But you didn't have to cut me off

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing

And I don't even need your love

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough

~ Somebody that I Used to Know, Gotye

((BIG HUGE PSA: This chapter is in no way, shape, or form a reflection of my views on the LGBTQ community. I have probably said it a million times but, given the fact that I have a lot of friends in the community, I am not a homophobe, transphobe, or biphobe. I do, however, have very little respect for people that are homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic. Just know that if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community that I love y'all. Do not be afraid to PM me on Wattpad or Discord if you ever need/want someone to talk to. <3))

Meanwhile in Texas, Rex's family were on edge - all except his mother, of course. She was calmly knitting in a rocking chair by the fire. She wasn't worried; after all, Rex was a man and could take care of himself. And besides, he had gone against all her values as a Christian and a mother when he had so brazenly declared his sexuality over ten years ago. Ten-plus years, and she was still bitter.

Belle, Rex's younger sister, stoked the fire and looked at her mother. "Mama, this is not the 1930s. Being gay is not a crime so stop being a bigot and accept your son for who he is. You had the chance to accept him ten years ago and you damn well blew it."

Martha, Belle, Rex, and their brother Roy's mother, just smirked and kept knitting. "Well, if he hadn't just sprung it on us in the manner that he did, I assure you I would have been much more accepting." Belle just glared at her mother as she continued. "I am not going to apologize for something that I have no control over. He might be my son biologically, but he is not the boy I raised. Not anymore."

Belle glared at her mother as her brother came into the living room. "That's it. I'm leaving. Don't bother going looking for me." She brushed past her brother on the way out.

Roy, the eldest of the Snow children and a well-known archaeologist, walked in as Belle stormed out. "Ma, what the hell just happened? I know both my siblings, and neither of them would just storm out of a room without being pissed off in some way."

Roy, being the eldest of the three children, was always regarded as the golden boy, simply because he was the eldest. In fact, this was the first time she had ever been talked back to by him, so it came as quite a surprise.

"Roy Alexander Snow, what are you on about? Nothing happened that you needed to concern yourself with. Your sister is just fretting about nothing as usual."

Roy shook his head. "This right here; this negative attitude towards the LGBT community that you've cultivated over the years is the exact reason why Rex is glad he moved away and went to medical school. To be honest, I'm glad he got away from you because you've turned into a homophobic monster, and to be quite frank, I don't recognize you anymore."

Martha sighed. "Both you and your sister seem so sure that if I simply apologize to your brother, that that'll magically solve everything."

Roy shook his head. "That's not at all what I was implying, Ma. You hurt him greatly by rejecting him after he came out. He's not gonna just shed all his past trauma - that you caused by the way - just to please the woman that just so happened to have given birth to him." He turned on his heel, only looking back to address her one more time. "Now if you'll excuse me, Mother, I'm going to talk to my sister - your daughter. And if I have to go after Rex too because you don't care enough to, I am not gonna be happy."

Martha sighed. "I just told her I'm not apologizing to your brother for-"

"For something outside of his control? I hate to say it, Ma, but you are becoming a bitter old woman. You can keep rejecting Rex until the cows come home, but don't expect Belle or me to talk to you or regard you as our mother until you do."

Martha just stared in shock. How could he say something like that?

"Roy... as my eldest, I would think you'd have more respect than you seem to at the moment. I still believe that had he not made the choice to-"

Roy whirled around on his mother, rage in defense of his brother in his eyes. "As your eldest, I am defending my brother. Do you think Rex had a choice in this? That's like saying you have a choice to be straight or not. Until you can walk in his shoes or understand what it's like for him to be shunned by the woman who is supposed to be the first woman to show him what love is, I will not be talking to you. I doubt Belle will want to speak to you until that time as well."

Martha sighed. "I will not be apologizing to him for that. When Hell freezes over, that's when I will apologize."

Roy just nodded. "Alright, then I suppose that settles that." He headed towards the door and opened it. "Goodbye, Ma," he said as he stepped through the door, leaving his mother sitting there with her mouth agape.

Belle had walked down the gravel road - her and her brothers' parents lived on a farm, which might or might not have contributed to her brothers' love of dead things and her love of linguistics in some way or another - and kicked rocks as she did so. She had changed into rubber boots and was walking towards the chicken coop located down the road when Roy caught up with her. Compared to his sister, he looked like he had just come from a meeting with important world leaders.

"Belle, wait up!" he yelled after her before catching up. He, as the oldest child, felt it was his duty to sort things out. With Belle living so close, it was easy to repair her relationship with their mother. But most of his concern came for their brother - understandably so since he had been painted as the black sheep for the past decade.

Belle took a minute to stop. "What do you want?" she snapped as she slowed her pace, fiddling with the handle of the egg basket her arm was looped through.

Roy put a hand on his sister's shoulder to stop her, worried about her now more than ever - and even more than that, he was worried about their mother's attitude. He hated to say - or even think - it, but she was certainly not acting like the woman who raised him. As kids, they'd gone to church, they'd had damn near a free reign of the neighborhood when visiting their grandparents, and they'd gotten into lots and lots of trouble. Admittedly, Rex was the worst of them all when it came to shenanigans, but it wasn't like that was entirely a bad thing. It was part of his personality, and one of the things Roy loved most about his brother.

Roy's musings were cut short by his sister speaking up.

"Why is our family so fragmented and broken, Roy?" she asked, turning to look at him with a sad expression plastered on her porcelain features. Oh, how Roy hated to see that look. As diminutive in stature as his sister was, Roy hated seeing her face contorted like this. He shook his head, hugging her softly.

"I don't know, Bluebelle," he said, using the family nickname for her. It was true, he really didn't know what was happening anymore, what with Rex's seemingly abrupt departure from the family, and their other being who she was and showing her true colors after Rex came out. Roy had no time for bigots, and he knew that his siblings didn't either.

Belle hugged her brother back, sighing softly in contentment and comfort. "Thank you so much for listening to me, Roy..." she breathed as she calmed down.

Roy smiled at his little sister, happy to be of some help. "No problem, Belle. You're my sister, and no matter how busy I am, I'll always make time for you." He held her close until she had fully calmed. Somehow, their mother had always brought out the worst in her kids when she decided to be a hag, whether consciously or not.

Belle smiled at her brother and kept walking, eventually reaching the chicken coops. Aside from chickens, they had a herd of cows and a few horses in pastures bordering the main property.

Roy smiled back, knowing that on the one hand, their mother was as good of a person as her love for her kids and her faith allowed her to be, but on the other hand that her dislike - to put it lightly - of the LGBT community caused her to repel the three people who needed her love and support the most. Of course, Roy also knew that this had majorly affected Rex more than it had affected Belle or himself, but it was a chain reaction, and Martha Jean Snow was unfortunately the catalyst. It was honestly a surprise to the eldest son how their brother was even able to go a day without crumbling under the pressure she had been putting him through. He had seen - however briefly - how many times she'd called him today. How many texts she had sent. If Roy was being honest, she was asking for attention and wasn't getting it from Rex - rightfully so, in Roy's mind.

Belle watched as he came into the coop enclosure with her. "Roy, what are you doing? You're going to ruin your suit, and no doubt it cost a lot-" she managed to say before he put up a hand to stop her from speaking further.

"It's fine, Belle. Yes, this suit was expensive; no, I am not worried about it. I mean, not as worried as you, but I do appreciate the concern."

Belle smiled at her brother. "You sure you're alright with getting yourself dirty? I don't want you to ruin a perfectly good suit for my sake."

Roy let out a hearty chuckle. "I might be a well-known archaeologist who dresses like a businessman half the time, but dear sister, you forget I was also raised on this very farm. Gettin' dirty is in my blood."

Belle chuckled as well. "You know what? You're right." She smiled at her brother. "If only Rex were here, huh?"

Roy nodded. "Ma would have a hell of a time trying to get him to comply with her wishes," he said. "Have you tried calling him recently? I know Ma has, but we both know how that's gone over."

"Like a pot left to boil," Belle said.

Roy sighed. "As unfortunate as the entire situation is, that's how life currently is for our beloved brother. I say we go to the police department, find out where he is and solve this."

Belle shook her head. "I don't see that as an option, and I doubt Rex will either. He might not be a totally private person, but I'm sure he wouldn't like his siblings just barging in, you know what I mean?"

Roy solemnly nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I mean, we could at least send him a text to reassure him that we're here for him no matter what."

The siblings gave each other a look that told the other that they were thinking the exact same thing, and they headed back to the house together.