Three Months Later
Kevin sat in the back seat of the taxi, watching the familiar sights of Newcastle flash by. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he knew he had to do this. Ever since Mark had been released from hospital two months earlier, they had gone from strength to strength, and Kevin was more happy than he had ever been before.
But there was one little problem. Despite the fact he had known since the age of thirteen that he was gay, he had never actually told his parents. Constant nagging from Mark over the last few months had ended up with him in this taxi, heading towards his childhood home to break the news.
He could see Mark’s point of view though. He had a beautiful boyfriend, certainly not someone to be ashamed of, and all of his friends knew he was gay, it was just his family who lacked knowledge in that department.
He closed his eyes and tried to think of how he was going to break the news. After a few minutes of procrastination, he felt the taxi roll to the stop and he took a deep breath. It was now or never.
Quickly he paid the driver and left a generous tip, he’d always thought driving a taxi was the worst job and those doing it deserved all the extra money they could get.
He took another deep breath and headed up the gravel driveway, dragging his feet and feeling somewhat like he was walking towards his doom. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but hopefully they would see his side of it, and that he was in love and happy, and that would make them happy.
Forcing a smile on his face, he opened the front door and looked around.
“Hello?”
His Mum appeared from the direction of the kitchen, a huge smile forming on her face.
“Kevin love! I didn’t know you were coming home!”
She enveloped him a huge hug, and Kevin could help but think that Mark’s hugs were a lot better.
“Hey Mum, something smells good”
She smiled happily, “Freshly baked chocolate cookies, meant for you’re sister to take to school, but I’m sure one missing won’t hurt!”
Kevin laughed, and decided to get it over and done with, it was starting to do his head in.
“Mum?”
“Yes love?”
“Ah, I’ve got something to tell you, something important.”
Angela studied him, and smiled widely, “You’ve met a nice girl haven’t you?”
“Sort of, yes.” He tried to continue, but his Mum cut him off.
“Oh that’s fantastic! What’s her name? When can we meet her? She’s not after you just because you were in a boyband is she?”
“Mum, please!”
Angela broke off, and wait expectantly, but when Kevin didn’t respond straight away, she couldn’t help but try and prompt him a little bit more. Just like her little boy to be shy about girls.
“Well? What’s her name then?”
Kevin looked down at his shoes and mumbled something.
“Sorry love, I didn’t quite catch it.”
“I said his name is Mark. I’m gay.”
Angela stared, bug eye at her son, feeling the rage grow.
“What did you say?”
Feeling a bit bolder, Kevin looked her in the eye, “You heard me, I’m gay.”
She shook her head, her voice raising with horror, “No, NO. You are not gay. No way will I have a gay son.”
“I’m sorry Mum, but you’ve got one.”
She turned away, yelling for her husband, “IAN! GET IN HERE NOW!”
Ian appeared a few seconds later, and looked between the two, feeling the tension in the air.
“What’s wrong?”
Angela spluttered, turning red, “Wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong! My so called son here as just decided to inform me that he is gay! GAY! I won’t have it!”
Kevin looked pleadinly at Ian, but to his disappointment, Ian’s face was clouding over with anger as well.
“I agree with you’re mother Kevin, there is no way I’ll allowed a sick pervert to live under my roof.”
Kevin felt the tears start in his eyes, “Ian, I’m not a pervert. I’m just gay. And if anything, Mark’s older than me!”
Angela’s head jerked up, eyes blazing, “That’s it! HE got you mixed up in this didn’t he? Should’ve known better than to let you go off prancing around the country.”
Kevin broke her off, defending Mark, “No Mum, you got it all wrong! I’ve know I was gay since I was thirteen, Mark had nothing to do with it. I love him Mum.”
“I will give you two choices. Either we forgot this nonsense’s or I no longer want to be your mother. I’m not having the family name dragged through mud just because you seem to think you like guys!”
“It’s not nonsense Mum, it’s love!”
“It’s immoral, that’s what it is. And you should be ashamed. This Mark must be a bastard to do this to a family.”
Finally giving in to the tears, Kevin yelled at her, feeling the anger radiating off him.
“I hate you. I HATE YOU!”
Next thing he knew was his head bouncing off the wall, and a stinging sensation on his cheek. Ian was looming over the top of him, yelling, “Listen you you’re mother you little so and so, and don’t you ever talk to her like that again!”
Gathering up his strength, Kevin pushed Ian away from him, gingerly touching his smarting cheek.
“Why should I listen to you?”
Another slap caught him hard, in the same spot, and Ian answered in a low tone, “Because I am your Father and you will respect me.”
Kevin shoved him out of the road and headed for the stairs, turning around at the bottom of them, “You’re no Father of mine, you never were and you never will be.”
With that he ran up the stairs, hearing his mother sobbing and Ian trying to comfort her. Working quickly, he packed his bags, taking everything he needed. When he finished he stood in the doorway, looking around the room that he had grown up in.
A lone tear trickled down his cheek, he couldn’t believe it had come to this, but he loved Mark and wanted to spend the rest of his life with him, and if it meant that he had to sacrifice his family, then so be it.
Grabbing his bags, he headed downstairs and for the front door. His mothers voice made him stop though.
“If you walk out that door Kevin, that’s it, you’ll never be allowed back in!”
Kevin turned to face her, “Fine!”
Hurrying out the door, he speed dialled a taxi and sat on the low brick wall that surrounded the property.
A small voice behind him made him look around,
“Kev!”
Jen was running down the driveway towards him, tears evident on her face.
“You’re leaving aren’t you?”
Kevin nodded, feeling his own eyes well up.
“Please Kev, don’t go, Mum and Dad will come round, you’ll see! It’s just a shock to them.”
The taxi appeared in the distance and Kevin bent down kissing her on the cheek.
“I’m sorry Jen, I can’t. I love Mark, and I don’t think Mum’s gonna understand anytime soon.”
“But, Kev! I don ‘t care, if you love him, then fine, but please stay!”
The taxi pulled up and Kevin hugged her close,
“I’m sorry squirt, I promise I’ll be in touch. Maybe you can come and visit me and Mark in Ireland soon hey?”
She nodded teary eyed, and Kevin slid into the taxi, watching as the only home he had ever known disappeared from view.
Telling the driver where he wanted to go, he quickly dialled Mark’s number, smiling when it rang only once before he answered.
“Kev! How’d it go?”
“In a word, shite babes. Mum and Ian hate me and they’ve pretty much kicked me out. Oh and I broke my sisters heart by leaving, she wanted me to stay so badly. But I couldn’t. And now I havn’t got anywhere to go.”
“Course you’ve got somewhere to go Kev, come and live with me. There’s plenty of room, and I know Mum won’t mind.”
“You sure babe? I don’t wanna push you!”
“Yes, of course I’m sure. I’d love to have you round.
The suggestive tone in Mark’s voice made Kevin laughed, and the two of them talked happily all the way to the airport.
“Okay Mark, I’m at the airport now, I’ll see you soon sweetie!”
“Alright and take care…I love you.”
“Love you to!”
4 hour’s later
Kevin stretched as the plane touched down at Sligo airport. It had taken a bit of persuading (okay bribery) to get on this flight and all Kevin wanted was to be in Mark’s arms.
He grabbed all his luggage, which for once, was all there and headed out the airport, looking for Mark.
“Kevin!”
He spun round, and there Mark was, a smile on his face, waiting for him. Hurrying over to him, Kevin gave him a friendly hug, nothing to romantic, they were after all in public.
“Thanks’ so much for this Mark.”
“It’s no worry, you’re my boyfriend and that mean’s I get to take care of you!”
“Boyfriend eh?”
Mark blushed and nodded.
“Besides, you took care of me when I needed it, so now I’m taking care of you when you need it.”
Kevin looked lovingly at him, he was the luckiest man in the world, he really was. He wrapped his arm around Mark, giving him a quick squeeze before heading towards the exit.
“C’mon Mark, let’s go home!”