My Lion. || BXB

chapter thirty.

me and my friends, isaac, cormac, nick and freddie were all crowding around our usual table as we spoke about cormac's girlfriend. he said she went to a different school, but wanted us all to meet her after school tomorrow. we all agreed, and he smiled in accomplishment.

then i remembered that i too wanted to speak to the boys about something. "lads, i also wanna say something." is said, side glancing at freddie so he had an indication that i was about to do this right now. i saw him looking at me with a calm expression, and i tried to mirror it. all the boys fell quiet at my serious tone, and i took it as my moment to speak my truth.

"so, i don't want to make a big deal out of it, but i'm gay." i took a deep breath while glancing over all my friends facial expressions. as i expected, they were all pretty shocked.
"what?"
"you are?"
"is that why you weren't interested in marianna?"

and i thought for a moment about the last comment that was made. "yeah, i guess." i shrugged. marianna was a very pretty girl, but i knew it was only friendship with her. at least now i know why.
"oh." isaac was stuck, not knowing what else to reply with.
"that's cool!" cormac said encouragingly while holding onto one of my hands. "thank you for trusting us enough to tell us."
"of course, you're all my best friends. i want to tell mickey too, i will when i next see him."
"right." nick said. and suddenly i was met with bright smiles and reassuring words, i couldn't be more thankful for such a perfect friend group. one secret down, one to go.

i was currently on my way back home after that boring day at school. i hadn't properly approached my dad since abruptly coming out to him the other day, so i swore to myself i would try speak to him today. but as i was unlocking the door to my house, my nerves started to set in. i took a deep breath while i walked in.

"huntley!" i heard my father call from the kitchen, and i followed his voice wearily. when i entered the room, i saw my dad standing with an unfamiliar man. "huntley, son." my dad spoke again, and my gaze switched between the two men frantically. the male was wearing a blue nurse uniform and he was looking me up and down curiously.

"hi... who's this..?" i mumbled awkwardly, and my dad gulped before turning to the male and gesturing for him to introduce himself.
"hello, huntley. your father has told me about your problem and i'm here to help." he said simply but my face just scrunched in confusion.

"my problem?" i responded with a shrug, looking back to my dad now, but he didn't speak.
"about you claiming to be homosexual." the stranger spoke up again and my face went pale at his words. my dad got me a shrink?

my eyebrows furrowed in fright, now staring at my dad worriedly, "what?" i muttered, "how is that a problem? there's nothing wrong with it."
"huntley, if you would sit with doctor nickels in the living room that'd be great." my dad said slowly, his shameful eyes fixated on my shoes.

"no— i don't need to be fixed!" i burst out, clenching my fists angrily. who was this stranger and what did he do to my dad?
"huntley, boy, go sit now." the doctor said, his voice sounding like a growl. his eyes were dark and endearing, i shuddered under his stare. the doctor walked past me, grabbing onto my forearm and forcefully pulling me through the rooms and into the living room.

"huntley, sit." and i complied, strangely. i almost felt as if i was being controlled. "so, tell me about your problem. when did you start feeling these unholy emotions?"
"unholy emo— what are you talking about?" i spat, looking around the room for my dad but he was still in the kitchen. i turned back to the doctor who was staring at me, waiting for a better answer. "i don't know— a few weeks i guess."
"and what errupted these emotions?"
"uh—" lionel. "i don't know."

"now huntley, my training will only help if you are honest with me." he said lowly, and i stared at him wide eyed. who does this guy think he is?
"what are you looking to achieve here, mate?"
"well for you to become normal again, of course." he sent me a twisted smile while reaching a hand out to place on my shaking knee. i pulled away, getting up to my feet abruptly. i was so done with this—

and then the doorbell rung loudly through the house. i made a run for it, begging for some sort of distraction. i scrambled to unlock the door and i could hear my dad and the strange doctor following behind me. when i pulled the door open, my eyes widened even more.

"uhm. hello." lionel said, his eyes flickering between me and the two tall males standing behind me. fuck, i forgot he was coming over today!
"who's this?" my dad said, walking besides me and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. my breath hitched in my throat, unable to respond.
lionel's eyes trailed over my uncomfortable face, i could tell he knew something was wrong. "i'm one of huntley's school friends." he responded coolly, and i let out an anxious breath.

the doctor spoke up from behind me, "a homosexual friend?" and i flinched at his words before pushing my dad off me and staring widely at the doctor.
"can you not!" i snapped, grabbing lionel's hand and moving him out the way so i could run out the house while dragging him behind me.

"HUNTLEY! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!" i heard my dad calling after me but i didn't stop. instead i continued flocking down the street with lionel running besides me.

eventually i had to stop for air, so lionel stopped too. "what the fuck was that?" he asked me instantly, and my cheeks went pink.
"my dad— he didn't take it too well when i came out i guess." i took deep breaths, trying to regain my calmness but it wasn't working.
"i don't understand— who was that guy?"
i scoffed, "some doctor who's supposed to turn me straight apparently."

lionel looked at me like i was crazy, but then his gaze softened and he pulled me into a tight embrace. i melted into his arms, grabbing him for support. my eyes teared up, how could my dad do this to me? i thought he loved me.