Fandom: Boy Meets World Pairing: Jack Hunter/Alan Matthews Disclaimer: BMW is owned and copyrighted by Michael Jacobs Productions and Touchstone Television.
Alan Matthews sat quietly through dinner with his family. Corey and Topanga had plans to go out with Shawn and Angela, but had stopped by for dinner. Morgan was chatting excitedly about a planned trip to the mall to shop for bridesmaid's dresses with her future sister-in-law. Eric popped in and for a brief minute the senior Matthews panicked, wondering if Jack had told his son about his advances. But as Eric plopped down at the table, helping himself to sumptuous feast before him, his father breathed a sigh of relief, confident that his secret was safe. Alan smiled watching his son eat. "Nothing," Alan mused, "not even a date could stand between his eldest son and a home cooked meal."
Alan sat observing the family scene taking place around the kitchen table. He felt a pang of guilt as he thought about his plans for tonight. He'd lied to his wife, telling her he was going to the bar to shoot some pool and have a few beers. He felt even worst when she hadn't gotten upset or questioned him. Amy trusted him completely and that made it all the worst.
"Don't go," he kept telling himself, as lively banter continued around the dinner table. His eldest son Eric was being his usual witty self, keeping the family in stitches with his stories. Alan knew his son was smart, but preferred to hide behind a mask of being a clown. "We're not that much different," Alan thought. He wore the mask of a good family man to all that knew him. He had a wonderful wife, three terrific children and a secret he had kept hidden even from himself until this afternoon.
"Alan, are you alright?"
He offered his wife a fake smile and nodded. "Just a lot happening at the store."
He glanced at the clock briefly before turning his attention back to his family. The rest of the meal went by amiably. He listened to Corey and Topanga's wedding plans and even offered some advice to cut back on expenses.
When Corey, Topanga and Eric finally left, Alan sat with his wife and daughter watching television for a while. He had all but decided to stand Jack up. After all, he wasn't even sure if the teen even wanted him to show up. He had practically accosted and solicited the young man with no provocation nor did he stick around to find out if his feelings were reciprocated.
"Stay home with your family."
"Alan, are you ready for dessert or are you leaving soon?"
Alan hesitated. "It's decision time," he thought, "Go after a boy who may or may not want you, or stay home with your family that loves you."
"I'll have dessert when I get back."
He kissed his wife and daughter goodbye, grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. Even in his car, he tried to convince himself to turn back. He thought of a thousand reasons why he shouldn't pursue this but only one thing spurred him on. "I want this," he murmured out loud.
He parked his car a block away from the building and sat for a few minutes trying to get up the courage to go through with it. "What if he's not home?" He felt like a teen on his very first date. He toyed with the key, debating whether to turn on the ignition and get the hell out of there before he did any real damage. Before he knew it, he was out of the car and in the building stabbing at the elevator button. "Here goes everything," he sighed as he rode the elevator up to the third floor.