They Don't Approve

We're Screwed.

In the distance, they heard Kipling's fading voice, "Thank you all for coming! Hope you all enjoyed the show, refreshments are in the foyer, and bathrooms are down the hall to the left. Main doors close at 10 sharp. Remember to check under your seats for any belongings, anything found after closing is thrown away! T-shirts and other Hollow merchandise can be found..."

The show had ended with a dramatic fanfare of music before the lights died down, and the three teens had sprinted backstage, using the darkness as a cover. Now, they sat in a spare room in the back of the building where they had talked before going on the show. Couches made a "C" shape with the opening facing the door, around a table. There was only a vase on it, holding a couple half-wilted flowers. The furniture was all red, contrasting sharply to the white walls and black bookshelves. Magazines, novels, and gaming manuals were littered on the shelf and on the floor, courtesy of Reeve and Skeet. Apparently no one had been in here since before the show began to clean it up. 

Adam was curled in a ball in the corner of one couch closest to the door, frozen in shock. His eyes were burning a hole in the table. Kai sat on the floor opposite of his boyfriend, head rested against the other couch, and his arms resting on his bent knees. Mira couldn't sit.

She paced the room, her pounding high-tops the only sound in the room except for Adam's rapid breathing. Fiddling with her blue highlights, she watched the two boys in front of her. How could she have let this happen? As the oldest of the group, she had seen herself as the protector of her two best friends, and now they were outed. On national television. Fuck...

Her thoughts came to a screeching halt as a knock sounded on the door, and she called for the person to come in with a scratchy voice. Kipling shut the door behind him and walked up to the now silent group. Only Mira met his eyes. His game show persona was down, revealing the kind of idiotic but well-meaning person he actually was. 

"How... how big of a problem is this?" He asked, looking between the boys, "I mean, I know it's a big one, but like... how big?"

Adam spoke for the first time since the game ended, "I'm so fucked," he turned his head to face the host, "I'm gonna get my ass disowned."

Kipling let out an awkward chuckle, but then stopped when three sets of eyes bore into him, "Wait, seriously?"

"Mhm." Kai mumbled, looking to his boyfriend, "His parents are crazy homophobic. They're from Latin America, it's a culture thing. I mean, not to say that all-"

"Gustav," Mira sat on the couch next to Adam exhaustively, "You said this would work... You said you could program the game so this wouldn't happen."

"I thought I could, Mira. Your character was supposed to keep them apart, that's how I designed it. Kai was supposed to be the crazy love-struck idiot, with you, not Adam, it should have worked! But once you guys stepped foot in, there was nothing I could do."

Adam stood up abruptly, startling Kai, "Well, it wasn't good enough, was it Kipling? You promised we wouldn't be outed."

"I didn't think-"

"THAT DOESN'T HELP!" He screamed, yanking at his hair.

"Adam, calm-"

"SHUT UP! JUST..." He shook his head, fighting back tears, "Shut up." A broken sob left his chest and he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. 

"I'll go after him." Kai pushed himself up using the couch, wincing slightly. Mira raised an eyebrow, noticing the pained expression. 

"Kai..."

He cast her a specific look that Kipling didn't understand. He couldn't. 

"Later, Mira. I'm going to get Adam."