Fighting for Love

"Please stop"

After the conversation Peter shut his phone off as his dad called for him once again.

"PETER!!!! GET DOWN HERE."

Peter opened his door and ran down the stairs. His dad was waiting impatiently on the couch.

"How many times do I have to yell for you."

"You only said my name three times."

"It should have been one."

"I was texting someone. I had to end the conversation or else I would have felt bad for leaving him on read."

"You are a little too sensitive.".

"Why because I have a basic human decency?"

"What.... no.... just, we need to haul some stuff into the garage."

"Great more work." He thought to himself.

It wasn't until now that Peter realized that his mood changed. He realized that right now he was in a bad mood which he thought he had all day. Upon realizing that he also realized that Wesley put him in a really good mood. Almost giggly. His dad opened the door and Peter rolled his eyes. "Always work." He said under his breath. They both stepped outside and went to the far end of the garage.

There, against the wall, was some metal sheets. His dad opened the garage door and they began moving the sheets. They weren't heavy but they were an awkward size and were interesting to move. They worked in silence. The only sound were some crickets which made them both uncomfortable.

"So, who were you texting?"

"That kid that helped us."

".... you mean the one who stated the obvious and wasted all of our time."

"He didn't waste time, when he came out you were still in the hood trying to figure out the problem, it took him less than five minutes."

"I knew the whole time I just wanted to be certain."

Peter furrowed his brows. "What is that supposed to mean? He thought in his head.

"Dad just accept that he helped us, be glad that he was one of the few people nowadays that will help others."

"Son he wasted time.... he didn't do anything..... stop texting him he's gay."

"What? No he's not."

"Did you not hear his stutter or the way he talked?"

"So just because he gets nervous around others he's gay."

"No but you know what I mean."

"Yeah you think he's gay. You are aware he can't control the way he sounds. His voice isn't something he can control. Just... please stop."

"No, if he can't control his voice he could pretend and force himself to talk lower."

Peter remembered what Wesley had said. He likes people who are themselves. In that moment Peter agreed this world makes it impossible to be proud of yourself but Wesley is able to be himself and not care. He agreed he liked people who had the courage to be themselves.since he realized it he came back to earth infuriated. Wesley is being himself.... not pretending.

"Dad, why can't you deal with the fact he sounds like that."

"Because back in my day there were no people who sounded like that."

"People change. Why can't you deal with that. I get that you think it's wrong to be gay but people can't change who they are."

Peter couldn't take it anymore. He threw the metal down and ran to the front door.

"I thought you hated them as much as I did?" Is what Peter heard before he shut the door.

Peter ran to his room and shut the door. His dads question popped into his head.

Though Peter did not hate them as much as his dad he did think it was wrong to be gay. He didn't hate them but he didn't like them either. The more he thought about it the more he realized it changed. He thought about it and gays really didn't bother him anymore...... did he have a change of heart? Peter freaked out a little. So instead of getting on his phone he just laid in bed and continued to freak out. His dad didn't bother him again partially because he was mad that his son didn't share his same beliefs. So Instead of talking it out he finished putting the metal away and went to the living room, so mad that he cursed under his breath. His wife heard it and tried to calm him down.

"Sweetie what's wrong?"

"Our son, our son is what's wrong I told him to stop talking to that Wesley kid because he was gay and that's a sin."

"OK."

"He defended the little freak saying he can't control the way he sounds and that he is straight."

"Well he has a point I mean do you for sure know he's gay. Have you seen him wearing something weird or with a guy."

"Well no but that...."

"But nothing. Until you see him doing something that sets off that he's gay then you can say it. You can't judge people by how they act anymore. Also, you should be proud that our son stood up for him."

"But I'm not because he stood up for a gay.... which means he sinned because he is affiliated with it and therefore accepts it."

"Lordy lordy, he stood up for someone because he wasn't there to defend himself. He helped you so Peter helped back. Peter respects people just get to used to it. Any way that we talk or anything we do is a sin so you can't hold that against him."

His wife walked away into the kitchen. Peters dad was still angry as he turned on the TV.

Peter changed into his pajamas, some soft fuzzy pajama pants and a sweatshirt. He turned on his own TV and watched what was on. He has direct tv so he had some channels to pick through. He laid there for awhile watching his TV but felt so alone at the same time.

He rolled over and looked at the time. At this moment it was 3:00 am. He unlocked his phone and looked at the apps. It was almost as If something drew him to it because he clicked the messages icon and texted Wesley.

"Hopefully he answers." He says softly into his pillow.