Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 09:59:05 -0500
From: Ronyx <ronyx@woh.rr.com>
Subject: A Delicate Situation  Chapter 18

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 18


The campus was abuzz the following morning about the raid. As Seth, Sydney,
Jade, Amanda and I ate in the dining area of a nearby dorm, we could hear
others discussing what had occurred. I think most were concerned because
they also had contraband items in their room. I overheard one guy asking
his friend if he could keep his stash in his apartment.

"I still can't believe it," remarked Sydney.

Jade commented, "If you ask me, they let them get away too long with
shit. Avery should have stepped in when Dorian was first tormented by those
assholes." She looked at me and frowned.

"I still can't figure out why he did it," remarked Seth. He looked over at
me. "From what you said, he was trying to avoid anything that would make
the school look bad. I bet this will be in the news."

Jade suggested, "He probably thought a raid wouldn't reflect as badly on
the university as a criminal investigation into his cover-up of a sexual
assault."

"True," agreed Amanda.

Jade looked at me and asked, "What do you think?" I shrugged my shoulders
and replied, "I don't know."

I had assumed that Leo had ordered the raid after talking to me. However, I
didn't tell the others because I hadn't discussed with them my conversation
with him in the restaurant. Besides, I was embarrassed because it would
appear that my father was involved in trying to solve my problems for
me. They would only become angry and try to talk me into pressing
charges. Now that Travis and Raleigh were expelled, I didn't see any reason
for continuing criminal action. To me, justice had been served. Right now,
I was more concerned with Wes's health than what had happened to me.

Just then, Darlene came up to the table holding a mug of coffee. She looked
at me and asked, "Mind if I sit down?" She sat down before I even had a
chance to reply. "Well, I guess Avery blew my story all to hell last
night," she said disappointedly.

Seth asked, "Why?"

"I was going to begin my article about the protest march by discussing what
happened to Dorian," she replied. She looked at me and frowned. "I got a
call just minutes ago from my editor. He said he got orders from a higher
up that the incident isn't to be mentioned in the paper."

Jade spat, "We all know who that higher up is."

Sydney asked worriedly, "What about the march? Is Avery going to prevent it
too?"

"He didn't say," she replied. "I guess Cameron will have more news tomorrow
when we meet." She looked at Seth and me. "Are you still attending?"

Seth looked at me and said, "Yeah, we'll be there."

As we ate, Seth mentioned Wes's reaction to my presence the night
before. Naturally, Jade read more into it than there probably was. By the
time we had finished eating, I think she was preparing a wedding guest list
for us.

For the first time since my arrival, I found my classes boring. In fact, I
almost fell asleep in my math class. At one point, the professor stood
beside my chair to make sure I was paying attention. I think before
yesterday, I had found refuge from my life in attending classes and burying
myself in the library for hours. It was a way for me to escape the reality
of my life.

Now, I couldn't wait until classes were over so I could go to the hospital
to visit Wes. However, I couldn't decide if it was to visit him or his
mother. I immediately liked Mrs. Hayes. I saw in her everything a mother
should be, unlike my own mother. I was in awe of the love she had for her
son. Watching her eyes tear up when she'd talk about him only made me
realize just how much I had missed from my own parents. I recalled that
night backstage with my mother as my father delivered his speech. Tears I
thought she had shed for me were only tears of remorse for
herself. Mrs. Hayes's tears were those of immeasurable love.

She jumped from her chair when I arrived and quickly embraced me. The day
before I had lightly placed my arms around her. This time I returned her
hug with the same affection. She looked over at Wes and smiled. "We've been
waiting for you."

Surprisingly, Wes was propped up on a pillow. He looked much stronger than
he had the day before. "Hi," he said as he waved timidly at me. I walked
over, took his hand and gently squeezed it.

"You look better today," I remarked smilingly as I turned to his mother. "I
think you gave your mother quite a scare." When I squeezed his hand, he
gripped mine firmly.

"I guess I've been kind of out of it for a few days," he replied. "I really
don't remember too much."

His mother stepped up to the side of the bed and brushed her hand across
Wes's head. She was careful to avoid the area that was still heavily
wrapped with gauze. "That's not important now," she said. "What's important
is that you're getting better." She turned and sat down in her chair. She
pointed to another across the room and told me to sit it beside hers so we
could talk.

I spent an enjoyable two hours with Wes and his mother. When Cameron had
dropped me off at the hospital, I asked him if he could return in a half
hour to get me. When I later told Mrs. Hayes my plans, she insisted that I
call Cameron and tell him not to come. She said she would drive me back to
the dorm after visiting hours were over.

I learned a lot about Wes and his mother. Like me, he was an only
child. His father had been a colonel in Iraq, and he was killed when his
vehicle drove over a roadside bomb. Wes was eight when he died. Since he
was away on assignment during most of Wes's childhood, he didn't get to
know him very well. However, he did manage to spend most of his time on
leave teaching Wes to play baseball and taking him on frequent visits to
nearby theme parks. When his father was posthumously awarded the Purple
Heart, his mother gave it to Wes.

"For several years he slept with it," she said. She looked over tearfully
at him, "I bet you still do."

"Mother!" he squealed as his face reddened. "You're embarrassing me."

She got up and kissed him gently. "Showing how much you loved your father
is nothing to be ashamed about." I had to fight back my own tears.

It surprised me when she related how her husband's death brought her and
Wes closer. I would have imagined something like that would have destroyed
a family. However, she said that they turned to each other for support. As
a result, they shared a bond that I had never witnessed between a child and
parent. I know it was nothing like I shared with mine.

She broke down when she said, "I would walk over hot coals for my son." Wes
started crying and held out his hand for his mother. She walked over and
gently embraced him. A second later, she looked at me and held out her
hand. I walked over, and she held me tightly in her arms. I wasn't sure if
I was overwrought with their love, or the realization of what I had missed
my entire life. Instinctively, I think Mrs. Hayes knew it was the latter.

Neither of them asked questions about my life; and I was enjoying the
evening so much, and I didn't want to spoil it by talking about my
father. Wes asked me a couple of common questions, like how I enjoyed high
school and what were my favorite subjects.  He laughed when he asked me if
I participated in any sports, and I looked down at my thin body and asked,
"What do you think? Do I look like a basketball or football player?"

He quickly scanned my body and said, "You could have run track."

His mother was taking a sip of coffee, and she almost spit it onto the
floor when I giggled and said, "The only time I run is when I have
diarrhea." We continued to talk until the bell from the hall indicated that
visiting hours were over.

Mrs. Hayes rose, kissed Wes on his forehead and announced, "I have to go to
the bathroom before we leave." She turned to me. "Would you stay with Wes
until I get back?" She then abruptly left the room.

I felt awkward because it was the first time Wes and I had been left
alone. He looked at me as if he was expecting me to say something. Finally,
I walked over to the side of the bed. "I'll come see you tomorrow, if you
want."

He looked up and smiled. "Of course I want you to come." His eyes widened
when he realized what he had said. "Visit," he laughed. "I want you to
visit."

I looked down at him and giggled, "I liked your first suggestion." He
roared with laughter when my face reddened.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he took my hand and squeezed it. "Thanks for
being here," he said. "I've thought a lot about you."

"Me, too," I replied as I continued to hold his hand. "I was really upset
when I heard what happened to you." I started to say something else, but he
gripped my hand and pulled me towards him. He closed his eyes as I leaned
in and kissed him gently on his lips.

"Thanks," he said tearfully afterwards. "I've wanted you to do that since
you came into the room today." I leaned forward and kissed him again.

"Me, too," I said smilingly as I brushed my hand gently against his cheek.

Just then, the door opened and his mother came into the room. I tried to
pull my hand away, but Wes held it tightly. She looked down and
smiled. "Are you ready to go, Dorian?"

"Yes," I said as I leaned down and kissed Wes on the forehead. I thought it
might be too embarrassing to kiss him on his lips. Even though his mother
knew Wes was gay, it still might be hard for her to accept any overt
display of affection.

On the way to the dorm, I asked Mrs. Hayes if Wes had mentioned who beat
him. In the back of my mind, I was afraid it might have been Travis,
Raleigh or some of the other guys on the floor.

"They jumped him from behind," she said. "He didn't get a look at their
faces. He thinks they noticed him when he was studying in the library, and
then they followed him out. He hadn't gotten very far when they attacked
him. The campus police have investigated, but they don`t have much to go
on. There were a lot of students in the library Sunday night." I knew
instantly it wasn't Travis or Raleigh. I doubt if they even knew where the
library was. I'm sure, though, they knew where every liquor store was
located.

I managed to sleep late on Saturday. Sleeping in was something I didn't do
very often. I'm a light sleeper, and I wake up around six every
morning. I'm usually showered and dressed before Seth climbs out of bed
around eight-thirty. I don't have to worry about shaving. I have a trace of
a mustache. Other than that, however, I have little body hair. I always
avoided showering in school because boys would tease me when they noticed
my hairless body.

I was still lying in bed when Seth emerged from the bedroom. I hadn't been
asleep. I had spent the last hour thinking about Wes. It seemed strange
that we appeared to have developed a bond so quickly. I always thought that
it took months, if not years, to feel love for someone. I hadn't felt it
that first night met. However, since the night before when he opened his
eyes and muttered my name, I knew something special happened. And I know it
is not something that I am imagining or hoping to be true. I can see it in
his mother's eyes. She knows, too. In two days, I already feel like I'm
sharing a part of their lives that has been reserved only for me. For the
first time in my life, I felt wanted.

Seth walked out in his boxers and stretched lazily. "Are you going to the
meeting this afternoon?"

"What meeting?" I asked as I sat up in bed and ran my eyes over his body. I
didn't feel anything sexual for him. It was just something I enjoyed doing
since I knew he didn't mind.

He looked down and gave me an exasperated look. "The one with
Cameron. Don't tell me you forgot?"

"No," I replied as I got out of bed. My erection was pressed tightly
against my briefs. Seth glanced down, but he didn't make a comment about
morning wood like he often does. "I've just been spending a lot of time at
the hospital, that's all."

Seth poured us a glass of orange juice and sat down at the kitchen
table. He asked, "You like him, don't you?"

I sat down and replied, "I think so."

He laughed, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Think so?"

"Okay," I giggled. "I like him a lot."

"I can tell," he smiled. "You've seemed really happy the past couple of
days."

I gripped his arm tightly and pleaded, "You won't tell Jade, will you?"

He gave me a puzzled look. "Why?"

"I don't know," I replied. "This is just something I want to do myself. I
don't want her playing matchmaker."

He leaned back and laughed. "She does go a little bit over the top."

"Yeah," I giggled. "Way over the top."

We spent the next half hour discussing Wes. I told him about his mother and
the death of his father. I also opened up and told him how I was feeling
about Wes. "Do you think people can fall in love this quick?"

"Sure," he replied. "I knew Sydney was the girl for me the first night we
met."

"Really?" I asked. "So do you think, that like, you might get married
someday?"

I smiled when his face reddened. "Yeah," he said. "But don't tell
her. Okay?" I nodded my head. He reached out and gripped my arm. "And when
we do, I want you to be my best man, okay?"

"Okay," I replied cheerfully.

He started giggling. "Don't get all excited. I only want you to be my best
man so you can ask your father if we can use his cool limo."

"Fucker," I laughed as I attempted to hit him. He jumped, fell out of his
seat and landed on the floor. "Serves you right," I giggled as I got up and
went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Seth was gone when I came out. Since I didn't have to be at the Student
Union until two for the meeting, I decided I would play video
games. Growing up alone in my bedroom, it was one of the only enjoyments I
had in life. I also had a Wii game console which I bought myself as a
Christmas present last year. However, I left that at home because I assumed
I would never have time to play it.

I'd been playing a new game that I had purchased before leaving home, when
someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, Darlene entered. "Hey," she
said as she walked over to my computer. "Cool," she exclaimed as she saw
the game on the monitor. She sat down and started playing. I was amazed
that she was so good. For some reason, I always assumed that playing video
games was something guys did.

"You're good," I remarked as I stood behind her and watched.

"I have three younger brothers," she said as she continued to play. "I have
to be good." She played a few more minutes before stopping. She reached
down and fumbled around inside a large canvass bag she had
brought. "Voila!" She laughed as she held up a notebook. "Are you ready?"

"For what?"

"Your interview, Silly," she said. "You didn't forget, did you?"

"No," I replied. However, I had forgotten that I told her to interview me
before we went to the meeting. "Of course I didn't forget." I walked across
the room and sat down on the sofa bed. I looked over and said, "Fire away."

"Silly," she giggled as she sat down beside me. She opened her notebook,
clicked her pen and then asked, "If you could change places with your
father, would you?"

"What!" I shrieked. "What kind of a question is that?"

"A sensible one," she replied. "You're the son of one of the richest men in
America. He's also running for the second most powerful position in the
world. If you could, would you change places with him."

"No," I said emphatically.

Darlene raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I replied as I stood and started pacing around the room. "I'm sure."

"Look, Dorian," she said as she rose and stood before me. "I haven't known
you very long, but I've known you long enough to know that your whole life
has been molded as your father wanted." I didn't know what to say, so I
said nothing. "If I'm going to write an honest article about you, then I
need to talk to the real Dorian, not the one who was created out of
political clay."

I sat down on the sofa, buried my head in my hands and moaned softly, "I
hate him."

"Good," she said as she sat down closely beside me. "Tell me why you hate
him so much."

I went on a rant. My mouth exploded with every expletive I could think
of. I was transformed back to my childhood- a lonely childhood. I became
once again that little boy locked up in his room waiting for a father to
come home to play ball or to take me to an amusement park. But that time
never came. Instead, I was provided with everything a child could ever want
or even dream about. But the one thing I needed most couldn't be
bought. Not even my father's wealth could take the place of the thing I
needed most- his love.

Thirty minutes later, I was exhausted. I had cried out all the tears of so
many years. Darlene just sat patiently and listened. She had earlier placed
the notebook and pen on the floor, and she held my hand as I opened my soul
to her. Why, I don't know. Perhaps she had asked that one question I had
asked myself for so many years. Did I really want to grow up and live my
life in my father's image? Did I want to become like him?

"No!" I stood and looked tearfully down at Darlene. "I don't want to be my
father."

"Good," she replied as she reached down and took her notebook, opened it
and reached for the pen. "Let me interview the real Dorian Gale."

"What about everything I just said?" I asked.

She smiled and patted the side of the bed. "I couldn't interview you as
long as you were worried that anything you said might be judged by your
father. I could have written that article without even speaking to you. I
had to dig deeper. I wanted to interview the real you, not the son of a
senator and vice presidential candidate."

We spent the next hour talking about anything and everything. Darlene made
me realize things about myself that I had never even considered. I was
attending college, and I still hadn't given any thought to what degree I
wanted to pursue. I had briefly considered business and economics when in
high school. However, I knew that was because I was sure that someday my
father might convince me to take over the business he had created.

"So what do you want to do with your life?"

"I don't know," I replied. "I want to do something where I can help
people."

"Maybe you can be a politician like your father," she suggested. I started
laughing uproariously. She waited until I was finished before
continuing. "I'm serious, Dorian. Except for being a shitty father, hasn't
he been a good politician?" She took my hand in hers. "Think about it. If
you weren't his son, would you think he was a bad person?"

I pulled my hand away, stood and looked angrily down at her. "Are you
taking his side? Do you actually believe he's a good man?"

She stood before me. "A good man, no. A good politician, yes." When I
turned to walk away, she grabbed my arm. "When I knew that I was going to
do this interview, I did a lot of research on your father. He's done a lot
for our state. He's fought for funding for schools and libraries. He
co-authored a bill in the Senate that helped small businesses get
low-interest loans. Look at our school. He's provided grants and loans
worth millions of dollars. I even read that they are building a new
economics building in two years with money he earmarked. Dr. Avery wants to
name the new building, the Jonathan Gale School of Economics."

"What?" I wasn't aware of anything Darlene was telling me.

"You've spent so much time hating him," she said as she took my hands in
hers, "that you never got to know him."

"I don't know," I replied as I sat back down on the bed. I was beginning to
realize that Darlene was probably right. I had spent so much of my life
hating him that I had blocked out any attempt to understanding who he
really was. He was a horrible father, but was he really a horrible man? At
the moment, I had no answer to that question.

Darlene sat down beside me. "I'm sorry if I upset you today. I could say I
didn't mean to, but I did. You've lived your life so much dealing with the
past, you can't really see the future." She took my hand and held it
tightly. "You can't change what happened. You survived it, and it made you
stronger." She gave me a puzzled look when I started laughing.

"Stronger?" I laughed again. "I'm small and effeminate. I have about as
much self-confidence as a bug in a spider's web. I'm..." Darlene put her
finger gently against my lips.

"That's the old Dorian," she said. "You left him behind in your bedroom
when you left. The new Dorian is independent and confident. He has dreams
and aspirations. You just spent a half hour telling me what you wanted out
of life. You explained how you felt when you got your first job and tore up
your credit card, which by the way, I think was a stupid thing to do." She
started giggling. "I only wish I could have an unlimited account."

"You make me sound like someone I don't even know," I responded sadly.

She placed her hand over my chest. "You do know him, Dorian. He's in
here. He's a wonderful young man with dreams. He's alive and in love."

I gave her a puzzled look. "In love?"

"Yes," she said as she squeezed my hand. "In love. I could feel it whenever
you talked about Wes." She reached over and hugged me tightly. "I only wish
I could find someone like you to love me." When she pulled away, her eyes
were wet with tears.

We talked a little while longer until I looked at my watch. "We'd better be
going," I said. It was a little past noon, and the Cameron said the meeting
would start at two. It was going to be a busy day. I wanted to stop by the
hospital to see Wes before going to work at six. Since it was Saturday,
Jill probably wouldn't close until after one in the morning. "You want to
grab a bite to eat before we go to the meeting?" She agreed, and we left
the dorm with her arm wrapped around mine.

"Where do you want to eat?" I asked as we strolled down the major street
where Panera Bread and all the other major restaurants were located.

"It doesn't matter to me," replied Darlene. Suddenly, she stopped and
looked at my hair. She grabbed my hand and pulled me into a nearby hair
salon.

"What are we doing in here?" I asked as I looked around at all the women
staring at us. A young lady stopped styling another woman's hair, walked
over and asked Darlene if she had an appointment.

"No," she said as she pulled me toward the stylist. "Do you think you can
cut his hair?"

I stepped back and shouted, "What!" I looked in a nearby mirror. "I'm not
getting my hair cut. I've worn it like this since I was ten."

Darlene pulled me aside as everyone watched. In a low voice she whispered,
"Look, Dorian. We just spent two hours talking about a new you." She
reached up and gently pulled back the hair that was flowing over my
ears. "A new you means a new look."

"How much do you think needs cut?"

An hour later I was walking out of the salon with a new look. I almost
started crying when my dark hair fell onto the floor. When she was done,
the stylist slowly turned me until I was looking at myself in the mirror. A
stranger was reflecting back.

"You look wonderful!" Darlene shrieked as I continued to stare at
myself. "Oh, my God, Dorian. You look like a different person." And I
did. Even though my features could still be described as pretty, I didn't
look as feminine as before.

As we stood at the counter, the stylist said, "That will be $65." I quickly
looked over at Darlene.

"I don't think I have that," I said nervously as I reached for my
wallet. Darlene swatted my hand."

"My treat," she said as she pulled a credit card from her small
purse. "This was my idea, so I should pay for it."

"I'll pay you back when I get my check next week," I said. Since I was
working only three days a week, I wasn't sure I would have the money. It
would probably be two weeks before I could repay her.

"No, you won't," she remarked sharply as we left the salon and started
heading toward the student union. Since it was almost two, we ran into a
nearby McDonald's for a quick sandwich. I had enough money to pay for both
our meals.

We arrived ten minutes late to the meeting. When we entered, everyone
turned to look at us. I giggled when I heard Seth let out a loud, "Holy
Shit!"


* * * * * *

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