The bus ride home is rather uneventful. I find out from Cole that Patrick got detention. I lift my eyes skyward and thank whatever powers that be that he finally got some type of punishment. Cole is in Patrick's last class, and he tells me that Patrick was called down to the detention class before the end of the class period. It turns out that not only did someone see what he did to me at my locker this morning, but he also mouthed off to a teacher and shoved down a junior high student which resulted in the kid's glasses being broken. The principal has had enough, and consequently, Patrick got a full week's detention.
At least something went right today, I tell myself.
I spend the bus ride listening to music through my phone.
The bus drops us off at our stop, down the street from our house. Cole and I walk home in silence. Not for any real reason except we don't really have anything to say at the moment.
We walk into the house and see Mother sitting on the couch. She's watching her afternoon shows. She really likes Gilmore Girls and is rewatching the series for the millionth time. I smile as I see her and think that she deserves to be able to relax a bit, at least once in a while. She looks up at us as we're taking our shoes and backpacks off.
"Hey boys. How was school?" she asks, pausing the television. Cole smiles at her and I just shake and hang my head. I don't feel like going through the day with her.
"Cal? Hunny? What's wrong?" Mom asks me. I sigh and know that there's nothing I can say or do to get my mom to drop the issue. So, I just walk slowly to the couch and sit down with her. Cole, knowing I wouldn't want an audience, quietly goes upstairs to start his homework.
As I sit down with Mom, I really don't know where to start. When I voice this to her, she says what she always says, to just start at the beginning. So that's what I do. I start telling her about the day I've had from nearly missing the bus to Patrick's many instances to the classes I messed up in. By the time I'm done, I just feel hollow and empty instead of better. Mom doesn't interrupt and instead holds me to her side and lets me finish. When the words have finally run their course and there are tears running down my face, she squeezes my shoulder, kisses my forehead, and tells me something that never fails to make me feel better.
"Cal, I love you. You are a gifted boy whose intelligence will always have others expect things from you. Your father and I only expect one thing and that's that you're honest with us. As long as you are always truthful, with us, with yourself, or with a significant other, you will find that those in your life are worth having there." Then she said something she's not said before, but made me feel great, nonetheless.
"Besides, that Patrick kid is a right little arsehole." Her British heritage shows through in that little instance with her voice thickening to have a slight accent. That brought a surprise laugh from me.
"Now, go on upstairs and get your homework done. I'll start dinner. How do you feel about your favorite?" I nodded, giving her a watery smile.
I grab my bag from the front door and head upstairs, visions of my mom's casserole dancing in my head. Upstairs, I toss my book bag onto my bed and follow it by leaping on the center of the bed. I unzip my bag and pull out my science and math books. I'm thankful I don't have too much homework, especially considering that I crashed and burned during class today.
I'm working so diligently that I don't notice an hour has passed. I'm finishing up my last question for Chemistry, having already finished my Calculus, when a knock on the door makes me jump and yelp. I get my heart rate under control and call out that the door is open. Cole opens the door, and he walks in giggling.
"You heard that, didn't you," I ask him, my eyes narrowing. He nods, still giggling too much to answer. My eyes narrow further, but before I can say anything, he tells me that dinner is ready. I finish the last few words I needed to write for Chemistry and put my books, notebooks, and homework back in my bag. I hop up from my bed and follow Cole out the door and downstairs.
*Author's Notes*: Just how much more can Caleb endure? Episode 7 may just have that answer.
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Become the Night
ParanormalCaleb, a 17-year-old boy, discovers that he is descended from shape-shifting dragons and wolves but is unaware of this fact. He leads a difficult high school life, being constantly bullied and watching the boy he loves with someone else. However, h...
