Music - Secrets by One Republic

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Todd

Mom settled on her seat as soon as she finished making breakfast. Like the usual, dad was casually reading the daily newspaper while having small talks with mom. These past few days, both of them would always ask how me during breakfast how I was the other day as I barely joined them for dinner anymore.

Spending an entire day at school, preparing myself physically and mentally for the playoffs, and meeting deadlines for my school projects by getting them all done in time as soon as I reached home, I couldn't meet them downstairs for dinner anymore because I knew it would take awhile. Mom and dad loved to talk a lot and I always made sure they knew what I had been doing.

But recently, I had been keeping secrets from them. I didn't want to deal with them possibly not being tolerant about the fact that I wasn't born straight. We never had those kinds of conversation so I didn't know their opinions about it. Eventually, they would have to know.

"Mom, dad, does the name Natalia Rodrigo ring a bell to you?" I asked as I remembered Tony telling me her mom used to go to Dixons high and she was also one of the graduates of batch 1974.

Mom and dad stared at each other and soon returned their gaze to me. "Why yes, honey. Lia's my best friend in high school." Mom said and I was astonished by the newly found information. She then went on, "Oh goodness, I miss that ginger. How'd you know about her?"

"You know that friend I was helping out with their maths that I told you about last week?" I reminded them as I continued, "well I had a small talk with her brother and I found out their mom went to Dixons High during the years you were there. Their mom's name is Natalia Rodrigo."

"Oh my god, it's been years since the last time I saw her and Dalton." Mom said and I knew she wanted to know more about Tony and Joanne's parents and how they were as she stopped touching her food. "Your dad and I are actually godparents of their little baby boy...what's his name again? I think it's Anton?"

"It's actually Anthony Javier, dear." Dad corrected mom and they both chuckled and made jokes about how growing old could be rough on people's memories. "I could still remember Dalton telling us he wanted the name Anthony but Lia wanted Javier so they ended up giving their son both names."

'Javier sounds pretty sexy.' I thought to myself.

"Lia's actually the reason why I met Sally," Dad told me as he playfully caressed mom in the cheeks. "I could still remember how embarrassed your mom was when Lia told me her best friend got the hots for me." He added, receiving a light punch on the shoulder from my mom.

Apparently, Tony's mom was the reason why I happened.

Mom gasped as she held the sleeves of dad's suit. "We have to invite them for dinner!" She said, her face bright with excitement. "I miss her so much! I am such a terrible godparent. The last time I talked to them was during little Tony's Christening."

It would've had been a great plan, but knowing that it wouldn't be happening ever, I suddenly regretted asking my parents about Tony's mom. Seeing how excited my mom was, I was worried that I might be ruining her morning once I broke the news that her best friend and her husband were gone.

"Um..." I licked my lips and with a sigh, I told them, "Mom, dad, Lia and her husband's been dead for almost six years."

It was painful to see how their faces fell from grinning with excitement to somewhat a look a shock and confusion. There was silence at the dining table and mom nor dad dared to touch their food.

It was soon cut off as dad released a loud and long sigh. "Well, how are their kids? I didn't know they had another one." Dad asked, not wanting to spoil our breakfast. I could tell mom was still processing what I just said and it seemed like I already ruined her morning. He continued, "We never really got a chance to talk to them after they moved to Australia."

"I'm gonna go to my room and rest for awhile." Mom excused herself and left me and dad at the table.

I sighed and looked at dad. He shook his head and told me not to worry. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," I said. "Now she's upset in this time of day."

"No, Todd. It's fine. Don't think about it too much." Dad reassured me as he signaled me to finish my food. "I'll talk to your mom before I leave later."

"Thanks, dad."

"You know what, why don't you invite Anthony and her little sister over on Saturday?" Dad said as he stood from his seat and went to put his plate on the sink. "I think Sally will love to see how Lia's kids have been. I do too."

I smiled and nodded. "I'll tell them," I said.

•••

Our last class of the day had just ended. Hollie, Phil decided to stay with me under a tree near the school oval while I wait for 4:30 pm to strike. My friends were both leaning against the tree and I was lying on the grass, my head resting on Hollie's lap.

My body was still a little sore from yesterday's practice as I didn't get enough sleep last night. Hollie and I stayed at Joanne's until 10:00, and the traffic was awful so I made it home around a quarter to twelve. I couldn't sleep without finishing a homework in my English Literature class. "This is all your fault." I pinched Hollie's nose and stretched myself on the warm dry grass.

"I didn't ask you to stay with us last night," Hollie said as she played with my hair. She loved my curls and how tight they were while she constantly whined about hers as she had to curl them every day. "I do know how to drive my car."

"So how did it go?" Phil asked. "Was Joanne interested with that gala ball crap that you were talking about?"

"Interested is an understatement, dude," Hollie replied. "She was really excited. We spent the whole night coming up with a design. She was awesome."

I chuckled as I shook my head. "Not as excited as you are when James from the wrestling team asked you for prom last year," I smirked, patting her cheek in the process. "The morning after prom was the best."

"OMG, James is such a prude!" Phil mocked Hollie while I cracked myself up at how on-point he mimicked her back when she complained about James not wanting to sleep with her when she was very much ready to lose her virginity to him.

"Needy little bitch." I laughed.

Hollie rolled her eyes, "How's that 'ant bite' by the way Todd?" It was her turn to smirk, as she touched the part of my neck where Gray's love bite was. "At least I don't lie about getting a huge ass hickey from an imaginary huge ass ant."

"Well, it's really none of your business to know who did this," I said.

She groaned in annoyance. "You see, I tell you guys the boys I date yet I don't hear anything from you."

"You're seeing someone, Phil?" I asked him and he nodded.

"Yup," He said, not bothering to share more details as he busied himself with his Gameboy. He then added, "She goes here and she's hot, I'll give you that."

"Come on, dude, who is it?" I continued to ask him as I was curious to know who he was going out with. He wasn't at all this secretive when he was dating his first girlfriend, Danielle.

Phil released an exasperated sigh as he put his Gameboy down. "I'll tell you if you tell us who did that." He grinned, playing mind games with me. He knew I wouldn't tell them. "Your mom even called last Saturday and asked how you are. Apparently, we have a sleepover at my place? You're not so slick at all."

"I don't have to tell you guys who it is. You don't know...her." I told them.

"We know a lotta people, Todd," Phil smirked as he raised his brow. "Seriously, who is she?"

"Hey guys," I heard Gray's voice and saw him walking near our place.

"Hey man, sup?" Phil beamed high fiving Gray when he offered his hand.

"Oh by the way guys, I'm heading off. I'll be dropping by at Silk 'N Threads to see Jojo." Hollie said as she took her bag while I finally got up from the grass, "Ciao."

"I'm gonna go too." Phil fixed his things, draping his coat on his shoulder. "Got a date with my girl at the drive-in at six." He said as he left before Hollie even did.

"See you around, boys." Hollie finally took off and Gray and I made our way to the court.

"They've been asking about this stupid hickey on my neck," I told him and he just laughed. I tilted my head and showed him the bruise as we walked. "It's still noticeable."

"That's what you get for not returning the favor. You fell asleep, Hitcher and I needed to get off." Gray grinned and leaned his arm on my shoulder. "You also lost the bet so you have to grant my wish."

I shrugged, shaking my head as I wondered what Gray would ask from me. I knew for sure it wouldn't be an object since he could almost buy anything he wanted. "Well, what do you have in mind?"

"You know, I want to go to a place where there are lots of people like us." He told me.

"Is this place the Neverland?" I chuckled as he grinned. "And is this place filled with pixie dust and unlimited rainbows?"

"I've heard about this place just an hour and a half drive away from home." He said and I could see the auditorium from afar. "It's called ROY G'BIV. I wanna go there next week and you're going with me."

"ROY G'BIV?" I asked, suddenly picturing the seven of colors in a rainbow. It was an obvious choice of a name for an LGBT-friendly place. I smirked as I continued,"And I already came with you."

"Not really. You did, I didn't because you passed out." He rolled his eyes. "I just need you to go with me. I just wanna be myself in public for one night."

"Well, I'll go with you if you tell me what this place is first."

"It's just a nightclub," He said and added, "don't worry, I'll take care of our fake IDs."

I heaved a sigh and stared at Gray in disbelief. I told him, "Gray, you know I hate parties. A club's worse than that."

"You don't have a choice, Hitcher. You lost the bet, remember?" Gray smirked, patting my hair with his palm. "I promise, you'll be home before midnight."

I didn't really have any issues with curfews. As long as my parents knew where I was going, and they knew it was a safe place, they didn't mind me going home late. A nightclub wasn't exactly a place where parents would want their kids to be going in, but I guess I could lie about it.

I shrugged and told Gray I would go. "Anyway, you got a cig there?" I asked him, wanting to try another stick after last Saturday night. I loved how minty it felt when I puffed smoke through my nostrils. I rest assured, "Don't worry, I won't smoke here."

"I don't have one, Hitcher," Gray replied. "I only smoke in my room."

"Well, I suppose I can buy a pack from a convenience store."

"Not really. You have to be eighteen to buy one. I ask our guard, John, for mine." He explained as we arrived at the court. "I can hand you a pack tomorrow."

"Thanks." I smiled.

Before Gray and I head straight to the locker room, coach Strauss called my name as well as the new recruits to his spot on the bleachers. "Your uniforms just arrived today." He informed us as my gaze landed on the pile of plastic-covered maroon jerseys on the coach's side. Coach Strauss then began to announce our names, until he finally called mine, holding my uniform in his hands. "Hitcher, you're number five."

As soon as I got mine, I went to sit on the bleachers and checked my uniform out. It had our school's colors - it was maroon and gold while the letters were rubberized and white. I checked the back and I grinned when I saw my name, 'Hitcher' printed on it in capital letters just above my number, five.

"Nice," I whispered to myself.

--- End of Chapter 11 ---

Author's Note:

This is one of the shortest chapters so far (next to chapter two). I thought I delivered the message that needed to be delivered so I'm pretty satisfied.

What do you think about Tony and Todd's moms turning out to be best friends in high school? Todd getting fond of smoking? Honest opinions are very much welcome. Cheers!