"She'll be ok. She's more worried about you."
                          
This gets him to finally move and look back toward the car. He wipes his eyes to hide some tears and waves her over. I hear the car door open and close as she comes over. We get up to go meet her. 
                          
"I'm so sorry Jack."
                          
He stops her with a hug and she falls into him relieved. 
                          
"I was just overwhelmed with everything and exploded at the wrong person." 
                          
There is an awkwardness now as we try to decide what to do next. Jack looks out to the water and smiles. 
                          
"So who's up for some skinny dipping?"
                          
He removes the only clothes he has and jumps in splashing us as he lands in the water and giving us no choice but to follow. 
                          
Eighteen
                          
The afternoon had been a blur. Skinny Dipping actually felt normal and safe. What a crazy world this was. I drove us all back home. I pulled in front of Meaghan's house and kissed her as James and she got out. I drove the small distance next door.
                          
I wasn't expecting the warmest homecoming when I arrived but I wasn't ready for my father storming out of the front door. 
                          
"Matthew wait" As soon as I drove into the drive way my father was at the car. He opened my door and started to pull me out of it. It took all my energy to unfasten the seatbelt so that I wouldn't be chocked to death and as soon as I was out of the car I was thrown to the ground. 
                          
"Get off me Jeff. He needs to learn a lesson." My two dads were struggling and it almost looked like they were hugging if you looked from afar. The only problem was that one was in tears and the other clearly had one too many drinks. 
                          
I watched as my dad was dragged into the house. As soon as I walked up to the house I realized that I was locked out. James had sent me a text telling me to just wait until everything cooled down but I was done with this life. 
                          
Now I sat on my front porch stairs listening to the yelling still going on inside my house. 
                          
Sitting there I had a lot of time to think. I thought about how miserable I was. Meaghan was the only really happy thing I had in my life and it was time to live my life to the fullest. It all seemed clichéd but it was time to accept myself. The moment my father had thrown me from the car I had made the decision to just be myself. 
                          
I could have went next door and checked on Jack but I knew he was ok where he was. I had to sit here and stew in my thoughts. Listening to the fighting inside. Leaving would allow me to calm down and it might allow for the fear to seep back in. 
                          
I was in deep concentration when Meaghan snapped me out of it. I looked into her eyes as she was caressing my face. Everything had changed this afternoon. It was time to make her my life no matter what it brought. I brought my hands up to her face, looked into her face and just let go. 
                          
I could tell she was shocked as I kissed her right in the open but the shock was quick to be replaced by passion as we kissed only coming up for air when I felt a kick to my back that sent us both flying.
                          
Nineteen
                          
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I had never seen Matthew so mad. I know he could be a bad drunk but the look of hatred seemed so out of place. He was standing over Meaghan and I as Jeff ran out to try to pull him back.
                          
"I'm straight dad."
                          
I couldn't believe I heard the words come from my mouth. A part of me was jumping for joy but another part was scared to death at the look of hatred and shock on their faces. 
                          
"No you are not. I did not raise you that way" Matthew had turned his attention on Meaghan now. "This is all your fault whore."
                          
I quickly got to my feet and was in his face. I heard Meaghan scream as I swung at my dad with all my might. I stood there with a look of rage as Jeff and James were on the ground checking on an unconscious Matthew. I pulled Meaghan to her feet and directed her towards her house. She tried to pull me with her but I stood there watching my family huddled together and a revelation hit me. This was no longer my family. 
                          
Slowly we walked away but before we reached Meaghan's house I was pulled back by my brother. I foolishly thought maybe he would hug or do something brotherly but that was replaced by anger when he spit in my face. My heart broke when I saw the look of revulsion in his eyes as James turned back and went to help his dads into the house. The door slammed and I snapped out of whatever thoughts I had. 
                          
I could no longer stand. I fell to my knees and wept. Meaghan sat beside me and held me as I cried into her shoulder. The neighbors who I had just noticed were watching everything slowly went back to their houses. Some with looks of hatred and repulsion and others with looks of sympathies that they were too scared to voice in such a conservative world. 
                          
"What am I going to do now? I have nowhere to go." 
                          
"You will stay with us for tonight" Meaghan's moms had walked over and were helping us to our feet. They both hugged me like I was their son. In a way I guess I could be their son someday. They had so easily accepted that I was in love with their daughter. It was amazing how lucky I felt. I lost two dads and a brother but gained a family.
                          
Jack had also joined us outside. He was already looking better and he helped hold me up and led me inside. I looked back at my house one last time to see James watching us walk into Meaghans. I was hoping to see a look of sadness or maybe regret but all I saw was hatred. James looked like he had been betrayed and I guess in a sense Jack was betraying him by supporting our love. 
                          
I took one last look at my old life as the door closed on it. I knew that my life was about to really begin and I couldn't wait for the day when everything might feel normal again.