Cliche (Lams)

Twenty Two

Alec Pov
I came home with a grin on my face. I sat on the couch and twiddled my thumbs.

"What's got you so happy?" Martha asked in a peppy voice.

"I have a date on Friday!" I told her happily.

"Oh Alec! I'm so proud of you! What's the lucky girls name?" She asked. "Boy." I corrected.

"I'm gonna go on a date with a boy." I told her, my smile not faltering.
Hers did though.

"Oh..Alec.." She said quietly.

"Mhm?" I asked, curling up on the couch.

"You know what, never mind. If he makes you happy, it makes me happy." She said.

Oh
thank
god.
That was much easier than I thought it was going to be.

"Thanks Martha." I said softly.

"Have you told George? About being...gay?" She asked.

I decided I wasn't going to explain being bisexual to her not because I didn't care, because I was too frickin tired.

"No." I told her.

"You should tell him later tonight. What's the boys name?" She asked.

I made eye contact and quickly averted my eyes.

"John.
John Laurens." I said.

"Oh my! He's a very nice young man. I bet he's go-"

"Okay you can stop now." I said, a soft smile on my face.

I snuggled into a blanket next to Martha and she rubbed my back.

This foster family is so different.
I felt her fingers trance a few of my scars.

"You are so brave and smart Alec. You're going to really blow us all away someday." She said quietly.

I smiled up at her and nuzzled into the blanket a little more.
"Thank you Martha."

I've only been here for a month and I want to stay here forever.
They are so nice to me for no reason at all. I thought I'd never get better.

"Did your other foster parents ever hurt you after you came out to them?" She asked.

What do you think?
That was a little too much sarcasm but..
honestly.

"I became their ashtray." I told her, closing my eyes and trying to drift off.

I heard her sigh and she ran her fingers through my hair. I like this way more than I should.

Three months ago, if anyone were to come remotely close to me like this I flinch and start silently crying.

Sure, my shoulders were still extremely tense and my knuckles were turning white putting my hand into a fist but at least I'm getting better.

No matter how slow it is.

Martha whistled quietly and rubbed my ridged shoulders.

"Drop your shoulders. It'll feel nice," She hummed.

I let my guard down and forced my shoulder to relax.
I sighed softly.

"See? Feels good, doesn't it? Try to be a little more relaxed." She told me. "Mhmm." I murmured.

After a few minutes I knew my shoulders had gone stiff again.
I couldn't help but do it.

Martha tutted and whispered,
"Come on now. Drop your shoulders. You know it feels good."

"Martha-" I whined.

"Martha what are you doing to the poor boy?" George asked teasingly, as he walked down the hall and into the living room.

"I'm trying to get him to relax a bit. Maybe I should bring you to yoga sometime." She said.

Maybe you could leave me the fuck alone.

Why am I being so hostile?
She's nice.
She's just trying to help.

I dropped my shoulders and opened my hands.

"There you go." She muttered, rubbing my shoulders. My eyes dropped a bit and I started to fight going to sleep.

They wouldn't hurt me.
But there's no guarantee.
They've never hurt me before though.

Don't get attached.
I've learned that much in the past years.

Well fuck.
Because I've gotten attached.