Two Broken Souls

The Caldwell Family

Philip came home that night and went straight to his room. Philip spends every night at his foster home sitting alone in his room with Gabe and Helen. Also every night Gabe comes into Philip's room and tries to bond with him. Each night Philip pushes his gestures aside and just wants to be alone. That was until tonight, Gabe asked "wanna go grab some dinner with Helen and I?" he asked. Philip actually thought about the offer because hadn't eaten in over two days since he stays in library for lunch and all day yesterday he was in he city with Lukas. 

"Sure, I'd like that....but can I pick where we eat?" Philip asked 

"Of course you can" Gabe said smiling 

Philip and Gabe went downstairs and got the keys to Helen's sheriff jeep wrangler and headed out for dinner with the two of them 

Philip chose the only pizzeria that resembled the smell and taste of real New York City pizza. They went in and immediately grabbed a table because the restaurant was near to empty. 

"So Philip how's school going?" Helen asked 

"It's going pretty good I guess" Philip said trying not to reveal a smile about Lukas 

"Have you made any new friends yet?" Gabe asked with true interest 

"Not really I mean everyone here has lived here their entire life, so why would they wanna be friends with a freak from the city" 

"Your not a freak Philip. Why would assume that's what the school thinks about you" Gabe asked 

"Because it's the way I think about myself" Philip answered basically shoving the pizza into his mouth. He wasn't use to talking to adults about anything in his life let alone his new parents

"Philip I want you to listen to me very carefully" Helen said putting her hand on his forearm making his entire body shake from fear. "You are not a freak, your a unique individual with a lot to offer so don't give up on making friends" 

"Is there anything you want to tell us Philip?" Gabe asked trying to get Philip to open up about what he was thinking since he never talked to either Helen or Gabe 

Philip looked down at his plate for a few seconds and then he looked up at Helen and Gabe. They were both very just starring at him, making Philip begin to feel uncomfortable. Without giving the idea a second thought Philip says "I'm gay" and then he crossed his arms across his chest and just sat there. "In the city it's not that big a deal because that's where nobody care's who or what you are, but out here I guess it's just different" 

"Is this why your so hesitant about making friends at school?" Helen asked 

Philip nodded his head but didn't give a verbal answer. 

"And why you got into that fight with Lukas at school" Helen said but didn't get a reaction or a verbal answer from Philip so she asked him once more. "Is it Philip?" 

Philip had no idea that Helen knew about the fight at school because the principal never made it known that he was going to call them. The situation with Lukas was under control and we even assured the principal that we would both try getting along better even though Lukas and Philip both knew what the real problem was. 

"Yes" he quietly said "just please don't tell Lukas' father I don't want them to hate me even more than they already do" 

"Who else knows about this?" Helen asked 

"Just you two and my mom" Philip said flashing a small smirk at Helen and Gabe. "You know what the first thing my mom asked when I told her" he asked them rhetorically 

"No what was it?" Gabe asked being very interested in what Philip had to say 

"She asked me if I had a boyfriend that was nice to me" Philip said smiling because his mom took the news very calmly as did Gabe and Helen. He finally had people in his life that he could actually trust with things. "You know because all her old boyfriends use to beat her up, she doesn't want that for me" 

"Your mom definitely has that intuition right about her" Helen said smiling and complimenting Philip's mom 

"Do you?" Gabe asked 

"Do I what?" Philip asked right back in a kind tone 

"Have a boyfriend that is nice to you?" he asked 

Philip flashed a smile and a small laugh came from his mouth as he looked down. He uncrossed his arms and he took another bite of his pizza and then showed Helen and Gabe the area around them. He acknowledged both his school and just the town in general while he gave them his answer. 

"Even if someone up here did like me, they would never admit it" Philip derived hoping Helen and Gabe never found out about Lukas being a part of his life 

After the three of them finished dinner they all went for a walk. Helen and Gabe walked together holding hands while Philip stayed behind them texting Lukas. He looked at how effortlessly it seemed when Gabe and Helen looked into each other's eyes and felt love. Philip just smiled and took pictures of them kissing so that he could give it to them as a present in the future. 

"Philip we are glad you came to dinner tonight" Gabe said in his usual monotone and mellowed voice 

"Yeah I hope we can have more normal dinners in the near future instead too" Philip joked as he got a text from Lukas

Lukas:  meet me out by your barn in 10 minutes make sure no one see's you

"You know you can tell us anything Philip" Helen said sounding almost sincere 

"Yeah I know that" Philip said as he finally answered Lukas' text and he told Helen and Gabe that he was going to go to the barn. "I'll meet you guys at the house I just remembered I think I left my backpack in the barn from earlier today" 

"Okay make sure you come inside soon though in case you have homework to do" Helen said 

"I will don't worry" Philip said turning around 

Philip took off towards the barn as Helen and Gabe started walking up the walkway towards the house and Philip went opposite of them straight to the barn to wait for Lukas, if Lukas was on his bike hopefully Helen and Gabe would go straight to sleep.