Title: Living It

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Summary: Amy's family is fractured to the breaking point when Lauren reveals her 'secret' out of spite. Not even her spiteful future step-sister could have predicted just how bad things would go. Not everyone is as tolerant as their high school and Amy? Amy isn't faking it anymore.

Prologue

Shane shifted closer as Lauren let out a growl and spat the words that both Amy and him had been hoping against hope that she wouldn't voice, "Amy is dating a girl!"

Lauren's eyes gleamed triumphantly as the table went silent for a moment before Amy's mom spoke, "Amy?"

Shane clasped Amy's hand in full view of the adults in support as Amy stared at the table and went mute.

Lauren's dad slammed his hand down on the table and snarled, "Is this true Amy?!"

Amy flinched as the man stood from his seat, "Sir..."

Out of the corner of his eye Shane caught Lauren's own wide eyes as she stared up at her dad, "Daddy it isn't..."

Her father held up a hand before he spat at Amy, "I asked you a question Amy?"

Shane's stomach sank as he watched the ugliness transform the older man's face into the visage of a monster, "Sir please..."

Amy spoke in a whisper, "I'm in love with a girl." She finally looked up from the table, "I don't know if that makes me gay or if I'm... I don't know what that makes me, but I know I love her." She lifted her chin and Shane had never been prouder of anyone in his life as she added, "And I won't apologize for it."

Lauren's dad lurched forward and Shane's chest tightened with very real fear when the man's legs jarred the table violently before he bellowed, "I want your queer filth out of my house!"

To Shane's surprise it was Lauren who reacted first, "Daddy!"

He snapped, "Stay out of this now sweetie!" He slammed his hand down again, "I said out Amy!"

Amy stood slowly as she replied with a trembling lip, "This is my house, this was my father's house..." She looked to her mother who was quietly crying at the table, "Mom?"

The woman remained silent as her fiance spoke, "I said get out before I throw you out!" The man's face was nearly purple and Shane quickly grabbed Amy's hand, recognizing that this man, this 'Christian' man could get violent at any second.

Amy tried to speak up, "My stuff..."

The man bellowed, "GET OUT!"

Amy startled and let Shane pull her from the dinning room and out the front door in record time. He hustled her to his car as the man stormed after them, making sure they were really leaving probably. He peeled out of the drive without checking his mirrors and sped down the street.

When they were a block away he slowed down just a bit and turned to look at Amy who was faintly lit in the Texas twilight, "Amy?" His friend was shaking from head to toe and staring blankly ahead.

She whispered, "Mom didn't say anything... she just sat there and let him throw me out... of my own house."

Shane reached over and took her hand as he spat, "And that damn bitch Lauren..."

Amy sank further into her seat, "Mom didn't say anything."

Shane asked after a moment, "Do you... you can stay with me Amy."

Amy turned to look at him before she whispered, "Can you drive me to Karma's?"

He sighed out, relieved she was speaking, "Absolutely."

The rest of the drive was silent and though it was maybe a few minutes to Karma's house it seemed like an eternity to Shane who was fighting the urge to give Amy a pep talk, because he was a hundred percent certain she wouldn't appreciate it.

They pulled up in front of Karma's house and her hand was already on the door handle when she paused. Shane saw what she'd seen and without his permission his own eyes watered and he fought down the rush of anger that welled up inside of him.

Amy slumped in her seat as her hand fell away from the door handle as she whispered, "Can I stay with you for a little while?"

He murmured back, "Of course."

As he pulled away from Karma's house his headlights glinted off the familiar license plate of Liam's car.