Upstairs, Jacque was back to lying on his bed, in questionable mood. His arms hugged around the pillow his face sunk into, he sighed. At least he'd gotten it over with... he'd been thinking it would never be over. But now it was... and mixed feelings and emotions dribbled through his brain, over what had just happened back there. At least his mother had been understanding and still obviously cared. But his father? Jacque hated to agree with his fearful paranoia that Marco would be less than happy about it. Had he been understanding? Hardly. Did he care? Even harder to say. Bigger moan from his lips, in despair. Just then, however, there was a knock at his door. Bringing himself back into reality, the teenager finally muttered out, "-You can come in, Mom." But it wasn't Lorelei that came in. "-Actually... it's Dad." But can I come in, anyways?" Somewhat startled, Jacque turned around to see if his hearing was correct. There stood the father lynx at the doorway. There was a moment of blank stares between them. The lynx/caracal made his decision. "-I guess so." He rolled back over, to stare at the bed headboard. He didn't feel like looking at Marco then. The parent sensed this, as his guilty conscience rose higher than the guilt trip his wife had given him. He slowly edged over onto the end of the bed, and seated himself. Seeing that his son gave no objection, Marco began some form of conversation. "-So... how are you?" "-Fine." "-School going okay?" "-Yeah." "How's work at the library?" "Good." Got almost ten hours worth done." "That's good to hear." "Yuh huh." There was a tenseful pause. *-Okay, I didn't come up here to give him 'small talk'! I've got to get to it, while I've got some form of attention from him...* Swallowing, Marco spoke, "-Jacque... I think it's time we had a talk." Glancing over at his father, the young feline said, "-Dad, you kinda already gave me the 'Talk', remember?" Momentarily taken aback, the adult lynx shook his head. "I didn't mean that... I meant more... in 'general' so to speak." You know... father/son talk?" Jacque gave an audible sigh. "Sure... why not." His father gave a discouraging look. "You say that, like it was a death sentence." "Sounds about right to me," the son muttered. Giving an annoyed hiss, Marco stood up, "Fine, if you want be like that, then forget I said anything-" Realizing he'd been rather harsh, Jacque immediately yelped out, "-No wait, Dad!" Please!" Please come back... I'm sorry." I really am." I didn't mean to be rude... it's just... I'm really sorry Dad." He lowered his ears in guilt. Knowing that his son truly was sincere, Marco changed his mind and came back in, sitting on the bed again. Clearing his throat, the lynx told him, "-First things first... Jacque you shouldn't be the one who's sorry... I'M the one who shunned you off back there... that was wrong of me and I know it." Please forgive me." His words brought lightness to Jacque's heart. "...Dad-" he started. "I mean it, Jacque... I really messed up there." You were doing the right thing, by being honest and coming to me and your mother about that." But what I did... talking like I did and walking out... that was not the right thing... and as a parent... no, YOUR parent, I should know better than that!" You're my son, and you deserve both my understanding and respect." He turned and looked at his son's dark green eyes, similar to his own. The lynx gently put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "-Jacque... you have my support in whatever you do, so long as it's a good cause and within good reason." Because I love you... as much as any true father cares his child." And that won't ever change." Ever." Looking into his father's gaze, Jacque knew this wasn't false. Marco was no liar; he meant every word. And before he could say another, his son instantly flung himself around him, in a tight, desperate grip. Marco was truly taken by surprise; Jacque hadn't hugged him for the longest time, and not like this since he was some inches or so shorter and a few years younger. For the third time that day, the young feline started crying again. He couldn't help it; his emotions were soaring like a rollercoaster, and he was having difficulty controlling himself. But Marco didn't seem to mind; he was just filled with relief that Jacque bore him no grudge. He was showing forgiveness. The father held his arms around his fifteen-year-old son, comfortingly, saying naught a word, for at the moment, action seemed to speak all the unsaid words. When Jacque had calmed himself, he finally loosened his hold. He looked at his parent, with grateful expression. "-Thank you, Dad." Marco simply smiled, and tousled his son's unruly hair. "-That's what fathers do... what I'm here for, kiddo." Don't forget it." Jacque smiled back. "-I won't." It was then, Jacque decided to spill the rest of the beans. "-Dad... since you've... come out straight with me and all... I'm thinking... maybe I should explain... what's happened lately." His father looked with new interest. Could Jacque be referring to the still untold 'incident' from that weekend? Marco slowly gave a nod. "-I'm listening, son." Given the go-ahead, the young feline began from what he thought seemed to be where it all had really started from. "-Do you remember... Jordin from awhile ago?" The adult paused, in remiscience. Indeed he did. He remembered her, the young girl with the openly seductive body, and the eager and brash attitude about her... he'd known from the beginning she was all wrong for Jacque, who was more of a courteous, taking things slow and gently, almost friend-like kind of guy. Marco hated to put down a person as much as this, but he couldn't deny the feeling that someone like her was destined for a position as a hooker or in a strip club. He genuinely felt sorry for her, and whoever her parents were... only God knew if they were around or not or if they even cared. "-Yes?" he finally inquired, in response. Licking his lips, Jacque continued, "-Well... know how she... broke up with me?" Yet another mental flashback for that. Marco recalled that afternoon, when Jacque had arrived home from school, with a stone-faced look, as he absentmindedly dropped his coat onto the floor, missing the coat rack, and forgot to take off his shoes. The father hadn't taken it too seriously at first, but when he discovered his son putting a cereal box in the fridge and the milk carton in the cupboard, Marco definitely knew something was wrong. "-Yeah." Jacque fidgeted, nervously. "-See... you know how I... went to her house that evening, about two days before?" Well... her parents kinda... weren't home." The adult lynx nearly choked. Teenage couple alone in a house? And what was more, with THAT girl?? *-Oh dear GOD!* he thought, expecting the worst. "-I see..." he forced himself to respond. Knowing what his father was thinking, Jacque quickly spoke, "-No no!" Not that!" I swear to god Dad, 'that' did NOW happen!" I swear!" Immediately, Marco was a deal relieved to hear this. "-Oh... oh good," he breathed. Glancing down at his feet, the teenage feline added, "-Although 'it' was her intention I believe..." Needless to say, Marco wasn't surprised. Yet he somewhat 'pretended' to be. "-What do you mean, son?" "-Well... you know... Jordin was getting all... 'smothering' on me and... then she actually suggested right out along the lines of, 'Why don't we take this in the bedroom?'." And I... well you know I'm not that kind of person... I never take things THAT fast, and we'd only been going out for about a week!" But I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I tried to let her down a 'different' way, instead." Told her I didn't have any protection with me." *-That's a smart boy...* Marco thought gratefully. Still he was curious. "-'Did' you have any, by the way?" Wincing, Jacque replied, "-Yeah... I felt really rotten lying to her like that." But I just didn't-" His father cut him off. "-Well you shouldn't... yes, you DID lie to her, I won't deny that." But it was the right thing to do, Jacque, and I'm proud of you for doing it." There's not too many teenage boys out there that would've had the dignity or self-respect to do that." "-You mean 'discipline' and 'restraint'," his son jested, wryly. Marco chuckled a little. "-Right." "-So yeah," Jacque said. "That would be one of the main causes for the breakup, I'm assuming." All I know is, two days later, she says 'Hey Jacque, maybe we should see other people!' and bye bye Jordin." Poor kid. He'd been nothing but righteous in his intentions, and that little whore had the nerve to go and 'reward' him by ripping his heart out and stomping on it, in her black leather, hooker boots. This angered Marco, who tried to reassure his son. "-Well in my opinion, kiddo, sounds like she didn't deserve a decent guy like you, anyways." If she can't appreciate you for who you are, then you're better off." He patted Jacque's shoulder. His son was, of course, grateful. They were always telling him that he was a great looking and nice kid, that could have any girl he wanted. "-Thanks Dad," he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed by the praise. So there was the first bit off his shoulders. But now came the 'boulder'. "-Anyways... that day we split... I went over to Goresky and Chislett's, right?" Marco nodded. That part wasn't surprising at all; that's the second place Jacque could be found if not at home or out. "-Yeah huh?" "-I thought it might help if I talked to the guys about it, but it's weird... when Chislett asked what happened, all I could say was 'I'd rather not talk about it'!" ...But when he went out, to go to the movies with Scott and them, I found myself totally spilling it all to Goresky!" Marco pursed his lips, thoughtfully. "-Maybe because he's been in a similar situation?" Like that phase with 'Cloey' was it?" Jacque nodded. "-Yah... guess so." Speaking of her, that's actually what was on his mind at the time." He was pretty down too, so... we both decided to go and do something, to try and take our minds off of it all." "-And how did you do that?" Biting his lip, Jacque gulped, "We went to the bar and... well, did what you go to a bar for." Marco slowly closed his eyes, sighing. He knew alright, and didn't quite like the thought of his son getting drunk. But he trusted Jacque being responsible about it, so he said nothing against, just nodded. "-Yeah.. and then... uhhh... I think we weren't paying much attention to exactly how many... erm... 'shots' we were having and-" At hearing 'this', NOW Marco was worried. "-Uh huh..." he said, but in his mind, it was *-Oh NOOO!* After all, since when was getting drunk EVER a 'good' thing? At this critical point, Jacque realized he didn't know 'quite' how to explain or present what happened next. Not only did it make him seem stranger than ever, it even brought Goresky into the picture, and could very well give him a bad impression to Marco. He didn't want to make his friend look bad. But then again... without putting Goresky in the story, there wasn't one to begin with. Taking an uneasy gulp, the teen continued. "-So we were going on about how we were having so much problems with girlfriends and girls altogether and stuff, and then said something about... not needing them anyways, to why bother... and we both toasted to that, and all-" This was sounding more and more absurd by the minute. MAN did people ever act dumb when they were wasted... "And then... I said something about how good of friends me and Goresk were, 'cuz he 'gets' me, and he's like yeah, and then there was something about how we don't need anyone 'cuz we got each other..." The adult lynx's bad feeling was growing bigger, as he listened to this. Biting his lip, Jacque made himself tell the vital bit. "-That's when I went out and said... 'I love ya man!'." He paused for a minute, wondering what Marco was thinking of that one. "-Then Goresk said, 'And I love YOU man!'." And then we... 'hugged'." His father blinked once. "-'Hugged'?" he echoed. Jacque slowly nodded. "-Yeah... and not one of those friendly shoulder ones or nothing... I'm talking more like... big embracing 'bear' hugs." *-I'm gonna DIE, I'm gonna DIE, I'm gonna DIE!* he thought, randomly. If Marco didn't think he was 'disturbing' or 'creepy' NOW, he sure would SOON... "-Then... somewhere between the hugging... I just... outta nowhere... kinda... pulled my face up to his and... and I..." The father knew it even before he said it. "-K... kissed him." Immediately, the thoughts in Jacque's head were interrupted by a dramatic, *-DUM DUM DUM!*, a sound effect that Chislett loved to annoy him and Goresky with. Which was ironic, considering the sound DID sound like Chislett was in his head... scary. There was a long pause from Marco, who was finding the irony of the fact that just a minute ago, he'd been cursing the influence of alcohol (on his son) and now all he could think of was if there was still some whiskey or rum in the cabinet downstairs. Or just ANY alcoholic beverage, really. God, did he ever need a drink. "-Huh..." he muttered, in thought. Realizing that telling all this out in small bits was tedious enough, Jacque decided to just let it all out in one short burst and get it done with. "-And basically from there, he went and kissed me back, then we kissed together, then we left, shacked back to his house, it was then next morning, we woke up hungover, naked and in the same bed, and that's pretty much how this whole awkward thing between us started!" There!" The silence this time was so loud and long, that you could've dropped a pinpoint and it would have very well ECHOED through the room. It seemed years before the adult lynx spoke, "-Uhhh... well... that... that there was alot of information to get in just ten seconds." His son's face was flushed with embarrassment. "Yeah..." Not knowing what else to say, he coughed instead. At hearing this info, Marco now got the big picture. From that little drunken experience and aftershock, no WONDER Jacque and Goresky were acting weirded out! "Awkward"? Try more like 'traumatizing'! Seeing your best friend (of the same gender) in the nude? If that didn't scare you shitless, then what did?? Well in Jacque's case, perhaps it hadn't been AS bad, considering the exposed body of another male wasn't disturbing to him. But for Goresky, he'd probably been- *Wait a second...* A sudden thought then occurred to Marco. Jacque had said that he'd kissed Goresky... and Goresky had kissed him BACK. Had it been the alcohol? Or was he... The teenage feline saw his father turn around to face him, with a questionable expression. "-Ummm... this may sound like an odd thought, but... does this mean that... GORESKY is gay too?" I mean... judging from how he apparently kissed you BACK and... well." At first, Jacque seemed to find this idea impossible. At least being gay seemed to fit Jacque like a glove from all the facts, but Goresky?? "-What??" Goresky... gay?" No way, he's not-!" He then stopped in mid-sentence. *Hold the phone-!* What if he WAS gay? After all, it seemed he'd been having as much luck as Jacque was with girls... and he HAD seemed very interested that night they kissed... plus the WAY he kissed Jacque... but was it just coincidence? "-Uhhh..." he stuttered out. "On second thought... maybe I'll have to get back to you on that one." So his son was confused too. Least that made Marco feel more in the loop. Gathering his wits, he suggested, "-Perhaps you should talk to him about it, Jacq... it might help." You two need to get things straightened out anyways." You're best friends; that's not something you should just let slip." He was right, and Jacque knew it. The feline hybrid slowly gave a nod. "-You're right Dad." In fact... I'm gonna do it tomorrow!" It's perfect; last day of the schoolweek and a whole weekend ahead to work it out." Plus since I'm on a roll of getting things off my chest to people and all." Marco smiled wryly. "Indeed." Well... sounds like you got it all under control, son." Jacque shrugged, modestly. "-At the moment, I guess." Knowing that their chat was close to end, his father stood up. "-So... you alright then, kiddo?" Anything else you needed to say?" "-Yeah... I'm cool; said it all pretty much." I'm surprised I haven't given you a migraine." The father lynx smirked, "-Eh... I've been through worse." Pausing a moment, Marco licked his lips. "I'm glad we talked that out, Jacque." "-Me too," Jacque agreed. "Thanks for being so great about it... means alot, Dad." Looking touched, his parent reached out and patted his shoulder, in acknowledgement. In a small act of affection, he ruffled Jacque's hair again, causing his son to smile. "-G'night, son." "-Night Dad," he replied, softly. And he was out the door.

Awhile later on, when the Celayas were preparing to go to sleep, Marco pulled a capsule out of the bathroom cabinet. Scanning over the label, he found what he wanted: sleeping pills. Glancing down at the glass of whiskey on the counter, Marco wondered. Finally he called to Lorelei in the next room, "-Lorelei?" She was already in bed, reading. "-Yes?" "Does a pill still work when you drink it with an alcoholic beverage?" Looking up from her book, it was apparent that his wife was stumped by the absurd question. "-No... why?" Pause from the bathroom. "-Random thought... just wondering." The female caracal raised her eyes and sighed, typically. "-Just come to bed, Marco." "-Be right there," he responded. He snapped open the capsule lid, and selected two pills. Leaning back his head, he tossed them in his mouth, and (not listening to Lorelei's answer) took a swig of whiskey. He needed the damn liquor AND the pill. Perhaps taking two of them would allow it to still work, he figured. And if not, well then... after all he'd heard and learned that evening, he was in for a LONG sleepless night... peachy.