Chapter 11:
By Wednesday, the whole school knew.
It started small, a single video Marley had accidentally left playing on her phone during study hall. A clip from rehearsal: Elias and Rowan on stage, the moment of that brief, trembling kiss.
Then came whispers. Then came stares. Then came silence that felt louder than any rumor.
In the cafeteria, Elias sat with Marley, Camila, Theo, and Jonah. None of them spoke for a minute.
Finally, Marley broke the hush. "Okay, so, that's my fault. I didn't mean for the video to get out."
Elias picked at the corner of his tray. "It would've happened anyway."
Camila leaned forward, voice low. "How bad is it at home?"
Elias didn't answer.
Theo sighed. "Look. You're not the first gay kid in this school. People will talk, and then they'll move on to the next shiny thing."
"It's different for him," Camila said sharply. "His parents. The church. Everything."
Marley jumped in. "Well, guess what? We've got your back. And if anyone gives you crap, I will end them."
Theo raised an eyebrow. "You're five-foot-two."
"Yeah, but my rage is like, six-foot-seven."
Elias couldn't help the faint laugh that slipped out.
After school, Elias headed straight to the auditorium. He wanted to hide in the shadows of the stage.
Instead, he found Mr. Donovan Kessler adjusting the lighting gels over the stage lights.
"Mr. Kessler—" Elias began.
The theater teacher waved a hand. "Before you say a word, I'm going to tell you something."
Elias blinked.
"I was twenty-one," Mr. Kessler said, eyes fixed on the rigging. "I kissed a boy backstage during West Side Story. Thought it was the end of my world when people found out."
Elias stared.
"I'm still here," Kessler said. "You'll still be here too. Remember that."
Elias felt his throat close. "I'm not… I don't know if I'm ready for—"
"For the labels? Or for the fallout?"
"All of it."
Kessler sighed. "The stage doesn't demand you be anything except honest. Start there. The rest… will come."
That evening, Elias's parents called him into the living room.
Marco Moreno stood by the mantle, Bible in hand. Lucía Moreno perched on the couch, wringing her hands.
Marco spoke first. "Pastor Lyle called us today."
Elias froze. "Why?"
"He's concerned," Marco said. "He heard… stories. About you. About rehearsal."
Lucía spoke gently. "He wants to help you find your way back to God's plan."
Elias swallowed. "There's nothing wrong with me."
Marco's face hardened. "We're making an appointment with Pastor Lyle. Tomorrow."
Lucía tried to reach for Elias's hand, but he pulled away.
"I don't want to talk to him."
Marco's voice sharpened. "This isn't about what you want. This is about your soul."
Elias stared at the floor, feeling like the room was tilting.
In his room that night, Elias sat on his bed, phone in hand. His thumbs hovered over Rowan's contact.
Finally, he typed:
"My dad talked to Pastor Lyle. They want me to meet with him. I'm scared."
A few seconds later:
Rowan Chen:
"You don't have to go alone".
Elias blinked back tears.
" I don't think they'll let me bring you".
Rowan Chen:
"Then I'll wait for you after. Always."
Elias closed his eyes, letting the glow of his phone fade.
Outside, the night felt too big. Too silent.
Inside, something in him refused to be quiet any longer.