Parade

March On

     Johnathan was invited by his parents to join them to protest at a gay pride parade. Johnathan himself was gay, but, growing up, he was taught that it was wrong. That he was possessed by the devil himself. He never told his family about his sexuality because of the fear he would be disowned, thrown out like trash by the very people who were supposed to support him. Its not like he could say no to going with them, they always made him tag along. Afterwards he cried and cried because of fear. His parents packed up their signs into their car and Johnathan got in the backseat.
     Before taking off his parents gave him a pin with the hateful comments about these people. He felt his blood boil, he wanted so badly to teach them how "bad" being gay was. He wanted to teach them. But, he knew they would never listen.
     They got to the parade after fifteen exhausting minutes. They all got out of the car and started chanting the words, Johnathan snuck away. He ran near the parade to watch. They all looked so happy. He covered that pin with that hurtful sign. A man approached him. They were about the same age. Johnathan felt his heart flutter at just the sight of the boy.
    "Hi! My names Sebastian! What's yours fella?" The boy smiled as if he hadn't a care in the world. Johnathan held the sign close keeping the words hidden. Flustered Johnathan answered the boy.
    "M-m-my names Johnathan...n-n-nice to" he sighs, nervously. "Meet you, Sebastian.." Sebastian had black curly hair, a rainbow bandanna, a gray and white shirt, black pants and new white sneakers. He had a bag full of pins at his side.
     "Nice to meet ya' you lil' rascal! Hey! Want a pin?" Sebastian asked Johnathan. Without thinking Jonathan nodded and removed the sign from his chest showing the hurtful words and the mean pin. "Oh..." Sebastian spoke quietly. Johnathan was horrified, he stuttered tripping over the words he wanted to say, he wanted to apologize. But, instead of criticizing him Sebastian threw down the mean sign and snapped it in half with a hit of his knee. He took Johnathan's mean pin off and replaced it with a rainbow pin. "I bet your parents put you up to this...heh, I mean, why would god create me just to hate me?" Sebastian said with a laugh. Johnathan's heart practically flew out of his chest.
     "Hey...uhm...I know this is weird to ask and all but...you grab a cup of coffee sometime..?" Johnathan asked.
     "Only if you march with me in the parade you lil stinker!" Sebastian grinned and before he knew it, Johnathan was laughing and smiling with a rainbow flag on his back and Sebastian at his side. Johnathan saw his parents staring at him in disbelief but he didn't even care! He was so happy with Sebastian, he could do that all day. But, alas He had to go home. The two exchanged numbers and Johnathan texted Sebastian the entire ride home. Johnathan's parents didn't actually notice him in the parade. They were staring at Sebastian in disgust and anguish. Johnathan smiled the entire time home because he was so happy. He'd finally go on a date with someone like him.

Little did Johnathan know, this would lead to a decision, difficult to make.