It all came crashing down as soon as the words, "I need to tell you something" came out of my mouth. My mum and dad were sat together on one sofa whilst I stood in front of them. I couldn't help but pace and continuously rub my clammy palms against the material of my skinny jeans. My heart was racing and I wondered if I was about to have a panic attack or something. They were looked at me with thin, interrogating eyes. I must have looked like I was insane, especially when my voice sounded like the most pathetic thing on the universe. "Please don't interrupt me and just... listen." My mum nodded. My dad stayed still and didn't say anything. "So I'm bisexual and I-"

So much for not interrupting me because my dad jumped up onto his feet and began to stare me down. "You just continuously let us down. Is this all a game to you or something?"

"No, dad, I-" He stepped forward so I stepped back. I don't know what I had expected him to do but, in that moment, I was terrified.

"First all that ADHD malarkey and now you're gay?"

"Bi actually-"

"Just shut your mouth for one second. I know I asked this before but what makes you want this much attention? Don't you think you've made enough of a mess of our lives already?" I gulped, backing up further. My mum was silent but she didn't look impressed either. She was avoiding my gaze, just staring at our feet as she listened to what my dad was saying to me.

"Don't you give a shit about my happiness? All I want is for me and everyone around me to be happy but every time I try to open up to you, you just start having a go at me about stupid things. I already know I'm useless and a mess but you don't need to remind me!"

All my dad had to say about that was, "Language." The fact that he didn't have a valid argument just fuelled the fire inside my chest.

"That's all you pick up on? This isn't easy for me either. I think you should actually care about me for once."

"We do care about you, Lance." My mum finally spoke up. Her eyes were sparkling with tears but I refused to acknowledge them.

"You obviously don't! Why don't you tell me you love me? That you accept me for who I am for once? Having ADHD and being bisexual isn't something I can just change, alright? I didn't choose to be this way."

My mum and dad exchanged a look that was impossible to read. "We do love you, Lance but this... this isn't right."

"This isn't right? You know what really isn't right? My parents looking down on me all the time and not accepting me. You're meant to love me unconditionally but no. You don't love me at all and it hurts. It fucking hurts." My guard was crumbling and tears were welling up in my eyes so quickly that I couldn't possibly blink them all away.

"We just don't understand why you'd... want this..."

"Maybe I don't want it. I never asked for ADHD, did I? And, as for being bisexual, I couldn't care less. What's so wrong with liking dudes, huh?"

"It's abnormal, Lance." My mum sounded like she was going to cry so I glared at her. I don't think the anger was put across when I was on the verge of crying.

"It isn't abnormal! Just be happy for me for being comfortable to say who I am. I could be a serial killer or a complete nutcase but I'm not. I like guys and that will never ever hurt you. I don't see why you need to make it such a big deal."

"I don't... I think this is a phase, Lance. For some reason you've just wanted to be the centre of attention for the last few weeks and, once this is over, you're going to say you're straight again. You'll get over this and find a girl to settle down with."

I let out a loud cry, finally opening up the dam. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks whilst my parents just watched. "It isn't a phase! This- This is who I am and- and if you can't accept it-"

"Then what?" My mum's voice was soft. Falsely soft.

"I don't know. I don't know, mum. I'm not going to change just because you want me to. I- I've fallen in love with somebody, okay? His name's Keith and he's my world. He makes me a million times as happy as you do."

"Go to your room. Your mother and I will discuss what we should do about this." With one final glance into my dad's infuriated eyes. I let out a choked sob and left the room but didn't turn in the direction of the stairs to my room. Instead, I walked out the front door and slammed it so hard behind me that I could have sworn the house shook. I couldn't even warn Keith because my phone was dead and sat on my desk in my bedroom. There was no way in hell I was turning back just to get it so I was planning on knocking on Keith's door, unexpected.

The tears cleared up about halfway there and I just began to feel numb. When I stood in front of his door, I furiously wiped my eyes to try and hide the fact that I had been crying. I raised my fist and knocked, praying Keith would be the one to answer. Just to my luck, Shiro answered.

"Lance? Are you alright?" He questioned, skipping the greeting because he could obviously see how much of a mess I was. I shook my head rapidly, unable to speak in case it set off another round of tears. I didn't want to break down in front of Keith's older brother. Shiro invited me in before calling Keith downstairs. When Keith saw me, he embraced me into a long hug and I immediately started sobbing into his shoulder.

"They didn't take it well?" He simply asked and I shook my head again. That time it was because I was shaking and sobbing so much that speaking was almost impossible.

"Sorry to intrude but would Lance like a hot chocolate? I make a mean hot chocolate and mum bought some whipped cream the other day." I smiled in gratitude to Shiro as Keith nodded for me. I was sure I looked like a complete mess, smiling through tears but neither of them seemed to care. Keith pulled me over to his sofa and we sat down beside each other. He let me lie my head on top of his lip as he played with my hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. I just wanted to see you." My voice surely was broken. It was like a pretty vase that had been smashed into a million pieces, never to be fixed again.

When Shiro brought two hot chocolates into the room, Keith muttered a small, "Thanks." He had been a bit generous with the whipped cream and marshmallows but I wasn't exactly complaining. Sugar was what I needed.

"Talk to me," I mumbled quietly.

"About what?"

"Anything... Anything."

"Okay..." He went silent as he contemplated what to say. "The first time you messaged me, I had been having a bit of a shitty day too. I  had gotten a B on my physics paper-"

"A B? That's a literal miracle in my books. You nerd." I chuckled but even my laugh sounded broken and fake.

"Yeah well, physics is my favourite class so I was upset about it. Also, some kid was being rude to me. And my water bottle had leaked in my bag which ruined some of my stuff."

"That sucks..."

"Yeah... it was one of those days where you regret ever getting out of bed. Then you messaged me and... I was just so happy to help you. When you said you wouldn't give up, I was ecstatic which I know sounds weird because I didn't know you but it's true. I've always felt invisible so to know I was able to help somebody made me happy and, well, proud of myself."

"I was glad you helped me too. You were just so nice, even though my problems were really petty."

"They weren't petty," I shut my eyes as he continued to thread his fingers through my hair. "I'm glad you messaged me though. Things would be so different if you hadn't and just..." His breath hitched and I swallowed thickly, guilt swirling in the pit of my chest.

"I doubt I'd have given up... I was just being dramatic."

"I don't know, Lance..." We went silent for a moment as he played with my hair. He started to hum after a few seconds of silence and I wasn't sure if it was subconscious or not. With my eyes closed, I was worried I would fall asleep. "Hey, can you sit up so we can drink our hot chocolates?" The moment was broken but I didn't say anything as I sat up and we both reached for our mugs. I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face when I saw his had a Pikachu on. I took a bite out of the large pile of cream and Keith laughed at me. "You have a bit of a moustache." I reached up to wipe it away but, before I could, Keith had kissed it away.

"You're so cliché. It makes me feel sick."

"Would you rather I was an utter dickhead?" I pouted, sipping at the drink. I felt the warmth travel down my throat as I swallowed it and, at that moment, I decided Shiro was the king of hot chocolates.

"This is the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted." I couldn't help the tiny moan that escaped my lips as I continued to drink more. I leant my head against Keith's shoulder, breathing softly as I gripped the mug in my hands.

"Stop making those sounds."

"Why?" Keith went bright head so I stuck my tongue out at him. "You can't handle my sexiness."

"Yes, Lance. That is definitely why I don't want you moaning in my family home." My dodgy relationship with my parents made me feel empty inside but Keith was the missing piece that finally made me feel complete. Nothing was perfect but were things ever completely perfect?