Three Muskequeers

Chipmunk

"Finally here." I pant from the long walk, well long for me. Nick's house is on the end of my street, so it's not far for the average person. I am not an average person, I am greater.

"My first guest has arrived, thanks for coming, I know it was a long walk." Nick greets me sarcastically.

"It was, which is why I'm looking forward to resting while you and Jake kick a ball around." I smirk, and then he suddenly grabs my arm. "What's happening? Am I being kidnapped?"

Nick drags me into his house, and tries to take me right to the outside door which is just in the next room. It's not my first time being here, in fact his family knows me quite well. "Luca! I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!" Nick's mom comes running out to greet me with a hug. I love Nick's mom, she's so friendly and finds me funny. Anyone who finds me funny is a friend to me.

"Mrs. Flame, I'm sorry. It's the first time Nick has invited me in a while." I look to Nick, who looks a little embarrassed.

"Nicholas! I tell you all the time to invite Luca over more, I just adore him!" she smiles at me after scolding him.

"I talk to him all the time at school, I wasn't sure if he wanted to come over." Nick says, looking to the side to hide his embarrassment.

"That's nonsense, of course he would," his mom says enthusiastically. Although, I do admit there is one reason that I find Nick's house a little discomforting.

Of course, the reason has to come stomping in once I start thinking about it. "Oh, you brought him again." Nick's father is less than pleased to see me again.

"Yeah, I'm back just for you," I mutter. Although I'm not sure if he heard me or not.

His father starts marching closer to us, still in his navy police uniform. "Don't you have any real guy friends?"

"Dad, stop it," Nick growls. Nick always tries to protect me from his dad, who hates me more than anything in the world. His dad already doesn't accept Nick being gay, and having Nick hang around me just makes him angrier. I feel bad because I'm making Nick's life a lot harder. This is why I stopped coming over, and I think Nick stopped inviting me for the same reason.

"I assure you that I'm a boy Mr. Flame." I say sarcastically. I learned that this is the best way to protect myself. I don't sit there and take it, it's not my style. It might get me in trouble, but I won't be degraded by some angry homophobic father of a gay son.

"Maybe you should bring home a girl, Nick. Is this really the best you can do?" His father rudely states. I want to slap him so hard.

"So am I a guy or a girl, I'm confused. You're not making any sense," I state. Pushing his buttons makes the insults I receive less...well insulting.

"You're the kind of trash that I-!"

"Dad shut up! Come on Luca, let's go." Nick grabs my arm, pulling me away from his dad. He tries to bolt to the backdoor as fast as he can.

"Nick! Don't you ever talk back to me! You're not gay so stop trying-!" Nick shuts the door, cutting off his dad's angry homophobic sentence.

"I'm sorry, I really am," he sighs. His voice is weaker than normal, and a little emotional. He lets go of my arm, and stares off into the distance of his big backyard.

"It's okay, I don't take things like that to heart," I reply. "But, are you okay? Having a dad not accept you, it must be really frustrating."

"I guess," he mumbles. I can tell Nick doesn't want to talk about it, so I back off. This no use in pushing him when he's already upset.