Fractured Fragments Pt.1 (BoyXBoy)

33: Headliner

*Chris POV*

As we woke up to the gentle glow of morning light, I noticed a flood of messages blinking on our phones, all from Tyler's mom. She seemed resolute in her determination to untangle the situation, urging Tyler to stay with me if my parents would permit it. My mind struggled to shake off the remnants of sleep, but Tyler was up and already on his way to the bathroom to talk to his mom. I nestled in bed, pulling the covers up to my chin and rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

Moments later, Tyler emerged from the bathroom, his expression a complex interplay of happiness and melancholy. I could hardly contain my curiosity.

"How did the conversation go?" I inquired, my concern evident.

A mix of emotions played across his face as he responded, "Well, she's seriously considering kicking out my dad. Divorce might be on the table."

My heart sank for him. "Tyler, I never meant for any of this to unravel like this," I confessed, the weight of guilt pressing down on me.

He rushed to reassure me, his voice gentle but firm, "Chris, you have nothing to do with this mess. Please don't blame yourself."

I bit my lip, conflicted. "It's just that if we hadn't become close, you wouldn't have had to come out in the first place," I mumbled, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and regret.

He chuckled softly, a warm sound that somehow eased the tension in the room. "I'm pretty sure I would've been gay with or without you."

"True, I suppose," I agreed, a small smile tugging at my lips. "But I can't help but feel sorry that you're caught up in all of this."

With a playful grin, Tyler sauntered over to the bed, dramatically flopping down on top of me. I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Tyler, knock it off!" I protested, playfully trying to push him away.

"I can't I'm dead" he said theatrically, his eyes dancing with mischief. After a comical moment of him pretending to be "dead," he gradually pushed himself upright, his gaze locking onto mine. Without a word, he leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a gentle, reassuring kiss.

Reluctantly, I broke away, my sense of responsibility kicking in. "Alright, as much as I'd love to stay like this, we've got to get ready for school," I reminded him, a hint of regret in my voice.

I rose from bed and made my way to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Tyler headed back to his place to prepare for the day. Thankfully, his dad had already left for work, sparing us from any awkward encounters.

Stepping into the shower, I let the water wake me up, washing away any remaining traces of sleep. After drying off and getting dressed, I headed downstairs to find my mom in the kitchen, brewing coffee.

"Morning. How'd you sleep?" she asked, her concern evident.

"Okay, I guess," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Feeling well enough for school today?" she inquired further.

"Yeah, I think so. Just still really tired," I admitted, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to shake off the weariness.

"That's good to hear," she said, turning her attention to me. Then, her expression grew serious. "Honey, I don't want you to get upset, but... I'd like to see your arms," she said gently.

My heart seized in my chest, and confusion knitted my brow. "What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.

"I know this might be difficult, but I need to make sure you're not continuing that behavior," she explained, her tone filled with a mix of worry and empathy.