The Key to My Heart (Or to Baz's Diary)

Love in Different Ways

Baz

As Simon and I enter the mansion through the back door, we find Fiona and father are already gone. They must have made their way over to the dinner table to wait for us. I kick off my shoes and Simon removes his jacket, hanging it on a little coat rack we keep for the backyard.

I fumble for Simon's hand as we start making our way to the dining room, determined to flaunt our newly developed real relationship. Before I can even leave the room, Simon pulls me to him and presses a brief kiss to my lips.

I stop in my tracks, determined to kiss him for longer, but Simon only pulls away with a smile. Groaning in protest, I nudge my nose along Simon's jawline. He gives in and kisses me once more before looking me in the eyes.

"We'll save the rest for later, Baz."

Then I'm smiling, the promise in Simon's words are enough to have me stop complaining. Our hands are still locked together as we approach the dinner table, and I find all of the eyes in the room on us.

Mordelia is the one that appears confused. She's seven, so I wouldn't expect her to understand. Father sends me a warm look, and all I can do is smile as Simon settles in to the chair next to me.

"I see you two have had a good day." Smirking, Fiona breaks the silence, pointedly looking to where our hands disappear beneath the tablecloth. I feel Simon squeeze my palm before speaking.

"We've worked everything out this afternoon. The whole fake dating scenario shouldn't have gone as far as it did. Baz must have been feeling brave today, because he told me he likes me. We're dating for real now. Baz is my boyfriend."

Hearing the words 'Baz is my boyfriend' leave Simon's mouth has my heart fluttering.

"I'm glad to hear that you boys are happy," Father starts. "I know you've been through a lot."
He's looking at me while saying those words, and the support from him is getting me to cave.

"Thanks, father." I say, hoping my tone doesn't betray just how soft I'm feeling. As everyone starts digging in to their dinners, I chance a look at Mordelia. She's focused in on her meal, no longer caught up in Simon and I, but I'm smart enough to know she won't let it go so easily.

Just then she looks up and finds my eyes already on her. I freeze for a moment, attempting to guess at what she'll say.

"Why are you dating a boy?" She says. Just like that silence passes through the room, and I notice Fiona with a hand over her mouth, trying to stop herself from laughing. Simon stills beside me.

I open my mouth to speak, but father beats me to it. "Baz can be with whomever he wants to, sweetie. Some people are meant to love differently, and that's more than okay. There are boys that like boys and girls that like girls, all that matters is that you're happy."

Surprisingly enough, Mordelia seems satisfied with that answer, nodding and returning to her food.

My eyes return to father then, and he's looking at me with an expression that is softer than I've seen from him. Fiona leans over and squeezes his shoulder, seemingly picking up on the feat that is father openly accepting me.

Simon leans over and brushes a thumb across my cheek, and suddenly I'm aware of the tear rolling down my face. I'm smiling softly, and as my eyes flit to the boy in front of me, I realize Simon is too. He finds my hand under the table once again, squeezing once before letting go and turning back to his plate.

As Fiona and Simon focus back on eating, father nods his head once in my direction. I mouth a soft "I love you," before going back to my dinner.

Simon