Realizations

Chapter 7

I tune out the whole conversation between my dad and the principal since I'm dreading and imagining the worst case scenarios for once we make it home, no scratch that, once we are in the car. "Let's go Rika" dad says knocking me out of my thoughts. We exit the principal's office before heading to my locker so that I could grab my things then walking to the car. I gulp as I nervously open the door and get in, bracing myself for what's about to happen. Dad just starts the car and begins the drive home. The whole ride we sit in silence while I glance down at my hands in my lap, nervously playing with my fingers.

We make it home and dad turns off the car. "Where do I even begin" dad says eerily calmly, "The clothes you are wearing, or the fact that you started a fight or how about that you are not on the cheer squad but in fact on the football team." "Um.." I say. "What were you thinking" dad yells making me jump, "Starting a fight against two guys?" "I was just standing up for myself" I mumble. "Don't even start with this nonsense of being a boy" dad says harshly, "That's a whole other conversation. I can't believe you deliberately went behind my back." "Dad...I" I say but stop talking when he glares at me.

"You are in so much trouble young lady" dad says, "Go to your room. We will be having a long discussion about everything once your mom gets back." I run straight to my room, closing the door behind and collapsing on my bed in tears. At some point I must have fallen asleep because I wake up to mom calling my name and rubbing my back gently. I blink my eyes and look over, "Mom?" "Hey baby" mom says, "I heard you had quite the day." "That's one way to look at it" I reply sitting up.

"Oh my God Ryker" mom exclaims grabbing my face and beginning to examine it, "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere else?" As I'm about to respond, dad appears at my door, "Good you're awake. Downstairs, now." Dad disappears, heading downstairs. I bite my lip out of nervousness and go to stand up when moms hand stops me. I look over at her. "Before we go down there I just want you to know that I got your back no matter what happens" mom says, "And we will be discussing all of this later on when it's just the two of us."

"I understand and thanks mom" I say hugging her, "I love you." Mom hugs me back, "I love you Ryker." "Lets go Rika" dad yells from downstairs. Me and mom walk downstairs and I take a seat on a chair across from my dad to put some space between us and mom takes a seat next to dad. "I can't believe you went behind my back, we are both disappointed in you" dad says, "Let's start with the fight you started today. Why would you pick a fight with two guys twice your size." "Because they have been picking on and bullying me for over a month" I say and see the look of surprise on moms face, "And today I had enough and decided to stand up for myself."

"Well they wouldn't be bullying and picking on you if you weren't pretending to be a boy and instead were being what you were born which is a girl" dad says, "Is that why you are dressed like that and play football because you are pretending to be boy?" Might as well go all in since the cats out of the bag. "First off I'm not pretending to be a boy, I am a boy" I say, "And I dress like this because I feel comfortable in my body and I play football because I like football."

If steam could be coming out of dads ears, it would be because he is furious and mom looks at me in pride for telling dad the truth. "This nonsense stops right now" dad says, "This behavior will not be tolerated under our roof. Until further notice you are grounded and have lost all privileges. And we will be keeping a closer eye on you." "That seems a bit extreme Bill" mom says. "Lena, we have to stand together and put our foot down now and stop this now while there's still time" Bill says, "We can get Rika help and make her see the error in her ways." I cringe when dad says that. "Bill..." mom says. "Tell Kaitlyn that as of right now you can't hangout for a while and then give..." dad says before something clicks, "Are you gay? Do you like Kaitlyn?"

I've already come this far, no sense in backing down now. "I'm not gay, I'm straight" I say making dad sigh in relief, "I do like Kaitlyn." Dads head snaps over at me, sending me a murderous glare, "You're also gay?" "No, I'm straight" I say, "I'm a boy, I am your other son and I like girls." "You are a girl and you like boys" dad says, "We will get you help that will make you realize that. Until then, get out of my site, I can't even look at you." I look down biting my lips to keep the tears at bay.

"That's enough Bill" mom says, "I will not sit here any longer and let you say those things to our son." "Son" dad says in disbelief looking at mom, "That is our daughter Lena, don't let her cloud your thinking." "No, you're the one with clouded thinking. That is our son, Ryker" mom says, "The only thing we are going to do is love, accept, and support him. And if you can't do that, then I think we need some time apart." "Fine" dad says, "But this conversation isn't over."

Ten minutes later dad leaves the house with a suitcase. "Are you and dad going to get a divorce" I ask. "If he can't learn to accept you then yes" mom says, "And don't think it's your fault because it isn't. I told you I would always have your back, speaking of, why didn't you tell me Ryker." "Because I didn't want to worry about me even more or cause problems with dad and Rodrik" I say. "You listen to me, I will always worry about you because you are my baby boy" mom says, "From now on I want you to come to me with anything. You got that, no matter what it is." "Yes. I promise" I say. "Good" mom says, "Now tell me the truth."

Over the next hour, I tell mom everything that has been happening to me since I was outed over a month ago. Once I get done, mom does not look happy. "I am going to have a long talk with your principal and Kaitlyn's parents" mom says. "Mom, don't talk to Kaitlyn's parents" I plea, "I will deal with her." Mom looks at me before sighing, "Ok, but if you have another incident, I will." "Ok, fair enough" I say. "Now go rest, you need it" mom says pulling me into a hug, "I love you Ryker." "I love you mom" I say reciprocating the hug before heading to my room to rest.

Thanks for reading.  What did you think?  What do you think will happen next?  What do you want to happen next?  As always votes and comments are appreciated.