Eventually, Caleb managed to get back up and walk to his house. Still in a daze after what had just happened, he absentmindedly placed the cake box on the counter. 

“Finally, Caleb!” his mother grumbled with annoyance as she sauntered into the kitchen. “What took you so long?” 

“Nothing,” Caleb lied, turning away so that Mrs. Smith couldn’t see him blush. “Well, whatever it was, it made the cake practically fall apart!” his mother announced while lifting the top off of the cake box. “Oh well, I guess it’s too late to do anything now.” 

She sighed. “Now, I know I gave you more money than you needed to buy that cake, so give me the extra money, please,” she said, extending a hand towards Caleb. 

"Um, well, Mr. Walker insisted on giving me the cake for free,” Caleb said sheepishly. 

“Oh, that Peter, always so kind. And funny. And smart. And handso-” “Alright, alright, you can stop now,” Caleb snarled in an attempt to stop his mother from blushing and giggling like a young schoolgirl. "Okay okay, I'll stop! Now let's keep the cake in the refrigerator until your party," she said, still smiling. 

Caleb put the cake box in the fridge and awkwardly stood around in the kitchen. "Alright, let's get you into proper party attire," Mrs. Smith proclaimed, eyeing Caleb's rumpled clothes. 

"Ugh Ma, do I have to?" Caleb whined. "Come on now, I thought gay people were supposed to be snazzy dressers." Mrs. Smith shook her head in disgust. 

"No, Ma, that's just a stupid stereotype, and who even uses the word snaz-Wait, did you just call me gay?!?! Why would you think that?!? I like girls!! Boobs are great!" Caleb yelled in a frantic attempt to cover up his blatant homosexuality. 

"Now now sweetums, you don't have to pretend around me. I've seen the way you act around that fellow-What was his name again? Clark Raker?" Caleb saw frown lines crease his mother's forehead as she tried to remember Mark's name. 

"No Ma, Mark Baker." Caleb rolled his eyes. "How could you forget his name, he's only the most popular, handsome, funny, handsome, charming, handsome, witty, handsome, smart, and handsome guy ever." Caleb smiled triumphantly, crossing his arms. Mrs. Smith looked at him and raised her eyebrows. 

"Shit, I didn't mean that in a gay way! I'm not gay!" Caleb scrambled to find the right words. "Watch your language, young man! Would you kiss Clark with that mouth?" his mother firmly reprimanded. "It's Mark, Ma, and sorry." Caleb sat on the ground and sighed. 

"You're right, I am gay. Very gay. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It's not that I don't trust you or anything, just that I never really wanted to say it out loud, you know? I don't feel a need to announce that I like guys to the whole world, and even though I know I should have told you, I really didn't feel like having an awkward conversation like this one where I tell you about how I feel and you tell me it's okay, and how you'll always love me no matter what. 

Because I knew you would accept it, accept me. I didn't want to make it a bigger deal than it actually is. Yeah, I like guys, so what? So do you, so that's just one more thing we have in common." 

Mrs. Smith chuckled softly and knelt down, nestling Caleb in her arms. "You're right baby, I do love you, and you being gay doesn't change anything. But you're right, that guy you fell for sure is a looker," she said, smiling. 

"Ew, Ma, gross, stop! He's underage! And I like him, you can't like the same guy your son does!" Caleb pulled away from his mother's arms in disgust. "Oh my goodness, can't I just acknowledge that he's a dreamboat without having to be in love with him?" Mrs. Smith laughed. 

"No, not when he's 16," Caleb humphed, but he peeked at his mom and smiled, because he knew that no matter how embarrassing she was, she was still the best mother he could ever wish for.