Porcupinegirl787@yahoo.com

16

Matty's P.O.V.
"Matthew, honey, we need to talk," mom spoke with clear disappointment in me. She and dad hadn't for a second treated me the same since they found me kissing Jay. "Mom? What is it?" I asked cautiously. "Honey, come on. Sit down."

"Matthew, your father an I have been talking, and..." "Oh god... Mom, where is this going? I don't like the sound of this..." I could tell by her tone it was nothing good.  "As much as it pains me to say this, we... We've decided, we're not comfortable housing someone like you." "Someone like me? What? What do you mean?" "We don't want to live with a faggot," dad snapped. "D-dad," I stutter weakly. Were they kicking me out? No, they couldn't! Where would I go? What would I do? I don't know anywhere that would take me! "But you can't! Y-you c-can't..." Before I knew it, I was crying. Bawling my eyes out. I saw pain in mom's eyes, she wasn't sure? But dad's mind was made up. She wasn't getting out of it. Neither was I.

"We've decided, honey, that you'll have two weeks to try to make arrangements and collect your things. Whatever you don't bring can be put in a storage unit, you'll have access, but everything will be out of here." "Mom, no!" I scream. "Mom, I have nowhere to go! You can't do this to me! I'm your son!" "I'm sorry, but we can. You can't stop it, honey." "Mom, please," I beg, "please, please, please don't do this." "Honey, I'm sorry. I have to."

*****

"Sorry, Matt, but four kids is too much. Sorry, dude, we can't afford it." "But I have a job! I can help out! Please, dude, I need this." "Sorry, man. Can't help you." That was all Collin said before he hung up. I threw my phone in frustration and just cried. I'd tried all my friends, and they all said no. What would I do? I have no home... I had begged. Literally. To every single person I could. But nobody would let me stay with them, for any amount of time. It was hopeless! Or... Maybe it wasn't. There was but one number I hadn't yet dialled. Jay.

"Uh, good morning, baby," I speak, trying desperately to choke back sobs. Though, clearly not effectively. "Matthew, what's wrong?" "Well... You remember how two weeks ago, mom walked in on us?" "Oh no, what about it?!" "Well... Mom and dad just talked to me yesterday... I may need a place to stay for a little while..." "Oh, my god, wait there." The line was silent for a good ten minutes, but I never once took it from my ear. I had to know the answer. Finally, just as I was considering hanging up and waiting, I heard the noise of the phone being picked up. "Get all your shit packed and get your ass over here right now."

At Jay's house, I was greeted with a tight hug an a promise. "Stay here for as long as you need, Matthew." My jaw dropped, I was expecting maybe a week. "Th-thank you so much, Mr. Osborne. I... I promise, I... I'll do my best to be a good house guest. I have a job, so I promise I won't be too much of a burden." "Oh, nonsense," he grinned, hugging me again. "Of course we don't expect you to pay your way. This is your home now, for as long as you need it to be."

Jay and I sat together a long time, and we just... Hugged. We just hugged. The mood in the air was solemn, quiet. There was no reason to speak, as there was nothing to say. Nothing could have helped, and nor did I want to answer questions. And Jay respected that sevenfold. It was perfect.

I don't quite know what sparked the moment, but we ended up kissing. It wasn't romantic. It wasn't erotic. It was... Comforting. Calming. Memory-clouding. There was no pain. No aloneness. There was just him. Sweet, sweet, fucking perfect him.

Then it was time for me to explain to Mr. and Mrs. Osborne. "They... They walked in on... On your son and I... Together. In a... In a way that suggested... My sexuality. And they... Aren't too fond of people like me... It... It t-took two weeks f-for them to do this! I-it's not fair!" I was crying again, being hugged tightly by Jaden. He kissed me and squeezed me and whispered to me that everything would be okay now. His parents, then, both sat beside us and acted similarly, though, of course, without the kissing.

"So, I'm sure you won't mind sleeping in Jaden's room until we get a bed set up for you." "Please, ma'am, you're allowing me into your home. I don't need a bed of my own. I'd be more than content on the couch, or floor." "Nonsense! You're our houseguest! We can't have you on the floor!" "Ma'am, it's really alright," I tried to assure. But she would not have it. "Absolutely not! Though only temporarily, this is your home now. Did you sleep on the floor at your house?" "Well, no, but..." "Then there is no way you are sleeping on the floor here."

"Jay, I don't think I've said this yet. Thank you." "For what, Matty?" He smiled his adorable smile, and dug his irresistibly cute face into my neck. "It's not like it's up to me if you stay here. And if I wasn't here, you'd still have your home." "Well, now I have a better one. One where I'm accepted. And, if not with you, I'd have just come out and be kicked out for someone else. Then, maybe I'd have nowhere to stay at all, depending on who with. "So, baby, I want to thank you for being you. Sweet, sweet, perfect, awesome, wonderful, beautiful you." He pressed himself tighter against me, I knew he was hiding a blush. I kissed the top of his head softly, and quietly spoke the words that would either perfect or ruin my life. "Jay, I think... I think I love you." He froze, and I could feel his heartbeat speed up against my own chest, as did mine. I worried for his response. It took a moment for it to come, and when it did, it was barely audible at all. "M-Matty, I... I th-think I love you too."