Escaping Perfect

I made a few changes to this chapter to tie up one loose end. Thanks Mimi!
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Warren’s mother threw open the door as soon as the two boys stepped onto the landing. She looked at her son expectantly, while Colby forced Warren to spin him around. “Well, what’s the big news?”

Warren set Colby down gently and pulled the envelope out of his backpack. “I got in. I’m in at Roosevelt.”

Lauren Brick whooped in joy and engulfed her son in a massive hug and kissed his cheeks. “That’s wonderful news, Warren.” Her son had her heart and his father’s determination. When he set his mind to something, it was bound to be completed. “I knew you could do it.”

She pulled him into the dining room. “For that reason, I think I can give you this.” She handed him a small envelope. Warren looked to Jace, whose eyes beckoned him to open it. He removed the letter and left a smaller slip of paper inside. “Your grandfather was very proud of you and wanted you to have the best.”

His mother’s father, Marshall St. Pierre, had been a rich man back in Louisiana. He’d built his father’s shipping company into a small empire and had stations dotting up and down the Mississippi River. When Lauren married Peter, they’d become estranged, though he stayed in contact and had a limited presence in his grandson’s life; he died before Colby’s birth, he knew his grandson was destined for great things.

The letter said as much. The check, though, would allow Warren to never have to work a day in his life, football or not. “My God…Mom!”

She hugged her son again. “He really loved you and knew you’d grow to be a man that would make him proud. And you have.” She turned to Jace and patted his shoulder. “You’re happy too. That’s all I ever wanted.”

Warren refolded the letter. “Maybe, you should hold on to this for me. I actually received a merit-based scholarship, so money won’t be an issue.”

She took the envelope. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, Mom.”

“When you’re ready, this will be waiting for you.” As Lauren exited the room, the front door closed with a quiet noise.

Warren and Jace turned to face the entrance hall where Peter Brick now stood. He eyed the two sharply, his jaw clenching tighter when his gaze landed upon Jace. Warren fought the urge to pull Jace behind him protectively. Instead, he said, “Dad.”

“You’re back, I see.” Peter Brick dropped his briefcase by the stairs along with suit jacket.

Warren shifted his feet to stand firmly.“Yeah, Jace and I had to share some news with mom.”

“Jace. Jace…Howard.” He nodding in solemn recognition. Then, he laughed bitterly. “I should have known that man-hating femme nazi would raise a faggot son naturally.”

“Hey.” Jace surged forward, ready to leap on the man for insulting his mother.

Warren restrained him and looked at his father with pure disdain. “Don’t ever call him a faggot. He’s my best friend and my boyfriend, and if you ever call him a faggot again, I’ll make you sorry old man.” Warren’s voice was deathly calm.

Peter shook his head. “Son, he’s poisoned your mind. He’s messed with your head. Can you even hear yourself?!” His father bellowed. “You’re giving everything for this boy and being lead astray by his perversions.” He took a deep breath, one that seemed to center him. “I spoke with some people and I think we can help you. When can get you into a program that will cure you of your addiction.”

“Addiction?” Jace looked from Peter to Warren, whose clenched fists he could feel at his side. When Peter said addiction, he meant…The sudden realization made him want to leap on the older man again. “You mean one of those ex-gay ‘therapy’ centers.” He emphasized with air quotes.

Warren was confused. “What?”

Jace shook his head in disapproval and disgust. “God, I can’t believe you’d send your kid to one of those places.”

“I’d do anything to make Warren better!” Peter yelled back.

Jace took a step back. “Do you know what they do there, Warren? They basically torture, brainwash you, until you can’t get it up to the sight of guys. Remember Tommy Roper?”

Warren did remember Tommy Roper. He was the senior when they were sophomores. The guy had been a juggernaut of the field. An incredible player. His dad was also the minister of the Baptist church. He remembered hearing that Tommy had some kind of breakdown after his best friend got hit by a car.

“Yeah.”

“He went to one of those places and he’s so screwed up in the head, he can’t sleep with the lights off. He’s afraid of loud noises…and pretty much any physical contact, be it guys or girls.”

There was a part of him that didn’t want to believe it. Accept that his father hated what he was so much that he’d put him in one of those places and allow him to be tortured. “Dad.”

Peter’s steely grey eyes for the first time held a look of true sadness within their depths. “I only want what’s best for you and I don’t think you can see that while you’re under the influence of these predators. I saw you.”

"What?" Warren asked.

"I saw you with someone, but I couldn't tell who. Now, I know it was him...that parasite." His dad had followed him. Spied on him.

His vision clouded as tears began to fill his eyes. “I—I…I don’t have any words for you.” Jace took his arm, even though Peter Brick recoiled disgustedly from the sight. “You know what, Dad?” I’m fine. I’m going to be fine, because I’m honest with myself and I have people who love me for it.”

“You’re blind, Son.” Peter Brick tried to step closer and found both boys moving away from him.

Warren shook his head sadly. “No, Dad. You’re too blind to see that you’ve just lost a son.” They talked towards the door. Warren ushered Jace out first and turned to look at his father one final time. “I was so scared to tell you. Now, I know why.” He began to turn away, but stopped. “By the way, I got an academic scholarship and I’ll be playing football somewhere and my coach knows.”

The door closed, with it, a chapter of Warren’s life.

TBC/?

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