I'm Not Gay, I Swear! | McPriceley

Chapter Fifteen

Unluckily for Kevin, Connor had fallen asleep while watching the movie, so it wasn't exactly easy to get him off of him. His family was rushing through the door, too, and would see them in a matter of seconds. It would be a miracle for him to possibly get Connor off of him in time, so that nothing seemed suspicious.

Miracles didn't seem to happen often with Kevin.

"Hello boys, how're you- KEVIN PRICE WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

Kevin glanced up at his mother, who had been the one to exclaim at him. Her voice was loud enough to alert the entire family, and soon everyone was staring at him and Connor.

The brunet was in the middle of sitting up to get Connor off of him when his mother had yelled at him. Connor was still resting against his chest, his arms gripped around Kevin's torso. There was nothing he could do but give his mother a nervous smile.

Kevin's family continued to stare at him, while his father folded his arms. "Well?"

"I, uh, er..."

The noise seemed to have been just loud enough to wake Connor, as he started to stir. He glanced up at Kevin with a small smile, blinking a few times before turning to look up at the Price family, his eyes still half closed with sleep. Once he had realized who it was, his eyes shot open wide, and he froze in a state of panic.

"I can't say that I'm not disappointed in the both of you. And I hate to say it, but especially you, Connor. You were supposed to be helping our son out of his problem. We trusted you with helping him. But it seems that you were not to be trusted," Mr. Price scolded him.

"M-Mr. Price, I-I'm sorry-"

"Sorry does not fix this situation!" he exclaimed. "I'm afraid we're going to have to resign you from your position. I want you out of this house by tomorrow morning."

"Wh-what?" Connor stared at him in disbelief. "N-no! You... you can't do this!"

"You failed us, Connor. There's nothing left for you to do."

You failed us, Connor. Those words rang throughout his head. Too many times had he heard that sentence. He thought maybe he'd finally not be a disappointment to people. He was doing so great. Yet... he managed to slip up again.

And it happened to be around the same time he came to terms with himself being gay.

Did... did that mean anything?

Connor glanced back up at Kevin, who was arguing with his father over why he was overreacting. He blinked a few times at him before letting out a sigh.

"He's right."

Both Kevin and his father stopped bickering to glance over at Connor.

"Con, what're you talking about?" Kevin asked.

"I am a disappointment. A failure. All of this... this was just one big mistake. I... I'm going to go back my bags." He stood up and started walking towards the stairs.

Kevin stared after him, feeling his heart break in two. Suddenly, he turned his glare towards his father. "I hope you're happy with yourself. He already had a hard enough time with himself."

Before he could answer, though, Kevin stood up and ran after Connor, leaving the Price family in a stunned silence.

The door to Connor's room was mostly closed, with only a tiny sliver of a crack in the doorway. From inside, the sound of dresser drawers slamming could be heard. Along with the sound of crying.

Kevin slowly opened up the door, only to find Connor hastily grabbing all of his clothes and throwing them into his suitcase. It was very untidy, and nothing like the Connor he knew. But what distressed him most were the tears that streamed down his face, his eyes turning red as he choked on his own tears. Immediately, Kevin ran up to him and pulled him into a hug. The redhead didn't protest, crying into Kevin's shoulder.

"Connor, you are not a disappointment. You hear me? Don't listen to anything he said. If anything, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you being okay about yourself."

"But-but he's right, Kevin! I've never done anything right in my entire life! Why would this be any different?"

"Because you are being your true self this way. Not some shell of yourself, hidden behind a wall of lies. And I like this Connor. The Connor that's happier because he doesn't have to pretend to be somebody else."

"But it's selfish, isn't it? Trading in everyone else's happiness for my own. It's not right. I... shouldn't be doing it."

"Connor, you're not the only one that this makes happy. It makes Arnold happy, Naba, Chris, James, me." Kevin's eyes started to sting as he struggled to make Connor see his point. "Is-isn't that more important than a bunch of random people who'll hardly be in your life?"

Connor stared at the ground. "But what about my family? They still hate me. And forever will. Until... until I fix this."

"Connor," Kevin took ahold of the redhead's shoulders. "You do not need fixing. You are perfect just the way you are."

"Then why does my own family hate me? If I'm so perfect, shouldn't they at least see that? Shouldn't they at least care?"

"Con-"

"... I think we should stop seeing each other."

Kevin's eyes widened. "Wh-what?"

"I can't... I can't keep doing this. This is the exact reason why my parents think I'm a disappointment. I just... I can't make them proud by disobeying the exact thing they hate about me."

"B-but Con... do you really want to give up your happiness just for them? You... you are happy with me, right?"

Connor once again fought back tears. "I don't know how I could be happy, knowing that my entire family hates me."

Kevin watched as Connor pulled away from him, turning to zip up his suitcase, before picking it up and wiping his eyes. He turned back around to face Kevin, trying not to let the heartbroken expression on his face make him break down once again.

"Goodbye, Kevin. I wish the best for you."

Then he walked out of the room, leaving behind his one and only chance at happiness.