Getting It Together

Reunion Dinner

The house was busy in preparation for the reunion dinner. Pascal had gotten both Jory and Giovonnie into the kitchen to be his "little helpers". Alejo sat at the kitchen table, where he was supposed to be quietly reading or colouring. Instead, he was looking over at Jasper, laying in a baby bouncer and cooing up at some toys. Florencio was still in the living room, trying to kill time by talking with the ghosts and imagining the stories he could write if Pascal gave him another typewriter. At least it would keep him occupied until their possible rescue.

The front door slammed open and Jason walked in, carrying the two bags of groceries he'd been sent out to get. He kicks the door shut and sets the bags on the floor as he locks it. Glancing over at Florencio, he smiles when he noticed the look he had while the door was open. Sela watches Jason nervously, moving into the kitchen to stand next to Giovonnie protectively.

"Do you want to go outside, puppy?" Jason teasingly coos at Florencio.

"Stop..." Florencio mumbles.

"What?" Jason laughs. "The way you were looking at the door like you wanted to fuck it? You sure you don't wanna go outside, puppy?"

"Don't call me that." The words out of Florencio's mouth were barely a whisper. The ghosts had all gone a few minutes before Jason had returned, and they didn't show any signs of coming back now.

Jason moves closer to the couch and Florencio sits up, scooching backward.

"Pascal is right in there. He'll be mad at you." Florencio tries weakly.

"Mad at me for what, sitting next to you?" Jason sits down, wrapping an arm around Florencio's shoulder. "Besides, it's not gay if you used to be a girl."

Hot tears well up in Florencio's eyes as he fights back the urge to punch Jason, and get in trouble with Pascal. "I-I'm not a-"

"Shut up, Flo. Or Fatima, or Fallon, or whatever." Jason laughs. "Is your brother a tranny too?"

"Please stop," Florencio whispers. "Please leave me alone."

Jason laughs, making a crude gesture when he was sure Pascal wasn't going to turn around and see, before getting up and heading into his room.

Roman breathes out a sigh of relief, wiping at his eyes and hurriedly asking Pascal if he was allowed to go to his room.

Everyone sat at the dinner table in awkward silence.

Jory, Florencio, and Giovonnie poked the food around their plates, not eating it. Alejo stared off at something that wasn't there. The only people happy at the dinner table were Pascal and Jason. Jason was shoveling food in his mouth like he'd never eat again and Pascal was sitting contently, watching everyone else. Every now and then, a ghost would appear and head off on their own way, not wanting to try and hang out while Pascal and Jason were both there.

Jason's leg pressed against Florencio's. Nothing inappropriate, but just the touch made Florencio want to scream.

"Jory, Giovonnie, you two need to eat. You wanna grow big and strong, right?"

Giovonnie looked up. "Sorry." He spooned some mashed potatoes in his mouth before pushing the food around the plate again.

Jory looks at Pascal with a resentful gaze in his eyes. "I can't eat this."

"Yes, you can. Now eat." Pascal looked at him coldly.

"No, I won't," Jory argues. "You used to at least have the decency to feed me Kosher-"

"Don't use that word around me, Jory! I'll send you up to your room without dinner." Pascal threatens.

"Honestly? I'd prefer that rather than this mess you call a family dinner!" Jory bites back.