"Semi-Short Stories" [ Story Collection ]

The Trial [] 2/12 []

"Just be honest."

The two are in a moderately-sized bedroom. There are several, neatly folded piles of clothes placed on the bed. There are boxes strewn around the room as well, some opened and some taped shut, but all of them labeled in chunky, black writing. Shelves are bare, the bookshelf is half-full, the dresser has been emptied and the closet looks lonely.

"I'm going to be. But what if this is all a waste of time? You haven't hurt yourself, either! We have no physical proof that she's been neglectful or abusive and..." Max sighs and leans back, accidentally knocking over one of the clothing piles. "Sorry! Sorry. I'll fix it."

"It's fine, Max. I'm going to refold them when I unpack anyway."

Max fixes the mess nonetheless. It's messier than before, though. Max is a bit frazzled and has been since they'd gotten the letter. "Right."

"Everything will be fine. And even if she does win, then her life won't be the same. People will be skeptical of her. Maybe not everyone. But she'll be watched, no doubt. If she steps even a little bit out of line, then boom! We were right all along! And knowing her, she's bound to do something." Charles, donning black skinny jeans and a white blouse-like shirt, is placing items into a half-full box labeled [ FRAGILE ]. There's a rainbow bracelet adorning his left wrist.

"I hope you're right." They lie on the bed again, careful to avoid the other piles.

"I'm right. Do you doubt me?" He raises a pair of perfectly plucked eyebrows at them. They chuckle somewhat.

"Sometimes."

"Ouch. I'm hurt." He smiles softly. He's happy that their relationship has improved - he wishes it had never been toxic to begin with. "So. I heard you got a job at a familiar little cafe."

"Oh! Yeah. I did. Asarai is nice and I'm hoping he and I can become friends. I need more friends."

"A few close friends are better than a group of strangers."

"Says you! You have a ton of friends!"

"None that I'm super close to, though. None that I'm out to, unless you count Asarai." Charles closes the box, seals it with tape, and pushes it aside to join the growing pile of sealed boxes.

"You're not out to the people you're moving in with?"

"Ah, no. One is a super straight basketball player and the other is hard to read." Charles shrugs. "But I need a change. I don't think I can be here anymore, especially if there's any chance of mother returning."

They inhale. "So you do think-"

"No, no. I'm just acknowledging that there's a chance. I still think she'll be locked away." He shrugs his shoulders, one of which keeps slipping from beneath his shirt. It's a comfortable, flowy outfit. "But I want to move out either way. This is just temporary, until I can get my own place."

"And then you can paint every wall rainbow, right?"

"I think I'll be a bit less obvious. Maybe an accent wall in my bedroom, but certainly not every wall." He lets out a good-natured laugh.

Max sits up to wiggle their eyebrows at him. "I wonder how many other guys will get to see your accent wall, Charles."

"Max, don't be gross."

"I'm just saying!" They shrug innocently. "I'm not being gross."

"You are so."

"Just pack so you can be one step closer to your gay as fuck accent wall."