We sat together at the dinner table one night. I could tell Hazel was feeling uneasy, but that was because Liam has been so quiet since he had gotten home from school, which even worried me. Liam always had something to talk about after school, whether it be something new he learned or just mindless gossip.

After a few minutes into dinner Liam stopped eating, “Mom, what does fag mean?”

Hazel’s fork clattered to the floor, “W-Why do you ask?”

Liam shrugged, “Somebody called me that today.”

“It…It’s a mean name people call gay men.”

Liam looked suddenly confused, “Why the hell would they call me that? I’m not gay. I know that for a fact because I like….” Liam stopped himself and blushed, looking down at his food. Hazel smiled at me and mouth the name, “Adalee”, to me.

Liam quickly finished his food then and rushed up the stairs while crying, “Going to talk to Addy.”

It was then that Hazel placed her head in her hands and sighed, “Liam Liam Liam.”

And I knew. He liked a girl, not good.