The Shadow I'm In

 

The next day was kind of crazy. Dad was rushing around the house, checking every five minutes that he had the right address, and that I was packing and getting ready. He had talked with Roden’s parents off and on throughout the day as well. I had a feeling that by the time we got there they were going to be the best of friends.



I was packing in my room. I didn’t really need to pack much, so when dad kept asking about my packing, he was driving me up the wall. Mom was nowhere to be seen. It seemed she took off early that morning because she and dad had gotten into a fight about his grounding. For as long as I remember, I can’t think of a time when my parents had fought about something. Dad was also being less passive in their relationship. Maybe that was it.



He was in his room doing something. We hadn’t really spoken since the day before. We had said hi when we both exited our rooms for breakfast, but that was it. He wouldn’t look me in the eye, and he wasn’t smiling at me like I had been getting used to. It was like before he found out about Ken. I didn’t like it at all. I wanted my brother back. He was probably still angry about last night, but I don’t know what he was angry about. I didn’t do anything.



Unless he was angry about the, what I’m thinking, the almost kiss that he almost gave me. It made my cheeks heat just thinking about it. He had been so close. I just had to open my mouth and say something. Maybe it would have been a kiss if I hadn’t said his name. I shook my head though, tossing something else into my overnight bag. I shouldn’t be having those thoughts; they were wrong. But I can’t help but wonder if it would have been like the kiss with Roden. My whole face was red, I could feel it.



I wondered what it was going to be like today when I went over to Roden’s house. Would we sit around and play video games? Or go play in the park? Or go to the movies again? I didn’t know. Maybe it would be awkward because of the small argument that we had gotten into the night before. Maybe he didn’t want me to come over anymore. But Dad had been on the phone with his parents all day, so that couldn’t have been it. If I was unwelcome there, they would have told Dad.



I was probably thinking too much into things though. The argument that we had wasn’t that bad. We just grew up in different families. His family was loving, and they noticed him. Mine didn’t really know I existed until Ken did what he did. We came from two very different worlds.



A knock came at my door when I was zipping up my bag. I had probably over packed since Dad had kept bothering me, and I was thinking through the whole thing. I turned to see who was at my door. The door was open, seeing as how Dad still didn’t trust me inside for some reason. He was standing there and it just felt rather awkward. He looked like he was trying to say something but he was avoiding looking at me straight on. He got off a few stutters before was able to speak.



“Listen. I know I was a dick yesterday.” I held in my snort; that was an understatement. I just stood there and looked at him though, my gaze never leaving him. It was making him even more uncomfortable. “I know that you didn’t want what Ken did. I was just pissed.”



“What were you angry about?” I really couldn’t bring myself to cuss. I never really had before and the words felt strange coming out of my mouth when I did let one slip. He was stalling again, rocking back and forth on his heels for a moment. He still wouldn’t look at my face.



“Just stuff.” He gave off a large sigh, leaning against my doorway. “I’ve been having a really hard time believing what Ken did to you.” I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Wasn’t he the one that beat up his best friend because of it? “I know it happened.” He raised his hands up, palms up in the front, and he waved them for a moment. “It’s not that. But Ken was my best friend. I never thought he would do something so horrible. Especially to my little brother.” It took me a moment for me to figure out he was opening up to me a little bit. Explaining himself. He didn’t seem to get a response fast enough because he turned from my door. “Yeah, so, I really am sorry. I hope you have fun with Roden.”



“Scott!” He stopped for a moment and looked over his shoulder at me. “Th-thank you.” My cheeks heated up under his gaze, which was looking at me for the first time since yesterday. It wouldn’t seem like such a long time to someone else but for me, it was. He hadn’t looked at me at all before. Now I was used to being the center of his world. Things would probably change when we went back to school next week, but for now, I wanted to be the center of his world. When I wasn’t the night before, it felt like something was missing.



“You’re welcome.” There was a smile in his voice this time, I could hear it.



“Basil, you ready to go?” Dad asked coming down the hallway that led to our two bedrooms and the bathroom that we shared. It kind of broke me out of the trance that I had been in. I nodded my head and grabbed my overnight bag.



“Yeah. I’m finished packing.” I answered back, moving into the hallway where he was waiting for me.



“Alright. We’ll head out then.” Dad started to head back the way that he came. “Scott, we’re leaving! Remember, no video games or friends!” I doubt that he remembered any of their numbers so he could call them. Dad had taken his cell phone from him the night before, after he and mom had finished with the dishes, along with his gaming system. They were locked in our parents’ bedroom somewhere. Probably in the closet that they put our presents in. I remember when I was really young going with him to try to look to see what they had gotten us. It was before things changed and before no one paid attention to me.



“Yeah, yeah! I know.” He answered back from inside his room. I could only wonder what he was doing in there.



The next thing I knew we were in the car. My bag was stashed in the backseat, while I sat in the front. I rarely ever got to ride in the front when we went places. He always got the front when both our parents weren’t with us.



“Are you sure you want to do this? I can turn around.” Dad insisted, glancing over at me every few seconds. Dad being overprotective was annoying, but when he did it I liked it. I shook my head from side to side.



“N-no. I want to go.” I insisted back. He nodded his head this time as well.



“Very well. But you have my number if you don’t want to stay. Or if they do something you don’t like, like some kind of British tradition or something that you don’t agree with.” I wanted to laugh so badly, but there was only an upward curving of my lips. He really was getting crazy about this. A British tradition that I don’t agree with? I never even heard of any.



“Alright, Dad.” I stated looking out of the window as we drove down the highway. It was a long hour drive. Dad kept asking if I was sure that I wanted to go. I kept insisting that I wanted to go. Finally we arrived on the street that their house was on. Butterflies felt like they were growing in my stomach at that point. I was nervous. What if Roden really didn’t want me there? What if there was some strange British custom that I didn’t like? I was probably overreacting again. But I chewed at my bottom lip anyway and fidgeted in my seat.



“We can turn back.” Dad stated as he made to turn into their driveway. No, I needed to do this. Well it wasn’t like it was a highly competitive competition or anything, but I still needed to get away. I kept telling myself that it was no different than the night that we spent in the hotel. But my cheeks heated slightly remembering the kiss that we shared, and also the cuddling that had taken place during the night.



We got out of the car and Eden was there to greet us. Her smile was very wide as she welcomed us into her home. Dad was on the alert though, and only offered a slightly welcoming smile and greeting. My eyes were searching for Roden as soon as we entered their house. He was sitting cross-legged on their couch with his father, discussing something. They both stopped talking though when Dad and I came into the house. Their attention was focused on us. Roden got up from the couch and came over to hug me. I had forgotten how tall he was.



“Hey, Basil. It’s about time you got here.” A large smile was on his lips as he looked at me, then his eyes shifted to my dad as he spoke to Roden’s parents. I hadn’t missed the look that dad had given him though when he hugged me. Maybe he was starting to wonder about what he had said yesterday. Wondering if I was gay or not. If Roden was my boyfriend.



“Mr. Aiden, pleasure to finally meet you.” Eden stated with a chuckle. “We talked so much on the phone yesterday, my husband and I feel like we already know you.” Dad let out a chuckle of his own at the notion.



“Yes. It would seem so. I’m sure we’ll start having barbeques together.” My father offered back, shaking hands with Frank with a smile, though even I could tell it was forced. He wasn’t really comfortable with them and it showed. Or maybe he just wasn’t comfortable leaving me here with them.



“This is our son Roden, if you hadn’t already guessed.” Frank stated, moving over and resting a hand on the Native American boy’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “Why don’t you take Basil and his things back to your room for a bit so that we can talk to Mr. Aiden. Hm?” The man asked his son, though I thought it sounded kind of rehearsed.



“Alright.” Roden stated reaching to take my bag from me. “You remember the way, right?” He questioned me, heading in the direction of his room. I paused for a moment though, looking after him. I glanced at dad and he gave me a smile; I offered a small one back to him.



“Y-yeah!” I called softly after Roden, moving to catch up to him in the hall, glancing back once over my shoulder to see my dad still watching after me. I reached Roden’s room a few moments after him and just stared for a moment. It was cleaner than when I had come over that first time; it was a mess last time. He must have noticed me just staring because he laughed.



“Yeah, mom made me clean it before you came over. ‘There is no need for him to live in your pigsty. Clean this up before he gets here; he might develop staph or something in here if you don’t.’” Roden mocked his mother, making his voice somewhat higher to mimic how she sounded. I chuckled softly at his antics. “Take a seat, much to everyone’s disbelief, I am not that dirty and you will not catch any diseases by sitting in my room.” His words were half- laughed as he stashed my bag in an empty space next to his closet.



“Thank you for letting me come over.” I stated as I took a seat on the floor, leaning back against his bed, my legs crossed in front of me. He waved off my thanks though, taking a seat next to me on the floor.



“No problem. Not like I was going to be doing anything after all. And what’s better than having friends over to share in my not doing anything?” The Native American questioned, but I guessed that it was rhetorical so I didn’t give an answer. He tossed me one of the controls he had grabbed from the floor. “Mario Kart alright?” Roden asked as he turned on the gaming system.



“That’s fine, although I’ve never played before.” I answered back as he set up the game.



“No problem. It’s pretty easy really. Just use these buttons to steer, use this button to use your special powers that you get and this one to accelerate.” He explained, after taking his seat back next to me. “But you’re going to have to watch out; I’m a beast at this game, although I will go easy on you the first few times.” A grin was crossing his face as he spoke to me, as we were choosing our different characters. For some reason, that grin that he shot at me made my stomach twist for a moment. But I didn’t have time to think about it because he was pressing the start button.



Ten to twenty minutes later there was a knock on Roden’s door. He paused the game for a moment. He had been kicking my butt since we started, though I did keep falling off places and having to start over and fall behind. We both looked to the door and it was Eden standing there with a smile, looking in on us.



“Basil, your father is leaving. Go say goodbye.” I nodded my head and set my controller down where I had been sitting. Roden stayed where he was though, I suppose he didn’t need to get up and say bye to my dad. I followed Eden out to the living room where dad was shaking hands with Frank. He smiled at me when he noticed I had appeared from the other boy’s room.



“I’m heading out son, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.” He stated after I was closer to him. He reached out and hugged me for a moment. It still felt rather awkward hugging him but I suppose it was normal to hug your parents. He placed a soft kiss on the top of my head before letting me go. “Remember I’m just a phone call away.” He stated again, holding onto my shoulders.



“I-I know. I’ll be f-fine.” I stated back. I had started to feel less awkward at Roden’s house. It didn’t seem that he was that worried about the small disagreement that we had had the night before, and I thought everything was going to be alright.



“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow then. Text me tonight so I know that you’re okay.” It was like he didn’t trust them or something. Did he see what I saw? They were nice people. Caring, compassionate. They paid attention to Roden even though he wasn’t their biological son. Roden was nice as well. He let me still come over, even though we had gotten angry with each other the night before. He allowed me into his house after he found out I was made dirty. He wanted to talk to me. How come dad didn’t see that?



“I w-will.” I responded watching as he headed for the door, waving at me over his shoulder before he was gone. Why was saying goodbye to him so awkward? Maybe because I hadn’t done it before.



“You can go back in with Roden now. We’ll call you when lunch is ready. Tuna fish sandwiches with chips alright?” Frank asked after Eden moved to sit on the couch. She took the remote in her hand and turned on the tv.



“Y-yeah. That’s fine.” I stated still watching the woman for a moment. Mom never just sat down and watched tv. Of course I wasn’t really around when she was; dad was usually the one that was sitting on the couch in the den watching tv. It caused Frank to laugh softly.



“Don’t mind her. I usually take care of the house stuff. My mother always said that I would make a good wife someday.”



“And every bit right she was.” Eden stated flipping through the channels. “Now go make me some lunch wife.” Of course there was a large grin on her face as she said this, and she looked back at her husband. “You know I love you.” Frank chuckled as well.



“Yes, sir. And I love you too, husband.” A wink was thrown her way as he went to the kitchen.



“Of course if you don’t want to go back in Roden’s room, because it still has a smell to it, you can stay out here with me. I don’t bite or anything.” The woman offered, her eyes turning to look at me. Her eyes were the same color as Crimson’s were, well almost the same. You could tell they were family.



“Why would he want to hang out with an old person like you? And my room does not have a strange smell to it.” Roden retorted, appearing suddenly from the hallway.



“Hey! I’m not old. You should be nicer to your mother.” Eden was all but pouting on the couch. “It’s not very nice to call a lady old.”



“So now you’re a lady? Could have fooled me.” Roden was smirking. It seemed like they did this often. “But come Basil, we have to go finish our game before dad gets done with the food.” He motioned for me to go back to his room and I nodded my head. They had amused me. It had me wishing that my family was like that. If I talked to my mom that way, she’d have a fit and ground me without question or maybe do something worse. I wasn’t going to try it so I wouldn’t find out what she would do. “Sorry my mom was just like come sit with me; all demanding like.” There was still a grin on the other boy’s face so I knew that he was just joking about the mean things that he said to his mother.



“It wasn’t a big deal.” I stated taking my place back on the carpet next to his bed, and picking up the controller. Roden sat back down next to me and picked up his as well.



“So mom and dad are going to go the video store later, and we’re going to pick out some movies to watch tonight. Then we’re going to the grocery store to pick out snacks.” A large grin was on his face, and it made my stomach twist again. “Movie and binge night! Got to love those.” He stated as he turned his gaze to the tv. I’d have to take his word for it because I’ve never really had that before. Sure I had watched a few movies a few nights, but never with a friend or eating a lot of junk food. Excitement was running through me as he started up the game again. I had been right to come over here; it was much better than sitting at home under everyone’s watch. Although the only thing that would make it better was if he were here.

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A/N: Finally got this out, though it took less time this time. Lol~ College is almost over for the semester but I’m going to be working full time during the summer to pay for rent for the townhouse that I’m going to be renting next semester. :/ But I’ve already started working on the next chapter so hopefully it will be out soon~



Thanks for all those that reviewed~ And! When I get my 200th review, there with but some special information in the next chapter. >3 Well I don’t know if you would call it special but I think its pretty exciting. And yes it has to do with the story~ And maybe I’ll put up a link to another story that I’ve been working on just to see what you guys think~



Thank you my editor once again for getting it back to me so soon! 8D