Olympus Drive Book 2: Nothing to See Here

Chapter 22

Dean

I have come to the conclusion that whatever is going on with me is not at all good, it's probably dangerous, and I should tell someone about what's happening to me. But it makes me feel great, better than I've ever felt in my whole life. So I'm not going to. I'm well aware this isn't a good idea, but it's what I'm doing.

And my mom is starting to get suspicious. She only somewhat bought my story this morning that I was 'out walking' when she didn't find me in my room. I've been such a good kid until now, and that's working in my favor. I've got a while till she gets really worried, and I'll have even longer with back up.

"Dad? Can you do me a favor?" I ask, walking in his office as he's staring at papers on his desk and feeling for a coffee cup.

"Yeah---what's up? You should be in class shouldn't you?" he asks, as I sit down across from him.

"This is my free period. I need some help, the thing is I have sort of a girlfriend, and I don't want to tell my mom yet because she'd make it weird---and you just made it weird," I say, tiredly, as he hands me a box of condoms, very quickly and automatically.

"I'm happy for you. But you should tell your mother."

"Is this---they come in value boxes?" I say, trying to open it to take like one out. Like just in case a miracle occurs and I need one.

"Costco. Keep the box, it's a gift. Why aren't we telling your mother?"

"Cool this'll last the rest of my life then," I say, shoving the box in my backpack which was already full so it doesn't work well.

"That's not the spirit. Costco is an excellent place more where that came from they know me there I don't even usually shoplift that much anymore that often when Dara's with me------- so you have a girlfriend that's really nice for you, someone from school?" he ask, very nice and understandingly now I wish I hadn't lied.

"Yeah um, a girl I liked. It's not a big deal but she calls me sometimes late so I'll walk around the corner to talk to her so it's private and we're trying to---meet up—" good lord I'm this red faced and embarrassed having this conversation about a fake girlfriend how do I think I'll feel with the real thing? Apparently I'll just actually expire of embarrassment. "—so um, if at some point my mom calls you saying she doesn't know where I am or doesn't believe where I say I went could you—"

"Cover your story?" he finishes for me, trying not to look amused at my burning face.

"Yeah that," I sigh, relieved. This could work.

"So to be clear, if your mom asks me if I know where you are, because you cut out or aren't home on time, then you want me to lie for you and say you're over with us?" he confirms.

"Yes please," I say.

"I'm always completely glad to support your romantic endeavors dude, but, the point of us knowing where you are is so that you're safe. Having been kidnapped before I can attest it's really important that someone knows where you are at least generally."

"You were kidnapped???" I ask, surprised. I didn't know that. "When? You never told me this---?"

"What I---yeah you know it's a long story we're skipping it---"

"Of course it's a long story you were kidnapped that would be a long story when? Was this before or after I was born?" I ask, still upset.

"I'm really concerned you think it was during your lifetime and that my life leads you to think it could have been during your lifetime but pressing on—"