Page 17 of 4-Ever

“He’s waiting in the car.”

Fuck.

“I’m ready.”

I was so not ready. But, like my friends reminded me, it’s now or never. If we wanted to make a real go at becoming professional musicians, we had to do it now.

My mom and I headed to the car, but my brother was absent.

“Rae is already at the restaurant with Hannah,” Mom commented before I could ask.

Of course, my brother was. He was never late like me.

I slid into the backseat and slammed my door.

“I have something to tell you guys,” I started.

Dad shifted into drive and pulled out onto the street. “Can’t it wait until we’re all together?”

“No,” I blurted out. “I need to talk to you and Mom first. This year isn’t going to be a gap year. I’m not going to college. Ever. Me, Ro, Holls, and Brodie are heading out on the road. As a band.”

“Not this rock band nonsense again,” my mother commented.

“It’s not nonsense, it’s what I want to do! It’s all I want to do. And I’m going.”

Dad was silent, glancing at me occasionally in the rearview mirror. I saw the worry in his green eyes. There was disappointment there too.

“I want to be a professional musician,” I insisted. “And we have a great sound. We’re gonna make it.”

“Then apply to music schools. Go to Juilliard,” Mom added.

“No. I hate school and I’m done with it,” I spat out.

My mom looked at my dad and he shook his head.

“You’re eighteen, Faise. We can’t tell you what to do,” Dad replied. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t worried. Without a college degree?—”

“I’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing. And, one other thing?—”

My mom sighed. “I don’t know if I can take another surprise.”

“I’m gay.”

Dad braked so hard at the stop sign that all three of us pitched forward.

A cold sweat broke out all over my body. This was it. I was sure they were going to kick me out of the car.

Instead, he surprised me and kept on driving.

“Okay,” Dad answered, glancing at my mom.

“Okay?”

“Fozzy,” Mom replied, using my childhood nickname. “We love you no matter what, you know that. But thank you for telling us.”

“You’re not mad?”

“About you being gay? No. Of course not,” Dad responded. “About you not going to college? That’s another thing.”

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