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Chapter 22

Read the AUTHOR'S NOTE at the end, please :)

Tobias POV

I can't even begin to describe how much I hate my brother's stupid boyfriend, nor can I tell you why. All I know is that I want to throttle him and hide his body. He's so annoying, to the point where I want to learn how to sow just so I can stitch his mouth shut. I mean, it's bad enough that my brother is gay, but he had to pick an irritating guy. Who cares if he's "funny" and good looking and-

Dear, God.

Did I seriously just say that? Ugh, this homo shit is rubbing off on me too.

Well, the point is, I agreed to talk to parents, regardless of how gross and unnatural I find this...romance. And since Gale really wants it and this is possibly the only way to get him to come home, I have to sell it. Which means I have to actually pretend to like the guy. Ugh.

My mom and dad were one of the only people still in the hospital besides Jasper, who was hogging my brother, who I'm sure was filling him in on our discussion. My dad had left to get food from a vending machine, leaving me alone with my mother. Good, because if he was here, this wouldn't even have a chance of working.

I sighed and sat next to my mother, who turned and smiled at me lightly. I didn't smile back. I haven't for a while. For years, my lips have held tight and my heart has hung heavy. I don't know why, but it isn't important. Gale is, even if his disgusting piece of sh-

"Tobias, what's wrong?" My mother asked me, concerned. Internally, I gagged at the bullcrap I was about to spout.

"I...I think we should let Gale be with his...boyfriend." I said. To my surprise, she nodded.

"I agree." She replied.

"You do?" I asked dumbly and she smiled.

"I think it's best for him. That boy makes him happy. Happier than he was before he left home."

"Yeah." I grumbled. Why him?

"And he cares for Gale. He watched after him and gave him a place to stay. I think we can trust him with Gale." She said.

"Well, I don't know about all that..." I huffed and my mom laughed. "But he's alright. I honestly thought I would have to fight to get you to agree."

"Convincing your father is going to be nearly impossible." My mom said and stood.

-

"You think we should allow Gale to ruin himself with this false love?" My dad snapped, appalled by the very suggestion. "This, this phase? No, what Gale is doing is wrong, and he needs to know that. You know this."

"Trust me, I wish Gale would go find himself and sweet, bubbly girlfriend as much as you do, but I don't think that will ever happen. He's never shown interest in girls, so he probably never will. It's been two years, Dad. If it were a phase, don't you think he'd be over it by now?"

"Th-there's still time to make him see his choices are wrong and-

"He will begin to resent us." I interrupted. "They may be wrong choices, but they are his choices. Even if he doesn't come home or we force him to, he won't change. If anything, he'll just leave again, and he won't be able to run to his boyfriend, who I hate to admit, took pretty good care of him."

"He is in the hospital!" My dad bursted, and I rolled my eyes.

"Because he didn't check labels like he's supposed to. That was his fault." I said.

"Besides, the doctor says that if it hadn't been for Jasper's quick thinking, Gale may have died." My mother added and my dad laughed.

"Your right. Any random boy who happens to have an EpiPen is obviously worthy of our son." He sneered sarcastically.

"This random boy spent weeks preparing with that EpiPen in case of an emergency!" My mom exclaimed. "If your only concern is that he isn't worthy, I can assure you, he is."

"It isn't just that."My dad gritted through clenched teeth. "This is wrong. What you are suggesting is wrong, and it is clear that neither of you are thinking straight. Gale is coming home, without that boy and there is nothing that can change my mind. Conversation over."

"But-

"Tobias, enough. I don't know what has gotten into you but nothing you say will change my mind." I glared at his back as he walked away, then glanced at my mom, waiting for her to argue, but she didn't. That's it? She wasn't going to threaten to leave him or claim abstinence like a real mother?

"Mom." I snapped but she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Tobias." I shook my head and laughed bitterly.

"It's not me you should apologize to." I walked back to Gale's room, already imagining the devastating look I'll get from him when I told him the bad news. And what made it even worse was that they were curled up together kissing when I opened the door. It wasn't the gross all tongue kisses I usually see, between both girls and boys. They were small, soft kisses, and most of them didn't even make it to Gale's lips. I sighed and Gale looked up, smiling.

What did they say, he signed nervously.

"I tried." I said to him and his face fell. To say he was devastated would be an understatement. He started to cry and Jasper hugged him closer. I sat down in a nearby chair.

"Mom was all for it, talking about how responsible and nice your boyfriend is, but Dad said no." I said.

I hate him, Gale signed, tears trailing down his cheeks. I hate him so much!

"You don't mean that." Jasper murmured. "He just thinks he's doing what's best for you."

What he's doing is not best for me!, Gale signed angrily.

"Maybe not." He replied, cradling Gale as he cried. "But he loves you and means well."

I frowned, watching how they were together. Honestly, I thought they'd have a weird, gross relationship consisted of heated make out sessions in public, swapping style tips, and weird ass gay drama like most tv shows, but they didn't do any of that. They were actually kind of normal. Almost like straight couples, minus the straight part, of course. And that pissed me off. What was the big issue with Gale being with his idiot? Sure, the guy was a royal pain in my ass and took obnoxious to a whole new level, but he made my brother happy. If only by dad could just see what I hadn't until recently.

The ride from the hospital to Jasper's house to retrieve Gale's clothes was long and silent. My dad made Gale ride with us, probably in fear that he'd convince Jasper to drop him off at the nearest bus stop. Knowing how tight he had his boyfriend wrapped around his finger, he probably could. Gale leaned into my shoulder as we sat in the back seat and for the first time in a long time, I let him. He needed me. He has for a while, but I wasn't there for him.

Do you think I'll ever see him again?, Gale signed.

"Yeah. He seems like the kind of guy who would skip out on prom night to stand beneath your window, throwing pebbles at the glass." I whispered and Gale grinned.

"But don't get too excited." I added. "Because if he even attempts to climb through your window I will put a BB gun bullet through his head."

Tobias!, He signed, glaring. I rolled my eyes. I was more than serious. I mean, he's barely allowed to be with my brother legally. There is no way he's stepping foot into Gale's room at midnight. I don't care if how "in love" they are.

When the car parked in front of Jasper's house, my dad turned in his seat give Gale a hard glare.

"When we get there, you go straight in, grab your clothes, thank his parents, and come back to the car. I don't want to hear anything more from you." He lectured. Gale rolled his eyes.

You haven't heard anything from me for fifteen years, he sassed, so I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.

"Watch it." My dad warned. "You are already in a lot of trouble." Jasper was already home, but with my dad's watchful eye, they could only share sad looks before Gale went to retrieve his clothing. Jasper's mom helped him stuff the clothes in a duffel bag along with pictures and other random, small items.

I followed Gale back downstairs but as we neared the car, he paused.

"What?" I asked and he frowned, turning to Jasper.

My violin, he signed. I left it at the greenhouse.

"Oh yeah, I can go get it for you." Jasper offered sadly, but Gale smiles and shook his head.

No, I have an idea, he signed at turned to me. Tell my parents to follow Jasper's car to the greenhouse. His parents will know where it is.

"Wait, why?" I asked.

Just trust me, he signed and climbed into our car. I sighed and delivered the message to my dad, who grunted but did so. Jasper's parents drove Jasper there, since he car broke down. Well, that's what his mom said, although I know they wanted to be there when Gale left. You could tell Jasper's mom and Gale had gotten close.

We pulled up in front of a tall building and followed Jasper and Gale inside. When my parents weren't looking, Jasper reached over and squeezed Gale's hand.

"Do you really think it'll work?" He whispered and my brother shrugged. Those two were clearly up to something, but I didn't know what. Not until we all piled into an elevator that took us all to the roof. There was a huge greenhouse made entirely of large mirror panels that reflected the city lights as the sun began to set. It was so beautiful, even my dad gaped in awe.

Gale pulled off a necklace with a key at the end and used it to open greenhouse door and Jasper followed, flicking the lights on as he did.

"Oh my God..."Jasper's mom gasped as we followed. The exterior wasn't nearly as beautiful as the interior. When my brother mentioned a greenhouse, I was expected dirty floors and plants, but this greenhouse was more like a bedroom, complete with a cot, a tv, and a mini fridge. Hanging from the ceiling was an intricate chandelier made of buttons and Christmas lights. Extending from those were long strings of paper lanterns that lit the room with color. A stack of Disney movies were on the floor near the tv and I immediately knew why Gale had brought us here.

"What is this?" My dad asked, confused. Gale smiled smugly as he held his violin.

Where I've been staying for the past months, Gale signed. 

"And...you made this?" My dad asked Jasper doubtfully, and he nodded. I was surprised as well. This was amazing. Then again, I heard all gay guys are pros at interior design, so I shouldn't be that shocked. 

"Thomas, I swear, if you still refuse to let this boy be with Gale after seeing this, I will not hesitate to leave you." My mother warned and my dad glared at her.

"That isn't necessary, because I've already made up my mind." He said and Gale gasped, eyes lit with hope. "I will allow it."

Jasper grabbed Gale by the waist and lifted him into the air, kissing him on the cheeks repeatedly. Jasper's parents smiled at mine, satisfied with their decision. They weren't like most parents, who would've interfered with my parent's personal opinions. Instead, they just stepped back and let our family work it out. For that I admired them.

"However," My dad called out, interupting their celebration. "Gale, you are grounded for running away for God knows how long."

Gale made a face but smiled up at Jasper, who stared at him as if he were the light of his life. And I don't know, maybe he his.

-

God, I loved writing in Tobias point of view because it was a whole new perspective of the situation! In a way, it was refreshing. Anyway, things have kind of been taken care of. IT'S ALMOST DONE!!! There will be one more chapter to this story and then it is finished! NO! I was so attached to these characters! Where you?

Well, if so, get ready for the next best thing, Caught In The Storm. This explains how Ashton and Danny came to be. Currently, there are two chapters up,  but when this story ends, I will begin to update that story. 

ALSO, I have a new story coming up in a series I am writing. The story is called Red and YES it is based off of Little Red Riding Hood, however, it's a lot more complex and (if I do say so myself) cooler than just innocent Little Red falling in love with the wolf. First, Little Red isn't little, nor is he innocent. He's got a special set of abilities and a personal vendetta to settle ;)

So yeah, look out for the last chapter of this book and the arrival of Red!

VOTE/COMMENT/FAN

You do your thing, and I'll do mine ;)

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