Chapter 49: Confrontation

***WARNING: VAGUE MENTIONS OF DEATH***

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I murmur to him.

We've been together- boyfriends, officially- for a week. Yes, it seems a little soon for meeting the parents, but he's very eager to get them off my back about studying. He's not too concerned about their approval; he's more filled with righteous anger at them for the studying rule ultimatum.

They also don't know that he's here. Well, they might, but they also have no idea what they're in for. They don't know we're together (I wonder if they even know I'm gay?) and so basically at this point, he's my still studying friend. I've been at his house for the past hour or so, mostly freaking out about this. It seems like a horrible plan, to be honest. 'Hey Mom and Dad, meet my boyfriend who you didn't know about and tried to prevent me from seeing because you thought hanging out with him was going to end up bringing down my marks. Oh, and speaking of that, he's going to now lecture you about it'. There is no way this can end well.

"It's going to be fine, Todd. If you don't want to do this, then obviously I won't, but you're eighteen now. You're an adult. They're being ridiculous and need to see that."

I take a deep breath and lean against him. "I know. I just don't want them to hate you."

"How could they? I'm so charming and lovable."

"Do you even realize what your first impression is going to be?"

He rubs a few circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. "Don't worry. It'll work out."

I inhale and exhale carefully, and then press the doorbell.

A moment later, it opens, and my mom blinks at me. She and my dad still aren't thrilled that their ultimatum seems to have lost its effect on me. I've been going to his house regularly again- maybe even more. My grades are still all sitting pretty at 100%, though.

"Oh, Todd. Your friend, right?"

I force a smile. "Actually, Mom, this is my boyfriend. Will."

She looks shocked for a second, before her eyes focus in on our joined hands, and she says, "Oh. How nice to meet you, Will. Let me go get my husband. Will you be staying for dinner?"

"Yes," I tell her. "He will."

She looks less than thrilled as she leaves to find my dad. I go inside, pulling him with me. He takes off his shoes and light jacket while I do the same, then (still holding his hand) take him to the kitchen. We both sit down. He squeezes my hand gently, and I meet his eyes. He gives me a small, reassuring smile. It helps a little.

My parents come in before I'm ready to face them. Will stands, releasing my hand, and shakes my dad's instead. "I'm Will, it's a pleasure to meet you."

He grunts a little and sits. My mom looks longingly at dinner, which is in the oven and therefore requires nothing more from her (meaning she has nothing to distract herself with), then sits as well.

"Are you the rich friend?" My dad asks bluntly. I have a feeling this entire interaction isn't going to be the most civil thing ever.

"I am wealthy, yes."

"And how did you get to be so rich, at... your age?" my mom asks, and I almost cringe. That literally could have been worded any other way.

"A number of industries, actually. Though, I am an adult, like your son."

I decide to intervene before this can spiral downhill. "Actually, Mom and Dad, I was wondering if we could talk? About the studying rule ultimatum?"

"Ultimatum?" my dad repeats in an incredulous tone, just as my mom coldly says, "I hardly think that's relevant at the current moment."

"Actually, I was hoping that since I have a relationship now, we could renegotiate the terms. Relationships require a lot of commitment, so I was hoping-"

"Can we talk about this a little later?" my mom asks pointedly, and I swallow.

"No, I'd like to do it now."

"I'm sure Will doesn't need to be involved in this," she argues, her tone just a bit less civil. Oh, that's where you're wrong.

"Actually, I'm here to support Todd," he intervenes. "He's an incredibly intelligent and responsible person, and he cares about his education more than anyone else I know. His teachers all adore him, he knows every subject so well he could probably teach the class, so I don't really think there's any reason that he'd need to study for six hour straight in any scenario."

My parents look stunned for a moment, probably that the boy currently dating their son is arguing with them. Intentionally, and not even attempting to make it sound like he's not arguing with them.

"Now, Will, we understand that your wealth may be able to provide you with some certain academic freedoms, but you need to understand that our family doesn't have that."

"Being wealthy does give me a lot of freedoms, and I'm so grateful for it. But it does come with responsibilities and lessons, so I understand that as well. One extremely valuable thing that I've learned has been the value of living in the moment. I understand that as parents, you want your son to be happy, but you need to understand that studying for six hours a day and having no life outside of school may not be the answer to that."

"Alright, I've had enough of this," my dad says, standing up. "You can show yourself out, Will."

He stands up, wearing a surprisingly polite smile for the way he's talking to my parents. I do the same and grab his hand. My mom stands and gives me a look.

"Todd, you can sit, please."

"I can leave, too. And you're not my legal guardians anymore, so it's not like I'd have to come back."

My mom's eyes narrow at me dangerously. "Todd, you'd have a lot more to lose by moving out now than your father and I would. And do you realize how irresponsible it would be? Especially if you're trusting this boy of yours to take care of you, over your own mother and father."

"He won't go," my dad tells my mom, then gives Will another look, but before he can try to kick him out again, Will cuts him off with a slightly gentler voice.

"Let me ask you both this: if you lost your son, would you regret trying to chain him to a desk? Would you wish you'd let him be happy in the moment instead of hoping for potential happiness in the distant future? I know the value of planning ahead, but you can't live in the future. Life is impossibly temporary, and there's absolutely no guarantee of another year, another month, even another day. And if you make your only son sacrifice his happiness now for a future he never even gets to have- how would you feel about that?"

"GET OUT!" my dad roars, and Will doesn't even flinch. Still with the same smile, he starts for the door. I go with him, suddenly feeling the gravity of actually moving out of my house.

He stops in the doorway and turns to me. I look up at him with huge eyes, and he leans down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Don't come with me. Give them another chance."

I nod a little and wrap my arms around him to hug him, trying to express everything I'm feeling before I finally let go, and he gets in his car, and he leaves.

I close the door behind him, and turn to face my parents. My dad has never looked so furious.

"YOU WILL NEVER SEE THAT BOY AGAIN!" he booms at me. "NEVER!"

I'm trembling, but I set my jaw. "I'm not going to-"

"YES YOU ARE!" he bellows, and I'm about to refuse again when I'm cut off by another sound-

My mom's sobs.

"Oh, honey, he was right... oh sweetie, I'm so sorry..." she comes over to me, crying violently, and wraps me up in a tight hug.

I'm so confused it takes me a moment to hug her back, before my dad comes over, still looking pretty angry, but unable to sustain it now.

"What are you talking about? That insolent little rich boy-"

"His money has nothing to do with this," I tell him, and he gives me a look.

"Yes, I guarantee it does. He never learned to respect-"

"Honey, please," my mom says, holding onto my dad's shoulders to try and get his attention. "We shouldn't be forcing all these things onto our son. He's our son! He should have friendships and relationships, not just school. He should be happy."

He still looks unconvinced, but my mom gestures for me to go upstairs, so I do. An hour later, my dad comes into my room, his expression soft.

"Son..."

He opens his arms, and I hug him for a long time.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 25K READS!!! YOU ARE ALL SO AMAZING AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

So, thoughts on the millionaire's first impression on Todd's parents? That giant argument about the studying rule? And the resolution? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider giving it a vote! Thank you so much for reading!