• Hudson

                                    

                                          
I fell in love with my best friend on prom night. Maybe, deep down I always did love him and just didn't know it. There's really no way to be sure. I just know that Trip has always been my absolute favorite person, and I can't imagine a life without him. 
                          
I wasn't sure what to think about the whole thing, because I didn't even realize I was gay until I developed feelings for Trip. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to feel? How is my dad gonna react to this? 
                          
Oh no. My dad. He's not gonna like this. But, I have to tell him. I really love my dad and I value his opinion. This is gonna end badly, I already know it. I have to do it, though. So I'm gonna do it. Today.
                          
As I walked towards my dad's bedroom, I tried to mentally prepare myself for anything that could happen or anything that could be said. Here goes nothing. I knocked on his door a couple times. 
                          
"Hudson, I thought you were at work," My dad said as he opened his door. "Is everything okay?"
                          
"Yeah," I was nervously fidgeting with my fingers quite a bit at this point. "I just want to talk about something real quick, if that's okay."
                          
"Yeah, sure, that's fine. Is somebody bothering you at school? Is everything okay?" He stepped aside so I could enter his room. 
                          
I slowly stepped inside and watched him sit on the edge of his bed. 
                          
"No, I'm fine, nothing's happening at school." I sat next to him as I spoke. "Although, something.. interesting.. did happen at prom last weekend." I murmured. 
                          
"Oh. What happened?" Dad questioned. 
                          
"I think I may have fallen in love." I was so nervous that I started to sweat. 
                          
"Oh, really?" Dad playfully punched my arm. "Who's the lucky girl?" He seemed really excited for me. I hated to see that go away. 
                          
"Actually, it's-"
                          
"Is it Babe?" He interrupted. 
                          
"No, dad, it-"
                          
"Kenzie?" He cut in once more. 
                          
"Dad, I-"
                          
"Oh, is it someone else? Is it Hanna's friend? What's her name again..? Bailey, right? No wait. Um. Wasn't it Cassie?" 
                          
Okay, this was getting real old, real fast. 
                          
"Dad, I'm gay!" I blurted out before I could even think it through. 
                          
His smile faded to a frown. He looked disappointed in me. 
                          
"Hudson," There was sadness in his voice. "You've always been so vulnerable. So naive."
                          
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. 
                          
"Being vulnerable means that-"
                          
"No, I know what vulnerability is, dad." I said, standing up. "I know I'm stupid, but I'm not that stupid."
                          
"Hudson.."
                          
"No. Listen. I know that I'm not the brightest, but believe it or not, I do know some things. I know what those words mean, I just want to know what you were implying." 
                          
"I just want to know who's putting this bullshit in your brain. Hudson, you're not gay. You know that."
                          
"Yes, I am." I retaliated. I couldn't believe my own dad was trying to tell me who I was. He's trying to tell me how to feel. 
                          
"You weren't raised that way." 
                          
"I was raised to believe that love knows no barriers, right?" I said and he scoffed. 
                          
"Hudson, you're confused."
                          
"No, if love knows no barriers, then one of those barriers should be gender, right? It shouldn't matter if the person I love is a girl or a boy. Love is love, isn't it?" I was highly upset at this point. 
                          
"Is it someone at school? You said this happened at the prom, right?"
                          
"No, it's not someone from school. Yes, it did happen at prom."
                          
It took a moment for him to think it through, but he soon realized I was talking about Trip. He's one of the only people that doesn't go to my school that attended prom- and he's the only one that would affect me in any way. 
                          
"You're no longer allowed to work at Game Shakers." He said sternly. 
                          
"Dad, that's not fair." 
                          
"It is fair. That kid is toxic. I always knew he was toxic. With that superstar father of his." He crossed his arms as he spoke. "You need to quit your job."
                          
"But, dad, I-"
                          
"Give me your phone." He held his hand out.
                          
"What?" 
                          
"Give me your phone." He repeated. 
                          
I hesitantly handed my phone over to him and he unlocked it before starting to type something. 
                          
"What are you doing?" I asked. 
                          
"It's none of your business. Go to your room." He said and I sighed a bit.
                          
"Can I at least have my phone back when you're done?" I asked. 
                          
"No. Get out of my room. Go." He said and pointed to the door. "Go to your room!"
                          
I took in a deep breath, faked a smile, and walked out of my dad's room. 
                          
"Hudson, are you okay?" Hanna asked when she saw me walk past her room. 
                          
"Doing great." I lied as I walked into my room and shut the door.