Inner Dilemma | Part 4
#4 of Inner Dilemma
Parent's weekend
The time where students' parents get to see what the university is "really like." By that, I mean the dining halls serve their best food, the campus looks spotless, and the parties are diminished. Bummer. It also means that Allen's roommate will be staying in the room for the second time all year. The campus was large, so Allen never bumped into him walking around. His name is Ray and he's a wolf just like Allen but Ray had blue fur instead of Allen's gray fur.
Allen sat at his computer listening to some Arcade Fire and doodling on Facebook when Ray walked into the room. He was wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans, and a pair of flip-flops. Ray carried a large bag that Allen assumed were his clothes.
"Hey stranger" Allen said as Ray threw his bag onto his bed.
"What's up" Ray dumped some clothes onto his bed and started putting some into drawers. "Why do we even have parent's weekend?"
"So that the parent's can see that the thousands of dollars they put into sending us here isn't going to waste." Allen said as he stood up.
Ray handed Allen a cluster of paper that were old papers and some trash. "Put this on my desk so it looks like I've been here." Allen started to scatter the paper around as he thought this whole thing was funny. Once they finished messing up Ray's desk. Ray turned to Allen and leaned against his bed. "So, what's new with you? It's been a while since we've seen each other."
Allen wasn't going to tell Ray all that had happened. He didn't feel like telling Ray that he was gay. It wasn't because he was afraid of what Ray might think or do, it's because when Allen said 'Hey stranger' he meant it. "Nothing much really, just laboring through my classes week by week."
"Any parties?"
"Of course."
"Got a girlfriend?"
"Ha!" Allen blurted out without realizing that Ray wouldn't understand. "No I don't."
"Well, if your interested, some of my girlfriend's friends are single. I can hook you up with their numbers and you can work your magic."
"Thanks, but I can find someone on my own."
"Suit yourself." Ray said as he started hanging shirts into his closet.
Allen felt a buzz in the right pocket of his jeans. He opened it up and saw that it was a text message from his mom "we're outside of you dorm!"
Allen opened the front door to his dorm. His parents and Max stood there excited to see Allen. Alyssa, Allen's sister, was not there because she was off in college herself. No sooner had he opened it, his mom lunged at him and gave him the biggest hug he ever felt.
"Oh Allen! We've missed you so much! This place is too far away. How are you? Are classes going well? I can't believe how long it's been since I've last seen you!" Allen felt like his eyes were going to pop out of his face. He tried to pry her off a little with his paws, but no luck.
"Vivian, let our son breath for a second" Allen's father, Brian, said as he approached his son. "It's good to see you Allen."
Allen took a few breaths after his mother finally released him. "Thanks" he said, "wait, where's Max?"
The three of them looked behind them and saw Max talking to a couple of vixens. It was obvious that the vixens knew that Max was too young for college, but they thought that it was cute. Allen went to retrieve him.
"...yeah I can do like 500 sit-ups in a day because this body doesn't make these chiseled abs by itself, I got to work for it." Max was saying in a deep voice trying to impress the vixens that just giggled at him.
"Alright you salty dog that's enough" Allen grabbed Max by the arm and started pulling him away. "Excuse us ladies."
"Thanks for the cock block" Max whispered to Allen before they were in earshot of their parents.
They went out to eat at one of the local sandwich places. Allen and Max ordered a Big Kahuna. It said that it feeds four, but Allen and Max challenged that, but found that there was still a fourth of it left when Allen and Max were so full that they promised to never eat again.
They got back to the campus and Allen's mom and Max left to get a tour of the campus in case Max wanted to attend the university. This left Allen alone with his dad.
"Come on Allen, I got to show you something," his father said walking past the dorm and towards the parking lot. Allen had no idea what they were doing. His father continued, "When we heard that you were joining the triathlon club, I figured that you would need your own bike for racing and a regular bike wont do. I decided to help you out. Just then, Allen saw it strapped to the back of the car. It was beautiful. A red time trial bike seemed to glisten as Allen gawked at it. It was unlike any other bike he had ever owned.
"It's a Trek Y-Foil Sixty-six," Allen's dad said proudly, "It's about ten years old, but it's still fast, carbon fiber frame and carbon fiber forks. Weighs next to nothing. One of the people I work with owned it and never used it and so I got it for a steal."
Allen ran his paws over it, it was too good to be real, but it was real. He wanted to ride it immediately. As though he were reading Allen's mind, his father added in, "we can take it down later. Right now, let's go for a walk, get some father/son time."
They walked around campus discussing classes, work, and just catching up. They then sat at a public bench next to one of the ponds on the outsides of campus and Allen knew what he must do at that point. "Dad, I need to tell you something."
"I'll all ears son," his father said turning his ears playfully towards Allen. Allen could only smirk because he was getting nervous.
"I wish I could lead you into this an easier way but," Allen took a deep breath, "Dad, I'm gay."
Allen's dad's pupils got big with surprise as he saw how serious Allen was being about this. He blinked a couple of times as his head started buzzing with thoughts. He was a conservative, he was against "Don't Ask Don't Tell," he didn't approve of gays getting married and here his son just came out to him. He grew up with parents that were very old fashion and they did not like gays. Mind you, they were no Westboro Baptist Church extremists, but Brian grew up with that and it kind of let an impression on him.
Allen continued, "I'm sorry if this is such a big blow to you now, but I needed you to know. Even if you don't like it or agree with it, this is who I am."
"Son," Allen's father said, "I love you. I love you a lot. I've never been a supporter of gays, you know how your grandparents were, but when you were born, I made a vow that I was going to love you unconditionally and I plan on continuing that vow. I'll try to change my view on gays, because I love you."
"Thanks Dad," Allen hugged his father and felt a connection of love and trust that had escaped him earlier.
"So, does this mean you have a boyfriend?" Allen's father asked in a slightly nervous tone.
"No, not yet anyway," Allen said amused by the question.
They made their way back to the parking lot where the car was parked. Allen's dad said that he would tell his mother, Max, and Alyssa when they got home; Allen was thankful for that. They then took the bike off of the car and Allen couldn't take his eyes off of it.
"Are you going to try it out, or are you just going to stare at it?" his father asked chuckling at his son's memorizing look. Allen swung his right footpaw over the bike, got a firm grip on the handles and started to ride. It was a strange feeling at first, he was use to riding on bikes where he was sitting up, but this time, it was like he was leaning flat. He flew around the parking lot as the wind flew through his fur. He was alive on the bike, he was free, he almost hit a car backing out.
"I take it that you really like it" Allen's father yelled as Allen flew by. Allen came back, stopping in from of his parents. "Are you kidding me? I love it!" They got the bike into the room and set it against his bed. It was only then that he realized that it was getting late.
"Sadly, it's time for us to leave," Allen's mom said in a sad tone. "I'm sure you have a lot of studying to do." This came with a smile from Allen, Max, and even their father who all know that studying was the last thing that was going to happen. They all said their goodbyes as they walked out of Allen's room.
Heading to the car, Vivian turned to Brian saying, "What did you and Allen talk about on your father/son time?"
Brian smiled to her, "Wait until we get home, we have a lot to talk about."
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Hooray! I finished part 4! Don't worry, I'm not going to keep each part a new coming out story. Now there's only one more person to tell (I think you know who). As always, rate, comment, watch, and fav at your leisure.