Without warning, Cayden King’s bedroom door was pushed open and his mother and father jumped in with big smiles on their faces.

“Surprise!”

“Merry Christmas!” They shouted.

Victoria King’s eyes went wide with horror at the sight of her son lying on his stomach with a naked man on top of him. Her face contorted into a look of terror and she began to shriek. Stepping in front of her, Patrick King grabbed his wife by the shoulders and pushed her out of the bedroom.

He couldn’t bring himself to look at his son. “Cayden,” he said calmly as he glanced at the floor. “Get dressed and get out here. We need to talk,” he explained as he stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Lying on the bed in shock, Cayden could only stare in disbelief. “Oh my God . . .” he finally groaned as he hopped off the bed.

“Who the hell are they?” Dominick questioned as fell back onto the bed, spent.

“My parents!” Cayden replied as he glanced around for his clothes. “They’re gonna kill me! Where’s my underwear?” He questioned frantically as he searched.

“Just relax,” Dominick said.

“Relax? My parents just walked in on me having sex! How am I supposed to relax? Get up! Get dressed!”

“Cayden, you’re an adult. I’m sure they knew that you were going to have sex at some point,” Dominick explained as he got up from the bed. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” Cayden repeated as he pulled on his underwear then grabbed his jeans. “Yeah, they probably knew that I was going to have sex at some point, but I’m sure they thought it was going to be with a woman,” he explained.

Dominick paused as he reached for his clothes. “Whoa,” he said, “you mean to tell me that your parents didn’t know you were gay?” He questioned.

“No, and they just found on in the worst way!” Cayden groaned as he zipped up his jeans.

Dominick shook his head and snickered. “Oh my God, your poor mother’s face!” He said as he began to crack up.

“It’s not funny!” Cayden retorted. “She was horrified!”

“She’ll get over it, she’ll survive,” Dominick remarked as he got dressed.

“Maybe, but I don’t think I will,” Cayden sighed.

Standing at the door Cayden glanced at Dominick. “I’m really sorry about this,” he whispered. “I’ll give you a call later, okay?”

“Yeah . . . sure,” Dominick said with a nod.

Closing the door, Cayden turned slowly to face his parents.

“Sit down,” Patrick King demanded from where he was seated on the sofa beside his wife.

Cayden slowly walked over and sat down in a chair. He glanced at the floor, unable to bring himself to look his parents in the eyes.

“I don’t get it,” Victoria King finally said, breaking the silence as she shook her head. “Was it me? Did I do something wrong as a mother?” She questioned

Cayden ultimately glanced up at her. “No. Mom, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m gay,” he admitted. “I was born this way.”

His response sent his mother into hysterics. “If you were born that way, then it must have been my fault because I’m the one who gave birth to you!”

Patrick leaned forward and placed his hand on his wife’s knee. “Victoria, calm down. Cayden wasn’t born gay. It’s this city. We knew that letting him move to New York was a bad idea. He obviously fell in with the wrong crowd and they convinced him to do it.”

“No one convinced me to be gay,” Cayden said.

“Then it’s drugs!” Victoria exclaimed. “You were doing drugs. You were under the influence and not using proper judgement.”

“Mom,” Cayden sighed, “I’ve never done drugs in my life.”

“So what are you saying?” Patrick King questioned as he finally brought himself to look his son in the eye.

“What I’m saying is . . . I always knew that I was different. I knew I was gay for as long as I could remember . . . I’ve always felt an attraction to other guys.”

“I’m going to be sick,” Victoria said as she put her hand up to her mouth.

“I never said anything because I didn’t want to upset you,” Cayden explained.

Patrick King nodded his head. “Pack your things,” he said as he stood up from the couch. “You’re coming home with us. We’re going to get you out of New York and get you some counseling.”

“Counseling?” Cayden said. He couldn’t believe that his father actually thought that his sexuality was some kind of mental health disorder. Standing up in protest, Cayden shook his head. “I don’t want to leave,” he admitted.

“Why not?” Victoria questioned.

“I like living in New York. I have friends . . . and school.”

“You have friends back home,” Victoria reminded him, “and there are plenty of good schools in the area.”

“But Mom, I want to stay. I have a scholarship here and if I leave . . . you’ll have to pay for college and you guys can’t afford that.”

“We’ll manage,” Patrick responded. “We’re already paying for this apartment as it is. That’s one less bill we’d have to pay.”

“I’m not leaving,” Cayden said adamantly, causing his mother to throw her arms up in frustration.

Patrick King crossed over to his son and put his finger directly in front of Cayden’s face. “You listen to me, young man. If you plan on staying in New York and living a life of homosexual debauchery, then you’re going to have to do it on your own!”

Victoria King stood up from the couch and stared at her husband in shock.

“We won’t be a part of this,” Patrick explained. “And we will no longer pay for you to live out here and have unnatural relations with other men.”

Cayden’s eyes went wide as he stared at his father. He glanced at his mother. “Mom . . .” he whimpered, hoping that she would be on his side. “Please . . .”

Standing behind her husband, Victoria King glanced away from her son and remained silent.

“You don’t want me anymore? You’re just gonna disown me like that?” Cayden questioned, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“This isn’t you, Cayden, something is wrong . . .” Victoria said softly.

“Look at me!” Cayden yelled, unable to control his emotions as he began to sob. “Look at me, Mom . . . This . . . is . . . who . . . I . . . am! I’m the same person I used to be . . . I’m still your son . . . I’m still Cayden.”

“No,” Patrick said as he shook his head. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not my son.”

Closing his eyes, Cayden sighed and shook his head, defeated. “I would rather be on my own and be the person that I really am, than go back home and pretend to be the person you want me to be.”

“Well, if that’s your decision, then we’re leaving,” Patrick said as he started for the door.

Victoria paused and stared at her son with teary eyes.

“Victoria! Let’s go!” Patrick demanded as he stood by the door.

“Mom . . .” Cayden whispered as he reached out to her, hoping that she would see him for who he really was, the boy she gave birth to, and the son that she loved. Victoria King glanced away and walked past her son in silence.

Alone, in the middle of the living room, Cayden King shut his eyes and when he heard the door slam, his knees went weak and he fell to the floor sobbing.

Szymon Skubisz smiled as he watched his son open his Christmas presents. Little things like a smile on his son’s face warmed his heart and made him still believe that good things were possible.

“Cool!” Sammy cried, “Robot Wars,” he said as he showed the box to his father.

“That’s great,” Szymon said, still smiling. He glanced at the tree and up at the angel that sat on top of it, and resigned himself to the fact that his Christmas wish would never come true. As he stared in silence, his smile faded.

Lingering nearby, Andrea Darling held a cup of coffee in her hands and glanced at Szymon. She caught the solemn expression on his face and crossed over and sat on the couch next to him. Handing him the cup of coffee, she looked into his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” She questioned.

Stirred out of his reverie, Szymon glanced at her and shook his head as he reached for the coffee cup. “It’s nothing,” he responded.

“I see,” Andrea said with a nod. “Does your mood have anything to do with Cayden King?”

As he lifted the cup to his lips, Szymon paused and glanced at her in silence.

“I’m so sorry that Cayden misunderstood what he saw,” Andrea admitted.

“Don’t worry about it,” Szymon said, taking a sip from his cup. “He’ll be fine . . . I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t sound very convincing,” Andrea noted. “I think you should go find him and explain everything to him.” She glanced at Sammy and smiled as she lowered her voice and turned back to Szymon. “If you tell him that you were a sperm donor and the only reason we’re married is because . . .”

“It’s too late,” Szymon said as he shook his head. “He’s moved on already . . .”

“It’s never too late,” Andrea informed him. “Szymon, you’re my best friend. When I came to you and asked you to donate sperm so that I could have a child, you didn’t even think twice.”

“Of course not, you’ve wanted a kid for as long as I could remember, and I wanted to give you that,” he explained.

“And after Sammy was born, you came through for me again. I almost died when my kidneys failed, but you were the one who came up with the idea of marrying me so that I could get on your health insurance plan. You didn’t have to do that, you put your whole life on hold for me,” Andrea said.

“It was worth it,” Szymon admitted. “You’re my best friend.”

“And I’m honored to be your best friend, but now it’s my turn to do something for you,” she explained as she reached for an envelope on the table beside the couch and handed it to him.

“What’s this?” Szymon questioned as he glanced down at it.

“Your life,” Andrea said, “I’m giving it back to you. Open it.”

Szymon glanced at Andrea, then at the envelope. Opening it slowly, he pulled out the documents inside. “What is this?” He questioned as he glanced back at Andrea.

“I’m filing for a divorce.”

“You’re what?” Szymon questioned, slightly confused. “Why?”

“You’ve wasted enough time on me,” Andrea smiled. “I know that you love me, but you’re not in love with me, and as much as I love you, we both know that I’m not in love with you either,” she explained. “You’ve given me everything that I ever wanted, and now it’s time for me to give something back.”

“But . . . what about Sammy?” Szymon questioned.

“Sammy has two parents that love him,” Andrea explained. “He’ll be fine.”

“Still,” Szymon sighed. “Cayden’s moved on, and any chance that I ever had with him has moved on with him.”

Andrea Darling shook her head and smiled. “You and I have been through a lot,” she explained. “It took us five times before we got lucky and had Sammy, and when I was in the hospital hooked up to machines and monitors, you were there by my side. You never gave up, why should you start giving up now?”

“Daddy! Look!” Sammy Skubisz said as he rushed over to his father and deposited a Christmas present into his lap. “Can we play it?”

Szymon smiled as his son and nodded. “Of course we can play it,” he said.

“Cool!” Sammy cried and he sat on the floor and began to tear it open.

Glancing at Andrea, Szymon smiled and mouthed the words “Thank You,” before settling down on the rug to play Robot Wars with his son.

“I think you made the right decision,” Devon James said as she glanced over at Cayden King. “You have to be who you are and not let anyone tell you otherwise, even your parents,” she explained.

“Thank you for understanding,” Cayden replied, his eyes red and puffy from crying all day. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do now.”

“Well, the first thing you need to do is get a job,” Devon informed him.

“Oh God,” Cayden groaned. “I didn’t even think about that. How am I gonna get a job and go to school?”

“It’s going to be a struggle,” Devon explained. “But I think you’re up to the challenge.”

“I have to be,” Cayden nodded.

“Well, you don’t have to think about all of that right now,” Devon said. “It’s Christmas. We have food and liquor and good music and friends to hang out with,” she explained. “Let’s worry about our problems tomorrow,” she said as she opened the refrigerator and took out two cans of beer.

She popped them open and handed one to him. “Cheers!” She said as she took a swig.

Cayden smiled. “Cheers,” he repeated, taking a sip.

“Yo Cayden! This one’s got your name on it,” Gage Matthews called out from the living room. “Come open it.”

Smiling, Cayden stepped out of the kitchen and glanced over at Gage. “Who got me a present? I told you guys not to get me anything,” Cayden said.

“Just open it and shut up,” Devon laughed as she joined them in the living room.

“And stop acting like you don’t want it,” Kathryn Hayes added.

“Fine,” Cayden smiled as he crossed over and sat on the couch beside Jesse Martinez. “Give it here,” he said, placing his can of beer on the table and reaching for the gift. He tore the paper off of the box and glanced up at everyone, smiling.

“Oh, you guys!” Cayden laughed as he opened the box. “A digital camera? Are you serious?”

“We didn’t know what to get you,” Devon explained. “You’re so hard to shop for.”

“Gage wanted to get you a dildo,” Jesse interjected.

“Freak!” Cayden laughed.

“Do you like it?” Kathryn questioned.

“Of course,” Cayden replied. “Let’s take a picture!” He said as he removed the camera from the box. “Sweet, it comes with rechargeable batteries. Everyone on the couch,” he said as he got up and set the camera on a timer.

Devon and Gage joined Kathryn and Jesse on the couch, leaving a space for Cayden in the middle. “Okay,” Cayden said as he rushed over to join his friends and sat down, smiling, just in time for the camera to snap a picture of the five of them.

Cayden glanced around the living room with a smile on his face as he watched his friends. He rolled his eyes a couple of times at their crazy antics, and laughed his ass off when Gage challenged Devon to see who could drink the most shots of tequila without throwing up.

In the center of the room, Kathryn was dancing to the music with her eyes closed as she let the beat take control of her body while Jesse did his best to keep up with her frenetic pace. Everyone seemed so happy.

Despite the smile on his face, Cayden felt drained. His outward emotion betrayed the true feelings that he was experiencing inside. He wanted to scream. He wanted to throw things, but most of all he wanted to crawl into his bed and cry.

His friends accepted him for who he was, and he accepted himself for who he was, but his parents had rejected him. The two people whose opinions meant the most in his life had disowned him.

He felt alone as he watched his friends. He felt like he wanted to disappear. Getting up from the couch, he walked to the kitchen. He needed something, something to make him feel better, something that would take away all of his problems.

Opening the refrigerator, he grabbed another can of beer and popped it open, guzzling it down. He didn’t want to feel what he was feeling. He wanted to be numb.

“Slow down there,” Jesse Martinez said as he entered the kitchen and reached for the can of beer, taking it out of Cayden’s grasp. “You can’t drink your problems away,” he explained.

“Maybe I’ll just slash my wrists and take care of them that way,” Cayden snapped at Jesse’s unwarranted intrusion.

“I’m just gonna ignore what you just said and chalk it up to you being drunk,” Jesse said as he placed the can of beer down on the counter. “Devon told me what happened,” he admitted.

“She told you?!” Cayden responded. “That bitch can’t keep a secret,” he said, slurring his words.

“That bitch is your friend,” Jesse reminded him, “and she’s worried about you. We all are.”

“I’m fine,” Cayden retorted. “Or I’ll be fine when you give me that beer back,” he said as he reached for the can.

Jesse stepped forward, blocking Cayden from retrieving the can.

“What the hell?” Cayden groaned.

“Listen to me,” Jesse said as he looked his friend in the eyes. “Everyone out there can see how much pain you’re in. You think we don’t realize that you’re putting on a show for us?” He questioned.

“So I’m a big phony?” Cayden questioned. “And everyone’s laughing at me.”

“No one is laughing at you,” Jesse admitted. “We’re concerned.”

“Well, save your concern,” Cayden barked. “Just go back out there and laugh and be happy and let me wallow in my own misery.”

“Cayden, shut the fuck up already and listen to me,” Jesse said, causing Cayden to pout and roll his eyes. “I know what depression is,” he explained, “and you’re not gonna find the solution at the bottom of a beer can.”

“You don’t know anything,” Cayden assured him as he pushed past him and grabbed the beer. “You don’t know what it’s like to be alone.”

“I don’t know what it’s like to be alone?” Jesse questioned with disbelief as he reached down and lifted his sleeves up to his elbows. “This is what happened when I felt like I was alone,” he said as he shoved his wrists into Cayden’s face, causing Cayden to glance away.

“Look at them,” Jesse demanded. “Look!” Cayden hesitated, then glanced down at the scars on Jesse’s wrists.

“Now you tell me, honestly, if I don’t know what it’s like,” Jesse demanded. “Is this what you want?” He questioned as he shook his wrists in front of Cayden’s face. “Is it?”

“No . . .“ Cayden responded softly as he shook his head and glanced into Jesse’s eyes.

“You’re not alone,” Jesse assured him as he grabbed the can of beer from Cayden again and set it on the counter, “and this isn’t going to help.”

“Fine, whatever,” Cayden said as grabbed the beer can again and backed out of the kitchen, returning to the living room. He walked over to the window and sat down on the bench as he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

Sighing, Jesse shook his head and stepped out of the kitchen.

“Cheater!” Devon cried as she pointed to Gage’s shot glass. “You didn’t even drink the whole thing!” She reached for the glass and picked it up to show him, sloshing the tequila all over her hand in the process and causing Gage to burst into laughter.

“My bad,” Gage responded as he reached for her hand and began licking the tequila off of it.

“Eeww!” Devon cried as she pulled her hand away. “That’s gross!”

Shaking his head as he walked past them, Jesse Martinez crossed over to the couch where Kathryn was sitting and sighed as he sat down next to her.

“What happened?” Kathryn said softly. “Did you talk to him?”

“Cayden’s not in the right state of mind to talk to anyone,” Jesse explained. “I’ll try to talk to him when he’s sober.”

“He’s just sad,” Kathryn commented. “Maybe he deserves to get drunk.”

“He needs to deal with his feelings,” Jesse explained.

“There will be time for him to deal with his feelings, but his pain is still pretty fresh,” Kathryn noted. “Let him get a little drunk, it’s not going to hurt anyone.”

“I guess you’re right,” Jesse admitted.

“I usually am,” Kathryn smiled.

Jesse nodded and glanced into Kathryn’s eyes for a moment. “Can I . . . ask you a question?” He said softly.

“Of course,” Kathryn responded.

“Would it be . . . inappropriate . . . if I kissed you?” He inquired.

Kathryn paused for a moment, then slowly shook her head. “I don’t think so . . .” she answered.

“Good,” Jesse said as he moved in close, “because I really want to.” He pressed his lips against hers softly and pulled her into a kiss.

Sitting by the window, Cayden glanced at them and rolled his eyes.

“Oh hell no!” Devon James nearly shrieked as she jumped up from the table, knocking over the bottle of tequila in the process. Gage scrambled to save the last few drops from the bottle, but was ultimately defeated when he realized it was empty.

Devon crossed over to the couch and grabbed Jesse, wrenching him away from Kathryn. “What are you doing?” She screamed as Kathryn jumped back, fearful that Devon might try to hurt her.

“Devon, relax,” Jesse said.

“Relax? How could you do that? How could you kiss her? How could you betray Julia in the apartment where she used to live?”

“Devon, calm down,” Gage said as he tossed the bottle onto the floor and crossed over to her, trying to hold her back from doing any kind of damage.

“Calm down?” Devon responded. “You want me to calm down?” She pushed Gage away from her and turned toward Jesse. She wasn’t ready to accept the fact that Jesse was moving on.

“Hey!” Cayden called out as he stood up and smiled. “It’s fucking Christmas! Let’s all be jolly. Ho ho, freaking ho and all that crap!” He said as he took another swig from his beer.

“Oh my God,” Gage laughed as he pointed to Cayden. “He’s drunk!”

“No,” Cayden said with a smile as he shook his head and stumbled forward. “I’m not drunk. I feel good,” he added as he waved his arms and dropped his can of beer on the floor. “Oh shit,” he giggled.

“Cayden,” Devon said, “don’t get involved, this is none of your business.” Turning to Jesse, she shook her head. “How could you do this?”

“Devon, it was just a kiss,” Jesse replied.

“Just a kiss?” Devon questioned with disbelief. “In Julia’s old apartment, on the couch she paid for!”

“Hey, hey hey! Let’s all just relax,” Cayden said as he stumbled forward. “I didn’t know Julia . . . but do you really think she would want you guys fighting like this? Don’t you think she would have wanted Jesse to be happy and find someone who makes his happy?” Cayden said as he went to take a sip from his beer. “Hey! Who stole my beer?” He questioned, when he realized that it was gone.

“Cayden is right,” Gage spoke up. “Julia wouldn’t want you guys arguing like this, she was all about forgiveness.”

Nodding his head, Cayden pointed to Gage. “Listen to this guy, he’s right. I mean . . . Julia had sex with Gage and Jesse forgave her for that, right?” Realizing that he just blurted out Julia’s secret, Cayden’s eyes went wide as everyone stared at him in shock.

Jesse glanced at Cayden, then turned to Gage. "It was you?" He questioned as he lunged at Gage to try and grab him. "You're the one she cheated on me with?" Gage backed away and Jesse stumbled. "You were right there next to me at her funeral! I cried on your shoulder and the whole time you were laughing in my face!" He tried to hit Gage, but in his inebriated state, he missed and fell to the ground.

Gage looked panicked. "I'm sorry . . . it just happened. I'm sorry," he said quickly.

"You son of a bitch," Jesse said from where he sat on the ground. Kathryn rushed to his side and tried to help him up.

"How did you find out?" Gage questioned as he turned to Cayden frantically.

"I think I know," Devon said as she crossed over to Cayden and put her hand out. "Give it to me," she demanded. "Give me the diary."

"What diary?" Gage asked.

"Julia's diary," Devon responded. "He kept it. He didn't give it to the police. He's been reading it, trying to find out who killed her," she explained.

"You have her diary?!" Kathryn questioned with surprise as Jesse fell out of her grasp and back onto the floor.

"I'm sorry," Cayden explained. "Devon told me to keep it!" He said as he pointed to her in an attempt to take the blame off of himself.

"You lied to me," Jesse said as he glanced up at Cayden. "I asked you if you had it back on Halloween and you lied to me. You said you didn't have it, but you had it all this time? You called yourself my friend!"

"Give me the diary," Devon demanded. "You can't be trusted with it. Hand it over."

Cayden grew even angrier at the way Devon was talking to him and shook his head. "I can't be trusted? What about you?" He inquired. "You call yourself Jesse's friend, but you're the one that helped Julia get an abortion when she wasn't sure who the father of her baby was!"

Sitting on the ground, Jesse's face went white with shock. "She was pregnant?" He questioned. Gage shook his head. It was all too much for him to take in.

Without warning, Devon punched Cayden in the face, dropping him to the ground and knocking over his tiny Christmas tree in the process. He winced in pain as he reached up to his nose. He could feel blood trickling out and he glanced up at her with disbelief. "You bitch! You hit me!" He cried.

Jesse Martinez finally got up from the floor and shook his head as he glanced down at Cayden. "I thought you were my friend," he said as he turned and caught sight of Gage. He paused and shook his head again as he walked out of the apartment. Kathryn Hayes bit her lower lip nervously and glanced at Cayden, then at Devon before quickly following Jesse.

"I . . . uh . . . I . . ." Gage Matthews stepped forward, but couldn't find the words to say. Defeated, he turned and left the apartment.

Staring down at Cayden in silence, Devon James shook her head. "You just ruined the memory of the most amazing person anyone ever met," she explained. "Are you happy with yourself?" She questioned.

Glancing away, Cayden fell silent and didn't respond. Devon turned and sighed as she left his apartment and slammed the door behind her, leaving Cayden alone, sitting on the ground with blood trickling from his nose.

He glanced at the small Christmas tree. All of the ornaments had been knocked off and what remained was a sad, pathetic little tree. He felt like that tree, naked and all alone. In the quiet of his apartment, Cayden King sighed.

"Merry Christmas," he whispered to himself.