Inferno Part 2

~77~ Learned From The Best

Luke's POV

Trace starts crying as soon as we walk inside his house. He just sits on the floor and brings his knees to his chest. I just sit next to him, waiting for him to quit crying.

He cries for a long time.

"I didn't mean to hurt him" he finally says.

"I know"

"He's a great dad"

"I know"

"Izzy just pisses me off."

"Yeah"

He looks at me and shakes his head. "Wanna help, and then go to the arcade?"

I nod as I squeeze his shoulder and stand up. I give him my hand, and help him stand.

We silently go to his room and start packing some bags.

"You don't have to do this" I finally say.

"Yes I do"

"Why?"

"What am I supposed to do? Beg him to let me live here?"

"No. But you could tell him you didn't mean it and you don't want to move out."

"No, I can't"

"Why not?"

"Because I told him I didn't have a great childhood. That was a crock of shit. I had a GREAT childhood"

"Then tell him that."

"Can't"

I sigh as I continue to help him pack.

Trace doesn't hold grudges. He might blow up, but he always immediately regrets it. He's regretting it now. I know what he said was justified, but he's really hurting right now.

"Ok, let's go" he says as he sniffs and grabs a bag.

I nod as I grab the other, and we go to his car.

We spend an hour or so at the arcade, and then head back home.

When we get to my house, he stops.

"You coming in?"

"Will you make sure he's not there first?"

I nod. "Yeah, give me a minute."

I go inside, and mom and dad are in the kitchen.

"Wes here?"

They just shake their heads.

I go out and signal for Trace. He comes in, and as soon as he sees mom, he's fighting tears.

Mom comes over to him and pulls him into a hug.

He immediately starts crying, and hugs her back tight.

"He's never going to forgive me" he sobs.

"Of course he will" she says softly in his ear.

"I called him a dictator" he says, still crying.

"Baby, it was a fight. Go and talk to him."

"I can't" he sniffs as he pulls away and goes upstairs silently. We hear the door to the guest room shut.

Dad sighs. "I think he's more upset than Wes"

"Yeah, well, this was probably their first true fight" mom says sadly.

Dad looks at mom. "You think?"

Mom nods. "Yeah. I think Trace was right. Wes would say something, and Trace just did it so it wouldn't make things worse. This was the first time he felt like he had a voice."