IMPORTANT NOTE: I know this is long but please, please read until the end. It has an important message. Please answer the question at the end so that I know you've read the message. Thank you!

WARNING: SENSITIVE TOPIC

Meredith rushed backstage to turn off the speaker, but it wouldn't work. She grabbed the nearest thing to her and smashed her phone, silencing the audio.

She rushed out on stage again but it was too late. The stares became too much and Stanley had rushed off stage and out of the room.

"Stanley, wait!", exclaimed Darius, who started to run after him. Weronika grabbed his arm, holding him back. She shook her head gently, indicating that he needed time.

"Uh, I, um... th-thank you for that students! Leonie, would you like to do the-", started Miss Laine.

But everyone had already rushed out of the room. Leonie stood centre stage, all alone. She was supposed to tell everyone about the ticket prices, the show's dates and the duration of the show. She was supposed to make them want to come.

"I'm sorry, Miss Laine. Stanley needs us", she said, before bolting out of the room.

-

Leonie joined the others out on the courtyard. "Where's Stanley?"

"He ran out to the Football field", said Maxon. "Darius went after him."

"Did you finish talking to the parents? Did they seem mad?", asked Isaac.

Leonie shook her head. "I came out when you guys did. I'm sorry, guys."

Eli smiled before nudging Amethyst. "See? A place to belong. Like a family."

Amethyst scowled. "I already have a family. And Miss Sunshine over here messed up their day."

"Wait, Amethyst-", started Camryn.

"-Don't even try to defend her because you know you can't. What the h*ll was all that babbling on stage? You couldn't get it together for 5 minutes, could you? You wasted everyone's time", said Amethyst.

Truthfully, Amethyst needed someone to blame. She had seen her brother recording half way through the show, and she had no doubt he'd show it to her father. He'd see that mess.

And it had to be someone's fault. It just had to. So it was Leonie's.

Leonie frowned. Amethyst didn't say anything she wasn't already thinking. "I'm really s-"

-Stupid? Yes", interrupted Amethyst.

"Can everyone just stop fighting please?", asked Isaac. "We had an awesome show and right after we fight. This Club doesn't feel like a family anymore."

"It never was, Mop. And anyone who says differently is a liar", said Amethyst.

"So I'm a liar then?", questioned Eli. It hurt him, it really did. He thought he was finally getting through to her. "I thought we were friends. I forgave all the horrible things you did and said. But maybe you really are just a mean person."

Leonie couldn't help but blame herself. This all started because she messed up. Now Amethyst was losing friends. "Look, it's not her-"

"- Just shut up!", yelled Amethyst, tears dangerously close to falling. "Just uh, keep me updated on Stanley", she said, before leaving.

-
Stanley looked out to the Football Field, the place that had been his home for so long. The place he felt safe.

But it was also the place he couldn't be himself. Yes, he could be funny. Yes, he would be goofy. Yes, he could be stupid.

But gay? No.

Even though he didn't come out to the whole Theatre Club, if he had, absolutely had to choose a place... it would be the Theatre Club, no questions asked.

No matter what happened, he knew he'd have a home there.

He knew he could never go back to his own home. Not after that audio was leaked.

"I never realised how dirty the Football Field was", said Darius, approaching Stanley.

Stanley chuckled. "Dirty things belong in dirty places."

"Hey", frowned Darius. "You're not dirty."

"That's what my Dad thinks now", said Stanley.

"I didn't realise he was an upstanding Christian", said Darius.

Stanley looked at Darius. "He's never been religious. Well, not properly, anyway. But he's... well he's a man, you know?"

"The strong, masculine type?", questioned Darius. "Yeah, that's how he always came across to me."

Stanley nodded. "Yeah and so he doesn't agree with all this", said Stanley. "He thinks it's unnatural."

"But you're his son. He must think differently about it now. He loves you", said Darius.

Stanley sighed. "Sometimes love ain't enough, Darius. Love isn't enough to change the way you've always thought."

Darius frowned. Darius knew this. It hit home due to the situation with his siblings and his parents. "Yeah... it ain't."

A small smile appeared on Stanley's face. "You know, for a moment, I felt invincible."

Darius smiled. "Yeah?"

Stanley nodded. "Yeah. Like, I didn't have anything weighing me down any more. It was all out. I didn't have to pretend any more."

"Wouldn't it be nice to feel like that all the time?"

"But I know that isn't the reality. The reality is painful and I'll lose everyone I love."

"If they don't love you regardless is it really a loss?"

Stanley didn't reply.

"And you wouldn't lose everyone. You'd still have me", said Darius.

Stanley smiled. "I know, man. Thanks for having my back."

"I'll always be Team Stanley. Hey, I Stan you", said Darius, chuckling towards the end. "Get it?"

Stanley laughed. "Yeah, dude. I get it."

Darius glanced behind him, his smile brightening. He nudged Stanley. "Looks like I'm not the only one on Team Stanley."

A perplexed Stanley looked behind him. His eyes widened and his heart grew bigger when he saw the whole Theatre Club behind him.

"Team Stanley for life", said Maxon.

"Us dancers have to stick together", said Isaac.

"Come on, little man. We're more than fellow dancers. You're a bro now", said Stanley.

Camryn grinned as Isaac's smile lit up. "I am?"

Camryn leaned closer to Eli. "We're losing him to the dark side."

"I'm sorry you didn't feel like you could tell us you were gay", said Kennedy.

"It's not your guys' faults. I should've known you guys wouldn't judge me", said Stanley.

"We fight constantly over the smallest of things. It's no wonder you didn't feel comfortable telling us. This is on us. Not you", said Meredith.

Stanley smiled at her. "Thanks, Meredith."

"When did you find out?", asked Eli.

"Um, I've known for a while. All the girls I've been with, they were only one time kind of moments", explained Stanley.

"Is there anyone you like now?", asked Isaac.

Stanley and Darius looked at each other.

Isaac saw this and frowned. "Sorry! I shouldn't have ask-"

"-Hey, it's ok!", exclaimed Stanley. "You won't get your bro card revoked."

"Looks like we've officially lost him then, Eli", whispered Camryn.

"There's this guy...", said Stanley, grinning. "... he's really sweet. From Collman's. His name's Rhys."

Leonie's eyes widened. "Rhys?" When Stanley nodded, Leonie smiled. "He's great! I'm so happy for you."

Stanley smiled. "Thanks."

"Oh and uh, Amethyst had to go. But she wanted you to know she's here for you", said Leonie.

Stanley smiled. "I appreciate that."

"You don't have to tell your Dad", said Camryn. "But don't let you being rejected make that decision for you. You'll always have a home with us idiots."

"Less of the idiots please", said Darius.

-

Stanley entered his house, a sinking feeling in his stomach. "D-Dad..."

To his surprise, his Dad was in his room. He sat on Stanley's bed, looking through old photos.

"Wh-where's Liam?", asked Stanley.

"At a friend's house", replied his Dad. The change in his Dad's tone worried Stanley. He just seemed like he didn't care.

"Oh... wh-whatcha doing?"

"Lookin' through some photos. Back when you weren't so... messed up."

Stanley felt his face heat up and his eyes water. "Dad..."

"Yeah?", he asked, quickly turning around to face him. "You got somethin' to say? You finally got somethin' to say?"

"Dad I'm sorry, I-"

"-You're sorry? Your apology means nothing to me. My own son has been lying to me about his... his freaky fetishes-"

"-Dad, stop!", yelled Stanley, tears rolling down his eyes. "This isn't just some fetish or phase. I have real feelings for real people!"

"How?"

"Because they make me happy! Because I find them attractive. Because if I walk down the aisle, it won't be to some Cheerleader turned model wife who cooks for our 4 kids. It'll be to a man. A man I love!"

Stanley's Dad stared at him, steam practically billowing from his ears. Stanley just stared back, unafraid. He had had enough. He needed to be brave. He needed to be himself.

"If you can't accept me, even though I'm the same football loving idiot of a son I've always been... then maybe it's time I moved out", said Stanley.

When Stanley's Dad didn't answer, he nodded. He turned around and headed for the door.

"Wait", said his Dad.

Stanley stopped and turned around, his heart thumping in his chest.

"Where will you go?", he asked.

"I'll stay at a friend's house."

"Friend?"

Stanley sighed. "Yeah, Dad. Just a friend."

"You know, when your Mum left I was so scared. I had to be both parents to you and I didn't know how to deal with that. We were both so young. No one ever taught me how to be a man. Not in the way it counts", said Stanley's Dad. "Maybe you could teach me?"

"R-Really?"

Stanley's Dad nodded. "I saw the way you looked at me back at your Theatre Meeting when that audio played. With so much fear. Stanley I don't ever want you to be scared of me."

Stanley's eyes filled with fresh tears.

"I won't pretend to get it, cos I don't. It'll take time for me to come around but I'll try. And I'll never stop trying. You'll always be my son, Stanley. And I'll go to h*ll and back to protect you, ok?"

Stanley smiled and nodded. "Ok, Dad...", hs said, his voice breaking to a whisper.

"Come here", said his Dad. He pulled Stanley into a big hug.

As they pulled apart, the pair sat in silence for a long moment.

"You know, I should've known. You were always bringing girls home but never had a girlfriend. I just thought you had weak game", he said, chuckling towards the end.

Stanley shoved his Dad. "Oi!"

"I'm not wrong though, am I?", smiled his Dad.

Stanley smiled back. "No, you're not."

-

Stanley finally came out to his Dad! It may not have been on his own terms to begin with, but he spoke his mind and was able to be honest with his Dad.

His Dad didn't immediately accept it, and this is true for so many families with LGBTQIA+ children. Sometimes it can take months or even years. Other times, acceptance doesn't happen at all.

I hope that, through Stanley's story, you can see that true supporters can come from places you may not have expected. And that, as long as you have those kind of people around you, you'll never be alone. And you'll always have a home.

Love is love. You shouldn't be treated badly simply for loving someone. And you'll always be accepted and welcomed in this group.

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

What are your thoughts on the way I handled Stanley's Coming Out Story?

-cherrysvalanxe

CaptainHermioneSwan

ATHENA-yeonnie

Descend_Into_Fandoms

DoodleYeet

gillioddities

starryeyedturtle