Chapter 7
It didn't take long for Eric's depression to return after he opened his eyes. He remembered crying in Jack's arms last night, such a bittersweet moment that left him still feeling drained and emotional. He lay there for a few minutes, trying to dismiss the rush of thoughts streaming through his mind. He sat up to check if Jack was still asleep. Jack's bed was already made.
Eric put his feet on the floor and rose, still holding on to his blankets, wrapping around him like an oversized cape. He walked to the couch in the living room and sat down, staring at the blank television screen for a bit, reluctantly deciding to turn it on. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
Eric stood up and unlocked the door, turned and sat back down on the couch. The door slowly opened and Topanga popped her head in. "Hello?"
Eric looked at her with contempt, "What do YOU want…"
Topanga stepped inside the door, Corey walked in right behind her.
Corey gave Eric an apologetic look, "Do you mind if we come in and talk?"
Eric looked back at the TV, "Do whatever you want."
Corey and Topanga shut the door, then sat down on the couch next to Eric, one on each side. Eric pulled his blankets a little tighter around his shoulders.
Topanga put her arm around Eric, "We were worried about you last night, and no one knew where you were. We wanted to apologize for how we treated you the other night. We didn't mean to be so harsh and unsympathetic.
"Me too, Eric. I was wrong to act so insensitively. Just because I don't personally understand what you're going through, doesn't mean that I love you any less or that you are any less my brother."
"I don't know what to say…" Eric sat there, tense and uncomfortable.
"You don't need to say anything. We just wanted to come over and tell you how we feel." Topanga rubbed Eric's back. Eric tensed up even more.
"We DO however, want to make some points very clear." Corey received the reassuring glance from Topanga he was seeking and continued, "We do NOT condone this lifestyle, but we do love you and will help you in anyway that we can. If you decide to date or hook-up or whatever it is that gay people do, we ask that you don't bring anyone over to our place or mom and dad's."
Eric looked over at Corey in shock.
"Eric, we feel that even though you have made this choice, we can only support you so much, and you will always be welcome in our home and your parents, but you can't bring 'boyfriends' over or anything like that. We don't want this rubbed in our faces." Eric turned to Topanga after she finished speaking with the same expression of disbelief.
"We do love you, Eric. Remember that." Corey put his arm around Eric. Eric stood up and turned around, "I can't believe you two!" Eric stormed off into his room slamming the door.
"Well, do we get an 'A' for effort?" Corey said, with a little disappointment.
"Actually, no. You don't." Jack emerged from the balcony, looking at a startled Corey and Topanga. They both stood up. "I don't think I would have believed it if I hadn't heard it with my own ears. You two ARE unbelievable." Jack crossed the room to where Corey and Topanga stood.
"Now hold on a second, Jack," Corey started. "This is a family affair and we don't need your permission or approval."
"Oh really? I'm sorry, WHO did he say he was in love with?" Jack, gesturing to himself, faced Corey.
"He's still my brother no matter who he THINKS he's in love with. Why don't you worry about your own problems with Rachel… just butt out!"
Jack brought his right fist forward in a quick, hard jab, knocking Corey to the floor. Topanga stepped forward and slapped Jack across the face, "Grow up, Jack! We're trying to do the right thing here!"
"Get the HELL out of my house!" Jack growled at Topanga.
Topanga helped Corey get up and lead him to the door.
Jack locked the door behind them, and decided to call Rachel.
Eric lay on his bed crying. [Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong?] His covers where drawn up over his head. [I can't change how I feel… I don't know HOW to change who I am.] Eric sat up, still underneath his covers. "Maybe if I take a shower, I'll feel a little better."
After about five minutes of coaxing, he finally mustered enough strength to walk into the bathroom and shut the door.
"You're kidding me? And then you hit him?" Rachel sat down on the couch next to Jack, who was holding an ice pack on his knuckles.
"Oh yeah, I let him have it. He went too far and Eric deserves better than that." Jack winced as he replaced the ice pack after showing Rachel his reddened knuckles.
"That is so sweet, you're like a knight in shining armor." Rachel cooed.
"Oh stop it, friends stick up for each other. I'm sure Eric's in the bedroom right now, probably crying. Do you mind seeing how he's doing?"
Rachel nodded. She stood up and walked over to the closed bedroom door, "Eric? It's Rachel, you mind if I come in?" She waited a moment before opening the door.
Just as Rachel walked in, Eric walked out of the bathroom with a tower wrapped around his waist. Both froze and looked at each other. "I was just…" they spoke simultaneously. "If you want…" again, they synchronized words. Eric half-chuckled and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. "Eric I've been worried about you, how're you feeling?"
"Oh, the usual." Eric attempted a half-hearted grin that Rachel instantly saw through.
"I hope you don't find this weird, but I'm DYING to talk to you about Jack. Do you feel up to it?" Rachel closed the door and sat on the foot of Eric's bed as Eric opened his dresser drawer to pull out a pair of boxers and a yellow t-shirt.
"What do you want to talk about?" Eric dressed quickly, hiking up his towel as he put on his boxers and slipping his t-shirt over his head.
"Oh you know, the cute little things he does, how gorgeous he is…"
Eric laughed for the first time in a few days. "You know, Jack is just in the other room, he can probably hear you."
"Nah, he won't be listening. He's too busy nursing his owwie."
"What owwie?" Rachel thought it cute how concerned he looked.
"Nothing too major. He punched Corey and was slapped by Topanga."
"What? When? Just now?" Eric started for the bedroom door.
"Wait, wait! He's fine, I promise. C'mere and talk to me." Rachel patted the space on the bed next to her. Reluctantly, he walked over to Rachel and sat next to her.
"So what do you love most about him? I love his smile, he has great teeth." Rachel smirked as she spoke. Eric smiled and began to relax. "I love his eyes. His boo-tay isn't too shabby either." Rachel giggled at Eric, "That is so HOT, Eric! I wish you'd have told me you were gay LONG ago, we could have talked like this all along!" Rachel playfully slapped Eric on the back. He smiled at her.
"I wasn't… ready to accept what I am. I'm still having trouble with who I am."
Rachel reached over and held Eric's hand.
"You know I love both of you guys. I would do anything in the world for you and Jack and I just want you to know that." Rachel winked at Eric, "…and I've been working on Jack since last night… I think he might have some feelings for you." Eric dropped Rachel's hand.
"That's not funny, Rachel." Eric hesitated for a moment, "That actually hurts. I know he isn't gay."
"Well, I'm not trying to get your hopes up, but let's just wait and see how things go. He did stick up for you and I think that is a BIG turn on." Rachel grinned, ear to ear and stood up. Eric stood up to go find his pants when Rachel grabbed him and hugged him tight. "Jack and I love you, Eric. We are here for you and will protect you and do whatever it takes to help you through this." Eric's face became hot and tears filled his eyes.
"Thanks, Rach. That means a lot to me. I love you both too." Eric squeezed her back.
Just then, the door creaked open and Jack stepped in, clearing his throat.
"There he is… were your ears burning?" Rachel and Eric broke the embrace to face Jack at the door.
"No, should they've been?" Jack teased, "You know what? I'm starving! You guys wanna go get something to eat?"
"I could definitely eat…" Rachel turned, "Eric?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Eric looked at Jack, trying to read him.
"You hurt your hand, huh?"
"Yeah, no big deal. Your brother's face got in my way when I was swingin'. Sorry about that."
"No, I'm really grateful for you sticking up for me, Jack. I didn't even know you were here."
"Oh I was here, and I heard every word… not that I was eavesdropping or anything." Jack smiled at Eric. Eric unconsciously smiled back.
"If you guys will let me get my pants on, we can go…" Eric pulled out a fresh pair of jeans from a drawer.
"Alright, we'll be waiting out in the living room for you, C'mon Jack." Rachel walked out of the bedroom followed by Jack.
"So how's your hand doing?" Eric was leaning forward in between the two front seats.
"It's no big deal, just a little sore." Eric reached over and picked up Jack's arm from where it was resting on his leg and looked at his knuckle closely, he fought the urge to kiss Jack's hand 'better'. Jack grinned, keeping his eyes on the road. Rachel saw Jack grin and sported a grin of her own, then looked at Eric who was still studying Jack's hand.
"Think you can fix it, doc?" Jack flicked his middle finger with his thumb and lightly snapped Eric in the nose.
"Hey!" Eric rubbed his nose, with a half smile.
"This feels just like old times, only better." Rachel looked at Jack, back at Eric and then at Jack again.
"It kinda does," Jack agreed.
After they parked in the student union parking lot, they got out and went inside. When all three of them were inside, Rachel immediately spotted Corey and Topanga sitting at a table, drinking coffee.
"Excuse me boys, I'll be right back," Rachel stormed over to their table just as Topanga noticed her. She smiled at Rachel and stood up to hug her.
"Hi Rach, haven't seen you arou…" Topanga's sentence was cut short by a forceful slap to the face. She slowly turned her face back toward Rachel, surprised and angry.
"THAT is for Jack!" Corey watched, stunned. He had a pretty good-sized black eye as a memento from his earlier encounter with Jack.
Topanga opened her mouth to respond to Rachel, when Rachel slapped her across the face again.
"…and THAT is for Eric. You both better leave him alone or you will have to deal with Jack and I, and it doesn't look good for either of you."
Rachel walked back to where Jack and Eric stood transfixed, trying to process the scene as it unfolded before them.
"Let's go, I don't want to eat here." Rachel grabbed each of their hands and towed them to the door and out to the car.
It didn't take long for Eric's depression to return after he opened his eyes. He remembered crying in Jack's arms last night, such a bittersweet moment that left him still feeling drained and emotional. He lay there for a few minutes, trying to dismiss the rush of thoughts streaming through his mind. He sat up to check if Jack was still asleep. Jack's bed was already made.
Eric put his feet on the floor and rose, still holding on to his blankets, wrapping around him like an oversized cape. He walked to the couch in the living room and sat down, staring at the blank television screen for a bit, reluctantly deciding to turn it on. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
Eric stood up and unlocked the door, turned and sat back down on the couch. The door slowly opened and Topanga popped her head in. "Hello?"
Eric looked at her with contempt, "What do YOU want…"
Topanga stepped inside the door, Corey walked in right behind her.
Corey gave Eric an apologetic look, "Do you mind if we come in and talk?"
Eric looked back at the TV, "Do whatever you want."
Corey and Topanga shut the door, then sat down on the couch next to Eric, one on each side. Eric pulled his blankets a little tighter around his shoulders.
Topanga put her arm around Eric, "We were worried about you last night, and no one knew where you were. We wanted to apologize for how we treated you the other night. We didn't mean to be so harsh and unsympathetic.
"Me too, Eric. I was wrong to act so insensitively. Just because I don't personally understand what you're going through, doesn't mean that I love you any less or that you are any less my brother."
"I don't know what to say…" Eric sat there, tense and uncomfortable.
"You don't need to say anything. We just wanted to come over and tell you how we feel." Topanga rubbed Eric's back. Eric tensed up even more.
"We DO however, want to make some points very clear." Corey received the reassuring glance from Topanga he was seeking and continued, "We do NOT condone this lifestyle, but we do love you and will help you in anyway that we can. If you decide to date or hook-up or whatever it is that gay people do, we ask that you don't bring anyone over to our place or mom and dad's."
Eric looked over at Corey in shock.
"Eric, we feel that even though you have made this choice, we can only support you so much, and you will always be welcome in our home and your parents, but you can't bring 'boyfriends' over or anything like that. We don't want this rubbed in our faces." Eric turned to Topanga after she finished speaking with the same expression of disbelief.
"We do love you, Eric. Remember that." Corey put his arm around Eric. Eric stood up and turned around, "I can't believe you two!" Eric stormed off into his room slamming the door.
"Well, do we get an 'A' for effort?" Corey said, with a little disappointment.
"Actually, no. You don't." Jack emerged from the balcony, looking at a startled Corey and Topanga. They both stood up. "I don't think I would have believed it if I hadn't heard it with my own ears. You two ARE unbelievable." Jack crossed the room to where Corey and Topanga stood.
"Now hold on a second, Jack," Corey started. "This is a family affair and we don't need your permission or approval."
"Oh really? I'm sorry, WHO did he say he was in love with?" Jack, gesturing to himself, faced Corey.
"He's still my brother no matter who he THINKS he's in love with. Why don't you worry about your own problems with Rachel… just butt out!"
Jack brought his right fist forward in a quick, hard jab, knocking Corey to the floor. Topanga stepped forward and slapped Jack across the face, "Grow up, Jack! We're trying to do the right thing here!"
"Get the HELL out of my house!" Jack growled at Topanga.
Topanga helped Corey get up and lead him to the door.
Jack locked the door behind them, and decided to call Rachel.
Eric lay on his bed crying. [Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong?] His covers where drawn up over his head. [I can't change how I feel… I don't know HOW to change who I am.] Eric sat up, still underneath his covers. "Maybe if I take a shower, I'll feel a little better."
After about five minutes of coaxing, he finally mustered enough strength to walk into the bathroom and shut the door.
"You're kidding me? And then you hit him?" Rachel sat down on the couch next to Jack, who was holding an ice pack on his knuckles.
"Oh yeah, I let him have it. He went too far and Eric deserves better than that." Jack winced as he replaced the ice pack after showing Rachel his reddened knuckles.
"That is so sweet, you're like a knight in shining armor." Rachel cooed.
"Oh stop it, friends stick up for each other. I'm sure Eric's in the bedroom right now, probably crying. Do you mind seeing how he's doing?"
Rachel nodded. She stood up and walked over to the closed bedroom door, "Eric? It's Rachel, you mind if I come in?" She waited a moment before opening the door.
Just as Rachel walked in, Eric walked out of the bathroom with a tower wrapped around his waist. Both froze and looked at each other. "I was just…" they spoke simultaneously. "If you want…" again, they synchronized words. Eric half-chuckled and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. "Eric I've been worried about you, how're you feeling?"
"Oh, the usual." Eric attempted a half-hearted grin that Rachel instantly saw through.
"I hope you don't find this weird, but I'm DYING to talk to you about Jack. Do you feel up to it?" Rachel closed the door and sat on the foot of Eric's bed as Eric opened his dresser drawer to pull out a pair of boxers and a yellow t-shirt.
"What do you want to talk about?" Eric dressed quickly, hiking up his towel as he put on his boxers and slipping his t-shirt over his head.
"Oh you know, the cute little things he does, how gorgeous he is…"
Eric laughed for the first time in a few days. "You know, Jack is just in the other room, he can probably hear you."
"Nah, he won't be listening. He's too busy nursing his owwie."
"What owwie?" Rachel thought it cute how concerned he looked.
"Nothing too major. He punched Corey and was slapped by Topanga."
"What? When? Just now?" Eric started for the bedroom door.
"Wait, wait! He's fine, I promise. C'mere and talk to me." Rachel patted the space on the bed next to her. Reluctantly, he walked over to Rachel and sat next to her.
"So what do you love most about him? I love his smile, he has great teeth." Rachel smirked as she spoke. Eric smiled and began to relax. "I love his eyes. His boo-tay isn't too shabby either." Rachel giggled at Eric, "That is so HOT, Eric! I wish you'd have told me you were gay LONG ago, we could have talked like this all along!" Rachel playfully slapped Eric on the back. He smiled at her.
"I wasn't… ready to accept what I am. I'm still having trouble with who I am."
Rachel reached over and held Eric's hand.
"You know I love both of you guys. I would do anything in the world for you and Jack and I just want you to know that." Rachel winked at Eric, "…and I've been working on Jack since last night… I think he might have some feelings for you." Eric dropped Rachel's hand.
"That's not funny, Rachel." Eric hesitated for a moment, "That actually hurts. I know he isn't gay."
"Well, I'm not trying to get your hopes up, but let's just wait and see how things go. He did stick up for you and I think that is a BIG turn on." Rachel grinned, ear to ear and stood up. Eric stood up to go find his pants when Rachel grabbed him and hugged him tight. "Jack and I love you, Eric. We are here for you and will protect you and do whatever it takes to help you through this." Eric's face became hot and tears filled his eyes.
"Thanks, Rach. That means a lot to me. I love you both too." Eric squeezed her back.
Just then, the door creaked open and Jack stepped in, clearing his throat.
"There he is… were your ears burning?" Rachel and Eric broke the embrace to face Jack at the door.
"No, should they've been?" Jack teased, "You know what? I'm starving! You guys wanna go get something to eat?"
"I could definitely eat…" Rachel turned, "Eric?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Eric looked at Jack, trying to read him.
"You hurt your hand, huh?"
"Yeah, no big deal. Your brother's face got in my way when I was swingin'. Sorry about that."
"No, I'm really grateful for you sticking up for me, Jack. I didn't even know you were here."
"Oh I was here, and I heard every word… not that I was eavesdropping or anything." Jack smiled at Eric. Eric unconsciously smiled back.
"If you guys will let me get my pants on, we can go…" Eric pulled out a fresh pair of jeans from a drawer.
"Alright, we'll be waiting out in the living room for you, C'mon Jack." Rachel walked out of the bedroom followed by Jack.
"So how's your hand doing?" Eric was leaning forward in between the two front seats.
"It's no big deal, just a little sore." Eric reached over and picked up Jack's arm from where it was resting on his leg and looked at his knuckle closely, he fought the urge to kiss Jack's hand 'better'. Jack grinned, keeping his eyes on the road. Rachel saw Jack grin and sported a grin of her own, then looked at Eric who was still studying Jack's hand.
"Think you can fix it, doc?" Jack flicked his middle finger with his thumb and lightly snapped Eric in the nose.
"Hey!" Eric rubbed his nose, with a half smile.
"This feels just like old times, only better." Rachel looked at Jack, back at Eric and then at Jack again.
"It kinda does," Jack agreed.
After they parked in the student union parking lot, they got out and went inside. When all three of them were inside, Rachel immediately spotted Corey and Topanga sitting at a table, drinking coffee.
"Excuse me boys, I'll be right back," Rachel stormed over to their table just as Topanga noticed her. She smiled at Rachel and stood up to hug her.
"Hi Rach, haven't seen you arou…" Topanga's sentence was cut short by a forceful slap to the face. She slowly turned her face back toward Rachel, surprised and angry.
"THAT is for Jack!" Corey watched, stunned. He had a pretty good-sized black eye as a memento from his earlier encounter with Jack.
Topanga opened her mouth to respond to Rachel, when Rachel slapped her across the face again.
"…and THAT is for Eric. You both better leave him alone or you will have to deal with Jack and I, and it doesn't look good for either of you."
Rachel walked back to where Jack and Eric stood transfixed, trying to process the scene as it unfolded before them.
"Let's go, I don't want to eat here." Rachel grabbed each of their hands and towed them to the door and out to the car.