Escaping Perfect

Chapter 21

Author's Note: Happy Holidays!

Lauren held the door open as Warren walked into the house. She could tell by the slump of his shoulders that he didn’t want to be home. However, she knew it was best for everyone to bring him home. There was no denying her son had strong feelings for Jace. Strong feelings was probably insufficient in describing the depth of their connection.

Love.

This was the first time her son had been in love and it wouldn’t be easy. Nothing would be easy for her son again as long as he continued to be true to himself. She’d never ask him to hide ever again.

“Warren!” Colby rushed down the stairs with arms spread and smile beaming at his brother. Warren was his little brother’s hero.
Warren scooped up his brother, his big arms wrapped gently around Colby as he hoisted him into the air. “What’s up Col-Col?”

“Can we play football today, War?” Colby already knew the power of his big grey eyes and turned them on to his brother.

The elder boy looked at his mother for support. She simply smiled and shrugged, seeing his look of desperation, Lauren chimed in. “Colby, I think Warren has some things to do today--” She hated seeing her little baby’s face crumble in disappointment.

The little boy flew up suddenly as Warren tossed him excitedly. “Don’t worry, Col-Col. I’ll make time for you. We’ll play later.”

Those shining grey eyes rounded in surprised hope. “ You promise?”

“Yeah, I promise.”

The scene was disrupted by Peter Brick filling the adjacent hallway entrance and silently waiting for his wife and son to acknowledge him. His expression was stern and somewhat dark, his eyes tightening, along with his jaw, in disapproval as he watched his sons interact.

“Colby,” he called. The little boy turned around in his brother’s arms and immediately noticed his father’s unhappy expression.

Colby lowered his head, thinking he’d done something to make his father mad. “What’s wrong, Daddy?”

“Nothing, Colby. I just need to talk to your mother and brother.” Warren lowered Colby to the floor.

“Yeah, Col-Col. Why don’t you go play and I’ll come up later, okay?” The elder brother’s gaze remained on his father, steady and unflinching.

“Okay.” Colby darted up the stairs and out of sight, leaving the three adults down below.

Warren stood with his father to his front and his mother at his back. Her quiet presence filled him with strength and made him stand taller before his father.

“I’m glad to know your mother was able to bring you back. Young man, in this house, we have rules. You will never walk out when your mother or I is speaking to you.” Peter Brick’s voice brokered for no argument.

Warren remained silent.

Unsatisfied with a lack of response, Peter approached his son. “Do you understand me?”

Lauren stepped around Warren, who held her back with a slight touch. “Yes, I understand.”

“Good. I believe there are some things we need to discuss and now with your mother present would be the best time.”

Peter twisted around and walked down the hall, returning to his office. Warren looked to his mother, who laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and urged him forward. “Don’t worry, Warren. We will make him understand.” His mother’s resolve placated him for the moment.

They marched, rather than walked through the back house towards his father’s study. Peter waited at the door, actually hovered as they passed through the entrance and shut the door behind them.

Peter walked to his desk and leaned against it lazily rather than sit behind the heavy wood table. He went directly for the topic of frustration. “What makes you think you’re gay?”

“Because I am. I like guys.”

“How do you know you haven’t met the right girls? Maybe, hanging out with Sarah hasn’t been good for your development.”

His father had always disliked Sarah. She was too bold and outspoken for his tastes. That’s why she was an excellent companion to Warren. “Sarah’s my best friend. In fact, she’s my only friend.”

“Maybe, that’s the problem.”

“Whatever.”

“Warren.” Lauren Brick warned.

“Sorry.” Warren took a deep breath. “Sarah has nothing to do with how I feel. She’s only helped me to be more honest.”

“So, she knows.” Peter asked.

Warren nodded. “How long?”

“Since the Championship.”

“Warren, forgive me for being dense. I don’t believe for a second that you are--” His face crumpled in disgust, his mouth balling up as if he tasted something sour.

“Gay? I am, Dad. Always have been.”

Lauren rubbed her son’s shoulders. “Peter, can you even imagine how much stress Warren has been under? My concern is that he couldn’t come to us.”

Peter looked at Lauren with a face that showed true disbelief. “Don’t tell me you actually believe that? This is stress. Warren is simply confused and he’s using any excuse so we don’t force him to make a decision.”

“That’s not true.” Lauren contradicted.

“How so? I have never seen any evidence of Warren’s gayness. My son is no more a sissy than I am an Eskimo.”

“You better get a parka then, because I know my son, and I know what I have seen.”

Peter’s face burned red. “What did you see?” His gaze flicked back and forth between his wife and Warren. He wondered what exactly the boy had done to prove his stupid point. Who knew, he wondered. Apparently, his son was trying his damnest to unravel an entire life’s worth of work to make him successful. “What did you see,” he repeated in a cold tone.

Warren looked to his mother; eyes imploring her to say it. “I had the pleasure of meeting our son’s boyfriend.”

Peter’s mouth dropped open. “Boyfriend!” He paced across the floor, face burning red and hot. “No, I’m sick of this. Warren, you’re going to have to make a decision. I’m sorry if the pressure has become too much. We’ll get you a therapist, but there’s no way you’re jeopardizing your career and the rest of your life on a stupid experiment.”

Warren jumped to his feet. “This is not an experiment. My life is not an experiment. How I feel for Jace--”

“Wait, you’re experimenting with that little photo-taking queer?” Peter yelled.

Lauren surged across the room and blocked her husband’s pacing. “Don’t you call him that.”

Peter disregarded her. “You haven’t actually…” His voice trailed off full of insinuation. Warren’s silence was testament enough. “My god, you didn’t actually fuck that little cocksucker.”

Warren nearly ran up to his father’s face. “Don’t you dare call Jace that! If he’s a cocksucker, then I’m the world’s top faggot, Dad. Congratulations you’ve done a hell of a job.”

Lauren’s stance between them was no use against her husband’s resolve. He moved around her and stepped to Warren. A hand sliced through the air, filling the room with a resounding pop as the corresponding cheek glowed red.

“You will not see that boy again. You won’t think of him. You most certainly will not contact him.” Peter commanded between clenched teeth.

The boy stood tall against his father’s decrees. “I won’t stop, Dad. Can’t stop loving someone if you really do.”

Peter’s eyes softened. He raised a hand this time out of sympathy rather than anger. “What you’re feeling son is a sickness and not love. This boy has done something to you. Bewitched you somehow. This isn’t you.”

Warren shook his head faster and faster. “You’re the one who isn’t listening. This is who I am. Everything else is a lie. I have the power now, Dad. You’ve always taught me to be honest no matter what. That’s what I’m doing now. I can’t continue to live in shame, because of a stupid game.”

Lauren Brick was awed by her son’s courage. He was truly a man with convictions as he stood against his father’s assault. “ Why don’t you go upstairs and sleep for a while. You’ve made everything perfectly clear.”

There was no doubt his mother would continue to work on his father. It was simply a matter of his father accepting this new turn of events. “Okay, Mom.”

“Warren,” Peter called before his son left the room. “You need to end this now. The scouts are coming on Monday and you will be ready.”

“Is that a threat, Dad?” He was so tired. His voice lost some of its fight and steel. There was only innate will to not fail that kept him going.


“I’m not threatening you, Warren. As a parent, I’m responsible for protecting you. That’s what I’m going to do. I won’t let you succumb to drugs and animalistic sex or AIDS.”

“I’m not sick, Dad.”

Peter Brick shook his head at his son. “Who’s the blind one now?”

Two strong men, neither willing to back down from the other. Warren wouldn’t deny Jace and he couldn’t deny himself. He’d already made a decision. “I guess we’re at a stalemate then. I’ll be out of here as soon as graduation is over.”

His mother gasped. “Don’t say that, Warren.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Peter stated in an ominous tone.

They’d see who was the strongest in the days to come.


TBC/?