Really? // Stenbrough

Chapter 29

Bill's PoV

The losers and I walked to the gym where there was an assembly being held. It's November 9th and we were having our annual Veterans Day assembly. Usually it's on Veterans Day but that holiday is on a Sunday so we're having it today, Friday. Every school comes to the high school since it has the biggest gym, and our school district isn't even that big so we all fit.

We sat towards the front, but off the left. We took up a whole row, Me at the alley, then Stan, Richie, Eddie, Bev, and then Ben. I spotted Georgie walk in with his class and he waved, I smiled and waved back. I even saw my mom, what is she doing here? But I brushed that thought off.

I just wanted this to be over. I know Veterans Day is important but the assembly is so boring. The principals each make a speech, then the valedictorian does, and then there's a military member who makes one. It's just boring sitting there for two hours listening to old men speak.

The elementary principal started with his speech, then the middle school principal went, then the valedictorian went, and finally my schools principal went. We only had about 30 minutes left when my principal introduced this years military speaker. And I couldn't believe who it was.

"And now please, welcome, sergeant Zachary Denbrough." Everyone in the room started clapping except me.

I sat there stunned. Everything became slow as I saw my dad walk up onto the stage. I couldn't hear anything. The thing that snapped me out of my glaze was when I saw Georgie running to meet my dad on stage.

I stood up myself and made my way down the bleachers, but I didn't go up on stage. No, I left the gym. I bolted out of the doors and down the hallway.

I can't believe he is here. Why is he here? I don't want him back. He left us on purpose. He left because of me.

I heard someone running behind me and they shouted my name. It was Stan. I stopped and let him catch up to me.

"Hey, what's wrong love?" He asked cupping my face in his hands so I would look at him.

"He's back." I whispered.

"I know. You're dad's home, isn't that a good thing?" He asked.

I shook my head. "He left because of me." I felt a tear slid down my cheek.

"What? He got deployed, you had no control over that."

"Two years ago I came out to my parents. My mom was completely fine with it but, but it shook my dad up. He wasn't scheduled to leave for another three weeks, but he called and asked if he could be deployed sooner. And they said he could be since one of the soldiers who was supposed to be deployed, got seriously ill. He wanted to leave, and it was because of me."

I started to cry now and Stan pulled me into one of his comforting hugs. He held my head to his chest as I wrapped my arms around his back. I sobbed into his shirt as he rubbed my back and calmed me down.

I can't believe he came back. I thought he would never come back. I told him I was gay and he left because of that. I felt so hurt when I learned why he was being deployed earlier. I had overheard my mom and dad yelling at each other in his study. My mom was yelling at him about how he shouldn't leave earlier just because their son likes boys instead of girls. She told him I needed him now more then ever. But he didn't listen, no, he speed up his deployment process. He didn't even give me a hug goodbye. He purposely spent too much time saying goodbye to Georgie, so he wouldn't have to speak with me. But I didn't care. If he couldn't accept me for me, well then he doesn't deserve my love either. From that day forward I haven't thought about my father or spoke about him, except mentioning to Stan that he's in the military, because it brings back that memory of him leaving his family because of me.

And I hate him. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him! I hate him with everything in me. He can't accept me and it's not my fault. That's why my mom is so very supportive, she's making up for my dad. Of course my parents don't know that I know why he left earlier, and neither does Georgie. I don't plan on ever telling him, my dad at least deserves to have one son still love him.

I stoped crying and wiped my eyes and cheeks.

"Do you want to go back in there?" Stan asked.

"No. I don't want to talk to him. I'm never going to talk to him again." I said. "Let's just go wait in first block."

~~~
The school day was over and people have been talking about why I ran out of the assembly. One rumor is, it's because of the shock after not seeing my father for two years. Another is, maybe he wished his father had died. I mean I may hate him, but if he died it would hurt my mom and Georgie too much. They were a lot of stupid rumors like that going around and I don't really care. Let them think whatever.

I had went over to Stan's after school and we worked on our homework. I'm proud to say that my math grade is now up to an B+, thanks to the help of Stan. The rest of my grades are either As or Bs as well.

I didn't want to go home, but I had to. Sophia doesn't allow me staying over on school nights.

"Mom! I'm home." I yelled when I walked through my front door.

"Can you come to the living room sweetie?" I heard her call back.

I took off my shoes and walked to the living room like asked. My parents were sitting on one coach while Georgie was playing with some legos on the floor.

"Yea mom?" I asked her.

"Hey Bill." My dad said.

I did not look at him. I'm not going to talk to him. I'm going to ignore him.

"Can I go take a shower?" I asked my mom.

I could see from the corner of my eye, my dads face fall. But I didn't care. He deserves it. My mom looked surprised though.

"Uh Yeah, sure."

I nodded my head and went upstairs. I took my nightly shower and put on some random shorts and a shirt to sleep in. I sat down on my bed and scrolled though my phone, having nothing better to do.

There was a knock on my door and I waited for them to say who it was. I never ask who's at my door, they have to tell me themselves.

"Bill, it's me, your dad."

I rolled my eyes and didn't say anything.

"Can I come in?"

He didn't even wait for an answer, not that I'd give him one. He walked in and leaned against my door frame.

"Hey Billy. You've gotten so tall and handsome." He complimented me.

I continued to scroll through my phone, ignoring him. I heard him sigh.

"It's good to be home."

Ha, yeah right. Go talk to the people in this house you're actually proud of then.

"I-um-I'll talk to you tomorrow." He said sadly before shutting the door behind him.

No you won't. I'd be surprised if I ever talk to him again, on purpose. And I don't care if I'm being to dramatic or whatever. He really hurt me. I don't think I'm ready to forgive him yet.

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Oof, so the drama begins