Thank you for 15k :) We're getting somewhere and believe or not, we're going to get a Stepril endgame and a happily ever after but just not yet because we're in for a rollercoaster.
As well,comment down your opinions and happy reading!
April's POV
Here we go...You can do this,April.You're brave and your friends would be supportive,right? Blair is somehow supportive of us only because I make Sterling happy.
Or maybe she is just supportive.I can never tell.
I knocked on the door and Hannah B opens the door,greeting me with a hug.
"I'm not here for pleasantries,Hannah B.Although hi to you as well." I shrugged her off but tries not to be too rude.
"Hey there! We weren't expecting a text after what's going on." Ezequiel greeted and I took a seat in the living room.
"What do you mean? What happened?" I asked.
"With Luke and all,I know things has been tough,April." Ezequiel reaches out for my hand,looking sincerely into my eyes.
"Yes and we're here for you sweetie.Whatever you need." Hannah B joins in,taking my other hand.
"We do need to talk." I let go of their hands and cleared my throat.
"Hypothetically if I was different,would it change the way you look at me?" I asked,trying to start off easy.Both of them looked at each other, a little confused, and back at me.
"No at all,unless you're saying you want to change your hair and all cause I've heard my aunt-"
Hannah B claims but I cut her off before she goes off topic.
"Not my appearance,my...sexuality." I gulped as I let those words fell off my lips.
"Oh..." Ezequiel looks at me,and somehow in his eyes,he feels the same.
"So what does that mean? Are you...gay?" Hannah B said in a hushed tone,looking around.
"I-" I gulped because I'm not sure if I can continue.
"How about you tell me what's really going on?" Ezekiel changes the subject in a swift way but Hannah B was not bought straight away.
"Yes! I mean pfft what am I talking about right?" I joked but it's not going the way I intended to.
"No,you know what.I mean what I said just now." I gave up and Hannah B looks at me intensely.
"So you're gay like..." Hannah B does the
'hand' thing and I laughed by how cute she is doing it.
"Yes and no I don't think God will smite me for being a lesbian.I know it's a sin but it's my fait accompli.So you little doofus have to be accept it either way."
"Aww,I don't fully understand it at all but I support you as an ally."
"Wait,you're an ally?" I looked at her with furrowed brows.
"Of course.My cousin is a bisexual and she's been telling me about the community and the parades."
"Are you sure? For all I know, it's a sin-" I tried to protest but she went in for a hug.
I laughed because this feels right and coming from Hannah B,it means alot.
I looked at Ezekiel and he hasn't said a word since just now.
"I'm glad you found your identity.Could you please excuse me for a moment?" He stands up and stepped out of the living room to the backyard.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked and Hannah B shrugs.I went to checked up on him because it only seemed right.
"A penny for your thoughts..." I started out and he chuckled.
"Yeah sweetie, I just needed air." He replied but I know better.
"Cmon,you were always bad at lying and I can see pass through you remember?"
"My whole life,I've always wanted to live up to my parent's expectations.A good fellow Christian who will marry a lady and have babies by 26.It's just a whole lie because I'm different.I'm.."
"That you're -" I looked at him and he nodded.
"Yes and I haven't told anyone about it.Not my mom or Hannah B or you.."
"I know how it feels to hide parts of yourself because of what other people would think.To hide something that was ever really true and real, that it wasn't based off lies." I took his hand and looked him in the eye.
'And the great part is that you're not alone in this.I'm here.Hannah B is here and we're here if you ever need a confidant."
In this moment,I just knew that things were finally falling into pieces, opening a part of myself to my friends who's irritably has been there for me.
"So why'd you come out? I might say it was very brave and strong of you to have done so by the way." He gave me a side nudge and I smirked.
"There's this special someone and I know that if I keep hiding myself and her from the world, it's unjust."
"Oh.Who is this girl?" His eyes showed a hint of curiosity and want for tea spilling but I think one news is good for today.
"That's for another time."
~~
I called Sterling that I'm on my way over so we can talk about our resolutions and the decisions we have come to.
"I'm done hiding parts of myself and my mom even knows."
Back in my house,
"Mom,I have to tell you something.I know this wouldn't sit righty by you just like Daddy but I can't keep this inside any longer."
"What is it? Are you and Brian a thing because let me tell you that-"
"Not that,Mother.It's more complicated than that."
"What is it honey?" She reaches out a hand.
"You can tell me anything." She smiled and I took a deep breath.
Is this what it's like coming out? The fear sucking the life out of you and everything that you're holding inside is gonna be poured in mere seconds and the only thing stopping this is someone interrupting them.
Nothing? Well here it goes...
Okay.What if this is a bad idea? For crying out loud, we're talking about the person who raised me to be the person that I am today and also encourages me to find a decent looking boyfriend.
Sterling...Sterling..I have to do this for us because I owe her that much.
"I'm gay." I looked her in the eyes even though I didn't want to and her eyes didn't flatter at all.She looks away and sighed.
She looks down at our hands,taking her time and looks me back in the eye.
The tension is palpable and every second makes me wanna puke.I hate to picture myself puking because the sound and the-
"I know sweetie." She finally said and I was little confused.
"Wait what?"
"Wait what do you mean you know? You don't wanna throw me to a boarding school and sign me up for conversion therapy?" I started reasoning out what other homophobic parents would've said right at this moment.
"You're funny sweetie but no." She chuckled and my muscles relaxed just like my heart which feels a hundred times lighter than before.
"So you're not mad and you don't wanna throw me out of the house and scold me for being a disgrace and a sin."
"No,April.It's because I knew it since you were little.Your daddy didn't see it but me on the other hand,I knew you were all along especially after the 'Adele' situation."
"That's highly disturbing..but are you sure? I'm being paranoid and Daddy...Daddy wouldn't approve any of this and you know how he is."
"Sweetie,I'm just glad you told me.However,Daddy may not be on my side on this if he finds out." She tucks strands of my hair behind my ear and plays with my hair.
"I don't know what else to say,Mom."
"You don't have to.I will always love you for who you are especially when it's only both of us against the world." She hugs me and I returned it.
I don't know whether God heard my prayers but this really takes the weight off my shoulders.
I couldn't be more happy and accepted after coming out to my friends and Mom.
Some tears must've slipped off my eyes and rolled down my cheeks,and I wouldn't have it any other way.
"So I'm done,Sterling.I wanna be with you and I'm hoping of course I'm not too late."
"That's amazing but I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? I literally came out to my friends and my Mom for this.For us."
"I'm sorry but I'll explain everything later.I promise,I'll see you soon."
"Sterling...Sterling! Don't you dare -"
And she did.She hung up on me.