Rapture

9

"No"

He tenses around me but doesn't lift his head from my shoulder.

I continue.

"You don't get this. you don't get me. You think I would let you this easily come back into my life without an explanation?"

His head shoots up. "That's not what I'm-."

"Doing?" I cut him off. "I know how you operate Theo. This is just the start. Soon you'll "run into me" everyday. And you'll think everything will go back to how it used to be."

"If your so opposed to that then why are you in the rain with me?"

"I didn't know it was you." I try to defend myself.

"Oh so you wouldn't have come if you knew it was me?" He asks.

"Of course I would!" I yell out.

After a couple seconds of staring at each other I rub my hands over my face.

"Can you just get in the car. I'm not having this conversation in rain." I finally say.

He doesn't argue and starts for the car.

After we warmed up the best we could with sopping clothes on and I ask for directions to his house.

"I'm not going home. Can I stay at your house?"

I shoot him a look.

"No." I say as I head towards the direction of my house.

"You sure like that word huh."

"No." I huff.

Last I checked Theo's home situation was pretty good. Father, mother, older sister.

"Why don't you want to go home?" I ask.

"Mommy dearest is comparing me to Chantal again." I then feel his eyes on me.  "I wasn't in the mood for her bullshit tonight so I left."

I glance over at him.

"What?" He questions.

"Nothing, it's just you've never talked about your mom like that."

He doesn't say anything and neither do I.

We both enter the foyer drenched in rain.

"Mom! Look what I found in the rain." I yell out into the house.

"What?" She yells from the living room before I hear her get up and come to us.

She stops short and narrows her eyes when she spots Theo.

"Theodore." She states.

Theo grins at his name. "Ms. Patel, it's been too long."

She hums and glanced between us before settling back on Theo.

"And what do I owe the pleasure of your company at 10:15 at night?"

"Family stuff. Is it cool if he crashes on the couch?"  I butt in.

My mom takes a beat before turning all motherly "Of course. Let's get you a change of clothes." She give me a pointed look before walking away.

I'm gonna have fun explaining this one.

Once we're both dried we sit in the kitchen.

"Have you guys eaten?" My mom asks.

"I did, I brought leftovers too but their cold now if you want to reheat them." I respond.

She shakes her head. "I already ate but you can heat it up for him. I'm gonna go grab the sheets." With that she walks away.

He talks my ear off while he eats. All about random things. Like how he saw this dog yesterday and it was the cutest thing he's ever seen.

Same old Theo I guess.

Mom comes back into the room.

"Alright, you're all set up on the couch. I left an extra toothbrush on the table. You need anything else?"

He gets up and walks to my mom and gives her a hug.

"I know I haven't seen you guys in awhile so I just wanted to thank you."

She pats him on the back awkwardly and looks over to me with and questioning face.

I shrug not knowing. Theo never used to show his vulnerability. And I'm not saying he is now but he seems more open if that makes sense. He would come over all the time to study and he would be happy, logical Theo.

Mom didn't like him at first. Thought he would be a distraction from hockey. Once she saw how great of a friend he was she was more agreeable with having him over.

She's never admit it but he totally won her over.

Her and Theo are similar like that. They don't directly show their affection or support. They do it in other ways.

"Alright, you guys get some sleep now." She says as she walks around to the stairs but stops just before she rounds the corner.

She looks back at us with a stern expression.

"Separately."

I should have a horrified expression but I don't.
I look over to Theo who is of course already looking at me with a smirk.

Oh no.