Finding Yourself

Chapter Five: Awkward and Angry

The next day, Dakota woke up to that god-awful alarm, and he was angry. Not throw-your-alarm-clock angry, but he felt as if all the emotions of sadness that he should have had for Lenore hit him overnight and he was feeling side-effects of it.

Usually, when he went through something rough, he got angry at it. He didn't know why he got angry or what he was mad about. His sad feelings just morphed into anger most of the time.

However, it relieved Dakota that his mind was showing some response to Lenore's leaving. So, it calmed his anger- but only a little bit.

When Avil knocked on his door and told him it was time for breakfast, he almost felt sorry for his family, who were about to get attacked by his uncontrollable grumpiness. He sighed, his eyebrows furrowed, violently throwing some clothes on before going downstairs.

He sat at the table, his head in his arms- signifying that he didn't want to be talked to or touched.

Nick, for once, didn't get the message.

"Are you alright, Kota?" he asked, "I saw Lenore leave last night. She looked like she had been crying. Was the sex that good or did something happen?"

Dakota was aware that Nick knew something was wrong; his mom just made a joke to lighten the mood. However, the joke made him feel worse.

"I don't want to talk about it," he grumbled, not lifting his face from his arms. He just wanted to go to sleep and not have any interaction with people.

"Ah," deduced Nick, "Something happened then."

He heard a clutter from pots and pans.

"Just let me know if you need me," Nick replied softly. Dakota heard the knock against the table in front of him- his plate was ready. He didn't feel hungry. 

From the smell of it, it smelled like waffles- his favorite. He and Avil had many heated discussions about the difference between waffles and pancakes, and which one was better. Specifically, they had their repetitive but endearing argument on days they had waffles or pancakes.

Dakota obviously wasn't in the mood to debate, and neither was Avil from the sound of his silence. Nick served the rest of the food to the other kids, and was quiet for a bit before he asked, "You two are concerning me. Are you okay Avil? I know Dakota is in the dumps because he's not eating his waffles." 

Dakota still didn't look up. Avil scoffed.

"You're not eating yours either," he replied. Dakota then lifted his head up in curiosity. Nick didn't even have a plate in front of him. "Have you been eating at all, Papa?"

Nick looked like he was a deer caught in the headlights. He froze stiffly, then looked in between the two.

"Of course I've been eating," Nick said defensively, "I'm fine. Just busy. What about you?"

Avil rolled his eyes, poking at his food, and shot back in a mocking tone, "Just busy, Papa."

Most parents would scold their children for their attitude- but Nick wasn't most parents. He dealt with foster kids even before he started adopting, which gifted him a bunch of patience. One previous day, Nick even hinted to Avil and Dakota that he once had an attitude with anyone who would look at him funny; he even said he punched Xavier upon meeting him.

Dakota didn't blame past-Nick and wished present-Nick would punch Xavier in the face too. Nick definitely had the muscle to do it- but he didn't have the heart.

"Both of you just be careful," he replied. Dakota was once anything but. "And tell me about it when you want to, okay? I can help."

The great thing about Nick is that he never pushed.