EMILY
As we all sat down at the dinner table, I couldn't help but notice how grumpy Dad's expression was. His brows met, and there was anger and frustration in his eyes. He must be having a bad day today.
"How was your day?" my mom asked as she handed the mashed potatoes to Dad.
Dad took a deep breath before answering, his voice low and gruff. "It was a long day," he said, his jaw clenched. "I had to deal with a lot of stuff at work, and then I lost 3-star players off my team."
I could feel my eyes rolling in my head before he even finished the sentence. Meredith caught my reaction and let out a chuckle. She must have gotten my humor because she knew exactly what was coming.
As we began eating our dinner, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust listening to Dad's empathetic way of sharing about his day. He was talking about how difficult it was to lose his three best players, how it was going to affect our chances in the tournament, and how he was struggling to find new players to fill the void.
But what he didn't mention was why Tyler, Klaus, and Clark were gone. He had kicked Tyler off the team because he was dating Miles, and he didn't approve of their relationship and the twins just decided to quit for their friend. It was unfair and hurtful, and it made me feel disgusted that he was pretending to be so understanding and caring when he was just a hypocrite.
"Emily, we need to talk to you about your friends," Dad said, his voice stern and serious.
"What about them?" I asked, feeling a sense of dread wash over me.
"Well, I've been noticing that you've been spending a lot of time with those kids at school who aren't exactly the best influence," Dad said, his voice firm.
"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling defensive.
"Emily, I've been telling you for years now to be careful about the company you keep, those kids you're hanging out with are not good influences. But you never listen," Dad interjected.
I clenched my fist, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. I had heard this same lecture countless times before, and I am sick of it. I knew that my Dad just wanted the best for me, but I felt like he was constantly judging me and my friends.
"I can make my own decisions, you know," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "I don't need you to tell me who I should and shouldn't be friends with. I can figure that out for myself."
"We're worried about you, Emily. We don't want you to end up like those kids." Dad yelled as he slammed his hand on the dinner table.
"End up what exactly Dad?" I yelled back, I could tell that he was taken aback by my question but it only made him worse.
"Those people," he spat out, jabbing his finger in one direction. "They're a bunch of homosexuals, Emily. I don't want you to end up like them."
I smirked, not even surprised by his nonsense reason. "What exactly do you mean by Homosexuals, Dad?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Are they not human enough for you?"
Dad's face turned even redder, and he slammed his fist on the table again. "Don't be smart with me, young lady," he growled. "I'm only trying to protect you."
I rolled my eyes. Protect me from what? From who? From my friends? I knew that Dad's outbursts were not about protecting me but about his fears, prejudices, and homophobia. And I knew that I would never let his bigotry define me.
"Dad," I said, my voice laced with pride and confidence. "What if I told you that I am one of them?"
My father's brow furrowed in confusion and disbelief. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice skeptical.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to keep my emotions in check as I glanced at Meredith, she smiled gently as she held my hand for support.
"I'm bisexual, Dad," I said as I looked at him, the words feeling like a weight off my shoulders. "I like boys and I like girls as well. So tell me, am I not human enough for you?"
My father's expression changed from confusion to shock, and for a moment, we just stared at each other in silence. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, as he tried to process this new information.
Suddenly, my mother stood up from her seat and embraced me, her arms wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "Oh honey, I'm so proud of you," she whispered into my ear, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're so brave."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I hugged her back, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "I love you too, Mom," I whispered back, my voice barely above a whisper.
She landed a kiss on my forehead and caressed my back, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "I love you, honey, no matter what and who you are always remember that, alright?" she said, her voice filled with a sense of longing and love.
At that moment, all of the tension and anger inside me melted away, leaving only love and acceptance in its wake. I knew that no matter what, my mother would always be there for me, and that knowledge filled me with a sense of peace and strength.
"You know uncle, it's not about Emily or her friends, it's all about you and your prejudices, so maybe you should work on that and learn to accept Emily for being who she is," Meredith said as she stood up from her seat as well and hugged me.
TYLER
As I settled into Miles' cozy bed, my fingers danced across the keyboard of my laptop, browsing through the endless pages of my favorite social media platforms. The warm glow of the screen illuminated my face, casting a comforting light on the darkened room. The sound of the soccer game on YouTube filled the air, the commentators' voices rising and falling in a rhythmic chant as the players battled it out on the field.
Suddenly, a notification popped up on my screen, catching my attention. It was a message from a University, and my heart skipped a beat as I hesitated before opening it. Staring at the email on my screen, my heart raced with excitement. I had applied to several universities in London, but I had almost given up hope of hearing back from any of them. But now, here it was, an email from one of the universities, and it was an acceptance letter!
I felt a rush of joy wash over me, and I couldn't help but smile. I had always dreamed of studying abroad in London, and now it was finally happening. But as my excitement grew, a sudden pang of anxiety struck me. How was I going to tell Miles about this?
I closed the email window when I heard Miles' bathroom door swung open. He was wiping his hair with a white towel, and I could see the steam rising from his damp skin as he walked towards me. I stood up and let him sit on the floor just beside his bed, and I took the hair dryer from the dresser to dry his hair. The warm air from the dryer felt good on his skin, and he closed his eyes and relaxed into my touch.
As I dried his hair, I couldn't help but notice the way his hair curled up at the edges, and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. He looked so peaceful, so content, and I felt a warmth in my chest that I hadn't felt in a long time.
"You know, I've been thinking," I said, as I continued to dry his hair. "Maybe we should take a trip together sometime. Just the two of us. What do you say?"
Miles opened his eyes and looked up at me, a hint of surprise in his voice. "A trip? Where would we go?"
I shrugged, feeling a little nervous. "I don't know. Somewhere warm and sunny, maybe. Somewhere we can just relax and enjoy each other's company."
Miles nodded, and I could see the excitement building in his eyes. "That sounds amazing," he said. "I would love to go on a trip with you."
I smiled, feeling a sense of happiness that I hadn't felt in a long time. "Good," I said. "I'll start looking for flights and accommodations. We can plan everything together."
As I finished drying his hair, Miles stood up and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. "Thank you," he said, his voice low and husky. "I needed that."
I leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. "I'm always here for you," I said. "Anytime you need me." He looked at me and we both smiled, and before I knew it a soft gentle kiss landed on my lips.
...
As the night grew darker, Miles and I both settled onto his bed, his arms wrapping tightly around me as he leaned his head into my chest like a pillow. I gazed up at the ceiling, trying to process everything that had happened to me that day.
First, I had been kicked out of the team just because I was in a relationship with Miles. It had been a shock, to say the least. I had always been a top performer, but my coach had made it clear that he didn't approve of our relationship and had decided to cut me from the team.
But that wasn't the only thing that had happened today. I had also received news from a university that I had gotten into. It was a prestigious program, one that I had been dreaming of attending for years. But despite my excitement, I still couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment and frustration that lingered from being kicked out of the team.
As I lay there, wrapped in Miles' embrace, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for me. Would I be able to balance my studies and my relationship with Miles? Or would one of them have to take a backseat?
I sighed, feeling the weight of my thoughts settle heavily on my chest. But as I looked down at Miles, fast asleep with a contented smile on his face, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I would face them with him by my side.
As I took a deep breath, Miles' concerned gaze pierced through me, his eyes filled with worry and care. I could feel my heart melting under his scrutiny, my thoughts clouded by the overwhelming emotions that he always seemed to evoke in me.
"You're thinking too much, is something wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. How could I possibly put into words the jumble of emotions that were swirling inside of me? The fear, the uncertainty, the excitement, the hope - all of it was tangled up in a messy knot that I couldn't untangle.
But as I looked into Miles' eyes, I knew that I didn't need to say anything. He already knew. He could see it all, could feel it all, just by looking at me.
Miles looked into my eyes and smiled, his voice filled with warmth and kindness. "You can tell me anything, alright? I'll wait until you're ready to share it with me," he said then pressed his lips against mine.
I felt a rush of emotions as his words washed over me. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I could finally breathe again. But before I could say anything, Miles spoke again. "I know you're not ready to talk about it yet, and that's okay. Just know that I'm here for you, whenever you're ready."
His words were like a balm to my soul, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude towards him. I knew that I could trust him with anything and that he would always be there to support me.
As we settled together in silence, I realized that this was what true love looked and felt like. It wasn't about grand gestures or romantic getaways, but about being present for each other in the quiet moments, when the world around us melted away and all that was left was us.
EMILY
As I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to block out the sound of my parents'muffled voices coming from downstairs, I heard a knock on my door. I pretended to be asleep, hoping that whoever it was would go away and leave me alone. But the knocking continued, growing louder and more insistent.
"Honey, are you awake?" my dad called out, his voice soft but firm. I could feel his footsteps approaching my bed, the familiar creak of the floorboards beneath his weight.
I held my breath, my heart racing as I tried to decide what to do. Part of me wanted to pretend to be asleep forever, to avoid the inevitable argument that would follow if I answered the door. But another part of me longed to talk to my dad, to tell him how I was feeling and why I was so upset.
As my dad reached the side of my bed, he gently shook my shoulder. "Honey, come on, wake up," he said, his voice tinged with concern. I could feel his warm breath on my face, and I knew I couldn't keep pretending any longer.
With a sigh, I opened my eyes and sat up, facing my dad. "What do you want?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
My dad looked at me with a mixture of sadness and frustration. "I want to talk to you, sweetie," he said. "We need to talk about what happened earlier." I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat.
"I'm sorry about what happened back there," he began, his voice cracking as he struggled to find the right words. "I know I was a terrible Dad, a terrible coach. And because of that, I am truly sorry, honey. I know I hurt you, and for that, I am deeply sorry."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened to my father's words. He never apologized to me like that before. He had never taken responsibility for his actions and acknowledged the hurt he had caused. It was a powerful feeling, and it made me feel seen and heard in a way that I never had before.
"I want you to know that I still love you, for who you are," he continued. "And I want you to help me change my views about that kind of stuff, so that I'll no longer hurt anyone, or you, again."
I felt a sense of hope rise inside of me as I listened to my father's words. Maybe, just maybe, things could be different between us. Maybe we could move forward, and he could become the kind of father I had always wanted him to be.
"I'm sorry too, Dad," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry for the way I acted, and for the pain I caused you. But I'm glad we're talking about this, and I'm willing to work with you to make things better."
My father nodded, his eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, honey. Thank you for being willing to forgive me, and for helping me to change."
As we sat there, holding each other and crying, I knew that our relationship would never be the same. We had both been hurt, but we had also both been given a second chance to make things right. And I was determined to make the most of it.