ACT II

THE DOPPELGANGER WORLD

Thursday.

August 17, 2017.

Earth-5.

An 18 year old version of the tan mare was in a psychiatrist's office. She wore a red tanktop and jeans and had tan to light brown hide, with a patch of white on her snout. Her mane was light brown and eyes, green.

"It's nice to meet you, Aurora." said a female panther. "I am Dr. LaSalle."

"Thanks." said the mare. "I was honestly surprised to find a place like this not ran by humans."

Dr. LaSalle smiled.

"Well, humans aren't the only ones who need this." she said.

"That's for sure." said Aurora.

"So why don't we start by telling me all about yourself?" asked Dr. LaSalle.

The mare sighed.

"Well... My name is Aurora Meadows." said the mare. "My friends call me Rory. I grew up in the country. I've seen the times change and... my parents are stuck in the old times."

"In what ways do you mean?" asked Dr. LaSalle. "They grew up believing that a man marries a woman and that it's blasphemous for it to be any other way." said Rory.

"But you don't believe that?" said Dr. LaSalle.

"I did once." said Rory. "These days, I prefer to care how those around me feel... Dr. LaSalle, may I ask you something?"

"Anything." said Dr. LaSalle.

"Are you going to share what I say about my parents?" asked Rory.

"We don't share anything, unless we believe you are in danger of harming yourself or others, or if someone will harm you." said Dr. LaSalle.

"Well..." said Rory. "I'm starting to question my sexuality. One of my friends is a guy. We got plans to help each other... lose our virginity this weekend... The thing is... Another one of my friends... I try to stop myself from thinking about her... But... I tend to be hypnotized by every little detail about her. I'm scared of telling my parents."

"What do you think they would do?" asked Dr. LaSalle.

Rory sighs.

"I don't know..." she said.

Out in the car, a red 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, Rory checks the messages on her phone. There's one from a contact that said "Peyton". She opened the message. It read:

"There's a party Saturday at Lucas Bradshaw's. We could... do it there..."

"I'm not losing my virginity at a party. Even behind closed doors, it's not private there. And do you have any idea what the girls at school would say about me if I had sex at Lucas Bradshaw's house?"

Rory texted back.

"Yeah, you're right... Dumb idea. I'm sorry." Peyton texted back.

"Look. I'll come pick you up Friday and we'll have lunch. After that, we'll find a quiet place." Rory back.

"I'll get back to you in a few. Gotta ask my parents their plans this weekend." Peyton texted.
"Alright. Well I gotta drive, so ttyl." Rory texted back, before lying down her phone and starting the engine and driving off.

About 30 minutes later, Rory came home to her parents' house and went to the fridge, her mother cooking at the stove.

"Aurora..." she said. "I'm cooking dinner."

"I know... But I need something now." said Rory and grabbed a cookie out of the fridge.

Her mother then turned around and put her hoof on her side.

"Put it back." said Mrs. Meadows. "It won't kill you to wait 10 more minutes."

"Fiiine." said Rory and put it back, then grabs a soda pop out of the fridge, goes to the living room and sits on the couch next to her father. "Hey, Daddy."

"Hey, Babygirl." her father said and hugged her. "Did you have a good appointment?"

"I guess it was a start." Rory said and smiled.

"I know it don't seem like it now, but it will help you." said Mr. Meadows.

"I know." said Rory.

"Hey." said Mr. Meadows. "Where's that smile I know?"

Rory looked up at him and smiled.

"There she is." he said and chuckled. "I was wondering if you heard anything about what's real high on your mother's wishlist?"

Rory's mother walks in, still in her apron, and stares straight at him.

"I heard you, Paul." she said. "You got one night left."

Paul looked down, ashamed.

"I hoped you wouldn't." he said.

"I do hope you know Aurora tells me everything." said Mrs. Meadows.

"Yes, Myra... I know." Paul said and looked at Rory like 'Seriously?'.

Rory then smiled real big.

"I love you so, so much, Daddy." she said.

"Of course you do, you little stinker." said Paul.

"Food's done." said Myra.

"Come get your plate, kiddo." said Paul.

The two were very quick to the kitchen for food and back to the couch before Myra had her third scoop from the pan.

They were in the middle of a new show, Cowwoman. The lead, a cow kissed a female panther. Paul then changed the channel.

"I'm not watching this fagfest." he said.

"Honey, you gotta get used to it." said Myra. "It's the way of the world now."

"Like hell if I'm going to get used to it." said Paul. "It's not normal."

"You know if Aurora turned out to be gay, you would let it go." said Myra.

Paul then hugged Rory.

"Well MY baby girl isn't gay, so we don't have to worry about that." he said and looked at her. "Do we, darling?"

"No." said Rory with a smile.

Rory's P.O.V.

It killed me inside. Why does it matter so much? I was starting to feel I had to face a handful of realities. I didn't want any of them to come true. A part of me felt like I was drowning. Ontop of not knowing if I wanted a woman or a man in my life. What's next saved me from my thoughts. Peyton called.

"Who's that?" asked Paul.

"A guy from school." I said.

"If I come home one day to his dick in you, I'm taking a shotgun to it." said Paul.

"Paul..." said Myra.

I quickly got out of the room and answered.

"What?" asked Paul.

"She's 18. Do you expect her to be single her whole life?" asked Myra.

"As long as she's under this roof, you best damn bet." said Paul.

Meanwhile in my room...

"My parents are going to be home for the weekend." an African voice said on the phone.

"I'm so stressed out right now." I said. "I kinda just wish we'd fuck now, that way it could get our minds off of stuff."

"Well I could pick you up right now if you want." said the voice.

"I don't know, Pey." I said. "I don't want you getting your dick blown off."

"Who said that would happen?" asked Peyton.

"My dad said he's shoot it off with a shotgun if he caught us." I said.

"Well he sounds lovely." said Peyton.

I laughed.

"Look..." I said and lie on my belly. "My parents' anniversary is tomorrow. Usually, they're away at some hotel for hours. So I was thinking you could come over for dinner and then... We do it."

"Rory, you don't have to trouble yourself preparing a big dinner for me." said Peyton.

"Well I'm not just going to let my best friend in the whole world starve." I said.

Peyton chuckled.

"I'll just keep it between us that you said that." he said.

"Thanks so much, Pey Pey." I said.

"No problem." said Peyton. "And look... about tonight... If you need picked up, you let me know. We can go to the mall or the movies, or wherever you want."

"I'll let you know if I have to be picked up." I said. "If I don't see you tonight, see you tomorrow night."

"Alright." said Peyton. "Later, gator!"

I laughed.

"Later." I said and hung up.