.

"I don't fuckin' care what you say, since you don't give a fuck about what I do with my life," Luke snapped. All eyes burned onto him. He quickly turned around and went to his room.