I open the door with my key. Mom is in the kitchen, and Dad is on the couch waiting for me. His face is blank, and his posture is tense. I know the face he's making, he'll try and be intimidating.

"Hi Dad," I say hugging the hoodie and Jack's arm close to my chest. "This is Jack, my boyfriend."

He stands and walks forward, then he stares at Jack. They are the same height, so my father's 'stare down' is now a staring contest. Jack smiles and holds out his hand.

"Good evening sir, my name is Jackson Neroni. It's nice to meet you."

My father grabs his hand and firmly shakes it, "I'm Phil, Phil Bandoni. It's nice to meet you too. I understand you're my son's boyfriend?"

"Yes sir. I'm very happy to be too," Jack looks at me and smiles, I try and muffle my grin. "I'm very lucky to be."

I see my father hide a smile, so he turns around to get my mom.

"Don't worry, he's just acting tough," I whisper to Jack. "I didn't know your full name was Jackson?"

"Yeah, no one ever calls me Jackson except my parents when they're angry."

I smile and pull his hand down so I can kiss him. It's just a small peck, but it's enough to satisfy me.

"My real name isn't Mac, it's Malcolm."

He grins, his shiny teeth peaking through his plump lips.

"Malcolm..." he whispers.

I've never liked my real name, but I like when he says it.

"Oh god, don't do that, not now," I look down and slap his chest.

"Malc-" I cut him off by shoving my hand over his mouth. He laughs against my palm.

"You are testing me right now," I laugh.

"Mac," I hear my mom say, I take off my hand and face her direction. She's walking over with my father. "Hi hun," she grabs my face in her hands and examines me. She smiles and lets me go. "Hi there Jack, good to finally meet you. I'm Carine, and you've met my husband Phil." She pulls him into a hug, he's startled at first but smiles and hugs back. "Sorry, I'm a big hugger. Make yourself at home Jack, please be comfortable," she lets go of him with a grin. "I'm making lunch, please stay and join?"

He looks at me as if asking permission.

"You don't need my permission to stay Jack," he locks our fingers. "But, I would like you to stay."

He laughs and squeezes my hand, then looks at my parents. "I'd love to."

"Good, come and have a seat," she claps her hands and turns to my dad. "Be nice Phil," she points up at him.

His hands fly up in surrender, she kisses his cheek and goes to the kitchen. I grab Jack and pull him to the couch. I take off my pen and put it on the end table, I take off the hoodie as I want to feel Jack. Then I finally cuddle up into Jack's chest, his arms wrapping around my waist. I notice my dad staring at Jack, when Jack catches on he removes his hands.

"Dad, knock it off," I say and grab Jack's hand. "It's okay, he's just trying to intimidate you, don't let him."

My dad huffs but turns to the television. Jack's hands wrap back around my waist, and without realizing it I go back to sleep, curled against my boyfriend whom I love so damn much.

—

My mom calls me from the kitchen, that's how I wake up. I blink a few times, then stretch out my legs.

"Mac, Jack, can you come here please?" my mom calls from the kitchen.

I look up at Jack, he's smiling. He's been smiling a lot recently. He moves his arms and I stretch as I stand up. He stands after me and we go into the kitchen.

My mom's whisking something in a bowl. "Mac, can you set the table? Jack, can you help me out with this?"

Jack goes to my mom's aid and I head to the cabinets. I grab 3 plates and head to the table. I set up my mom, my dad, and me, and I forgot about Jack. I head back to the cabinet, but I forget to shut it this time, and my shoulder runs right into it. I gasped and almost dropped the plate.

Jack quickly turns to me and grabs me, examining me. I sink to my knees, he goes down with me.

"I'm fine," I grind my teeth and set the plate on the counter. My shoulder starts throbbing. I look up and see it was the corner that jabbed my arm. "Pen, Jack, pen," I say while squeezing my fist, touching my arm will only cause more pain.

He's suddenly up on his feet and dashing out of the kitchen, within 5 seconds he's with me again and puts the pen in my hand. That football running comes in handy. I lean against him as I breathe in the contents. He rubs circles along my back, holding me gently. My father comes in asking what happened, crouching next to me. I take another breath and hold it, I release the vapor and turn to my shoulder. I lift the half sleeve and see a bruise forming against my scar.

"Dad, refill, please," I say through heavy breaths and hand him my pen.

My mom takes his place, "what have I told you about taking it off? What if you weren't home and forgot it here, how could we help you?"

"It's heavy, can't sleep with it on. Not now, Mom, please."

She shakes her head but stands and heads back to the food. She knows I'll be okay, and we both know that Jack will help me. I grab onto Jack, waiting for the vapor to start functioning.

"Are you okay Mac?"

"I will be, I need a few minutes. I need it to kick in."

He reluctantly holds me closer as if he'd make it worse. "What's in the pen?"

"Medical marijuana," I sigh. "Mines in oil packets I can put in the pen, so it's easier to take on the go when I need it. It's heavy, I don't like sleeping with it, so I took it off. I just forgot to put it back on."

He stops asking questions and just waits for me to be ready to walk around again. My father comes back with a filled pen, and I take an immediate breath. When I am finally ready, I grab onto Jack's arm as support, he helps stand me up and then helps me sit at the table.

I try to start setting the table again, but he makes me stay seated and tell him where everything is. When he's done I grab his arm and pull him towards me.

"Thank you," I start. He crouched down to be at eye level with me. "I know you're confused, but I'll tell you soon, I promise. Thank you."

I grab his face and kiss him, not long or deep, after all my mom is right there, but enough. Anything with Jack is enough. I stop and make him sit next to me. I talked to him more, as I let the marijuana set into my system until my mom was ready. She wanted to make sure Jack had no allergies. He doesn't which I take note of. My mom and him get into a conversation, about school, work, family, anything and everything.

"So, how long have you liked our Mac?" my mom asks.

"Mom," I say in a warning tone.

"What? I'm curious. Last night you looked like you were on the edge of tears about this boy, and now he's your boyfriend. I thought you said nothing was gonna happen between you two, so now I'm curious."

Jack looks at me, curious, and concerned. "What does she mean Mac," He grabs my hands.

I sigh. "Last night I was gonna drop you for good. I loved you too much and I thought it was pointless and painful, so I was going to cut you and the guys out. For good. But I couldn't do it, not after we talked in the car on the way to the park. I just couldn't do it, and I'm glad I didnt."

He wraps me in his arms and kisses the top of my head.

"I'm glad you didnt too. Not like I would've let you go that easily. I finally got you to talk to me, you think I would let you just say bye and go?" He chuckled.

I laugh, squeezing him again. I look over at my mom, she's grinning. I close my eyes. Jack lets go of me and turns to my mom.

"I've liked Mac since he visited me in the hospital, I just didnt know what I felt was me liking him. Honestly, I was against liking him at first. My parents are not the most supportive of queer people, and I didnt know how my friends would react, so I reacted poorly to my own feelings. But last night, I couldn't avoid my feelings anymore, and I asked Mac to be my boyfriend. My friends are supportive, very supportive, they pushed me to realize my feelings. I'm glad they did. My grandma loves Mac so much, she was very happy when I told her we were together. I'm not ready to open up to my parents yet, But I'm very happy with Mac, and that's all I need.

"I won't lie, ma'am, I'm not the proudest of my past. I didnt know what I wanted in relationships, and I didn't even know what love was. I have a messy past with relationships. I went back and forth, I guess looking for something I truly liked and loved. And then I was stupid and approached Mac with not the best intentions. But as time went on, I started thinking differently and acting differently. I used to get into a lot of fights, I was hard-headed, and I know sometimes I still am, but I've seen myself change. My friends have seen me change. I have Mac to thank. If I didn't approach him, even if it was for the stupidest reason in the world, I'm very glad I did. I really like your son, and I really appreciate everything he's done for me."

My mom steps away from the bowl and pulls Jack into a hug. His face looks stunned again, I make a note to ask him later. He slowly hugs her back, almost afraid to make the wrong move. Eventually, my mom lets go first, cupping his face.

"You are a good kid Jack, I know you dont mean to hurt others. You seem pretty smart, and you seem willing to be the best person you can be."