In a Town Called Blooming Orchid

Chapter Eight: Decloseted

      "So you're-" Garret stuttered "You're gay?" The young man had just stumbled in on a passionate scene between Robin and Byron. The front door was wide open and Heather's shocked face was peeking out behind him. She pushed him in and shut the door.

     "Now Gar, calm down for a moment," Heather said guiding him to a chair.

     "You knew about this?" Garret asked frantically. Byron buried his face in his hands.

     "I'm sorry, I- I didn't want this to-" Byron looked up, worried he had just broken his boyfriend's best friendship. He looked worriedly at Heather. She grabbed his hand and left.

     "This is for those two to deal with," Heather said. Byron nodded. They got into her car and drove off.

     "What is your problem, Garret?" Robin exclaimed.

     "What is your problem?" Garret shouted accusingly. He poked a finger into Robin's chest. "You are a sick, sick pervert,".

     "Why?" Robin demanded slapping his hand away. "Because I fell in love?"

     "How long have you known this?" Garret continued to shout. "I can't believe I thought you were my best friend and you were just trying to get in my pants this whole time,".

     "Garret. We are just friends. I never thought of you like that. In fact I just realized it when I met Byron," Robin stated.

     "I can't stand Anthony already now I have to LIVE with qu-" Garret was cut off by Robin punching him. He grimaced and pushed the larger man to the ground. The two wrestled and blindly pummeled each other. Shouting horrible things at one another. The two stopped after hearing a knock at the door. Robin had a black eye and Garret was bleeding down his nose and mouth. Robin answered the door. It was Sheriff Nguyen, Heather called him.

      "I don't know what just happened, but one of you is going to have to get out of here," The man said. Robin looked back.

     "I'll leave," He muttered. "I'm not welcome here anyways," He walked out of the door and shut it behind him. Garret watched his truck drive off.

     Meanwhile, Jen and Anthony invited Knightley over to their house for dinner. It was a windy evening. The family was having Chinese take out.

     "I have never had this thing before, what is it called?" Knightley lifted up an egg roll, holding it between two fingers like some foreign object.

     "An egg roll?" Suzy answered with confusion.

     "They're good, here," Anthony said. He took it from Knightley's hand and fed it to him. He let out a giggle when Knightley took a big bite of it. They were a fit of cute laughs. Suzy scoffed.

     "So Knightley, did you live in France or was your family French?" Jen asked.

     Knightley swallowed down the rest of the egg roll before replying, "Oui, I was born in France and lived there until I was 20. I came to America for a university class, and I fell in love,".

     "With America?" Anthony asked sweetly.

      "With you," Knightley said with a smile. He kissed Anthony's hand.

     "Ok yeah that's cute I can admit that one," Suzy said sarcastically. Everyone laughed.

     "Well Knightley, as long as your real family is in France, we're your American family now," Jen added assuringly.

     "Oh no I couldn't," Knightley dismissed, shaking his head. "You're family is too kind for someone like me,".

     "Oh come on, you're family," Jen answered. "We're not taking no for an answer," The family smiled at Knightley.

     "Merci," Knightley sighed. "I feel honored,".

     A few hours passed. Eventually, at about 10:00 at night, Knightley and Anthony went off to go to a party that night. One of Anthony's college friends in another part of the state invited them to his Christmas party. They got into Anthony's car and went off to have a night of fun.

     The next day was an incredibly uncomfortable day for Robin. He and Byron got a hotel room together that they were staying in until Heather could talk Garret down. It was all fine until something even more uncomforting happened.

     "Room service!" A sweet, but familiar voice rang from behind the door. Robin opened it up to see his ex girlfriend: Sophya. She gasped at seeing him.

     "Robin?" Sophya exclaimed. She pushed in a cart with cleaning supplies. "I was not expecting to see you here,"

      "Why are you so surprised? We work together everyday..." Robin laughed awkwardly. At that moment Byron walked out of the bathroom. He clasped a hand over his mouth. Sophya's eyes widened. She looked over at the beds, making sure she was correct, and she was, there was only one. She silently pushed her cart into the bathroom and went to go clean it.

     "Sophya works here?" Byron whispered confusedly.

     "Apparently..." Robin whispered back. "There's no reason for it to be awkward, we didn't date very long, I wasn't into it. For obvious reasons," He gestured to Byron. "But, way to make this day just that bit worse,".

     After a little while Sophya walked out. She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it and preceded to leave.

     "Hey Soph," Robin said, stopping her. She turned around. "I'm sorry I didn't like you like that,".

     "Robin!" Byron slapped his stomach lightly.

     "I mean-" Robin said defensively.

     "No no I get what you're trying to say, and it's alright. It's just good to know it wasn't because of me," Sophya said with a laugh. Robin and Byron chuckled a little bit.

     "Well I'm always open to being your friend if you would want that," Robin offered politely.

     "I'll think about it Rob, but I have a lot on my plate with this Jewel thing and this new job and the clarinet..." Sophya answered sullenly.

     "We'll always be here for you if you need anything," Byron chimed in. "Thanks for cleaning the bathroom though! Hope you feel better soon," Sophya nodded awkwardly, her lips pressed together. She turned around again and began to leave but stopped a second time.

     "Do you have any clue about what happened?" She asked

     "To Jewel?" Robin responded

     "Yeah," She confirmed.

     "I mean, I think everyone has their theories," Robin mumbled.

     "Even I have a few suspects..." Byron added.

     "Do you mind if we chat about that?" Sophya said.

     "If it will give you closure," Robin answered with a period of hesitation. The two men looked at each other with expressions of slight confusion. Sophya pushed her cart to the side.