Life's Unexpected Surprises - 8. Chapter 3.2 - Hunter and Lucas - Be As You Are

“Lucas just got here; I thought you would want to know,” Nick told me through the bathroom door. “Nervous?”

“Can... can you get my mom for me please?” I started pacing in the bathroom. What am I going to do? What am I going to say?

Nick gave me no reply, but I heard him walk away. There wasn't any sound coming from inside the house. The longer it was silent, the more insane my mind went. What could he be like? Is he tall, chubby, maybe he's nothing like me at all?

“Hunter.” Mom knocked, and I opened the bathroom door with what must have been the most nervous face I have ever had. “Oh honey, how are you feeling?”

I shrugged. “I don't know... I'm so nervous.” I realized my hand was shaking a lot, and I couldn't stop it at all. “Mom I can't do it. I can't meet him right now.”

“Come here.” We sat down on the stairs; she wrapped her arms around me. I just leaned into her shoulder. “When you were young, and I was overwhelmed by everything, I would listen to a song, or call Gran. Either way, I heard the same things

“There are moments when you fall to the ground

But you are stronger than you feel you are now

You don't always have to speak so loud, no

Just be as you are

It doesn't matter if you become some star

Life is better when you open your heart

You don't always have to act so hard, no

Just be as you are.”

I looked up at mom. She plays that song all the time, 'Be As You Are' by Mike Posner. “Mom... What was it like telling Gran and Grandpa you were pregnant?”

She sighed and let go of me, leaving one arm over my shoulder. “Well, it was a few weeks after I learned when I finally told them. I was so scared of what their reaction would be. They wanted to know the father, and I wouldn't let them know.

“That was the only mistake I made. They were furious with me, but I didn't give in.” She got up and walked to the door. “Hunter, just be you, and I know Lucas will love you. I know he will.” The next moment she was outside, and I was alone inside again.

Before going outside, I headed upstairs and checked stuff out. I ended up in the room at the front of the house. It was clearly a guest bedroom now, but I bet this was Nick's room. I could see him in here living, being a teenager in here.

I sat down leaning against the bed and set out a huge sigh. “Why is this so hard to just walk outside and say 'hello my name is Hunter, I'm your son.' It should be so easy!” I kicked the floor, frustrated with myself.

Liam could be heard through the window yelling about something. Sounds like he's having fun out there... I'm stuck up here within my own mental walls. Each time I let out a breath I would shake.

Who knows how long I was sitting in there for. I sat in there so long; someone came inside. All I could think of was, please don't be Lucas, please don't be Lucas.

Nick came popping through the door. “You're in here; this was mine and my brother's old room.” Called it. “What are you doing up here? I hear the bathroom is all the rage to hide out in.”

I smirked and let out a small giggle. “I don't think I can do it... Meeting him feels like so hard to do like it could kill me if I do it.”

Nick sat down on the floor in front of me. He lifted my chin up and looked at me dead in the eyes. “The day he found out about you, at first, we were overwhelmed, to be honest. The more we talked, though, the more excited we became, even just to host you for part of the summer.

“Right now, he's concerned about how you're feeling. He's pretty nervous himself to meet you. Lucas wanted to come in here so bad to comfort you. Have you ever taken a jump before?”

“Ya, last summer mom let me bungee jump for the first time. I was so excited yet nervous. I screamed like a little girl the whole way down.” I laughed at that thought. That was the highest I ever screamed in my life. Bet I couldn't get that high again.

“But you did it, right? Was there any resistance?” I shook my head. “Then why don't you and I go down there together, I can be your rope. I'll pull you back up and make sure you don't fall.” Nick offered me his hand, after a moment I took it and stood up with him.

He motioned for me to go first. I started my way through the house and down the stairs. I got to the door and looked back just to make sure he was still there. “Now or never I guess.”

I took a deep breath and opened the front door. Slowly we made our way down through the entry pathway. Mom saw me before I saw Lucas, she looked so happy as I turned the corner in front of the garage. There he was talking to Nick's dad, back towards me.

“He's finally come out to play,” Nick said softly enough for Lucas to hear. He stopped mid-sentence and turned to me. Lucas was a bigger person, but not fat. He had brown hair, a shade darker than mine. I definitely have my mom's eyes, brown compared to the blue. “Hunter, this is Lucas.”

Both of us stood speechless. I kept making and breaking eye contact. “Hey...” I barely whispered out.

Lucas smiled from ear to ear. “Hello Hunter, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

“You too.” I shuffled from foot to foot. I don't know what to do or say right now. “I guess I should call you 'dad.'”

“Call me whatever you're comfortable with. I'm okay with you calling me Lucas.”

Nick came out from behind me. “Don't call him Luke, though; he doesn't like it at all.” Everyone had a chuckle from that. “Why don't we leave these two to talk and get to know each other?”

“I like that idea.” Brittney quickly gathered everyone, even Liam and brought them inside. Even mom got ushered inside. It just left us out here, in our awkwardness.

“I hear you got expelled from school.” What a great way to leave a first impression. He can't be proud of that. “I also hear it's because of defending your friends.”

I shrugged. “I start the fights because they make fun of my friend's dads. Sexuality is no reason to bully someone. There is never a good reason to bully someone.”

“Same could be said about fighting someone.” He's not wrong. “Could I ask you about your sexuality?”

I looked away from him. “I'm gay... I haven't told my mom.” He said nothing, so I turned around. “Wait does she know!?”

“Ya, but she doesn't want to be the one to ask.” At least he's honest with me. “She is very proud of you, Hunter.”

“I know, but I keep screwing up big time, and I know she doesn't like that... I can't help it, though; it's usually so spontaneous. When it's over, I always regret it.” I'm a good fighter; I took karate and some other stuff. There have been a few times where I've taken good damage too, but it's always the other guy.

Lucas placed his hand on my shoulder. “She knows you do what you do for the right reasons; you just go about it the wrong way. You know when I was your age I barely accepted I was gay?”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Ya, I even broke things off with Nick to try and be straight. I guess if I never did that, though, you wouldn't be here now. So it wasn't as bad as I thought.” I couldn't resist the smile that spread across my face. “You're a good kid Hunter, just need to think your actions through. How about we go join everyone inside?”

“Ya, I would like that.”

We walked back in together; Lucas pulled me in and gave me a side hug. “I'm very happy to have you here Hunter. I hope you are as well.”

“Definitely.” I think being here will help me out a lot. This summer will be full of great memories... I'm sure of it.

Chapter End.