Marrying the One I Hate

~New Feelings and New Beginnings~

Elliot wrung his hands together, his leg shaking underneath the table. He stared absentmindedly at his food, the boisterous chatter among the students in the cafe drowning out his thoughts as he remained silent. The only time the raven haired boy looked up was at the sound of a plastic tray making contact with the surface of the table.

"Hey, are you okay?" Ryan asked, making eye contact with his friend. "You've been like that all day."

"I'm fine, just nervous. I know I shouldn't be, and it's literally the most stupid thing...but I...think I might be pansexual? And I haven't come out to my parents."

The hazel eyes of the boy in front of him practically peered into Elliot's soul, and he blushed in embarrassment. "I told you it was stupid." He muttered, looking away and down at the table again.

"As the nice person I am, I would've told you that it wasn't, but as your best friend? You're right. That is stupid." Ryan snorted, shaking his head, causing his friend to groan.

"I know! But coming out isn't really easy. I mean, why do only queer people have to come out?" The raven muttered, making the other roll his eyes.

"You're only making excuses now, El. You have two dads for crying out loud, who are very gay."

"You're telling me that you'd just...I don't know, go home and tell your dad, 'hey! I'm gay'. And that's that?"

"Well, yeah probably. I get coming out is a big deal, but your dads are awesome. I mean, they broke social norms, and they're still flaming after all these years." Elliot grimaced, rubbing his temples.

"Please, for the love of all things homosexual, never say flaming again." Ryan laughed.

"What? Even after your big family full of LGBT+ people, you can't take the word flaming? Even if your best friend is a flaming homo?" Elliot groaned again. "Okay okay, that was the last time. I promise."

"Thanks."

"By the way, what made you think about it today? Like, you must have been contemplating this for a while."

"I have. But, it's just been more prominent recently, because you know that trans boy?"

"Yeah? The new transfer student? He's in one of my classes. What about him?"

"Well homecoming is coming up and I think want to ask him."

"Oh.." was all the hazel eyed boy could muster, his face falling. He felt himself deflate, an odd clenching in his chest becoming more prominent as Elliot went on. He didn't want the other boy to notice his discomfort however, so he hid his disappointment. After all, he looked so happy figuring himself out.

"Like, I always knew I liked girls, but I liked boys too! So I assumed I was bisexual, like Uncle Jean. But then I saw Vic and just...I don't know. I think it's so cool that he used to be her."

"Yeah.." Ryan mumbled, seemingly less interested in being in this conversation.

"Did you know his name used to be Victoria? And now it's Victor."

"Really? Cool." He replied curtly, now feeling his blood begin to boil.

Knowing this to be a serious issue, seeing as Ryan barely had any control over his emotions, he stood up and left the table, leaving Elliot to sit by himself. The raven stared at his friend as he left, mouth slightly agape, blushing as nearby tables had begun to look. He quickly packed up his things and followed, throwing his and Ryan's lunch away.

Though Ryan hadn't thought it was much his fault. He was the one feeling betrayed. After all, it's been him and Elliot for three years. It's only natural that he'd be upset. Now freshman in high school, he had assumed things wouldn't change, but they had; and they were. Ryan hid in the bathrooms, as any teenager would, and slumped against the green titled wall. He ran his hands through his hair, which was now dyed hot pink on the top, and shaved on the sides, and looked up at the ceiling.