Chapter 12: Ebb & Flow
I was in my room sitting at my desk when I heard my dad come back home. I heard him as he marched up the stairs and barged in my room. My heart was pounding and my eyes threatened tears as he walked straight to me before pulling me up and into a hug.
"I love you Bobby. I'm sorry if I scared you." I let out an audible sigh of relief as he continued. "I went over to give Mr. Evans a piece of my mind. I told him how proud I was to have you as my son, and if he or his son had a problem with you they could take it up with me. My heart stopped aching as I was flooded with relief. I cried on my dad's shoulder as he patted my back.
"Thanks dad." I said wiping my eyes on my sleeve. "I love you too." He tousled my hair and gave me a final hug before he headed out the door. He stopped in the frame and turned around before asking "are you and Rob...?" I nodded and gave a nervous smile to my dad. "He's a good kid Bobby." Dad said as he headed out the door. I collapsed into the bed and felt like every burden had been lifted from my soul.
Rob came over the following morning and we went for a walk downtown, bundled from the winter cold. We stopped in the gas station and he got a coffee and I got a hot chocolate before heading out of the station.
"Well if it isn't Rob and Nancy." I groaned as I saw Eric heading towards us. "What brings you and the fairy out this morning?" He said and made sure to emphasize the word 'out.'
"Don't you call him Nancy, or fairy Eric. His name is Bobby and he deserves your respect. He's a great person." Rob said pointing at his chest.
"Respect, for the queer?" Eric laughed maliciously as he spat on the ground beside me. "Honestly Rob, if you want people to have respect for you, you'll quit hanging around this fag."
"Fag? Fag. I'll show you fag!" Rob's eyes were wild and his face was red. Rob grabbed me and pressed a possessive, needy kiss onto my surprised lips. "I don't give a fuck what you think Eric; you're a piece of shit." Eric's jaw dropped open and he sat staring as Rob grabbed my hand and pulled me down the road. I know a look of shock and awe was on my face, but when Rob finally looked at me he looked relieved. He just started laughing.
"I'm sorry Bobby. I just thought that might shut his dumb ass up." I shook my head smiling at him as I reached up and kissed him.
"Thanks for sticking up for me Rob... This is going to cause some drama. I guess you're out of closet." I said as we walked back to my house sipping our drinks. Rob headed home after lunch and I just lounged on the couch watching movies with Emily the rest of the day.
We were sitting down to dinner when we heard a pounding on the door. Mom got up and answered the door to reveal a distraught Rob.
"I'm sorry Mr. & Mrs. Thompson, can I talk to Bobby please?" Rob asked, his eyes glazed and blood shot.
"Sure sweetie." My mom said, "we're about to eat dinner. We'll set you a place. Come down when you're ready."
Rob followed me up to my room and sat beside me on my bed. "Eric's dad told my dad." Rob said as he hung his head. "He kicked me out, said he wasn't going to have a queer living under his roof. Mom tried to defend me, but dad wouldn't listen. He said he didn't have a son." Rob was almost crying as I wrapped my arms around him and tried to comfort him.
"I'm so sorry Robbie. I'll always be here for you. I'll talk to my parents, I'm sure they'll let you stay here. We'll go pick up some of your stuff after dinner and you can stay here until you work things out with your dad." I said as reassuringly as I could manage.
"Thanks Bobby." Rob sniffled as he tried to hide the evidence of his tears and rubbed his face in his sleeve. "I don't think I will be able to work things out with my dad. My mom seemed to be okay with it, but she won't go against him." I just sat there holding him until finally he stood up trying to regain some composure.
"Come on Bobby, supper is getting cold." He smiled half-heartedly and we headed downstairs.
"Everything alright Rob?" Mom asked as she gave Rob her warmest smile.
"Not really, but I'll manage." Rob answered with chagrin. I squeezed his thigh under the table before speaking.
"Mom, dad, is it okay if Rob stays here for a while?" I asked with a pleading look on my face.
"I don't mind if you stay here Rob." Dad began, "but I need to know why you need a place to stay, what happened?"
Rob took a few seconds to compose himself before speaking. "Eric Evans has been picking on Bobby for being..." Rob hesitated.
"Gay." Dad said plainly as he nodded for Rob to continue.
"Well I just couldn't take Bobby bearing the burden alone. Eric was harassing Bobby this morning calling him names and I kissed him in front of Eric to shut him up. It worked too." Rob gave a mirthless chuckle before continuing. "Well the little shit--, sorry for my language Mrs. Thompson." Rob apologized as she waved him off. "Well he told his dad, who told my dad. My mom seemed to be okay with it, but dad disowned me and kicked me out. I don't want to impose, but I don't have anywhere to go. Maybe my uncle..." Rob trailed off looking down at his plate.
"Oh honey." My mom got up and gave Rob a hug through the chair and kissed the top of his head. "Of course you can stay here, as long as you need."
"I will let you stay here Rob, but we are going to need to figure out the sleeping arrangement. I can't have you two lovebirds shacked up In Bobby's room." Rob and I blushed as Emily laughed.
"I can't thank you enough." Rob said to my parents, "I'll earn my keep." After we ate dinner we headed to Rob's to pick up the stuff he needed. After a couple of hours we had packed up most of his clothes, his books, and computer and were making the last trip to his truck.
"I'm so sorry Rob, I love you. You know your father; he's stubborn as a damned mule." We looked up to see his mom looking sadly at Rob. "You going to stay with your friend?" She asked looking at me.