Bad Memories

A/N Angstyness in this chapter. *wips tears* away

Tidus and Wakka volunteered to do the dishes, while the parents and Chappu talked in the living room.

Tidus eyed Wakka as he plunged his hands in the semi hot water, "they got on well, don’t ya think?" He was talking about his parents and Wakka’s. Tidus had been quite surprised at how fast the four adults were talking like old friends, even talking about their love lives. It was rather embarrassing for the teens, but it had been interesting stuff, especially the stuff about Hiro trying to grope Mai, when he was drunk at the party.

"Yeah, they sure did. I’m glad. It’s about time mom and dad got some friends around their own age. In our hometown, all of their friends shunned them and talked behind their backs when they learned about Chappu." And me.

Tidus frowned. That must have been tough. Sometime the world could be very nasty. Auron and Rin had their share of bad times when they started to date.

Tidus remembered the time the law tried to take him and Abby away from them. They said it was against the law for a gay couple to adopt. Luckily Lulu’s mother was a big time lawyer, and she was able to help them.

Now gay couples in Dark Ridge were allowed to adopt, and all it took was a lot of hard work on Kylie Frost’s part. A lot of phone calls, letters, and down right cat fights. She did everything to see that, ‘gay couples can’t adopt’ law was lifted. It probably had a lot to do with her daughter Lulu. Lulu had been up-front with Kylie and told her everything, about being a lesbian and that she was dating her best friend, Quistis.

"Geez, that sucks," Tidus said, his eye getting a mind of their own. They were starting to tear. Tidus couldn’t help being so sensitive. "It must been really rough on all of you."

"Yeah it was. It was the same with our friends too. They just didn’t want anything to do with any of us. People even started to treat my mom’s sister and her seven-year-old daughter differently." Wakka sighed. "I didn’t want to move. I still had a friend or two, but now I know it was all for the best."

Tidus smiled, "well I’m glad you did, otherwise I would never have met you."

"Thanks," Wakka said, looking away, so he wouldn’t see the blush that was streaking across his face. "I’m glad too. I meet so many great people. Made more friends then I can count on one hand and Chappu found someone he can be with, maybe even fall in love. I know those two are heading that way."

"That’s really sweet. I’m just really worried for them."

Wakka placed the cleaned dishes on the drying rack, and turned to Tidus, "why?"

"Luzzu’s mom doesn’t know that he's gay. Sarah’s a really great women, like a best friend to Luzzu. She may be open about it, but who knows. She might be like a lot of parents and disown him or something."

"Oh," Wakka said, looking down. He suddenly felt very worried for his brother. He didn’t even think about that. "I hope it doesn’t come to that." Wakka felt his eyes burning; he wanted to cry. The world was so unfair. But no, he couldn’t do that in front of Tidus. "People should be able to love whoever they want, don’t ya think? It shouldn’t matter if it’s two guys or two girls or a guy and a girl. It just shouldn’t matter!" He yelled, that last word, his fist clinching.

Tidus jumped in surprise. His eyes went wide. Oh no, I upset him. "Wakka I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t of said anything. I didn’t mean to make you upset." Tidus looked down his lip slightly quivering, "I’m really sorry," he whispered.

"No, no, no. Tidus it’s not your fault." He walked over to Tidus and patted the younger teen on the back. "I’m not mad at you or Sarah or anyone. Just upset that some people can’t be opened minded. Mad at my old town, mad at our old friends. Mad at the guys that beat me and Chappu up . . . " Wakka trailed of. He hadn’t meant to say that. Now the tears came. He couldn’t help it. The memory of that time was too fresh in his mind.

Wakka put the palm of his hand over his eyes, not wanting to see the look on Tidus’ face. He turned away from Tidus and walked out the kitchen door. Not looking where he was going, Wakka just walked

The next thing Wakka knew, he was at the gate leading out of Tidus’ yard. Not even thinking he opened the gate and walked. And walked, and walked. He ended up on the beach, and set down in the sand.

Back in the kitchen, Tidus was standing frozen to the spot, crying freely. There had been so much pain in Wakka’s eyes and his voice. Tidus know Wakka hadn’t meant to say what he did.

"Saying it, must of brought the bad memories back to him." Tidus balled up his fist and punched the kitchen counter. It was a lousy punch and barely did any damage, but left a nice bruise.

Tidus sniffed, and whipped the tears from his face. Then he took of running, following Wakka.

Wakka laid back in the sand. "We were lucky though, I guess. Cian was going to go all the way, I know he was. If Aunty hadn’t walked in . . . " Wakka balled up and started to cry. Cian had been one of his best friends. He, Wakka, Chappu and a few other guys had went to play video games at his aunt’s house. What Wakka and Chappu didn’t know, was that Cian and the others had learned that they were gay, and decided they needed to be punished.

Two guys had Chappu held down, so he couldn’t come to Wakka’s rescue. He watched with horror-stricken eyes as Cian began to have his way with his younger brother. Just as Cian was about to enter him, Wakka’s aunt came walking in. Oh boy! You have never seen someone so mad. She single handedly shoved Cian across the room. The two holding Chappu chickened out and fled, but not before Chappu punched one of them in the face.

"I can’t believe I said that to Tidus. Now he’ll probably guess I’m gay. I mean, he wonder why I was being beat up and most likely would put two and two together."

Tidus hadn’t put two and two together. He didn’t need to though, because he was standing behind Wakka. He had overheard everything.

A/N Whoops, I did another cliffhanger, sorry. Please review.