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“John!” Helen admonishes sharply, stepping forward decisively, her protective instincts flaring up the same way mine are.
The sound of a door slamming shut reverberates through the house, followed by defining silence.
“I’ll deal with John,” she says quietly, her voice strained.
I can tells she’s trying hard to keep it together in front of me.
“Maybe I can talk Kyson into going for a walk around the neighborhood or something. Some fresh air could do him some good.”
She turns to look at me, worry etched in the fine lines around her eyes, making her appear much older than she is. “Are you sure? My son can be… quite difficult when he’s angry.”
“I can handle him,” I assure her, grabbing my bags to dump them in my room first. Kyson’s anger isn’t what concerns me. I’ve never heard John raise his voice quite like this before. However, I’ve never lived with them. Before, I was only here for quick visits. Now I’m here permanently. At least until the end of the school year.
After putting my bags into my room and placing my phone on charge, I approach Kyson’s door. Taking a deep breath, I tap my fist, softly. “Can I come in?”
“Knock yourself out,” his voice carries through the heavy wood in an acidic tone.
Twisting the knob, I quickly step in and close the door behind me. “Hey. You okay?”
His tortured gaze meets mine as he stops spinning in his computer chair. “Does it matter?”
“I asked, didn’t I?” I try to make light of the situation. “Want to get out of the house? Take a walk or something?” I eye him, wondering what he’s doing home on a Saturday night, anyway.
“A walk?” he snorts, like the suggestion is the most ludicrous thing he’s ever heard.
“You know, going outside. Breathing fresh air. What are you doing home, anyway? Shouldn’t you and your wolf pack be out on the prowl? Deflowering virgins. Robbing old ladies. Burning buildings.”
“Is that what you think of me? Is your opinion of me that low?” He stares at me and if I didn’t know any better, I’d believe he’s genuinely hurt by the accusation.
“I was kidding. But seriously, what are you doing home?”
“I do live here.”
I roll my eyes. “Obviously, but isn’t there a party or something?”
“Or something, but that’s much later.” Before I can ask what that something is, he says, “you can’t come if you’re going to wear that.”
I look down at my clothes. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” All he has on is a plain black tee and jeans.
“Take this how you will, but you’re dressed like a good girl.”
“And that’s a bad thing …because?”
“Because,” he hesitates and then murmurs, “you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.”
I frown, annoyed. “So you’re saying I need to put on some slutty clothes to fit in with the crowd?”
His face darkens a little. “I’m only saying that people will make assumptions about you based on what you wear.”
I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest. “Isn’t that what you’re doing right now?”
There’s silence for a moment before he chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Touché, lil’ doll. You’re right. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe no one will care that you look like a Sunday school teacher, and they’ll let you right in.”
“Whatever. I don’t care.” While I wait for a smart retort from him, the uneasiness doesn’t leave me. The room still feels heavy with tension from his argument with John. Breaking the silence, I suggest again, “Come for a walk with me.”
This time he surprisingly agrees, and we leave the house without another word to each other.
As we wander aimlessly down the sidewalk, it occurs to me that Helen never came to ask Kyson for his side of things or to simply check in on her son to see if he was okay. Does she always side with John? Is avoidance her way of keeping the peace? To me, it appears she’s only alienating him further.
