Bonded by the Blues | A Sander Sides Book

Chapter 31 - Fragments

Gute Nacht!

Recap: Roman, having faced off Dorian's advances, prepares to come out to his parents knowing full well that his mother had seen him kiss Dorian. 

Logan continues to try and decode the cover of the book he found under his father's desk, and he suspects belongs to his grandfather. Patton is staying the night over at Logan's house.

Virgil spends his first night at the student dormitory, with Hiemal. He has convinced himself that he is better off without Roman.  

---Roman---

My father insisted on making dinner a semi-formal event, even if we had no guests. I knew my attire wasn't going to be the talk of the evening, so I wore something comfortable. I needed to keep my cool. I wore maroon sweatpants and a black t shirt with a flowery skull on the front. Not too bad.

I opened the door to my room, wondering whether I could still call it mine tomorrow.

I marched down the stairs, wondering if I'd ever slide down the banisters again.

I paused at the dining room doors. Family dinners. Will I still have a place at the table?

I went in, careful to not to let my footsteps draw attention to my presence. My father, resplendent in a double vented black coat, gold tie pin winking, sat at the head of a long mahogany table that could seat twenty-four. My mother sat on his left, in an evening gown of pale coral, ropes of pearls tight around her throat. I took my seat quietly, mumbling good evening. My father looked at me over steepled fingers, studying me closely. My mother nodded at me slightly, and I knew she must have told him what she had seen. I was majorly regretting what I did back then, but I'd rather have it out in any way, than awkwardly bringing it up now.

The butler served soup.

My father's glasses clicked as he placed it folded next to his side plate.

My mother's sleeves rustled across the lace tablecloth as she reached for the salt.

I let out a breath I did not realise I was holding. I picked up my spoon.

"Roman," intoned my father, as I slurped my first generous sip. "Your mother told me of an extraordinary sight she saw not one hour ago. What do you make of it?"

"What?" I let the spoon splash back into the bowl. "No asking me how my day went? We're jumping straight to it?" Ugh, Roman, take It down a few notches. Keeping calm remember?

My father smiled. "As far as I am aware, there was nothing straight about it."

He wasn't mad? What was happening? I laughed a bit too loudly, unsure what was coming next.

"Roman!" My mother frowned. "Can we take this seriously, please?"

Ah there it was. I ran over my arguments again in my head. I had actually read the WikiHow page on how to come out to your parents.

My father put his hand on my shoulder. "Son, are you gay?"

I looked at him, puzzled at his calm and even tone, almost soothing.

"Did I use the right term?" he asked hesitantly. He cared? About me? Since when? I've hardly seen him in the past five years!

My mother took my hand from across the table. "Darling, you know you can tell us anything, right?'

My heart started beating faster. Why were they nice? This was NOT how it was supposed to go. IT WAS ALL WRONG.

"I'm gay." Blood pounded in my ears. "And I don't care what you think." Ha! How would they react to that?