Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:50:03 -0400
From: Ronyx <ronyx@woh.rr.com>
Subject: A Delicate Situation   Chapter 14

The following is a work of fiction. Any similarities to anyone are purely
coincidental. The story is intended for a mature audience. It may contain
profanity and references to gay sex. If this offends you, please leave and
find something more suitable to read. The author maintains all rights to
the story. Do not copy or use without written permission. Write
ronyx@themustardjar.com with your comments. Ronyx is a prolific Nifty
author. Visit my personal website at www.themustardjar.com for more
stories.


A Delicate Situation       Chapter 14


"Have you changed your mind yet?" Jade asked as she sat across from me in
the library. I had gone there to work on a report for my English class, but
she had somehow found me and was again trying to talk me out of working.

I tried to sound enthusiastic as I replied, "It wasn't too bad. The workers
are fun to work with."

"You're working at Panera Bread," she responded sarcastically. "How can
that be fun?"

"Look," I replied. "I know you don't understand, but this is something I
have to do. Okay?"

"All right," she said. "But don't come begging to me if you need money."

I laughed at the concerned look on her face. In a way, it made me feel
good. I had always lived the life of a rich kid. For once in my life, I
felt...normal.

Jade and I studied for several more hours. Occasionally, we would talk
about what was happening in our lives. Her life was changing quickly. She
and Amanda were becoming very close. Jade was attending her basketball
practices late in the afternoon, and she was even considering trying out
for the team her sophomore year. She said if she made the team, then Amanda
and she could share an apartment together. They seemed to be settling into
a close relationship, and I was happy for her. Jade has an abrasive
exterior, but inside she possesses a heart of gold. As her friend, I knew
there was nothing she wouldn't do for me.

Growing up, I had never had any close friends. Jade was the first gay
person who ever befriended me. Watching the self-confidence she possessed
assured me that maybe I could live my life someday with the independence
she displays.

At four o'clock, Jade and I walked back to the dorm. Jill had given me a
tentative schedule. Since all of the employees were university students, we
worked around our classes. I decided that the weekends and Wednesdays would
work out best for me. She wanted to schedule me for Tuesday nights, but I
told her I would prefer not to work so I could attend the Campus Pride
meetings. Scooter overheard our conversation, and she said she wanted to
attend the next meeting.

When I entered my room, I was surprised to see Cameron sitting at the table
talking to Seth and Sydney. "There you are," remarked Sydney as I stepped
into the room. "Why haven't you answered your phone? We've been trying to
call you for over an hour."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. "I was in the library
studying," I informed them. "I turned it off." I looked over at Cameron and
asked, "What's going on?"

He replied, "Sit down, Dorian." Seth got up and sat down beside Sydney on
the sofa as I sat down across from him.

"Seth told me last week what happened to you," he began. I looked quickly
over at Seth. "I went to the Dean of Student Affairs office yesterday to
find out how the matter with...," he looked down at a notepad before him,
"Travis and Raleigh was adjudicated." He paused to wait for my reaction.

I replied, "And?"

When he sighed, I knew he must not have been pleased with the
outcome. "Well, for one, trying to get anything was like pulling teeth. I
was told the information was confidential. I kept insisting that it should
fall under the guidelines of public record, but they insisted they couldn't
reveal any information."

"So what did you do?" I asked.

He smiled slightly. "I used my charm," he laughed. "One of Raleigh's
friends is in my chemistry class. When we had lab work yesterday, I managed
to work beside him. I suspect he may be gay, so I started flirting with him
a little bit." When I gave him a suspicious look, he laughed again. "He's
really attractive."

"He's still one of Raleigh's friends," I said angrily.

"Yes, well," he replied, "but I did manage to find out what happened."

"Okay," I asked, "What happened?"

He shook his head. "Not much," he informed me. "James said the Dean put
them on academic watch for the remainder of the semester."

"What?" I stood and shouted excitedly. "They strip me naked and toss me out
into the lobby, and nothing happens to them? They're just put on academic
watch!"

"Sit down, Dorian," ordered Cameron softly. When I sat back in the chair,
he continued. "I did a little more snooping around, and what I gather,
Dr. Avery wants to keep this quiet. If he expels them, he's afraid they
might appeal the ruling and it could become a problem for your father."

"Damn it," I muttered. "It's always about my father."

Cameron replied, "Travis and Raleigh's grades are in the crapper. Both are
failing every class. He knows they'll be leaving at the end of the
semester, maybe even sooner."

"But that's not fair," I replied angrily. "They should be expelled for what
they did to me."

Cameron sat back and looked over at Seth and Sydney before speaking. "We
agree with you, Dorian," he assured me. "What they did to you is a sexual
assault. It probably would meet the criteria as a hate crime."

"A hate crime?"

"Yes," he replied. "They could be facing felony charges if you want to
prosecute."

"Prosecute?" Suddenly, I was becoming increasingly worried. I just wanted
Travis and Raleigh expelled. I had never considered them facing criminal
charges for what they did to me. "Can't they just expel them?"

Cameron sighed and said, "The school's position is to place them on
academic watch since no criminal report was filed. As far as they are
concerned, this was merely a prank." He stared over at me. "The ball is in
your court. If you want more done, then you have to file assault charges
against them. I'm not sure how this is handled, but we have members of
Campus Pride who are in the law programs. They can help."

I looked over at Seth and Sydney. They had been listening to our
conversation. "I don't know. What do you think?"

"I think we should get some rope and hang them from the nearest tree,"
remarked Seth angrily. Sydney grabbed his hand, squeezed it and looked over
at me.

"This is your decision, Dorian," she stated. "If you don't do anything,
then they walk away free, thinking they can intimidate the next gay guy
they meet." I shook my head. "But," she continued, "If you file charges
against them, then the press will surely pick up the story- a vice
presidential candidate's gay son tossed naked out of an elevator in his
dorm. It will be all over the front pages. Justice will be done to Travis
and Raleigh, but they won't use their names. You, though, will have to live
with it for the rest of your life."

I turned toward Cameron when he stated, "She's right, Dorian."

"So what do I do?" I asked everyone sadly. "If I file charges, I lose. If I
don't, I still lose." I looked over at Seth for an answer. He looked
blankly at me and lowered his head.

I then looked back at Cameron. "Can I think about this? Do you need a
decision today?"

"No, of course not," he replied. "I just came here today to tell you what
I've discovered so far. Maybe Dr. Avery will change his mind and expel them
anyway."

"I wonder if Dad knows about this," I wondered aloud. I thought that
perhaps it was the reason he didn't speak to me. If so, then it would make
me even angrier that he did nothing to protect me; instead, he would rather
let two brutes go free so he could protect his own image.

Cameron rose from his seat. "Let's give this a couple day's thought, okay?"
I nodded my head. "I'll talk to a few law students and see what they think
we should do." He looked sympathetically at me. "The ultimate decision,
though, has to be yours." He opened the door and left.

I looked over pleadingly at Seth and Sydney. "What should I do?"

"I don't know," Seth said as he shrugged his shoulders. He looked at
Sydney. "She's right, though. If you do file charges, you'll have to face
the consequences."

"This isn't fair," I spat angrily. "They're upstairs thinking this has
blown over."

"But in a few months, they'll be gone anyway," remarked Sydney.

"It still isn't fair," I replied as I got up to go take a shower before
going to work.

When I arrived at Panera Bread, Jill smiled from behind the counter. I had
spent a lot of time ironing my uniform shirt, and I had on my baseball cap
with the emblem on it. "Don't you look sharp," she smiled.

I stood erect, placed my feet together and saluted her. "Ready, for duty,
Ma'am." Several of the workers behind the counter laughed at my antics.

"Don't get anything started," shouted Scooter. "She already runs this place
like a prison guard."

Jill blushed and then ordered everyone back to work. She approached and
pulled me to the side. "You did a good job yesterday, Dorian."

"Thank you, Jill," I replied, "for giving me the opportunity to work here."

She looked around and laughed. "I'm not sure it's an opportunity."

I replied, "To me it is." I walked over to Scooter and asked her if she
needed help preparing an order for a customer. I know I acted like a
sixteen-year-old boy working at his first job. To me it was. Since my
father was wealthy, I had never had to provide for myself. I wasn't even
required to mow the lawn or rake leaves for an allowance. Dad employed two
gardeners who took care of those duties.

When I returned later to the dorm, I was exhausted. A large group of
students came in just minutes before closing, and Jill kept the restaurant
open an additional hour. Several more students wandered in before she
finally locked the door shortly after one.

I was surprised that Seth was still awake. As usual, he was watching Sports
Center on the television. He sat up when I entered. "How was work?"

"Great," I replied as I took off my cap and laid it on the coffee table. I
sat down beside him on the sofa. "I'm exhausted," I said as I rested my
head back and closed my eyes.

He asked, "Do you work tomorrow?"

"No," I informed him. "I'm off until Wednesday." I opened my eyes when he
sat up and stared over at me.

"We need to talk about Travis and Raleigh," he said worriedly. "Have you
decided what you're going to do?"

"Yeah," I replied as I looked over at him. "I don't think I'm going to file
charges against them."

He asked, "Why?"

"I know you won't understand," I explained, "but for the first time in my
life I feel like I'm living it for me. I'm working and making my own
decisions. I'm not depending on my parents for support."

"But you can't just shut them out of your life," he said worriedly.

"Why can't I?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he answered. "You just can't."

We talked for the next hour. I tried to explain to him how they had treated
me my entire life. I tearfully told Seth that my parents didn't love me,
and they probably never would. I related how they had ignored me when I
joined them at the convention, and that it was over a day before they even
realized I had returned to school.

"I hate them," I said sorrowfully. "I know it's not right to hate your
parents, but it's how I feel."

"Maybe things will get better someday," he responded. When I frowned, he
added, "Well, maybe not." He then looked worriedly at me. "So, what are you
going to do?"

"What I'm doing now," I said. "I'm working and going to school. I know Dad
won't pull me out because he would have to explain it to the press. Leo
told me that."

"You know you can depend on me, don't you?"

"Yes," I replied as tears welled up in my eyes. Seth leaned over and gave
me a big, brotherly hug.

Seth and I met Sydney and Jade for lunch at a fast food restaurant on
campus. I had returned to my room after attending my modern biology
class. I wanted to play a video game before going to my world civilization
class at one o'clock. Seth had returned from his math class and insisted
that I join them for dinner.

We were sitting in a booth drinking a soda when Jade and Sydney
entered. When she sat across from me, Jade pulled a magazine from a bag and
laid it in front of me. "Look what I found in the book store."

I gasped when I saw the image on the front cover. It was a picture of me!
In bold letters under my picture read, `The Senator's Cute Son.' I picked
it up and examined it. It appeared to be a girl's teen magazine. There were
several other young men on the cover who I recognized as either singers or
actors.

Seth grabbed the magazine from my hand and muttered, "Holy Shit!" He
quickly thumbed through the magazine until he found the article with
another picture of me. Both pictures had been taken while I stood on the
stage after my father's convention speech.

"The article says you're hot!" exclaimed Seth as he read the article
aloud. Jade and Sydney both seemed equally excited as he continued to read
how I was the next superstar of the political world. The article also
stated that the magazine had received numerous emails wanting to know more
about me.

"Oh, God!" I moaned as I lay my head down on the table.

Jade exclaimed proudly, "Jesus, Dorian. You're famous."

"No!" I moaned louder. Seth and Sydney started giggling. They continued to
pass the magazine around and make comments about knowing someone
famous. Sydney even jokingly asked Seth, "What's it like to live with a hot
stud?"

Seth looked at me and laughed, "Him? Hot Stud?" He held his sides as he
laughed even harder.

"Thanks, a lot," I replied as I joined them in their banter. "I guess hot
and stud aren't two words associated with me."

"Nonsense," remarked Jade. "I've been telling you since we met you're one
of the cutest guys on campus." She picked up the magazine and showed me the
cover. "Now maybe you'll believe me."

"I wonder if my dad has seen this?"

"There you go again," remarked Jade. "Why do you always have to worry about
what your father is thinking?"

"Habit, I suppose."

Sydney looked at the cover again. "Well," she remarked, "I think it is a
wonderful picture. You did look nice last week. Even my little sister got
on the phone when I called and thought you were cute. I didn't think much
of it then, but I guess you've become a heartthrob to little girls."

"Heartthrob!" Seth almost spit out the drink in his mouth as he started
laughing uproariously and looked over at me.

"Fucker," I pouted.

"Okay, Stud," he laughed as he got up from his seat. "Let's go get
something to eat." He put his hand on my back and said, "You may need it to
fight off all the twelve-year-old girls."

After ordering, we returned to our seats. They wanted to talk about the
article again, but I tried to distract them. "Are you guys attending the
Campus Pride meeting tonight?"

"Hell, yeah," remarked Jade. "I wouldn't miss it."

Seth looked over and said," I wonder if Cameron has any information for
you?"

Jade asked, "About what?" Seth spent the next few minutes telling her about
the conversation we had had with Cameron. Jade was upset and insisted that
I should file charges against Travis and Raleigh. Sydney agreed with me
that it was best to let the issue go away because Travis and Raleigh would
probably be kicked out of school because of failing grades by the end of
the semester.

"They may leave school," remarked Jade, "but they'll still spend the rest
of their lives bashing gays and anyone else they feel like fucking with."

"They're all bullshit," replied Seth. "They are not as tough as they think,
and someone will knock the shit out of them someday."

I started laughing and said, "You already did." He lifted his hand and we
high-fived.

Later, when Jade, Sydney and I arrived at our world civilization class,
Dr. Adkins stopped me at the door before entering. "Here, Mr. Gale," he
said as he thrust a piece of paper into my hand. "Dr. Avery wants to see
you in his office right away."

"What about?"

"It's not my business to know," he replied sharply as he turned and entered
the room.

Jade asked, "What do you think he wants?"

"I don't know," I said as he turned and headed toward the exit.

Dr. Avery's secretary jumped up from her seat when I entered his
office. "Dorian Gale," she exclaimed, "Follow me. Dr. Avery is expecting
you."

I followed her down a hallway to his office. He was seated behind his desk,
but rose when he saw me and extended his hand. "Thank you for coming,
Dorian." He nodded at his secretary, and she closed the door as she left.

He pointed to a leather, wing back chair, "Sit down. Would you like
something to drink?"

"No, Sir," I replied as I sat. I looked across the ornate desk and waited
for him to tell me why he wanted to see me.

"How are your classes going?"

"Fine, Sir."

"And your new dorm room? Are you satisfied with it?"

`Yes, Sir."

He laughed nervously. "I guess you're wondering why I called you here
today."

"Yes, Sir," I replied. "The thought did cross my mind." He laughed again as
though I had made a joke.

He leaned across the table and stared into my eyes. "Everything I've done
since you've arrived here at the university has been for your protection."
He waited for me to respond, but I sat staring back at him. "Your father
and I have been good friends for many years. When he told me you were going
to attend, then I wanted to make sure that your stay here was educational
and enjoyable."

"Enjoyable?" I asked sarcastically. "You put me in a room with an asshole
who hated me!"

"Your father and I thought it would be best for you if you tried to live as
a normal freshman."

"But I was terrified of him!" I shouted. "Twice I tried to get my room
changed, but I was told I couldn't."

"You should have come to me," he replied. "I would have helped you."

A surprised look appeared on his face when I responded, "I didn't trust
you. You already threatened me that you'd tell my father if I did anything
wrong."

"I was trying to protect you."

He jumped when I stood and shouted, "Bullshit! You were just thinking of
yourself and your precious university."

He sat back and said calmly, "Sit down, Dorian. You have to trust me that I
have always had your best interest at heart."

I sat down and replied, "And now you want to talk to me because you're
trying to cover your ass. Leo told me you were told to leave me alone."

He bristled at the mention of Leo's name. "I called this meeting to explain
my concern for your well being."

"Then what about Travis and Raleigh?"

"What about them?"

"If you're so concerned about me, then why are they still in school?"

"We thought it would be best if the matter was handled quietly. We didn't
want the media to find out what happened. It could be harmful to your
father's campaign and the school's image."

I shouted, "The media! I'm stripped naked and tossed out an elevator, and
you're worried about my father and the school's image!"

"Your father thought it would be best if we just..."

"Just let it go away?" I asked angrily.

"Dorian, please," he said calmly. "You have to trust us on this. It's best
for everyone."

I stood and looked down at him. "Best for everyone, but me," I replied
bitterly.

He stood and looked across the table. "What did you want us to do? We found
you a safe place to live."

"And Travis and Raleigh are still here. What will you do when they attack
another gay student? Sweep it under the rug again?"

"Perhaps you should discuss this with your father," he suggested.

He looked puzzled when I started laughing. "Discuss it with my father? My
father hasn't spoken to me in ten years."

I turned and opened the door. Before leaving, I told Dr. Avery, "If you
talk to my father, which I'm sure you will, tell him to go to hell."

I slammed the door on my way out.

* * * * * * * *

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