Dear journal,
Scott gladly drove me home the next day. I even got myself a kiss goodbye. He made sure no one saw, though, which I was thankful for. He walked me to my door and everything. He made me feel so happy. Everything finally seems to be okay now. No one is arguing, everybody is finding someone. I have Scott, Avi and Jackson seem to be working, Kirstie and Malory, Kevin and Esther. The only thing I had to do now was see where my friendship stood with Alex, then work my hardest to get him and Jake together.
-M

--

"A bathroom, Stephanie," I complain. "Our first kiss was in a bathroom!" I exclaim. "Talk about being unromantic," I sigh. Stephanie chuckled.

"I'll have you know, young man, that Mike and I's first kiss was in an Arby's, and look at us now!" She says happily. "Stronger than ever." I smiled at her.

She genuinely was a really nice and humble person. Ever since my mom was sent away from us, I've used Stephanie as my punching bag. I took everything out on her, and looking back, she just let me do it. She didn't fight back, or yell at me, she just...let me be rude to her. Looking back at everything that's happened recently, Stephanie has actually been there for me and all I've done is shut her out. My smile fell almost immediately at the thought. I suddenly stood up and wrapped her into the tightest hug I possibly could. She definitely seemed a little startled.

"Steph, I'm so sorry," I say to her. "I've been such a hassle ever since my mom left, and I've taken everything out on you. I'm so sorry," I say yet again. "Why would you let me?" I ask. "You should've stopped me, put me in my place-"

"Honey, take a seat," she says to me. I take a deep breathe and sit back down. She grabs my hand. "I know what it's like to lose your own mother, I went through it. When I first met my step-mom, I was so angry. I did the same thing. I was rude and cruel and just so hard to deal with. But you know what? She taught me that it is okay to move on, and it's okay to accept what has happened. That's why I want to teach you, darling. And the only way to do that, is to give you time to accept," she says with a smile.

"I know I used to say that I'll never see you as my mom, and that I'd never act like you were mine, but you're the closest thing I've got," I say truthfully. "And to be honest, you aren't my mother. You're just...Steph. Nothing is better than having a Steph. I'm so thankful for you," I say. I watched Stephanie tear up, wiping away her tears.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that," she says, no longer stopping her tears when she wrapped me into another hug. "I'm so proud of who you have become and I'm just so happy to be able to live this life with you Mike. You two are my family," she continues.

"I love you, Steph," I say. We both flinched when we felt a hand touch our backs, but it only took us a second to figure out that it was my dad, who was crying just like Steph an I, turning our normal hug into a group hug.

"Oh my," my dad says softly. "Mitch, I don't think I have ever been this happy before," he says, pulling back and wiping at his tears. "We are finally coming together!" He cheers. "One, united family. Next step is for you to get yourself a loving wife and get us some grandchildren!" He exclaims happily. Stephanie and I both went silent as we watched him.

"Maybe someday," Stephanie said softly, looking to. I looked at her and nodded. It was time. I knew my dad loved me, why would he think of me different? "Are you sure?" Stephanie asks me. I nod again. She took a deep breathe and left the two of us alone.

"What happened?" My dad asks. "Is it something I said?" I smiled shyly and shook my head.

"No, dad," I say. "I actually have to tell you something, and it's really hard for me, and Stephanie already knows. I'm sorry I told her before you, I didn't even mean to, it just happened-"

"You're gay," he says simply with a smile. I looked at him in shock. He chuckled and hugged me. "Oh, boy, I knew that. I figured since you didn't want to tell me, I'd tell you what you wanted me to believe. You know, that's why I talk about you and your soon-to-be 'wife'," he says.

"I-uh, don't know what to say, dad," I say honestly. "Umm, thank you? I think?" He chuckles and pats my back.

"I know you better than you know yourself, son. And now I know that you probably want to  go to your room now to escape any further confrontation," he explains. I chuckle, watching as my dad motioned for me to go. I hugged him quickly before skipping into my room, falling onto my bed.

What just happened? I had just come out to my dad, I think. But it doesn't seem weird, or awkward at all. I smiled and picked up my phone, searching through my contacts until I found Scott. It rang twice before he picked up the phone.

"Mr. Hoying speakin'. Can I help you?" He answers. I chuckle to myself.

"You're a dork," I joke. I heard a soft giggle from the other line.

"What's up?" He questions. "If you're callin' because you want to hang out, then I'll pick you up in twenty minutes," he says. I smile.

"You know, I might take you up on that deal," I say. "Called you for something else, though."

"Hmm?" He mumbles. "And what's that?"

"I just came out to my dad," I smile. I heard Scott cheer from the other line.

"Mitchy!" He exclaims. "I'm so proud of you! How'd he take it?"

"Actually, he did it for me," I chuckle. "I told him that I needed to talk to him, and he literally guessed it first try. Guess I'm not very good at hiding."

"Obviously not, anyone could guess that you're gay," he says. "That's like a teacher handin' you a test and the only question is 'name?' It's impossible to get wrong," he jokes. My jaw dropped, but obviously he couldn't see that.

"I'm not that gay," I say in defense.

"Babe, you are that gay," he replies. "Now, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"I thought you said twenty?" I question.

"You're right, see you in ten."