The Art Of Us

3 • Please Stay (Away From Him)

Charles just finished his sandwich when he looked at his mother, who had made some fresh coffee for the both of them. She handed him the warm mug with a smile, before sitting down across of him at their dinner table. Usually Charles wasn't really the talkative kind of guy in the morning, but today he had a burning question on his mind that he just needed to get out.

"Hey Mom, how do you know FP Jones?" He asked, trying not to strike a nerve.

It had been clear that whatever their relationship was, they parted ways on bad terms. He had no idea why his mother wouldn't tell him she knew the creator of Southside Comics. That fact only made Charles more curious than he already was. Were there was wrath, there was history. Alice remained silent, pretending not to hear him.

"That man that was here yesterday?" Charles cleared up, when he didn't get a response.

"I know who you meant, I just wasn't going to answer you." Alice said, without looking up from the magazine she was ready.

"Wow, that bad, huh?" He arched his eyebrow.

"I thought we didn't have any secrets to one another." He hoped that maybe the empathy card would help, but then again he knew his mother too well to know she wasn't going to take the bait if she really didn't want to.

"He's just a ghost from my past, honey. That's all you need to know. Don't worry about it." Alice said, now meeting his eyes and giving him a small smile.

She got up from her chair and took her bowl of cereal with her to the kitchen, which she put it away in the sink. She needed to keep herself busy, before she let her emotions get the best of her.

"I hope he's still around. I didn't get a chance to ask my questions." Charles said, believing it was no big deal.

"Stay away from him, okay?" Alice said instantly, locking eyes with her son.

"You're acting really weird. Is he violent or something?" He questioned.

"No, he's not."

"If not, then I can choose for myself if I look for him. A few questions wouldn't hurt. He's used to that." Charles pointed out, assuming that since his Comics had tons of fans, that he didn't mind a few questions from a fan he had met. It was daily business for him.

"We're done talking about this, but please just for once listen to me. Now is not the time for teenage rebellion." Alice pointed out once more, making sure that he knew not to cross this line.

"Besides, it's just a comic, Charles. Let it go." She said bitterly, oblivious to how his face fell when he heard those words. To him, it was so much more.

**

Alice was making the bar ready, when the squeak of the front door caught her attention. It was FP again, still dressed in his expensive dress shirt and tailored pants. She still believed he was just trying to get under her skin with his fancy outfit.

"Hadn't I been clear yesterday?" She shot at him in an annoyed tone, stopping her movements.

"I knew you held grudges Alice, but what could I have possibly done that you're still angry about sixteen years later?" FP stopped at the bar and arched his eyebrow.

Her mouth fell open. How could he possibly not be aware of what he had done when it was perfectly clear? This was deeper than a grudge, she had been angry, frustrated and broken hearted for so many years because of him and he had the guts to ask why she was mad?

"Are you kidding me? Did the expensive champagne you've showered in the past decade give you memory loss?" Alice spat angrily, losing her already very thin veiled patience.