Learning Curves ✔ (bxb)

Chapter 19

Theo's POV

I can see my hands shaking in my lap.

The scene with my parents replays itself in my mind over and over again.

Everything feels numb.

I know I'm sad and upset and angry that they so easily kicked me out of the house, but right now I can't seem to process those emotions.

"Hey, Theo. You okay? Talk to me. Don't shut yourself out, it's not good for you." Michael says encouragingly. He glances at me worryingly. He's driving though, so he needs to focus on the road.

"Numb." I whisper. Tiredness suddenly comes over me. Today has been too much. Too many emotions, and yet I can't seem to understand what I'm feeling right now.

"Just hold on for a bit, okay? We're almost at the hotel, then we can cuddle and you can tell me any thoughts you have. We'll be okay." Michael comforts. He's truly amazing. I love him so much.

He deserves someone better.

I can't even form the words properly to say how I'm feeling. How pathetic am I?

My parents really just threw me out. I don't have a place to go after this.

My worst fear has really come true.

We reach the hotel and Michael checks us in while I follow behind him like a lost puppy. Everything is going by in a blur. I'm not focusing enough on my surroundings to understand what's happening.

Michael prompts me to sit on the bed before he climbs up after me and holds me.

"How are you holding up? Okay?" He whispers. I glance down, not really knowing what to say.

Tears start building up behind my eyes. My parents were the one set of people I thought I could depend on when times got hard. That they'd always be there for me because they loved me.

Clearly not.

I'm a failure, right?

My breath comes out shakily, not really sure how to deal with the situation.

"Hey, Theo. Talk to me." Michael prompts worriedly.

"They hate me." I mutter sadly, leaning my head on Michael's chest. He kisses the top of my head.

"They don't hate you. It's probably just a shock. I'm not going to say they'll come around because they might not, but you have me and your friends to support you. You're not alone."

You're not alone. Those three words make me feel better. At least I haven't been truly abandoned by everyone.

"Do you have any other family you're close with? Someone who's not homophobic maybe?" Michael asks.

"I think so. My aunt." I mumble tiredly. I feel so drained, but it's only 12:30. My stomach suddenly rumbles.

"Come on baby, let's go get lunch. What would you like to eat?" Michael gets off the bed, offering a hand to help me up too. I take it gratefully.

"Dunno."

"How about some sushi? Want me to call Rowan and the others over too?" Michael offers. I pause, thinking about it. Maybe just Liam and Rowan. I know Ethan will probably be very busy with dance practices now that exams are over to make up for time lost. Brianna's going out to celebrate Sean's birthday today.

"Can call Li and Rowan I guess. Ethan's busy." I sigh. I just want to go and sleep.

"Okay. Go get ready for me while I call them." Michael says, pulling out his phone.

I know he's trying to keep me busy so I don't think too much about the event. I know it must be difficult for him too, to see me so torn up about this, and surely he must be even more anxious about how his parents would react.

"They said they'll meet us there." Michael informs, snapping me out of my thoughts. I send him a nod, slipping on my shoes and waiting at the door.

We head to the restaurant with the radio softly playing in the car. Now I feel the sadness coming in. I really fucked up in my parents' eyes. I guess the combination of lying and being gay was too much for them, so they're cutting me out of their lives.

"After lunch, call up your aunt and see if you can stay with her for while." Michael suggests. I'm personally really glad that he's taking charge of what I should do right now, because my brain still can't really process what to think.

"Kay." I mumble in reply.

Tears start gathering at the corners of my eyes, and before I can even realize what's happening, they're rolling down my cheeks. Soft sniffles start turning into louder hiccups, my nose starts clogging up and running, and now I'm full on sobbing.

"Just hold on a little longer baby, we're almost there." Michael soothes. He hands me a tissue from the tissue box in the car, "Let it all out, I won't judge you."

So I do, all my emotions and feeling poured out through a mass amount of tears, snot, and hiccups. I'm bawling my eyes out the whole way there. My parents really just abandoned me because I'm gay. I've heard stories and always felt sorry for whoever it happened to, but I never thought that someone could be me.

That's another thing, we hear all these terrible stories of people dying, going through heartbreak, or losing someone big in their lives, but it never really clicks that it could be you. You have just about as much of a chance of this happening as the next person. No one ever really believes it until it happens in their lives, and by that time, they're a complete mess.

When Liam and Rowan meet us at the restaurant, they immediately take notice of my red puffy eyes and sad demeanor.

"Theo! What happened? Did Michael do this? I'll murder him." Liam growls at my boyfriend. It's kind of amusing seeing a 5'5 male growl at a 5'11 male who's basically twice his size.

"No." Is all I reply.

"His parents kicked him out because they're homophobes." Michael sighs, agitated. Liam's eyes soften with sympathy.

"Theo, I'm so sorry. You can always stay over at my place. I'm sure my parents won't mind." Liam instantly offers. He's really the mom friend, always looking out for others first.

"Thanks Li, but I don't want to bother you." I reply quietly, "I'm going to see if I can stay with my aunt. I don't think she's homophobic."

"Okay. If it doesn't work out, don't hesitate to come over." Liam states firmly, eyes full of concern for his friend.

"I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to have homophobic family, but you'll get through this, and you will emerge stronger than before." Rowan comforts. I nod at his words, knowing he speaks from personal experience.