Eric is on the phone with Shawn, when Mr. Matthew's comes down the kitchen stairs. Allen looks over at his son while he walks to the fridge, he grabs himself a drink. He focuses on his son's conversation. "Eric, we need to talk once you are off the phone, okay?."

Eric stares over at his dad while still trying to listen to Shawn's voice over the telephone. Eric nods in agreement to his father. Before he places the phone from his ear, momentarily.

"Sure, I'll be just another minute. Okay?, dad."

"Alright." Mr. Matthew's replies as he takes a seat down, just a few feet from where Eric stood.

"Just get here when your done, Shawn. Alright?. Bye." Eric whispers.

Eric turns around and faces his father. "You wanted to talk to me?."

"I do. Sit down, Eric." His father replies. Pulling out a chair from underneath the kitchen table and sliding it in front of Eric.

Eric watches as his father pulls out the chair. And he wondered what exactly was his father so concerned over. He had not got into any trouble at school. And he didn't think he was acting differently. He figured he would be finding out very soon. But he didn't really want to have to deal with it right now, though. He had other things on his mind.

Eric takes a seat down, regardless. And looks around the empty kitchen. It was just the two of them. Morgan must have been keeping their mother's attention upstairs, either that or dad told her to stay up there so he could have this talk. In private. Either way, they were alone.

"What do you want to talk to me about?." Eric asks as he shrugs his shoulders, slightly.

His father places his hands on the table. And clears his throat. "I would like to know what's going on at school?. You've been slacking off, lately. Did you think we would not have been told about this?." His father sternly replies.

Eric exhales deeply. "No, I guess I didn't think anyone actually noticed."

"Why wouldn't they have, Eric. Your grades have been slipping. I should not have to tell you how important this time is for you. You won't get into any good collages with your grades the way they are." Mr. Matthew looks directly into his oldest son's eyes. His concern was apparent.

"I know, I'm sorry." Eric whispers.

"What's got you so distracted?."

Eric looked down at his father's staring gaze. He thought to himself, answering his father's questions internally.

Maybe it's because I've had to secretly harbor feelings for my best friend. And when I finally confessed to him about those feelings. He surprisingly, accepts them. Which was wonderful. But I then had to deal with his parents finding out and with their morals, disapproving of it. And having him reject me. Even after the fact that I told him that I loved him.

I expected to be rejected, honestly. But not in that manner. I didn't expect him to tell me that he loved me, too. And sharing something so special, as losing our virginity together. I found love with him, only to have it ripped from me, just as soon as someone found out. And because of his parents, Jason denied me. Denied the feelings that we shared. Denied that he loved me. He told me it was all a lie. And told me to leave. That I was sick. All the time, his parents looking at me. Making me feel disgusted. Disgusted with myself.

Eric could not tell his father that, though. He couldn't express truly what was going on with him. And so now he has to lie. He has to lie to his own father. And he hated that. He hated having all this to deal with.

And to make matters worse. He now has this thing with Shawn to deal with. Will he be left heartbroken, yet again?. Probably so. He was fully aware that Shawn didn't love him. He loved Cory. But now Cory's back with Topagna. Eric didn't know what to do.

"Eric, are you gonna say anything."

"I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?. You just have to focus and you will do great, Eric. You apply yourself and those grades of yours will improve. Just give yourself a chance."

"I'm not exactly scared of that."

Mr. Matthew stares at his son, his eyes showing the mixture of concern and confession.

"I don't understand, Eric."

"I know you don't." Eric gets up from the chair. "It's not really school that's my problem. It's a relationship problem."

Mr. Matthew grabs his son's arm, gently. "Tell me. I can try my best to help you. I've had experience in that area." Mr. Matthew smiles.

Eric tries to smile back. But he could not really muster it at the moment. He felt like he was living a lie. And he hated it.

"It's nothing really, just a girl problem. I think I can handle it, myself. But thanks for the concern."

"Eric, wait. Please." Mr. Matthew replies softly. He saw the hurt in his son's eyes. And he didn't like it.

Eric looks down at his father still holding onto his wrist gently. He then looks up to look into his father's eyes.

"Why don't you sit down, discuss this problem with me."

Eric grabs his dad's hand. "I don't think you would know what to say about it really, dad. Believe me, I can handle it." Eric then steps away from the table. "But thanks for being concerned."

He begins going up the stairs. At the same time his father begins standing up, and calling out Eric's name. Telling him to get back here. But Eric was already halfway to his room.

Eric shuts his bedroom door and walks up to his bed. He flops down on it. When he suddenly hears the door being open, the loud thunk of the door hitting the wall. It was his dad, and he didn't look to be at all happy about Eric just walking away like he did.

"Eric, did you not hear me calling you."

"I'm sorry, I just don't feel like talking about it. It's too personal."

Cory comes out the bathroom at this moment. And stands beside their dad.

"What's going on?."

Mr. Matthew looks at Eric. "Nothing, me and Eric were just going to go back downstairs and finish our conversation, weren't we."

Eric stands up. Knowing his father was upset now. "Yeah. We were."

Eric walks in-front of his dad, and begins walking back down the stairs to the kitchen. Mr. Matthew's following right behind him.

Eric stops once he gets to the bottom of the stairs. He places his right hand on the corner wall. He lets it rest there for a moment. While he stares back up at his dad. He see's Allen pointing his finger down towards the kitchen.

"Take a seat, Eric. We have alot to discuss."

"Okay." Eric whispers, he inhales and walks towards the chair he previously occupied.

Mr. Matthew steps up to his son, who is now sitting back down, and staring up at him, nervously.

Mr. Matthew exhales. "You and me are gonna work this girl problem out, you understand."

"Yes sir." Eric replies as he looks down. Maybe disrespecting his father was the wrong way to go to get out of this conversation.

Now what lie was he gonna tell next, to cover the first lie. Eric had alot of thinking to do in the next few minutes.

TBC

Author's note: I have one other chapter of this story written. It involves a flashback scene of Eric and Jason from 3 and 1/2 months ago.

What would you like to see else. Any certain appearances. Because depending on how long that one is. I might add more to it. Let me know.

I hope you've like this chapter. Sorry it's been a month or over since I've updated. I have actually had this sitting, waiting for me to upload it for awhile.