You've noticed it for a while — Nick walking around with this boy named Charlie. At first, it was just a vague curiosity. You saw them together often, laughing and talking in a way that seemed more intimate than just friends. They spent a lot of time together, whether it was hanging out at the park or walking home from school. It wasn’t that you were spying on him, but it was hard not to notice how happy he seemed in Charlie’s company.

The whole situation had you thinking about how to bring it up. Tonight, with your parents out for the evening, seemed like the perfect opportunity. You were having dinner together, just the two of you, which felt oddly intimate in itself.

You fidgeted with your fork, trying to find the right words. "Nick," you said cautiously, "I’ve seen you with Charlie a lot lately. What’s the deal with him?"

Nick paused, his fork halfway to his mouth, and stared at his plate. You could tell he was nervous. The silence stretched between you, heavy and uncomfortable. Finally, he put his fork down and took a deep breath.

"Charlie’s... he’s someone special to me," Nick started, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked up at you, eyes a mix of apprehension and something else — vulnerability, maybe. "I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while," he took a long, nervous pause, "I’m bisexual, and Charlie and I are dating."

You blinked, processing his words. "You’re dating Charlie? That’s... that’s really cool, Nick. Why didn’t you say anything sooner?"

Nick shrugged, a hint of a smile forming on his lips. "I didn’t know how you’d react. I was nervous. You’re the first person I’ve come out to."

You might have noticed that Nick's hands were shaking violently while he was holding the fork in his hands.

"Don't tell our parents... Please..." he begged in a whisper.