Thoughts

Chapter twenty-four (Max)

We've been dating for a few months now and everything is great.

Okay, that might not be completely true but I do love him and we're having lots of fun. It's been rough to be honest. We've finally reached February and today, Monday, we will hear our grades and the chances of the both of us passing school. Next year will be our senior year and mostly because of me, we were failing. But we've studied our asses off.

We've also been struggling with keeping our relationship a secret. At home we're really affectionate and I wish we could do that in public too. After everything I've been through and all my insecurities I decided to say 'fuck it' and don't care about anyones opinion anymore. Well, except for my friends' and family's ofcourse.

But Milan on the other hand, he's struggling with it. He's accepted the part about him being gay or bi or whatever and we aren't uncomfortable with anything. We kiss, we touch and we flirt with each other without any problem. No, we didn't have sex yet, calm the fuck down.

He's just scared about getting bullied. Our friends would back us up and some of us have quite some muscles but he's just not someone who can handle being bullied. He can't stand the judgement and I understand but it's still hard. I want to be able to hold his hand in public and kiss him.

I've been patient with him this whole time and I will be forever. But our parents noticed his nervousness and the six of us had a long conversation and we decided to come out this evening. It sounds weird and utterly stupid but we're both gonna post a picture while kissing the others cheek. We both won't check social media the rest of the night and we'll see what happens in the morning.

If we do get hate, we'll get through it together.

***

''Milan, Max and parents you can come in now.''

The five of us stand up. My father rolls behind the dean in his wheelchair, my mom puts on her face with courage and uses her crutches to follow and the rest of us just follows them.

''Please take a seat.'', the dean speaks with a hint of seriousness in his tone.

We all stay silent and sit down. I look to my left and see Milan sitting there with an anxious expression. I reach my hand out to his and lightly squeeze his hand. At first he seemed hesistant and he looked back and forth from the dean to me but then he finally squeezed back.

''Boys, how are you doing?'', the dean asks, eyes flickering towards our entwined hands which causes me to tighten my grip.

''Fine, fine, just tell us the results please.'', Milan speaks unpatient.

''Milan.'', my mom quickly speaks up.

This is what I love about our family. My parents take as much responsibility for Milan as for me and vica versa.

''It's okay, ma'am. I completely understand. But boys you're almost seventeen and you should be able to have the slightest bit of patience.''

We both keep our mouth shut because know we would say something stupid if we didn't.

A deep sigh leaves his mouth before he continues. ''Okay, before I'll tell your grades, I need to say something else. The both of you have worked very hard the past months and all of the teachers confirmed this to me. Naturally I know all about the situations the both of you have been in this past year. You both failed one subject. Max you failed France and Milan you failed for art.''

Crap. I knew it. I'm so stupid. I knew I would fail france. I've always been bad at foreign languages, I should've learned more for it.

''Now, the two of you don't have to worry. Normally we would look at the past grades and we would conclude that you won't be able to pass that subject and this class. But we've talked to the teachers and they agree on giving you another chance.''