26 – It’s Over (4)

 

Sebastian couldn’t believe it. Axel lived in his van? No wonder he kept so much stuff in it. It was everything he owned.

But it shouldn’t be surprising. Axel was blacklisted. Of course he’d have trouble finding a place to live. It was one of the reasons Sebastian himself still lived with his parents.

“Maybe we could get a place together,” Sebastian said out of nowhere, on the drive home.

Axel furrowed his brow. “What?”

Sebastian looked away, rubbing the back of his head. He hadn’t meant to voice the thought out loud. “I mean, next year, we won’t be blacklisted anymore. We won’t have to worry about being denied housing for it.”

Axel was silent. That was when Sebastian remembered Jake.

“Were you and Jake already making plans?”

“We were never serious. I… was never in love with him.”

Sebastian stared at Axel. “Really?”

“I like him. I do. But… I think I’m only dating him to fulfill my basic needs.”

A weight lifted off of Sebastian’s shoulders. All that jealousy had been for nothing. He couldn’t help it. He laughed.

“It’s true! Before him, I had to wash myself in the bathroom sink at work, or use a truck stop shower. And I never got to eat home-cooked meals, or sleep in an actual bed in an actual room. I don’t want to go back to those days. So whenever I debate on breaking up with him, I worry about that.”

“Wow.” Sebastian fought back a grin. So Axel didn’t even like Jake that way. And had considered breaking up with him? “I thought things were going well.”

“They usually are. But then Jake does something so ridiculously stupid that makes me question why I’m with him. Like last night, for example. I honestly don’t know if I can keep doing this.” Axel frowned at Sebastian. “And you don’t have to look so happy about it.”

“What do you mean?”

Axel rolled his eyes. “Your crush on Jake. Like, fine, if we break up, you can go after him. But it’s a bad idea.”

“I don’t plan to.” It’s you I want!

“Speaking of plans,” Axel said, “how are you planning on sneaking me in?”

 

Sebastian went inside his house first, leaving Axel hiding in the car- parked in the garage. His father sat on the couch in the family room, watching something, while his mother cooked dinner. Perfect. The kitchen and the garage were on opposite sides of the house. Once his parents were seated for dinner, Sebastian would make up an excuse to leave the table, and sneak Axel in while they were eating.

He texted Axel his plan right as his mother called for dinner. Sebastian sat with his parents at the kitchen table as they dug into their spaghetti. What excuse could he use for leaving the table?

Sebastian wiped his hands with a napkin. “I need to use the bathroom.”

“You just sat down,” Waylon grumbled, as Sebastian left the kitchen for the garage.

Axel was still cowering in the backseat of the car when Sebastian entered the garage, and opened the car door. “Come on, quick.”

The two strode inside, making their way towards the stairs. Sebastian pointed at them, signaling for Axel to go to his room.

Tibby laid sprawled across the family room couch. He lifted his head at Axel, and barked.

“Quiet!” Sebastian hissed.

Tibby quieted, but jumped down to bury his nose in Axel’s crotch. Sebastian apologized, yanking Tibby away by his collar. Tibby barked again, tongue lolling and tail wagging.

“Can you shut that dog up?!” Waylon shouted from the kitchen.

Axel quickly limped up the stairs. Sebastian released Tibby, and returned to the kitchen. Something thumped above them.

Waylon looked at the ceiling. “What was that?”

“Tibby,” Sebastian said quickly. “He’s acting really weird.”

Tibby chose that moment to walk into the kitchen to drink from his water bowl.

“Really?” Waylon narrowed his eyes at the dog. “Funny how he’s down here, but the noise came from upstairs.”

Sebastian shrugged. “It was probably him running from up there to down here.”

“Uh-huh.” Doubt filled Waylon's tone. He twirled spaghetti onto his fork, and took a bite. “Where have you been all day anyway?”

A faint creak sounded above them. Sebastian coughed a few times, and reached for his glass of soda.

Waylon set his fork down. “What are you hiding upstairs?”

“Nothing!”

“You’ve been acting strange since we sat down for dinner. I’ll believe it when I see it.” With that, Waylon shoved his chair out, and marched out of the kitchen.

Of course, Sebastian couldn’t stop him. It would only look worse. Instead, he whipped out his phone and sent Axel a quick text: HIDE!!!

Hopefully he’d get it in time…

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Waylon’s voice boomed through the house.

Nope. Sebastian would have to come to Axel’s aid. He rushed to his bedroom. Axel sat up on the bed, cowering, while Waylon stood over him with clenched fists, shouting obscenities.

“Dad-”

Waylon whipped around. “Why are you hiding a man in your room?”

“It’s not what it looks like!”

“Oh really?”

“He needed a place to stay.”

“Well he sure as hell ain’t staying here!”

“Please! He’s my friend.”

“This is your friend?” Waylon frowned down at Axel. At his tangled hair and bruised face. At his clothes stained with blood.

“Yes. That’s Axel.”

“He looks homeless.”

He is homeless! “He doesn’t usually look like that. But he needs-”

“I’ve seen you somewhere before too.” Waylon stroked his chin as he studied Axel.

“I’ll go then.” Wincing, Axel struggled to get to his feet, hand clutching his side.

Someone gasped in Sebastian’s ear. Celine had arrived, hand covering her mouth. “What happened?”

“Axel got in a fight last night,” Sebastian explained. “He just got out of the hospital and needs a place to stay.”

“So you thought you’d sneak him in,” Waylon grumbled, “instead of asking for permission.”

“I’m sorry.” Axel finally made it to his feet, and set his hand on the nightstand for balance. His other still clutched his side. “We should’ve asked. I can find someplace else…”

“Where would you go?” Sebastian asked. “You don’t even have a car.”

“I’ll figure something out.” Axel limped towards the door.

“Wait!” Waylon called out.

Axel stopped. Sebastian’s heart rose. Had his father changed his mind?

But his face expressed otherwise. Lip curled, Waylon pointed his finger at Axel. “The mechanic! You’re that mechanic that scratched up my car!”

Axel squeezed his eyes shut. Sebastian chewed at his fingernail. Celine showed an interest in the carpet.

“And you think…” Waylon let a loud breath through his nose, then whipped his head towards Sebastian. “You made friends with him?!”

“He didn’t mean to,” Sebastian mumbled. “Can he please stay over?”

“One night isn’t bad,” Celine said calmly to Waylon.

“And you knew who he was, didn’t you?”

“He’s a nice boy. Sebastian needs a friend like him. And look,” Celine gestured at Axel, who clung to the dresser. “He can barely stand. You’re just going to throw him out on the street?”

“He was gonna leave first thing in the morning,” Sebastian said quickly.

“With you, no doubt.” Waylon studied Axel again with a set jaw. “What’s your last name?”

“Bremmer.”

Waylon nodded. “I’ll think about it. You wait here while we finish up dinner. You’ll get your answer after.”

“Thank you,” Axel said breathlessly, falling back onto Sebastian’s bed.

Sebastian walked over to Axel, but Waylon pulled him away. “No. You’re coming down with me.”

Swallowing, Sebastian followed his parents back down the stairs.

 

The three arrived in the kitchen, though Waylon stopped in the family room to grab his phone off the coffee table. Why he needed to bring his phone to the dinner table, Sebastian did not know. But his father tapped on it as he trailed behind.

“What are you doing with that at the table?” Celine asked, as she and Sebastian sat down.

“You don’t expect me to let some guy stay here without looking him up.”

Sebastian’s heart raced. “You don’t need to do that. Axel’s never-”

“I ain’t letting no druggie or criminal stay over. I should have done this before leaving him alone, actually… Bremmer, was it?”

Sebastian widened his eyes at his mother, but before she could say something, Waylon swore.

“Son of a bitch…” Waylon slammed his hand on the table, glaring at Sebastian from the phone screen. “Son of a fucking bitch! Your friend is a… And you…”

“It’s not what it looks like,” Sebastian said quickly.

“I ain’t buying that.” Waylon looked at Celine, who sat at the table, pouring wine into her glass. “Did you know this?”

“Know what?”

Waylon shook his head, and dropped his phone on the table. “No! He’s leaving.”

“But Dad-”

“No buts! And I don’t want you seeing him again. The last thing I need is for people to see you hanging out with a blacklisted queer. They’ll know for sure you’re not cured.”

“But I am cured!”

“You sure don’t act it. Sneaking someone like… that… into your bedroom. Planning to do God knows what-”

“We weren’t! We’re just friends...” Sebastian’s voice wavered, and an ache filled his chest. “He doesn’t like me like that.”

Nobody said anything at first. Waylon’s stern gaze pierced Sebastian. After a moment, Waylon responded.

“But you do.”

“I don’t.” Sebastian pushed his spaghetti around with his fork, appetite long gone.

“It would explain some things.”

Sebastian raised his voice. “I don’t like him like that!”

Waylon opened his mouth, but Celine cut him off. “Does it really matter either way? Axel’s sweet, and makes Sebastian happy-”

“For God’s sake, Celine… He’s blacklisted! Even if they are only friends... If people find out about this, they'll assume... And my political career will be over!"

“Nobody’s found out yet. You didn’t even know. Give Axel a chance. At least properly meet him first. Now, sit down and eat.”

With a huff, Waylon finally sat down. He poked and prodded at the pasta on his plate, much like Sebastian had, then dropped his fork. “I can’t eat.”

Despite being famished earlier, Sebastian couldn’t either. He slid his plate away. “I’m done too.”

“Well, if neither of you are going to eat, maybe Axel will. The poor boy’s probably starving.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I’m missing the game.” Waylon kicked his chair aside, and headed for the family room.

“I’ll get Axel,” Sebastian said to his mom, before following him out.