The Pastor's Son

Explanation and The News

Jayden sits on the edge of his window, one leg swung over the side of the house. He looks at the sky and thinks of a time when he wasn't in love with Isaiah.

He used to be naive. He'd wake up and get ready, not seeming to care how late he would be. He'd get in his car and listen to loud rock music, not being able to hear his thoughts, and he'd be okay with it. When he'd get to school, he'd come over to his friends and talk mindlessly. He'd smile and laugh, he'd actually feel okay. When Isaiah started being his friend, he ignored him, and didn't think much of it. 'I can't pinpoint the exact moment that he started filling my thoughts. I guess he was always in my mind, just in a different light and not as important. Now, he's the only thing I live for.'

Jayden sighs, it's hard thinking about the time when he didn't care as much. It's even harder to determine if he was happier back then, than he is now. 'Isaiah has changed my life, I don't know if I hate or love him for it,' Jayden thinks. He takes a swig of a bottle of coke he pulled from the fridge. His mom loves buying the glass bottles, she thinks it's classier. He knows that if she sees him sitting on the edge like this, she'd yell at him. She might start crying, saying that she doesn't want him doing that again.

Despite, not wanting to move from the window, he slips back into his room. Jayden sighs, as he closes the window. Nowadays, it feels stuffy in his room. 'If Isaiah was here, I wouldn't feel that way,' Jayden thinks to himself. He just wants to hold Isaiah in his arms, that's all. Jayden sighs, and continues to reminisce.

During his thoughts, he remembers a promise he made to his mom only a couple days ago. It was the same day that he cried looking at the hoodie Isaiah gave back to him. At the thought, he looks over at the blue hoodie, still laying on his floor. He imagines Isaiah in it, like he was last Saturday. He pushes the thought away, focusing on his original thought. 'I promised her that I would tell her and dad what's been bugging me...' He feels bad, suddenly. He hasn't owned up to that promise yet. 'I guess I could tell them tonight,' It's a simple and reasonable idea so he decides upon it.

He tosses the bottle into his trash can, the loud noise of the glass hitting the bottom of the can startles him. It didn't crack though. He walks over to his bed and throws himself onto it. His room, seeming to reflect his thoughts. The room feels full of memories, and anything reminds him of Isaiah. His own room is trying to break his heart. The thought isn't funny, just sad. Most things filled with humor are being interpreted differently in his head. Always coming back to Isaiah. He's not surprised, everything comes back to him nowadays.

He drifts off to sleep, only dreaming of being with Isaiah. Something far out of his reach.

................................................................................................................................................................

His mother wakes him, shaking him gently. "Sweetheart, it's dinner time."

Jayden forces himself out of bed, realizing that he didn't think of any ways to come clean to his parents. He silently scolds himself for the stupidity. He drags himself down the staircase. His dad seems happy to see him.

"There's my boy! You look like you just woke up," He jokes. Jayden forces himself to crack a smile.

"That's because he did. Long day, huh?" Carly says, playfully.

Jayden shrugs, "I guess so."

The sit down and Jayden's parents say the prayer like any other day, during any other meal. "I have something important to tell you guys," Jayden mumbles. As much as he doesn't want to tell them, he doesn't want to drag it on either.

Mark nods, "Go ahead. We're listening."

It's supposed to be comforting, but no comfort seems to work when he feels like this. He swallows his fear. "I don't know if you guys have noticed, but I've been out of it, lately."

His parents both nod, as confirmation.

"See, the reason is because...." he pauses. "I'm not straight. Um, but I'm not gay either. I'm kinda confused right now, but that's not the main reason.

"I know you guys set up my friendship with Isaiah so that I would have a good influence. But, things have changed." They look at him, clear confusion. "Both Isaiah and I have feelings for each other, but I'm the one who hasn't quite told him how I feel. Recently, a video and a photo, were posted online. The photo was deleted. But, the video hasn't. The video shows Isaiah confessing his feelings for me, and now he's getting made fun of at school. I don't know what to do, because I like him, but I think by not telling him I've ruined everything."

His parents go silent. Thinking through everything that they have been told. "Okay, we don't care what you define as, sexually. We'll love you all the same," Carly speaks for the both of them. "I'm surprised by you liking Isaiah, since you didn't seem too fond of him earlier. However, whatever happens for you, we'll both love you."

Mark continues, "As for what you should do, we're both unsure. You two seem to be talking again and getting along. Give it time, and soon you'll be comfortable enough to share how you feel with him."

Jayden nods, relief washing over him. They both reach over and kiss him on the forehead, and continue talking as usual. Their calmness, calms him. He feels slightly okay.

But, that's interrupted when they call him down after dinner. He jogs down the stairs and sees the news on. "Watch," Carly instructs.

He does.

The news says:

"The police were called tonight, so that they could arrest, Matthew Harden. The owner and pastor of The Friendly Neighborhood Church," He takes a pause, as the cameraman shows the house of the Harden's.

He continues, "Apparently, Matthew has been beating his son for the past several years. Today, his son, Isaiah, got into trouble for a video online. Matthew didn't take this well, and started beating him, but it got too extreme and their daughter, Joanna took action, while Beatrice, the loving mother, did her best to calm Matthew down."

Jayden is shocked, mad, and sad all at the same time.

"Want to know what video made Matthew go crazy? Well, a video of his son saying numerous things, including that he is gay, that he doesn't have a good father, and that he's in love with a mysterious boy, Jayden. Go find it on YouTube!

"Matthew is being taken into custody, and the church will be closing for a couple days as his family figures this out. Jayden, if you're watching this, we all want to know if you feel the same way, since you never answered," The news reporter finishes.

Jayden's mouth hangs open in shock. Isaiah truly is dealing with a lot at home. And Jayden has been called out on the news.