The World Will Never Be The Same

Chapter 33

Warning: mention of verbal and mental abuse, but not physical, also probably gay and mental illness slurs, oh gee this is just a great chapter. Also Ima dedicate this to any of yall who are still in the closet this pride, you're valid and I love all yall

Phillip's POV
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     "See?" Mrs. Hannah, my foster mother, said as she shut the door, "that's the kind of friends you should have. That boy seems nice. I hope to see him around instead of those hoodlums you usually come home with."
     I almost laughed at that last statement. This would never be my home, and those "hoodlums" were the closest thing I had to family. I remembered the first time he had introduced Theo and George to Mrs. Hannah.
     "I'm home, Mrs. Anna," I called setting down my backpack and leading Theo into the kitchen, where she was making dinner. I sat down at the table, and Theo followed stiffly, not familiar with my foster family.
     "Hello, Phillip," Mrs. Hannah said, a seemingly warm smile on her face. She looked up in surprise when she realized Theo was there. "Oh, is this your girlfriend, Phillip? If so, she looks like quite the catch."
     "Thank you," Theo finally spoke up, giving the woman a small smile, "but Phillip and I aren't dating. We're just close friends."
     "Actually, I was wondering if Theo could spend the night," I asked hopefully, not sure how Mrs. Hannah would react, "we'll be quiet, and we can sleep on the floor in my room."
     "Absolutely not," Mrs. Hannah said immediately, looking shocked and a bit offended, "that's completely inappropriate! I have no way of making sure you two don't get into trouble with each other."
     Theo and I looked at each other for a moment before doubling over in laughter. "Oh!" I said between giggles, "I forgot I hadn't had time to tell you yet. Mrs. Hannah, I'm gay, so you don't have to worry about us 'getting into trouble'."
     "Oh, so you're going through one of those phases," Mrs. Hannah said, rolling her eyes.
     "What phase?"
     "Well, 'gay' isn't really a thing," she said, acting like that should've been obvious, "it's not natural, and most importantly ungodly. One day you'll find a nice girl and settle down, or come to your senses and ask this one out."
     I stared for a moment, shocked, before giving Theo an apologetic look. "Um, I guess I'll be going now. See you at school Phillip."

     "Why are you still standing here?" Mrs. Hannah asked, snapping me out of the daze I was in, "go to your room, and don't cause any trouble with your brothers.
     I walked up the stairs and down the hall as quietly as possible, trying not to draw attention to myself. Despite my efforts, my foster brothers still heard me.
    "Well would you look at that, the little fag's home," Tom said as I passed his room. I didn't look back, trying to open the steps that led to the attic.
     "Yeah, we'll have to rough'em up later, won't we?" my other brother Joe laughed. I finally got the steps to open and unfold, bolting into my room and closing the steps as fast as possible.
     My room was in the attic, despite my foster family having an extra bedroom downstairs. At least I had a bed and a desk. I walked over to the desk, grabbing my sketchbook and a pencil I had found downstairs and hidden under my bed so it wouldn't be taken from me. I began to draw a couple with the pride flag draped over them, inspired from the earlier parade. Before I could get past the sketching, my foster sister, Madeline, walked in, brunette curls bouncing.
     "How'd you get the ladder down?" I asked her as she pulled it back up so my brothers couldn't get in.
     "You'd be surprised what I can accomplish with a step ladder and a little courage," she said, making me laugh.
     She stood up a little straighter and smoothed out her dress, so I turned my chair to face her. "What's on your mind, Maddie?"
     "Why don't mommy and daddy like you?" I thought for a minute, unsure how to answer her. "I mean, you're always nice to us, and you didn't do anything wrong, so why?"
     I took a deep breath before answering her. "they don't like me because I'm different."
     Maddie let out a gasp before sitting on my lap to stare at my face intensely. "Are you an alien, Pip? I mean, you don't look like an alien, maybe you have some hidden gills or something."
     "No I'm not an alien," I sighed, moving her hands away gently, "mommy and daddy don't like me because I like boys."
     Madeline gave me a confused look. "But Tom and Joey like boys, too. They  have their friends that are boys visit all the time."
     "No, I like boys the way mommy and daddy like each other. I love boys."
     "Wait, that's allowed?" she said excitedly, bouncing up and down on my lap.
     "Of course!" I laughed, glad she understood, "you can love whoever you want!"
     "Well, in that case, can I tell you a secret?" she whispered, leaning in a bit and ruffling my hair.
     "Go for it."
     "Well, there's this girl in my class that I sit next to at snack time, and she's really pretty."
     "Really pretty?"
     "Really really pretty."
     I laughed at her enthusiasm. "And you think you like her?"
     "mhm! And tomorrow at snack time, I'm gonna give her my ring pop and ask her to be my girlfriend!" she gave me a hug, looking over my shoulder to see my sketchbook. "That's a pretty picture, Pip, can you show me when it's done."
     "Of course Maddie, but you have to tell me how your snack time goes tomorrow, deal?"
     "Deal! Love you Pip!"
     "Love you, too, Maddie."

A/N: ok I hope you guys like this chapter! Also can I just say I love it when I see someone go through and vote on every chapter, it just makes my day to know someone found my story and likes it. Ok sorry for all the notes on this chapter but I hope to see yall soon k BYE!