Family Friends: A Tyrus High School AU

17

TJ's father had taken Macy, Aaron and Carter to the daycare centre that TJ worked at and Amber had a school project to work on with a classmate.

"Cyrus, son, I appreciate everything you've done to help my son whilst I haven't been there. I agree with you, this school is perfect for him." He said patting Cyrus on the back.

Cyrus smiled and nodded, not knowing exactly how to respond.

"I think I need to tell my parents. All of them." He said after a while.

TJ nodded, getting ready to go with him.

"I think I need to do this on my own." He said, pecking TJ on the cheek and going inside his house.

Thomas gave his son a nod as TJ stood outside Cyrus' house.

*Inside*

Cyrus saw his mother watching the television, caught up in some over-the-top soap opera.

Cyrus turned the television off and asked for the whereabouts of his step-father.

"He's in the kitchen, what's wrong Honey?" She asked Cyrus would never usually turn off the television whilst his mother was watching soaps. Usually, he'd sit in the recliner and pretend to critique the logistics of the plot but secretly he revelled in the drama.

"Todd!" She called.

Cyrus' step-father entered the room and sat down.

"Mum, Todd. I love being a Jew, and I'm proud of it. And you know that. And you know that TJ has been an important part of my life for a long time. And since you divorced Dad, I didn't talk to him out of respect that his family were Dad's friends. But there was never a day that went by that I didn't think of him.

 I'm dating TJ. And I'm gay. 

And I've spent so many years telling myself that I couldn't be because we're Jews and a million other reasons. But you can't control your feelings. Just like you couldn't control falling in love with Todd when you were with Dad."Cyrus said, finally learning to be vulnerable.

Todd spoke up first. "When I married your mother and I agreed to co-parent you 4 years ago, I could never have expected this. We are proud Orthodox Jews, you know that. You know that God makes tests to separate the weak from the strong. So if we accept your lifestyle choice, we'll end up with the same fate as you. So you have a choice. Either you go to a youth conversion therapy centre and cut ties with TJ, or you leave this house." He said, his voice laced with apathy.

"I love you, Cyrus. But he's right. Let us help you and stay here with us." His mother said softly with a kind smile on her face, thinking that she was administering tough love to her child.

Cyrus stormed out of the house and saw TJ standing there.

He collapsed into his arms and allowed himself to cry.

He sobbed until his voice was hoarse and his head ached.

"TJ I'm sorry. I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess," He said, fiercely wiping his tear-stained cheek.

"Muffin, if it wasn't you, inevitably, it'd be some guy at some point. But I'm glad that it's you and right now. I don't regret anything." He said, looking deeply into Cyrus' - now bloodshot - brown doe eyes.

TJ was surprised at how beautiful Cyrus was even when he was in so much pain.

"Listen, my Mum will be out of the picture, come and stay with us for a while." Cyrus nodded and left to go to TJ's house. TJ knew that Cyrus' relationship with his father was strained and that he wouldn't feel comfortable living with him.