Enter a new participant

Arron and Derek made light talk as they turned out of the parking lot and headed in the general direction towards their home. He found Derek to be rather light hearted, loved to tell jokes, and had the biggest crush on one of the male professors that he worked with. It still tickled him that he was gay, the fact never really crossed his mind, but when Arron made mention about this, Derek merely laughed. "I guess I didn't come off on the right foot, huh?"

Arron shook his head. "No, that's okay, I never thought about anything like that. I just wondered, that's all."

The young man nodded and leaned back in the chair. "My dad was shocked a bit to hear that, though he's managed to come around somewhat."

Arron turned onto the street from the highway. "I'm sure your father would be okay with you, you're funny and very helpful."

He laughed a little. "You should talk with him about it. Sometimes, I swear I'm just a kid still in his eyes."

"Well, having a daughter of my own, it happens to the best of us. One minute, we're changing your diapers, the next we're watching you get your college degree. It's sudden and some people can't take it." Despite the fact that they were still just getting to know each other, Arron reached over and patted the young man's hand a bit. "I'm sure he's proud of you."

Derek smiled and relaxed a bit as they continued to drive. "I never met someone like you before, being so supportive. People around here, they're not backwards but they're still deeply...reserved about alternate lifestyles."

Arron laughed a bit hesitantly at that. "W-Well, let's just say I have a unique perspective on things. My brother and sister are both gay. So I've been there and I understand." A bit too well, personally...

The young man seemed to cheer up a bit at that and they talked about his first day on the job for a few minutes more before they reached his house. Standing out front was a middle-aged man who, upon seeing Derek, appeared to relax a bit. "There he is. Listen, did you want to meet him for a bit? I'm sure he'll thank you for bringing his wayward son home..."

Arron shrugged his shoulders and turned off the engine. The two of them got out of the car and he walked up to his father while Arron took his time turning around the front of the car, conscious the whole time that the man's eyes had not left his face or body. "Dad? Hello?"

"Oh, sorry," the older man shook his head and looked casually at his son who was busy trying to figure out if his dad was smitten with his new co-worker or if he just wanted to bury himself into the nearest ditch and take his chances. "Glad to see you alright."

"Yea yeah, I bet. Anyway, this is Erin, she's my coworker in the Administrative department."

"Oh, the one you spilled coffee all over?"

Arron smiled and covered his laugh as Derek blushed a deep red and his father joined him in laughing a bit at his son's expense. "Yes, well, I'll go inside now and see how much bleach I can drink."

The two of them watched the young man disappear into the house before the man turned and looked at Arron in the face now. "I'm sorry, my son tends to be overly dramatic." He offered his hand out. "I'm William, nice to meet you."

Arron shook his hand firmly though, as he had been instructed by Sarah, still gently. "Erin. Nice to meet you too." Arron could feel something causing his cheeks to get a bit flushed though, for all he knew, he had no idea why exactly.