Meet the Kingstons

Dajon and I decided to leave that conversation for another day. With exams coming up we needed to keep our head in the game. He'd be well off with all F's but I need a scholarship. We agreed to go to the same University or at least one nearby each other in Sophmore year and I intend to keep that promise. UCLA gives me a high chance of getting a good job and making lots of money. The only problem is it's hella expensive, but if I continue to stay at the top of my studies I'm guaranteed to get in...hopefully.

Once again Dj and I were interrupted by a door slam, it was much quieter this time, maybe she calmed down. "Can't that girl take a hint? Damn!" Dajon groaned.

He got up and headed downstairs. This time, I followed behind him. But what we saw wasn't Claire. It was a man and a woman, both slightly taller than Dajon. The woman was an exact replica of my boyfriend. The only difference was her round face and longer hair which was in micro braids. The man had Dajon's face shape and eyes, his hair was in a bun with high fades. Both of them wore a white shirt with a black blazer, tie, pantsuit, and shoes.

"We must fire him immediately; he'll jeopardize the whole business!" The woman spoke.

"He's our nephew, we can't risk causing turmoil between us and your sister. You remember what happened last time we tried to demote her son. She sent fake reviews to destroy us! Who knows what she'll do this time?" The man put his work bag next to one of the couches and sat the woman down.

"Who cares about that? She's obviously sending her son to trick Dajon into giving up the business. That boy is probably brainwashing our child with all his shameful ideologies for all we know! We don't need that kind of person working for us and we definitely don't need that kind of person around our son!"

"Sweetheart there's not much we can do-"

Dajon walked up to the couple, "Are you guys talking about Karma?"

"Look, it's already started! He thinks Ashton's name is Karma!" The woman started to fan herself.

"Mother, her name is Karma..." Dajon said irritably.

"Her? He's a man! He's just confused!" The man yelled.

"Father, I don't understand your problem with her. She gets her work done and does it right. The only problem you have is that she's trans! And those bad reviews weren't because Aunt Zimenna won't let you fire her, it's because of your blatant transphobia!"

"Boys! Knock it off, we have company." Dj's mom gestured to me. She smoothed out her outfit and fixed her posture.

All eyes were on me. I was officially meeting Dajon's parents. Not only were they terrifying but they're conservatives as well... "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am, sir." I said extending my arm to shake hands. Both of them refused to touch me. They had a disgusted look on their faces. Lord give me the strength....

"Who are you exactly?"

"My name is Isaiah Clayton, I am hel-"

"This is my classmate Isaiah, he's here to study!" Dajon interrupted. "I invited him over to help him pass his exams, he needs the scholarship to get into a good college since he can't afford it. My teacher said if I took up this job it would count for service hours, you know I hate to get my hands dirty picking up all that trash."

I looked at my boyfriend in disbelief. I know good n well this nigga ain't for real. I would beat his ass right now but his parents would definitely sue.

"Is this true?" His mother asked me.

Dajon gave me a pleading look. "Yes ma'am." I lied.

"That's our boy." Mr. Kingston patted his son's shoulder.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" The mother changed her attitude towards me almost immediately.

"No thank-"

"Yes he would, Isaiah was just telling me about how hungry he is!" Dajon clasped his hands. "Now if you don't mind we're going to head back upstairs to study.

Damnit Dajon I'm tryna go home, ion feel safe no more! My boyfriend dragged me upstairs and carefully closed the door behind us. "You better have a good ass explanation Kingston." I said, raising my brows.

"I know you're mad, but, if I didn't stop you that conversion woulda went downhill. I needed to give them answers they wanted to hear. I'm not allowed to ask for help and you almost said no to my mother. I know you aren't aware but that's like a federal crime!"

"Well lock me up then because I want to go home. I'm sorry but the hostility ain't it. I don't think I can stay here any longer, Dj!"

Dajon grabbed my hands and put his forehead against mine. "I completely understand how you feel. But it's just dinner, it won't take too long, I'll walk you home right after. Plus when you think about it we get to spend more time together, we're done studying, we'll do whatever you want for the remainder of the time."

I sighed in defeat, "Fineeeee, but we're playing Security Breach."

"That's not fair! Isai you know I don't do jump scares!"

"Oh c'mon your parents are wayyyy more terrifying than the animatronics." I chuckled.

"Can't we watch No Way Home or something?" He whined.

"Tempting but watching you shit your pants is much more enticing." I said, lifting his chin up.

*Time Skip*

"Isai ion wanna play this shit no more!"

"Mmmm too bad."

"For fucks sake how do you even keep a straight face?"

"I'm black, I've seen worse."

"We're both black, idiot."

"We'll then it's because I'm gay."

"We're both gay..."

"You're just a pussy I guess."

"Well you're a dick then."

"You are what you eat." I shrugged.

"I- You're done...you're done..."

*Buzz* Dajon picked up his phone. "Dad says dinner is ready."

"Ight lemme jus finish jumping Monty."

"No Isaiah, we need to go downstairs now." He said, lowering his voice.

I noticed the seriousness in his tone and turned off the computer.

*Time Skip*

"Dinner was amazing Mr. and Mrs. Kingston."

"You're very welcome dear, it was so nice having you over. Dajon never brings people over, we started to think he didn't have any friends. Although we would prefer he spent more time around people like him...no offense." His mother gave me a fake smile.

Shit why did I agree to stay here... Dajon's father was giving his son a nasty glare. I can't tell if that's his resting face or if he's actually pissed but I ain't tryna find out. "Well I should probably g-"

"Dajon...I just got an email from Mr. Bonneville. He says his daughter came home crying because of you...and Isaiah." He said, giving me the same glare he gave his son. Mr. Kingston handed the phone to his wife to show her the email.

"Father, I don't want to marry her! She's obnoxious."

"It doesn't matter she's rich! With her money we could be so much more than hotels!"

"So you'd give up your son's freedom for some money?"

"There's no such thing as freedom for people like us! That's only an illusion! You need to grow up and accept it. We raised you, this is how you will repay us!"

"Oh my apologies, if I was aware of the fact that I had to compensate you for doing your job as a parent I wouldn't have come out of the womb!"

"Look at your cousin Ashton! If it weren't for us you would've ended up like him, sick and confused. He thinks all this LGBTQXYZ shit is real!"

"Karma is doing just fine. She isn't confused, you're just ignorant father, and leave her out of this!"

"You will marry Ms. Bonneville and that's final!" His mother yelled, slamming her hand against the marble table.

"I REFUSE TO MARRY A GIRL! ESPECIALLY ONE LIKE HER!"

The whole house was silent. His parents were in shock. Tears streamed down his mother's face. "You won't marry a girl? You mean you're- No you're not..." She whimpered.

"Yes! I am!"

His father pointed at me, "Is that who you're dating?"

I turned to Dajon begging him not to say anything, we both knew it was too dangerous.

"No, I'm single."

"Then how could you possibly know you're gay? You've never even been with a man!" His father laughed.

"I've never been with a girl either but you guys still assumed I was straight."

"Go to your room now!" His mother ordered still trying to process everything that just happened. "And you Isaiah, you need to go now! You are not to speak a word of what just happened or we will see to it that you never go to college!" I silently nodded and left the house immediately. My mind was filled with worry for Dajon. What if they send him to conversion camp or worse.. They might never let him see the light of day ever again. He's an adult but they still have total control over him. What if they go through his phone and see our texts! These people could take away my future with the snap of a finger, they already suspected me at dinner. As much as I hated making him deny having any sort of relationship with him I couldn't let them hurt my mother. But now, I may never be able to see or talk to my boyfriend again.

*Time Skip*

"Isaiah!" I familiar voice called for me, snapping me out of my internal panic.

"Shit- Dajon??? How'd you get ou- Wait how'd you get here before me and how do you know where I live?"

"I snuck out and Imani helped with the rest. You didn't know about the shortcut? That's not important, here, you left it at my house." He handed me my backpack. Dajon noticed the worry painted on my face. "Everything will be okay, we'll figure something out."

"What if your parents send you away?"

"They can't, it'll make them look bad. I'm so sorry you had to see all that, and I'm sorry for being so selfish. If we weren't together your life would be much more simple, you wouldn't have to keep secrets from the people you love. I know all this and yet, I still want you to stay with me."

"Don't pin this on yourself, when I asked you out I knew what I was doing. And I don't regret a single thing." I embraced him and gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking into my house. Dajon waved goodbye and ran back home.

*Time Skip*

I had finally graduated, Dajon, Imani, and I had all agreed to meet up at Deena's for a celebratory meal. We all went back home to get ready, my mom left the ceremony a little earlier to prepare a surprise for me.

"Hey mom!" I said, opening the door.

"There he is! My baby is going to college soon!" She had tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry Ma. I promise I'll stay in touch with you as much as possible."

"You better, or I'm pullin up to your dorm. By the way, we have company, your friend from school is here. She's jus the sweetest thing."

"Imani?"

"Guess again." A menacing voice said.

Fuck...