Chapter Text
Rusty came home from school, kicking off his shoes and expecting the usual quiet. Instead, he found his parents on the couch waiting. Their posture was rigid, their faces unreadable.
Instant dread twisted in his stomach.
“H-Hey, Mom… hey, Dad. What’s wrong?”
“Rusty,” his father said, voice low. “Please take a seat.”
“Um… okay, if you say so.”
Rusty sat in the chair across from them, clutching the armrest. “Am I in trouble?”
“Just sit,” his dad repeated, sharper this time. “Let’s cut to the chase.”
His mother inhaled shakily, like she was preparing to break bad news.
“We’ve noticed,” she began softly, “that you’ve been… very flustered around one of your friends.”
Rusty blinked. “Oh? W-Which one?”
“Jack,” his father said immediately.
Rusty’s heart dropped. “Jack?”
“Yes. Jack,” his mother confirmed, watching him too closely.
He tried to laugh it off, even though his voice cracked. “Why would you think that? Didn’t you teach me not to assume things?”
“Rusty,” his father snapped, “don’t twist our words just to dodge responsibility.”
“Alright! I’m sorry, Dad geez…”
“Honey,” his mom murmured, placing a hand on her husband’s arm, “he won’t open up if you talk to him like that.”
She turned to Rusty, eyes filling with fear and disappointment.
“Rusty… are you” she hesitated, voice trembling, “involved with Jack?”
Rusty’s breath stuttered.
“W-What? No! I just—I just like being friends with him!”
His father leaned forward, gaze icy. “We know you’re lying. Stop it.”
“I’m not lying!” Rusty’s voice cracked. “Please just believe me.”
“Rusty… this isn’t looking good for you,” his father said, his tone dangerously calm.
“But Da-”
“No buts.” He raised a hand, cutting him off. “Tell us the truth right now, or you’re not going to army camp.”
Rusty’s chest tightened.
“What? that’s not fair!”
His father shook his head. “You want to try that again?”
Rusty’s breath shook as the pressure crushed him.
“FINE!” he cried. “Yes I’ve been seeing Jack! I’m sorry!”
His mother recoiled as if the confession hit her physically.
“B-But why? Didn’t you learn anything from church?”
“N-Not really,” Rusty admitted quietly. “I… never paid attention.”
“If your grandmother were alive to hear that,” his dad muttered, shaking his head, “she’d have a second heart attack.”
His mother wiped her eyes.
“You’ve disrespected the church, Rusty. You’ve disrespected us. Do you understand what people will think? They’ll think we raised you wrong. That we’re bad parents.”
Rusty stared at them, broken.
“But why is it so bad? What’s so bad about being gay? Why does it matter so much to you?”
“Because we care about your well-being,” his mother said, reaching out but stopping short. “We love you. We always have.”
Rusty looked at her, devastated.
“It… it doesn’t feel like it.”
His father snapped.
“RUSTY! That’s it, I’ve had enough! You’re not going to camp anymore. I don’t care. We’ll use the money for something more important.”
The room fell silent except for Rusty’s uneven breathing.
Then something inside him shattered.
“I HATE YOU!” he cried, tears finally spilling. “I hate you both! Don’t talk to me again!”
He bolted down the hall and slammed his bedroom door so hard the frame rattled. The moment it shut, Rusty broke down completely, sobbing into his pillow until his whole body trembled.
Rusty lay curled on his bed, pulling out his phone, scrolling through old photos of him and Jack. Happy memories. Warm smiles. Inside jokes. Moments that used to make him feel safe.
Now they just hurt.
He tried to text Jack, fingers trembling over the keyboard, but every time he thought of the confrontation downstairs, his stomach twisted.
W-What do I even say? I can’t just say I don’t wanna be friends anymore. That’s… rude.
He ran a hand through his hair.
Ugh, I can’t do it!
“Why is being a parent so hard?” Rusty’s mom whispered, her voice trembling as she wiped at her eyes.
“I don’t know,” his dad snapped, pacing the living room. “That stupid punk. Who does he think he is?”
“Babe, stop,” she said softly, reaching for his arm.
“No! I’m sick and tired of the disrespect,” he barked. “He’s on my last nerve. If I ever talked to my parents like that when I was a kid, I would’ve gotten the belt.”
“Honey, please,” she pleaded. “You’re just making me more stressed.”
He clenched his jaw, breathing hard, then finally exhaled. “Alright. Fine.”
She nodded, gathering herself. “We just want him to realize he’s hurting himself. Acting… like that.”
“So what can we do?” he asked, irritation still heavy in his voice.
She hesitated, then said, “What if I call Indy’s mom? I remember her mentioning Indy had feelings for him.”
“The hippie?” he scoffed. “I’m not letting my son date some potential stoner.”
“I know,” she said quickly. “But she’s the only one who’s ever found Rusty attractive. Even if he does act a bit… fruity sometimes. She still has feelings for him.”
He let out a short, humorless chuckle. “That’s surprising.”
“Please, hun,” she said, desperation creeping in. “I really need this to work.”
He threw up his hands. “Fine. Just don’t come crying to me when it doesn’t.”
She rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “Yeah, yeah. Don’t come crying to me. Like you ever help with anything.”
The doorbell rang.
sharp and sudden.
Rusty jolted upright, his heart jumping into his throat.
Who could that be?
Before he could move, his mom’s overly bright voice carried down the hall. “Indy! So good to see you! Rusty will be right out!”
Rusty’s stomach dropped. Indy? His breath quickened as panic set in. Why is she here? What did Mom do? He ran a hand through his hair, thoughts spiraling. I didn’t even have time to think. What am I supposed to say?
Rusty wiped his eyes and forced himself to walk toward the door. Indy smiled when she saw him.
“How are you doing today, Rust?” she asked kindly.
“U-Um… fine, just tired.” Rusty chuckled weakly.
“Ugh, same,” Indy laughed. “Like, I just want a little more sleep in the morning.”
Rusty gave another small laugh, trying to pretend everything was normal. “Yeah… true.”
They walked to the park, the awkwardness thick enough to taste. Indy looked around, smiling at the breeze and the leaves swaying.
“It’s so pretty here,” she said. “I love the outdoors. It’s so calm out here.”
“Yep… it is,” Rusty replied, voice barely above a whisper.
After a moment, Indy asked softly, “Um… s-so what are you up to this weekend?”
“Oh… nothing special.”
“Oh, okay…”
The silence stretched again.
Indy glanced over, worry in her eyes. “Rust? Are you doing alright? You seem… sad. Is it because of something I said?”
Rusty panicked. “Oh—no, no, no! Nothing against you.” He waved his hands quickly. “I just… got into a heated argument with my parents.”
Indy’s expression softened. “Aw, Rusty… I’m so sorry to hear that. You don’t deserve any of this.”
“Thank you,” he whispered, guilt gnawing at him.
They sat down on a bench. Indy put her phone away and turned fully toward him.
“Rusty… I really appreciate that you have feelings for me. I—I feel the same way.”
Rusty’s stomach dropped. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. She looked so hopeful, so sincere.
And he felt absolutely nothing.
Not the way he was supposed to.
He didn’t want to hurt her. He didn’t want another explosion at home. He didn’t want to be called names or threatened with camps and punishments.
So Rusty swallowed hard and forced the words out.
“Do you… want to be a couple?”
Indy’s whole face lit up. “Yes!” She hugged him tightly, excitement bursting out of her.
Rusty hugged back stiffly, pretending everything was fine.
After a while, they walked home separately. Rusty felt numb the whole way.
When he returned, his parents were waiting.
“How was it?” his mom asked eagerly.
“It was… fine,” Rusty said. “We’re a couple now.”
His parents lit up instantly. His mom clapped her hands together, thrilled.
“That’s wonderful!” she said.
His dad nodded approvingly. “Good. Maybe we’ll take you to the yearly festival as a treat. But don’t think you’re off the hook.”
Rusty tensed.
“You still haven’t redeemed yourself enough to go back to army camp,” his father added coldly.
Rusty forced a nod, forced a smile, forced everything.
Until he made it to his room.
When the door shut, he slid down the wall, burying his face in his hands.
And cried.