Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 21:29:54 EST
From: HnstSkr4@aol.com
Subject: The Journey Begins - Chapter 7

Author's Notes:

Before I get into the Legal stuff, I want to say thanks first to my Editor,
Pete.  He always does a wonderful job.  Second, I want to thank my Readers.
You guys are the best.

Okay, these characters are not meant to resemble any living or dead
person. I make no apology to anyone who is offended by anything in this
story.

If you find the idea of guys being in love offensive then need to find
something else to read and do it now

Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at
_Hnstskr4@aol.com_

Copyright 2010 by Chuck B.

* Before I begin chapter 7, you should know that this chapter begins
immediately where chapter 6 ended.

Chapter 7

The Cover Up

Dad stood up and returned my computer chair to its original position and
then left my room.  I was left to return to my journal.  I feel kind of
strange not knowing exactly what Sarah told Mom and Dad.  In a way, I
almost feel sorry for Dale.  For his sake, Dad better not act on anything
that he's been told.  Of course it could also be bad for me. I had closed
my journal and returned it to its secret hiding place, when I heard
footsteps coming up the stairs.

At first, I didn't worry about whoever came up the stairs, until I heard
them stop at my door.  The door opened and in came Sarah.  She chose to sit
in my computer chair, too.  "Okay little bro, you owe me!"

"So... what did you find out?"

"Well apparently, your guidance counselor seems to think that you're
suicidal and wanted Mom and Dad to know about it. Oh... and there was
mention of a certain rumor floating around school too."

"So what did you tell them?"

"I told them that you had mentioned that Dale was possibly spreading the
rumors, but I'm not sure that they bought the story.  You may want to spend
some time with Cathy.  I might have told them that you were dating her."

Now I was in shock, I went from having rumors spread about me to having a
girlfriend.  I have no idea how to be a boyfriend to a girl.  What was
Sarah thinking?

"Sarah, what am I going to tell Steve?  Better yet, what am I going to tell
Cathy?"

Sarah just smiled at me.  She didn't say a thing as she left my room.  I
guess I need to just get things done.

I grabbed my cell phone and called Cathy.  It seemed to take forever for
her to pick up.

"Hey Eric, what's shaken?"

"Cathy, I don't know how to even begin."

I was quiet for a moment so I could gather my thoughts.

"You know how Dale has been causing problems at school?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, I saw my parents at school today talking with the guidance
counselor.  I was worried that maybe the meeting was about the rumor about
me being gay.  So, I called Sarah and she helped me hatch a plan, and this
is where you come in maybe."

Again, there was silence while I got ready to propose her part in this
wicked little lie.

"Sarah came over to talk to my parents to help cover up whatever the
guidance counselor told her.  At the same time, she sort of told them that
I couldn't be gay... because you were my girlfriend."

This time, Cathy was quiet.  My mind was envisioning her smiling from ear
to ear.  She has wanted to date me for the longest time.  Sure, we went to
that dance back in junior high, but that was about it.  Now it seems that I
have no choice but to pretend to love her.  It's not fair to her and it's
not fair to Steve.

"Eric, I know what you're trying to do, and I know that you're gay, and I
also know that you would lose your home if your parents found out.  So
yeah, I'll do whatever I can to help.  Besides, it might be the only way
for to spend some quality time with you."

We both laughed and agreed to make some "dates" to cover my dates with
Steve.  I just hope that my little plan works.  Maybe, Dale won't mess with
me so much once it gets out at school that I'm dating Cathy.  Now, I have
to call Steve.

Just as I was about to hang up with Cathy, my mom entered my room.

"You must be on the phone with Cathy.  I'll keep this short, you're father
and I want to invite Cathy over to the house for a meal, and then we'll pay
your way to see a movie."

Guess, Cathy and I already have our first date.

"Did you hear that, Cathy?"

"Yeah, sounds like things just got complicated.  Ask your mom when?"

Mom hadn't left my room yet, guessing she wanted a response from me.

"Mom... Cathy wants to know when she is invited over?"

She thought for a moment and then answered, "Why not tonight, if she can
make it?"

"Tell your mom that tonight would be fine!  Bye honey!"

"Bye Cathy, I love you!"

"Tonight would be fine, Mom!"

Somehow saying "I love you" to someone else just makes me want to
gag. Cathy and I are friends, nothing else, and we will always be friends.
I forgot to let her know that I would pick her up around 5:30 pm.  Mom
turned left the room.  Knowing my mom, she is hitting up the cookbooks for
something really special.  While Mom was hitting the books, I called Cathy
back.

"Cathy, I forgot to tell you that I'll pick you up around 5:30."

"I'll see you then Eric!  Eric, I hope everything turns out okay."

"Me too, Cathy!"

We hung up and I headed outside for some peace and quiet.

Even though I am little big nowadays, I managed to climb up into the little
tree house that Dad made for me when I was ten.  He thought it would be a
neat way for us to spend some time together.  Honestly, it was pretty neat.
I had to call Steve and I felt pretty sick to my stomach.

"Steve, please pick up!"

His phone rang at least twice before he picked up.  One more ring and it
would have gone into voice mail.

"Eric, what's up man?"

"You know how everyone at school somehow seems to know that I'm gay?"

"Yeah... I noticed the stares, not to mention the kid coming up to you and
asking if you were gay. Why, what's going on?"

"Well today during, Mr. Smith's class I went to the bathroom.  I saw my mom
and dad come out of the guidance office.  I thought for sure that it had
something to do with this rumor that is going around."

Steve interrupted my line of thought.

"Eric, it isn't really a rumor.  I mean, you... you're gay.  It's nobody
else's business and I get that. I also don't like Dale getting in your face
about it.  I wish you would just let me beat the snot out of him."

I actually had to think about his little wish.  Maybe Eric does need a good
beating to knock some sense into him.

"Steve, the guidance counselor told Mom and Dad that I'm gay.  I'm waiting
for the shoe to drop."


"I think, if your mom and dad were going to say something, they would have
by now."

Steve's reply made total sense.  I don't think my parents would have waited
to talk to me about something like this. Now how do I tell him about Cathy?

"Anyway, Sarah talked to my parents to find out what happened in the
guidance office. She also sort of told them that I'm dating Cathy."

Steve went quiet.  For almost a minute, there was silence filling the air.

"Sarah told your parents that you're dating Cathy?"

"Yeah... she did.  I guess, she thought that it might throw Mom and Dad off
the whole gay trail."

I thought for sure he would pack his bags and leave me.

"I can see where thinking that their son has a girlfriend might throw them
off.  Can't say, that I like the idea.  What are you going to do if this
blows up in your face?"

He's worried and I can't blame him.  If I were in his shoes, I would be
worried too. What am I going to do if this does blow up in my face?

"Honestly Steve, I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I'll have to live
with it, I suppose.  I thought you should know what's going on.  Didn't
want you to hear something and be caught off guard."

"Thanks for caring!  I appreciate that; not many guys would do that."

It's nice to know that he appreciates me.  He makes my life a little easier
to handle.  It's nice to have someone I can lean on a bit.  Someone is
coming up the stairs, so I better end this call.

"Steve, I need to let you go.  I love you!"

"K loverboy!  Be careful!"

I ended the call and put the phone back into its belt pouch.  Now I wonder
who came up the stairs.

There was knock on the door.  Only one person in the family knocks before
they enter my room and that would be Alex.

"Eric, can I come in?"

"Get in here Alexa!"

She entered the room with doing this little pouty face at me.

"Why did you call me Alexa?  I hate that name."

"I know you do, I was just joking with you.  So what is up?"

Alex gave me this weird look.  Between Sarah and her, I don't know why I
try to have secrets.  "Eric, why don't you just tell Mom and Dad?  I mean
come on.  Everyone at school is talking about it.  It's only a matter of
time."

She is right.  Everyone is talking about it.  I suppose, it's possible for
our parents to find out about it, but I'm hoping this little acting job
will push any stray thoughts out of their minds.

"Look Alex, I appreciate you being worried, but I can handle this."

She just rolled her eyes.

"I can!  Look, Sarah is the one who started this whole story about Cathy
and me."

"Oh talking about your girlfriend, you need to go get her.  Mom is ready to
eat."

I grabbed my keys and headed out of my room.  I turned to Alex and one last
time, I reminded her that I could handle this issue.

"Alex don't worry, I can handle this.  Everything is going to be okay."

I don't really believe in the plan either.  All I can do is hope that my
acting is good enough to fool everyone.


Getting into the car, my heart felt like it was going to burst.  I don't
know why I let Sarah handle this.  Now look at the problems that are
popping up.  If I can't act like I love Cathy, then Mom and Dad will know
that I'm gay and I'll lose everything.  Here goes nothing!  Stopping the
car, I got out and headed up to Cathy's house.  She must have been watching
because she came right out.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked me, as we walked to the car.

"No, I'm not ready at all.  I'm scared that this lie is going to blow up in
my face and I hate Sarah for putting you in the middle of this. Guess we
need to be heading back to my house."

"Lead on, boyfriend!"

Cathy took my hand and together we walked to the car.  Suddenly, this inner
strength seemed to radiate out from her.  It made me glad to be by her
side.  I really got the feeling that she could get me through this.  Let's
hope that my impression is right.  With that thought, I let her into the
car and then got in myself.


Pulling up to my house, my stomach turned and I also threw up.  I just
don't think that I pull this off.

"You okay?"

Cathy asked me.  I didn't answer her.  I just nodded my head and got out to
let her out.  Once, she was out of the car, I took her hand and we walked
up the sidewalk.  Man, it seemed to take forever to get up the sidewalk.  I
didn't want to go through with this.  If it were not for my mom spending
hours in the kitchen, I'd turn around and take her to some fast food joint.
I managed to make it up the stairs without getting sick.  The minute we
stepped into the house, it was like all eyes were on us.

"Well, let's eat!" Dad said as he led us into the kitchen.

Mom had made pot roast with all the trimmings.  There was a crisp, green
salad, mashed potatoes with garlic, which happens to be my favorite part of
the meal.  Mom also made rolls.  I just didn't have much of an appetite. I
did eat though, just not as much as I usually do. Most of the conversation
was small talk giving Mom and Dad a chance to figure out what was going on.
I'm not really sure that they believed any of what was being said.  In
fact, it was so boring that I didn't even bother writing about it in my
journal.  At one point, I did lean in to kiss Cathy.  I think everyone at
the table watched as I gave her a peck.  Right then I decided that this
couldn't happen.  It felt wrong kissing a girl.  Even worse was the feeling
that I was cheating on Steve, knowing that I could do this.  I had to do
something.

"Cathy, I'm not feeling good.  I... I think it's best we skip the movie.  I
don't want to get sick on our date. Mom and Dad can you drive her home for
me."

Mom looked concerned for me and she agreed to get Cathy home for me.


I acted all sick and headed up to my room.  Once I was in my room, I closed
the door and called Steve again.

"What are you doing calling me?  I thought you were on a date."

"I couldn't do it, Steve.  I couldn't finish the date.  I kissed Cathy on
the cheek and felt so sick.  It felt so wrong."

I started to tear up and it got worse from there.  Now crying full blown
tears.  Steve could hear my sobs.

"Eric, what do you want me to do?"

I knew exactly what I needed him to do for me.

"Just be my boyfriend!"