Later that evening our parents were gathered inside to celebrate the return of Aunt Aria and Uncle Daniel, Liam's parents. We didn't want to get involved with adult business so we ran out to my secret hideout in moms garden. This was the place I would go to when I was feeling lonely or when I needed a quiet place to think.
"Isn't it nice for all of us to be together like the old times," Evelyn stated as we all sat in the grass under the blossom tree, "you're right, it brings old memories of when we had no worries." Charlotte added, "I missed this place so much." Helena said as a blossom fell into her palm. I couldn't agree more, being here with my friends brought back so many memories that were almost lost. With them next to me I walked around like I don't have a care in the world.
"But the real thing here is, them!" Evelyn exclaimed as she got up and pointed at me and Liam, "Huh?" I questioned her, "Stop being stupid Lucas, admit it already!" She remarked, "We can't live on like this anymore!" "We have to clear things out now!" She stated, "I agree, we can't let what happened two years ago ruin you guys' relationship!" Helena added as she stood next to Evelyn, "First of all what happened two years ago was a full mistake, it was never my intention to do that with him! We were both under the influence and we occupied each other That's it!" I blurted out making everyone silent. "I and Liam are both guys for god's sake, we can't and we will never have that kind of relationship." I said as I stood up but as I was about to walk away, "Do you mean everything we did meant nothing to you?" Liam asked.
I paused, my heart sinking at the pain in Liam's voice. Turning back to face him, I met his gaze, searching for the right words to convey my true feelings.
"Liam," I began softly, "what I meant is that our actions were a mistake, but they don't define our relationship or who we are as individuals. What happened was a result of poor judgment and being under the influence, but it was never an expression of any romantic or genuine feelings between us."
"I do like you Liam, but I don't want to disappoint the people around me." "Helena, Charlotte, and Evelyn are my witness. I'm restless because of you, but there is nothing I can do, I'm a guy and you're a guy we can't be in that type of relationship." I said as I grabbed his hand, "Who cares about what people say the only that matters is our feelings." He remarked.
(As the girls, Helena, Charlotte, and Evelyn, exchanged glances and noticed the sincerity in Liam's words, they decided to respect their friend's feelings and leave Liam and his companion alone. They quietly excused themselves and discreetly retreated, giving the two guys some privacy.)
We both stood with our hands intertwined. Our eyes met, conveying a mix of longing, vulnerability, and determination. It was clear that our connection went beyond societal expectations and norms.
Feeling the weight of the moment, Liam took a deep breath and spoke softly, "Lucas, I've been struggling with this for a long time. I've tried to suppress these feelings, thinking they were wrong or that they would only bring disappointment. But being with you, feeling your touch, it's undeniable that my heart has found solace in your presence."
Lucas suddenly withdrew his hands from Liam and ran back inside. Once he got inside he ran up to his room and slammed the door behind him. He slumped into his bed and covered his face with a pillow. He couldn't take it anymore, all he wanted was to disappear forever. How could he face Liam now? How would Liam react after confessing his love for him? So many questions were running through his head but there were no answers.
Downstairs:
"What's wrong with Lucas?" Love asked the girls, the girls looked at each other and scratched their heads. "Nothing!" They all replied in unison, "Where's Liam?" Aria asked, the girls shrugged their shoulders and ran outside. "You guys continue I'll check on him." Love said as she went up to his room.
As Love entered Lucas' room, she found him lying face down on his bed, shoulders trembling with silent sobs. She walked over and sat gently beside him, placing a comforting hand on his back.
"What's wrong Lucas?" She asked, "I don't want to talk about it Mom" His words muffled, "I'm your mother for god's sake, Lucas, so tell me what's on your mind." She said, Lucas shook his head refusing to tell her. Love sighed as he gave up and walked out of the room.
"Is he okay?" Elizabeth asked, "Don't worry about him, he's just going through that teenage phase." Love replied.
As the evening progressed, the atmosphere inside the house seemed joyous, but Lucas couldn't shake off the weight of the emotions that had come to the surface. He remained withdrawn during the rest of the celebration, trying his best to put on a facade of normalcy.
Meanwhile, Liam was confused and hurt by Lucas' sudden retreat. He tried to give him some space, assuming that Lucas needed time to process everything that had just been revealed. Liam couldn't help but wonder if he had ruined their friendship by confessing his feelings.
The next day, Lucas and Liam barely spoke to each other. The tension between them was palpable, and both felt the strain of their unspoken emotions. The girls, Helena, Charlotte, and Evelyn, noticed the change in their friends and decided to intervene.
Later in the day, they gathered in Evelyn's living room for a heart-to-heart talk. "We can't just let this go on like this," Evelyn said, "Lucas and Liam are hurting, and we need to help them work through their feelings."
Charlotte nodded in agreement. "They've been best friends for years, and their bond is strong. It's clear that they care deeply for each other."
Helena added, "Maybe they're just scared of facing the judgment and challenges that come with being in a same-sex relationship. But if they truly have feelings for each other, they deserve a chance to explore that."
With their determination fueled by love and concern, the girls came up with a plan. They decided to arrange a casual gathering, just the six of them, at Lucas' secret hideout in his mom's garden—the same place where everything had come to light.
The day of the gathering arrived, and the sun cast a warm glow over the garden. The girls had arranged everything with care, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere under the blossom tree.
As Lucas and Liam arrived separately, they were surprised to see the girls already there, waiting for them. Evelyn smiled warmly and gestured for them to join the circle. "Come on, guys, have a seat. Let's all talk and clear the air."
Lucas and Liam exchanged nervous glances but sat down, unable to resist the genuine concern in their friends' eyes. Charlotte started the conversation, speaking gently but firmly. "We can all see that something has changed between you two. And we want to help you figure it out."
Helena chimed in, "We care about both of you, and we can't stand to see you suffer in silence. Whatever happened in the past doesn't define your friendship or your potential for a deeper connection."
Evelyn added, "Love and acceptance should always come first, regardless of societal norms. And it's okay to explore your feelings for each other without fear of judgment."
Lucas and Liam remained silent, taking in their friends' words. Finally, Lucas spoke up, "I didn't mean to cause this rift between us. I just can't handle any of this." "I truly like Liam but as a friend, what we did back then didn't mean anything to none of us. Right Liam" Liam nervously looked at the others and nodded his head. "Right, what happened meant nothing at all and we're just good friends. So you guys don't have to do all of this." He stated his voice sounding hurt. Lucas got up from the circle and walked away. "Lucas and I will forever be friends nothing more," Liam said hurt as he also got up and walked away.
In the aftermath of the emotional gathering, the girls were left feeling disappointed, but they understood that Lucas and Liam needed more time to process their feelings. They decided to give them space while also subtly providing support.
To be continued