A Tale From The Closet (Grant O'Brien Collegehumor fanfiction)

Chapter 8:

'You're non-binary?' I said confused, this whole gender identity was confusing. I know now it's more than just gay and lesbians.

'Genderqueer, technically I'm a mix of everything... it's hard to explain but basically I'm not a girl or a boy, like in between.'

'Isn't that bisexuality?' I said, already getting lost.

'Bisexuality, is based on the sex you're attracted to, so Grant likes both men and women, he's bi. Non-binary is the based of my choice of my gender, so I say, I'm both. But I like girls.'

'Makes sorta sense, I guess. Man, I'm getting even more confused.' I muttered.

Well, I didn't care. Ally's still my best friend. Her gender can't change it. I was more concerned for Grant. The guy's kept so much from us to the point it's hard to know what he exactly does.

  'Hey... I better get going, I just needed to clear my head. Thanks, Julian.' She said as she jumps out the window. She closes it and shuts it. She waves and climbs down the ladder.

  I felt a little disappointed Ally was... non-binary. I liked her, like, I like her more than a friend, but I don't think it's possible. Now I understand why Katie broke up with Grant, it feels awkward to date a person who doesn't like you at all. I've known Ally as long I've known Grant, I grew up with both of them most of time. But I also wondered how Ally's treated at her place, I know her folks but they aren't the best either, none of our parents were.

 

A few weeks later, Grant got a hearing. The pothead guy, Paul Robalino, testified in the hearing. I also gave my part and told my story since they knew I was there. They asked where our parents were but we said they're out of town. The judge says Grant could get out of jail since he was just there, he wasn't a pusher or anything.

  'Mr. O'Brien, the jury has come to the conclusion that you are free to go, now, I see you in the slammer again, you're not easily getting away.' The judge said.

  'Hey,' Paul called me as we get out of the court, 'His glasses, I found them.' He hands me his glasses and I pocket them. I said thanks and he leaves. He does look like a pothead but not quite. He had reddish eyes and messed up hair, didn't look like he took a shower in weeks, he looked lost, but I could see Grant end up like him, I didn't want to but that's the reality.

___________

  He got home by the next day. He looked different. Those days, he didn't talk a lot, he went out to that gay bar house more and more until I barely see him, and he gets angry really quick. Jail must've hardened him good.

  One day, there was no school, so me and Grant stayed home, he was reading again and I was listening to Weezer's 'Say It Ain't So'. The face he's wearing, was a face of frustration and  anger. It looked like he was trying not to blow up, but I think he already did. He closed the book and stood up.

  'I'll be back, gotta go somewhere...' he said as he reached our door.

  'That gay bar again?' I said, he looks at me, now had enough.

  'Say that again...' he muttered at me. He scratched his head and glared at me.

  I paused, not knowing what I put myself into, I also was mad. He kept leaving and barely came back. I thought he wanted me to understand him. I would, but not in this way.

  'Julian Marcos, say that again!' he demanded, shouting at me. My heart sank. He never raised his voice at me, we never fought.

  I pressed the stop button on the cassette player. I stood up and look at him, 'That gay bar again.' I said louder than I first did.

  'You know, we can take this outside, but for your stupid head to understand, I can beat your ass easily, don't f—king try me!'  He snapped.

  'Grant,' I started, trying to calm down. We don't need another hothead here, 'Talk to me, man. I know what you're thinking about right now.'

  'Prove it,' he grunted, letting go of the door knob.

  'You're trying to tell me your bisexuality.' I blankly say, 'You're trapped, you can't tell anyone this because you'll lose everything because you lost Katie and it hurt her.'

  'STOP IT!' He roared, 'Just f—king stop!'.

  He bawls down and clutched his head with both of his hands. He started sobbing, crying. He stands up and dashes out the house. Running away.

  'Grant!' I shouted, chasing him.

  Grant got out the door and without shoes, I started running for him. By the time I was out on the road, Grant was sprinting away out of my sight. Boy, could he run fast. I tried calling for him and running to catch up but then we got to a crosswalk. He crossed through, the light was showing the walking symbol. But as I approached it, it flicked to a red hand.

  Grant saw I was across the street. He looked back and ran away. Never looking back.

  I dropped, my feet ached, my head hurts, I was crying as well. I shouted for Grant but I only got strangers' attention, which I never liked at all. I was like a lost kid in a store looking for their mom. I stood up and shouted, 'Fine! Be that way! I don't give a sh-t what happens to you!' Eating my words, as I said it.

  Katie and Rekha were passing by and then they jogged towards me. I was crying loudly at this point. I didn't care what old men mumbled at their friends, saying I was a pathetic guy for crying. I lost a brother, I don't even know if he's gonna come back.

'Hey, Julian, what's the matter?' Katie asks, as I buried my face with my hands, uncontrollably wailing.

Katie hugs me and tries comforting me. I was crying louder but Katie tried to calm me down. I couldn't stop. I technically lost it. Grant was my only friend, only family. He's gone. I feel like I try to take Grant's hand, accepting him but then he starts running away, telling these lies to get away. It's a never ending chase. I never catch him.

'Grant...Grant' I repeatedly sobbed, Katie rubs my back and brushes my hair away from my face. Rekha looked across the road, she started marching away and Katie notices.

'Where you going?' Katie questioned.

'Grant has to stop. I'm going after him. Katie, take Julian home. I'll find him.' Rekha says.

'Alright, you want me to ask Zac and the rest?'

'No, they can't find out. Only us.' She said. She runs off and Katie walks me home. I don't know but at that moment, I felt like her company was the most important thing to me, ever.

  She stayed there, sitting beside me, silently. She didn't move. I tried to calm myself down but I couldn't. I was mad, sad, afraid. All at once. These feelings were eating me up. No, Grant's feelings are eating me up. Not mine.

  Katie broke the silence, 'He can't take it anymore. He broke.'

  I nod, it was the truth, I couldn't have said it any better, 'I know what he was hiding. I think him hiding all of that just drove him nuts. I don't even know what he does anymore, God knows!'

  'That big, stupid guy,' Katie smirked but faded quickly, 'Julian, he thinks that he can hide it away forever, maybe his stupid complex. But nothing is hidden away forever. It'll come out eventually. He's gotta learn how to accept himself and others. That's one thing I hated about Grant, being my boyfriend. Arrogant and reckless.'

  Things between me and him are really going from bad to worse. Why did he have to make things harder for the both of us? At this point, I don't know what to do.