Max's whole 16 year life has been trips to the councilor, this time is no expectation.
"Max Sato, inappropriate behavior is not allowed. Do you understand?" the councilor asks him.
Distaste tingling in the sweaty man's voice, everyone in this school has an unfounded hatred of anyone or anything abnormal. Max was no exception, suspicion for being gay caused him the lost of several afternoons.
Although, it seemed that only the teachers knew or suspected that he was gay. Everyone put it off as the boy being his usual flamboyant self. Some of the boys suspected it and hated him for it, but they had no evidence. When they did they would attack, hard. But he would not complain, his mother expected him to excel at school, he wouldn't let something so petty affect him.
"I'll let you go today, but tomorrow it will be doubled, you’ll get Mr. Johnson," says the councilor with a frown. The teachers disliked Mr. Johnson to say the least, he supported equality, especially gender equality. His support coincided with several of his fellow coworkers views.
The kind younger man often received hate for it. Max had a crush on him, as a freshman. Although how could you not, every girl and some guys had a crush on him at one point. Mr. Johnson had messy platinum blond hair, striking green eyes, and gave off an aura of confidence.
Max walked to the door eager to leave school, his best friend was missing for the past few days. He bombarded Sky with texts and calls, to get short one word replies. Max respected his friend's privacy though, if she didn't feel comfortable coming to him, he would wait, she would come to him eventually. He receives a text saying that she wants to meet him at his house, because there is something important to tell him.
His feet quickened, the text worried him. When he gets home, he is greeted with the smell of homemade ramen and tempura. Max quickly opens the door,"I'm home mother," he says placing his shoes aside and climbing up the wooden stairs, where he is sure to find his mother.
Kasumi Sato, is a kind lady from Japan. Her husband had filed a divorce taking all the money she had saved from many years of hard labor. The lady had held no grudge though,"For hatred breeds more," she often says with a knowing smile. Her two children are her pride and joy, wanting only the best for her children she worked two jobs, and somehow made time for her kids.
"Max can you come into Sky's room?" his mother asks. Sky had slept over so many times, she practically lives in the guest room.
"I'll bring you food," Kasumi says,“Sky really needs you right now, her mother was quite cruel to her."
Max knocks on the door, he could barely hear the muffled sound of,"Come in."
Max walks into the room, it was a normal room with a small bed and desk. His best friend is sitting on the futon, her hair is a bad mess, and her eyes are pooling with tears. Max sat down,"I won't tell you that I won't judge, but I will accept you because you are my best friend," he says looking at her deeply into her eyes, showing that he is serious.
"I-" Sky said taking a deep breath to calm down her tears,"I was raped and now I'm pregnant."
Max's eyes widened for a second, and then he pats her leg supportingly,"Congratulations, I assume that your mother has kicked you out, you can stay if you like," Max offers.
"I don't want to impose on your family," Sky says.
"Don't worry you are always welcomed here," Max says with a smile.
Max opens the door, to find the food left there by his mother. He takes in the tempura ramen and places it on the low table. Sky crawls and sits cross-legged by the table. Max's mother piled a lot of food, more then normal in Sky's bowl. Sky must have told her mother about her dilemma. Sky eats with relish, devouring the food.
Max laughs at her,"Slow down, just because you're eating for two doesn't mean you have to eat that fast," says Max.
Sky just glares and continues to eat,"I was kicked out during lunch."
Max furrows his brow, concerned, he didn't hate Mrs.Carter, but that lady screamed fake. He was treated as a nuisance whenever he visits, probably because he had dated their prize son at one time.
Logan was experimenting at that time, slightly confused about his sexuality. All he needed was time for his hormones to clear up a little, and he was able to give Max the proper breakup. They were together for a really long time, although it hurt to part ways, he understood, and it also helped Max to really realize his sexuality.
"Are you going to school?"asks Max.
"Would you hate me if I suddenly aborted the baby?" asks Sky.
"It's your body, you do what you want with it. But you do know how expensive it is, right?" says Max,"I would help you if I could, but I can barely afford to pay for school, I'm sorry."
Sky shakes her head,”Its fine you've provided me with more then enough, I don't know if I can still go to school, or work a job, or anything like that. My mother can't take my rights away from me, but she can refuse to pay for an abortion."
"Work on the bottom level of the mall, it'll be easier for-" Max is cut off by Sky holding her mouth. He brings her to the bathroom, holding back her brown locks as she pukes up the contents of her last meal.
"Sorry about that, could I take a shower?" she asks him. Max leaves, knowing that she needs time to her self to regroup. The sound of the shower echoes throughout the room as he leaves the bathroom.
Sky strokes her belly as she hummed quietly to the baby. Even though she wasn’t sure whether or not she would keep the baby, she would love it for as long as she had it.
As she toweled of she realized the presence of different clothes, her clothes were replaced with Max's large shirt, track pants, her bra, and underwear was also replaced. Max must have got them for her, he didn't feel embarrassed or turned on by it, even when he was 12 years old. He wasn't sexually attracted to her in any way.
Sky changes into the clothes, grateful for having something clean to wear. It was disgusting having either the vomit on her clothes, or the smell surrounding her.
She walks out of the bathroom, to be greeted by Kasumi,"If you ever need help you can talk to me, I had two rascals," she says with a knowing smile,"My son may be gay, but he isn't a woman, do you want me to set up a doctor for you?"
"It's okay, it will probably cost too much, I can barely afford it," Sky says,"No, Aunt Kasumi you can't pay for it, that wouldn't sit well with me," Sky says noticing the kind woman gesturing that she would pay for it.
"Then how about I set you up with a friend of mine, she pays with service. You can help tutor her daughter, and don't give me that look. I know that you study very hard because your parents want you to be a nurse. Besides a girl would be good company for the little one, she is surrounded by older brothers," says Kasumi.
Sky nods her head gratefully, she knew the friend that Kasumi was speaking of, she was a midwife back in Japan. The midwife was there when her mother or Kasumi couldn't be. Especially with matters concerning her body, she wouldn't trust anyone more.
