TWENTY-ONE GETTING THERE

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Arriving back home after the whole ordeal with plans to return later that night to look for the gold felt surreal. Alisha seemed to be fuming as she stormed up to Norman's room without so much of a word to his parents which she was usually an absolute angel to as she waited for the boy to follow her up. As soon as he closed the door to his bedroom, it was like a bomb went off within the girl.

"What the fuck?" she exclaimed, a bewildered expression written all along her face, "That's what you've been doing this whole time? Looking for fucking buried treasure? I thought you guys were just like getting drunk and going surfing or something, but a fucking treasure hunt? Breaking into some psycho old lady's house? What other shit have you gotten yourself into, Rocky? You have always been so smart and careful about everything, I never expected some shit like this from you. All this dangerous shit for a boy? Seriously?"

The boy stayed silent until she was done, letting her get everything out that she needed to. He could imagine this was a lot to take in for the girl, which he understood completely. He wasn't exactly partaking in normal rebellious teen activities not to mention he had managed to keep this a secret from all of his friends so there had to be some sort of shock there. After a moment of silence, he realized she was looking for answers.

He shrugged, "I kind of got involved by... accident. Uh, I mean, I ran into John B that day after we went out on the boat and James... you know. Then, we ran from two random guys with a gun, ran into the Sheriff, that was terrifying, then we went back to his and he figured something out and we went to get everybody else. Then, we broke into a mausoleum where we found a message for John B from his dad and it kind of became a whole thing so now I guess I'm just kind of stuck in it. Then there's all the weird sexual tension with John B that's making everything about ten times worse because every time our skin even brushes it's like some fucking electricity shoots through my veins --"

"You're going on a gay tangent, shut up," she cut him off before he could keep rambling, "just... why? Why him? And why hide this from us? Listen, I don't mean to shit on you for your taste in men, but seriously, Rocky. What is it about John B?"

"If I knew, you'd be the first person I tell," he sighed, "But honestly, I don't know. There's just something about him... about us together. It just feels right, you know? Maybe I sound like an idiot, I probably shouldn't fall in love with the first boy to kiss me but I just --"

"Hold on, love?"

Norman shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe. I've never been in love. Can you even be in love with someone you've never actually dated? I mean, our timeline is so fucked up and through all of it, we've never managed to actually be together. I mean, we kissed once and spent a year of our lives hating each other and now all those feelings are blending into something else and I don't know if I've loved him the whole time or if I'm just infatuated with him because he's paying attention to me. I've never had to worry about having feelings like this because I never felt anything with girls. This is all so new and..."

"Terrifying?" Alisha offered with a half-smile as she walked over to the boy and grabbed his hands gently, intertwining their fingers absentmindedly, looking up into his eyes, "Rocky, baby, you'll know if you love him. I know it sounds cheesy especially since we're all teenagers and everything is so confusing and there's so much stupid drama going on, but just don't be afraid to love him."

Maybe he's an idiot to do all of this and be so conflicted over a boy who probably didn't even feel anything for him. Norman had to be kidding himself. He knew by now he was a fool, he just didn't expect it to feel so jarring.

"I think I'm in love with him... or at least... getting there," he admitted with a disastrous sigh. "All of this is so confusing, Alisha, I don't know what I'm doing. All I know is that he doesn't want me. I'm a fool chasing a pipe dream, don't you get that?"

"Rocky, baby, when has he ever told you he didn't want you?" the girl asked with a tone that sounded almost desperate, "It's like your trimming your own wings just as you're learning to fly, you're not even giving yourself a chance."

He groaned, "Enough with stupid metaphors, Alisha! I'm not some stupid baby bird about to leave the nest! I'm a teenager who finally figured out he's gay only to get slapped with heartbreak and drama as soon as I realize that! Do you know how hard this has been for me? I am overthinking everything I have ever said or done and every time I'm around him, it gets even worse! You have no idea what this is like for me right now! You've always known who you are and been proud of it. You've never been not wanted. You have no idea what I'm going through so stop trying."

The girl stepped back, likely not expecting the outburst from Norman. He didn't know where all of those emotions were coming from, but as soon as he opened his mouth they didn't stop spilling out. He didn't mean to hurt Alisha, but judging by the look in her eyes, intentions didn't matter anymore.

She was painstakingly silent for a moment as she crossed her arms and avoided his desperate eyes like the plague. Her voice was beginning to break as she said, "Just don't forget who's been there for you this whole time. Have fun on your fucking treasure hunt."

He barely was able to blink before she was gone. Norman fell back to sit on his bed as he put his head in his hands. God, he felt like such fuck up. He had gone and screamed at the one person he was closest to, like a total asshole. Before he knew it, he was crying. Fucking things up with Alisha was the last thing he ever wanted to do, yet here he was. Alone. Maybe he deserved to be alone after all of this.

A minute or so of solitude passed before there was a gentle knock on the half-open door Alisha had left through moments ago. For a second, Norman hoped it was the girl coming back so he could apologize, but as he met his mother's eyes he knew he had no such luck.

"What do you want?" he snapped at the woman before sighing, "Sorry, sorry. Uh, what's up?"

"I couldn't help but overhear..." the woman drawled as she entered the room at sat next to her son on his bed. Gently, she wrapped an arm around his shoulders and squeezed him in a soft side hug, "Is there... anything you want to tell me? I wanna give you a chance to... you know."

"I'm gay," Norman admitted with little hesitation. He was fairly sure his mom could feel how badly he was shaking, but it was too late to turn back now. "Is that what you wanted to hear? Because it's true."

"Is it bad if I say I had a feeling?" the woman laughed gently, which wasn't the reaction Norman expected. The boy shrugged and she continued speaking, her voice sweet and careful, "Thank you for telling me, Norman. I know.. well, judging by what I overheard, this has been hard for you. Just know you'll always have a home here no matter who you're bringing home, okay? I'd love to meet this boy toy of yours, too."

Norman laughed quietly, scoffing as he shook his head, "Yeah, I don't think he'll be coming around too much. I'm pretty sure I have royally screwed things over with him, but I don't know. Boys are idiots."

She nodded, "Absolutely, why do you think I was terrified when I found out you were gonna be a boy? At least, now I know you can't end up getting anyone pregnant. I guess I should have known considering Alisha practically lives here and you guys never ended up getting together, huh?"

"Why does everyone think Alisha and I were gonna end up together?" Norman asked with a small laugh, "She's too short, I'd break my neck trying to kiss her. Besides, it's Alisha. It'd be like kissing my sister."

"Yeah, you two certainly are lucky to have found each other," his mom said with a smile, "and Norman, if this boy doesn't love you, then he is an idiot. Remember that."

"Okay, okay," he sighed, "I love you."

The woman smiled and pressed a kiss to her son's forehead as she stood, "I love you, too."

happy pride month here's norman coming out to his mom! also, if you support pride but don't support black lives matter just remember it was a black trans woman who threw the first brick at stonewall so you look like a fucking clown!