Protector Series: Bonus Chapters and Content

ALTERNATE CHAPTER 8: Jerome Roy | Part VI

ALTERNATE CHAPTER 8: Jerome Roy | Part VI

~Jerome: age 17~

       Grayson, Poppy, and Dad thought it would be a great idea to have a picnic by the lake today and since we somehow already ran out of the food they just bought when we got here, they had to go out again to buy food for the picnic, telling everyone to get ready so we could leave as soon as we get back.

       I tried getting Nolan to leave our room but he refused to. He didn't even leave the room to have breakfast today.

       I wouldn't be surprised if he just stayed in there when it was time for us to go home.

       As soon as Grayson, Poppy, and Dad came back, Grayson looked around and sighed. "Please don't tell me Nolan is still in his room? I wanted to leave as soon as we got back."

       "I can try getting him to leave again but he's refusing to," I said before heading upstairs and knocking on the bedroom door. "Nolan, come on, our parents are back. We're going to the lake now."

       "No," was Nolan's only reply.

       I sighed. "Nolan, come on. You can't stay trapped in this room forever."

       "Yes, I can. I'm not going to the picnic by the lake. You can tell my parents that I'm sick or something."

       "I'm pretty sure they'll know it's just an excuse to stay here," I said. "Nolan, please. You're going to have to come out eventually."

       "I already did."

       "When?"

       "Uh, yesterday? You were there when I slipped up and said I'm gay."

       "That's not what I meant by coming out eventually and you know it."

       "I don't care. I'm not leaving here.

       Poppy suddenly walked up the stairs and stood beside me so she could try convincing Nolan to leave. Yesterday, Poppy and Grayson didn't try talking to Nolan after his whole coming out fiasco because they thought he would definitely need his space but now, maybe Nolan hearing comforting words from his mom would be enough to leave his room.

       "Nolan, we all really want you on the picnic," Poppy said. "And we definitely don't hate you."

       Nolan was silent for a bit and a few moments later, he opened the door just wide enough for him to look through the crack. "Really?"

       "Yes, really," Poppy said. "I don't understand why you think we would hate you." 

       Nolan shrugged and looked down. "Because it's not normal."

       "Okay, but who gets to decide what's normal and what isn't?" Poppy asked. "Being gay should be normal. There's nothing wrong with it. In the end, you're going to find someone who makes you really happy and that's all that matters."

       "Does everyone else think the same way?" Nolan asked.

       "Your father does," Poppy said. "Ryder and Alan haven't said anything but Orchid said she doesn't understand why you didn't just tell us so I'm guessing she does. Even Tulip does once we explained to her what being gay was. In her words 'Love is love and anyone against it doesn't deserve love'."

       That got Nolan to smile softly. "That does sound like Tulip."

       "So will you come with all of us?" Poppy asked.