-Simon's P.O.V-
I rush through the door and try to compose myself as I walk towards the dining room. I'm twenty minutes late and I know my parents are always bang on time for dinner.
As I cautiously go in, both my parents eyes go straight to me and they instantly stop their conversation. They really don't look impressed. And that's when my mum spoke up..
"Simon Edward Minter! What time do you call this? You know you're meant to be home half an hour before dinner so you can help set up, not twenty minutes late!"
"I'm so sorry, I went to visit Vikram at the cafe." I told them half the truth because I didn't want to explain about Ethan or Joshua.
"What have we told you about that Vikram? He's no good for you!" my dad angrily said.
"He's my best friend! I don't get to see him often because of school so I thought I would whilst I had some spare time. I didn't realise how long we had been talking for."
I know my parents don't like Vikram but he's my only proper friend. They don't know that though. They still think I have loads of friends and that I'm still on the football team. I can't tell them I got kicked off for being gay, they'd be so disappointed.
"Well that's not good enough Simon. From now on you cannot see Vikram unless we say you can. You know how we feel about the way he is and how that can have an influence on you." my mum sounded really angry now but what she just said made my blood boil.
"What do you mean 'the way he is'? Do you mean gay mother?" I responded harshly and they both winced at this.
"Yes. Gay is wrong and you know that." my dad said firmly.
"Really? I don't think I do to be honest. I fully support Vikram and I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay." I replied with a stern tone in my voice.
"See. This is why we don't want you hanging out with them. He's going to turn you into one of them." my mum said with a look of disgust on her face.
I am beyond angry now, the fact that my parents think Vikram is the reason I might be gay is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure I figured my sexuality before I even started going to the café that he works at.
"Well I'm going to support him no matter what, and I will continue to see him."
"Fine, then you are no son of ours." my father says and I feel my heart shatter into a million pieces.
I am never going to be able to come out to my parents and be accepted if they can't even deal with me being friends with someone who is gay. Their reaction was way worse than I could have ever expected.
I want to run, but after all the running I've done today and the emotional exhaustion, I just can't find it in me.
"Listen Simon, we can get you some help." my mum says with a softened expression on her face but what she said hasn't calmed me at all.
"I don't need help! I'm perfectly fine as I am mother!"
As I begin to walk out of the room, I can hear my parents calling after me. But do they really think I want to talk to them after all that? Ridiculous.
When I get to my bedroom, I get the bag from under my bed and start to pack some of my stuff in there. My parents are leaving to go away soon so I know I won't be gone for too long but long enough if its getting away from them.
To be honest, I have no idea where I'm going but lets see where my feet take me. Normally I'd call Vikram in a time like this but he'll think that it's all his fault and I can't put that on him.
I deeply care about Vikram and I don't want to burden him because he's got enough stuff going on for him to worry about me as well.
Around me, everything is familiar. But nothing is safe enough for me to take refuge in. After a while of looking, I pass an alleyway that I know gets shut off at night time. Maybe I could just stay here for a few nights.
I brought my wallet with me that has about £30 in it so I can get food from the fast food places down the road. I'll have to be careful though because I could be here for a least three days.
You see, my parents told me they were home for the week but they could realistically go back at any time so I could be here for a while.
In the alleyway, there's a little bit that goes in and its just enough room for me to able to sleep. One problem, I don't have a blanket or anything. I guess I'll be alright, it is summertime so maybe the weather will be nice to me.
I look at my phone (which is only at like 50%) and see that's it's only like 7pm. I've got a good five hours until I'll be able to sleep.
Oh and the best bit about all of this is that I have school tomorrow. I can't skip because my school have this rule where you have to have a certain attendance to go to prom and I really want to go, even if I have no one to go with.
I mean I could go with Joshua but he probably won't want to be my friend after he hears what everyone in school has to say about me. I don't want to assume he's like everyone else but he would want some kind of good reputation and being friends with me wouldn't get him that.
"Uhhh, hello?" a voice pipes up, which startles me.
I look up to see a boy I recognise, Tobi Brown from my maths class.
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I was just wondering why you were here. This is where I uh normally sleep.." he trails off, looking embarrassed whilst scratching the back of his neck.
That shocked me, Tobi always struck me as the type of kid who had everything together in life. I would've never expected that he slept on the streets.
"Oh I'm so sorry, I'll move and sleep somewhere else." I say as I begin to stand up but Tobi puts his hand out to stop me.
"It's okay, you can stay with me. There's enough room for both of us. Simon Minter, right?" Tobi asked with a big smile on his face.
"The one and only." I sarcastically replied making Tobi laugh.
Tobi seemed nice enough, I mean he's actually being decent to me unlike the rest of the people in school.
"I have a spare blanket that I use in winter if you wanna borrow it?" Tobi questions as he looks at my lack of stuff in my small bag.
"If that's okay with you."
Tobi gets it out from his bag and hands it to me. I mumble a thanks and wrap it around me, now realising how cold it was.
"So how come you've only just got back here?" I ask Tobi.
"I've been working, it's not great money and not enough to get me my own place. Hence why I'm 'living' here." he replies honestly, I decide not to question further about why he's not living with any family.
"I've actually got an early morning shift before school tomorrow and I reckon I could use your help. You'd get about £30, up for it?" he carries on and I nod instantly, anything to get some more money.
"What time would we start?" I ask.
"About 4:30, so we better get some sleep." he says, my eyes widening at the thought of etting up that early and Tobi just giggles.
"Good night Simon, please get some rest."
We both turn over, facing away from each other. I force my eyes closed until finally slipping into a slumber, wondering what tomorrow could bring.
