Oleander

Chapter 13

Oleander : The Troubled

Spring break came soon enough and the feeling of impending doom overcame Oleander for reasons unknown. He did see Kenneth a few times but he couldn't make himself talk to him. He had been walking like the undead all week not caring for anything in the world as he moved from one class to the other and back home. He had been quiet all week and not even Caroline disturbed the silence. She looked sullen and unwilling to make as much noise as she used to.

He had packed up the last of his clothes and was now staring at his phone. He did not have many contacts ever since he changed his number. He had gotten a lot of prank calls after he came out and they were disgusting. He looked at Kenneth's phone number and wondered if he should call him. He hadn't attempted to call or text him after the last time he failed to. Maybe this time he could send him a small text. He wanted to talk to someone who would understand.

After a few deleted texts he finally wrote a few words and pressed send. He tossed his phone aside after waiting for some time and pressed the palms of his hands on to his eyes. A faint ding made him scramble to get up and grab his phone.

Kenneth: what took you so long?

It made him smile. He was blunt as ever.

Oleander Hartley: I'm sorry. A lot has been going on.

Kenneth: of course, you're Oleander Hartley.  anyway what's going on?

Oleander Hartley: Instead do you want to meet up?

Kenneth: thought you'd never ask. where do you want to meet up?

Oleander thought for a while before texting back.

Oleander Hartley: I'll pick you up. Be there in ten.

Kenneth: okay

A surge of joy rushed through Oleander's veins. He had never been so excited to meet anyone like this before. He dressed up and grabbed his keys before rushing out. It was dusk now and the sky was tinged a beautiful pink. The clouds looked like wispy cotton candy and the faded moon was looking down at the happy boy as he drove.

He had discovered that Kenneth lived close by when he had dropped him the day they had kissed. The memory of the kiss still made him flush and his heart thumped thinking about Kenneth's soft plump lips. It also made him nervous and queasy because it was so new to him but it felt right. He felt good to be attracted to Kenneth Rogers.

When he got to his place he could see that Kenneth was waiting for him on his porch petting what looked like a small fluffy animal. He got out of the car and Kenneth looked up. His eyes brightened a bit before he smiled slyly making Oleander's heart thump even more. He walked up to him. The fluffy animal yipped at Oleander and ran towards him. He kneeled down and petted the small dog.

"He's called Peanut" Kenneth was standing over him as Oleander tickled the dog's belly.

"He's cute" he chucked as the dog licked his hand.

Kenneth picked the dog up and went back inside as Oleander stood there frozen. He realized he hadn't even said a "Hi" to the pretty boy. The brunette came back soon enough and looked up at him with his twinkling eyes.

"Hi" Oleander said smiling nervously. Kenneth laughed and his eyes looked like they were teasing him. Oleander scratched his head embarassed at himself at how awkward he was acting.

•

They drove up to the same place they had kissed after a cup of coffee and pleasantries. It mostly consisted of Kenneth teasing Oleander and the latter flushing and being endearingly adorable. That's what Kenneth thought at least. Kenneth could tell that the boy looked troubled but he didn't want to press him so he only talked about light topics, waiting for him to open up.

He was surprised when Oleander had taken the route to the Lover's Cliff. His heart started thumping in his chest when he thought about the last time they had gone there and had shared that kiss. Was this leading up to the same situation again. Why was Kenneth nervous? It was unlike him to be so flustered at the thought of a mere kiss. He clenched his knuckles to stop him from getting giddy. He turned to look at Oleander and he noticed his hand was unclenched and he looked calmer than a while ago.

"My parents are sending me away for spring break to some camp because they think that's gonna fix me" Kenneth stared at him. He had not expected Oleander to blurt out everything all at once. The boy looked troubled. He could feel waves of sadness and anger and it made the surrounding air feel heavier.

"It's this Christian retreat and I don't know what it is all about but no amount of brainwashing can change me. I can't help it" Oleander's voice wavered and Kenneth felt his heart squeeze. He knew how hard it was to come into terms with your sexuality when you were always hiding it and to make matters worse your family didn't support you. Kenneth's family did support him in the end but it didn't come easy. It was awkward at most but his elder sister was the most supportive and it helped the rest of his family to accept it.

"My father says I was born wrong and it's like I'm this atrocity, this abnormality in his perfect family paradise. My life is a burden. I wish I had never been born"

"Stop! don't you dare say that!" Kenneth grabbed Oleander's hands as his eyes glistened with tears. "You were born on this earth for a reason. Everyone is. You're not a mistake or an atrocity. From all I know you are a wonderful and kind person. We all have a purpose in life and you just have to find yours. It's the only way we can live as humans so please don't throw it all way by saying those words."

His emotions caught up and he bit his lip trying to hold back his tears as they threatened to break free. Here was a beautiful boy who was suffering all because of people who thought being who you were was wrong. Kenneth believed in God. He really did and what he knew of God was love and creation and life and death. There must have been a reason to have been born like this. The God he knew wouldn't hate you for being who you truly were and loved what you loved. Love was never wrong.

He looked up into Oleander's teal eyes. Tears freely rolled down his cheeks like he could hold it in no longer. He smiled at him and wiped his cheeks. They would be okay, Kenneth firmly believed they would be okay.

"Hey what if I came with you to this camp?" he said and winked at him.

"What? Why would you come?" Oleander looked perplexed.

"Hmm....I don't quite know. Maybe to keep you company or to spy on this so called brainwashing camp" he laughed as he messed up his perpetual messy hair. Kenneth watched Oleander smile as he looked away. He turned back again to him and asked: "But what about your parents? Will they be okay with that?"

"I don't know. Probably" he shrugged. Oleander looked troubled again and it made Kenneth giggle. "It's gonna be okay Lee" he smirked at the nickname he had heard his stud of a best friend use. He didn't seem to mind and that worked well for Kenneth.

"We are basically going to gaydise. Imagine all the gay Christian kids all in the same camp. These people don't even know what they are doing" Kenneth chuckled.

"Let's go to the camp Lee, together" Kenneth smiled and squeezed his hand.

"Okay."

a/n: I deserve death threats I do. I am so sorry for not updating and almost giving up. i can see that people are reading this book but it's decreased because I am such a horrible updater. I deserve punishment (´༎ຶ ͜ʖ ༎ຶ ') also i didn't know how to end this chapter. end me.

thanx for reading and not giving up (all those who are still reading, I don't deserve y'all).

love,
hanabi ✨