Fighting For Ava

*13*

"You must be sick in the head thinking I'll clean your toilet." Jethro challenged Finn as soon as they got to the dark hall.

"How long will it take to sink to you that you're a laundry boy here?" Finn taunted and Jethro grew hot.

"Laundry boy and I'll clean your toilet?" His eyes spew venom as he glowered at the blond boy.

"You'll scrub it rather. It's damn dirty." Finn laughed mockingly and Jethro sprang at him.

"I'll rather die than do that." Jethro spat, wrapping a palm around Finn's neck in utter aggression.

"Assaulting me in my own house?" Finn chuckled harshly and pushed him away.

"You scared?" Jethro sneered, "I think this is where we can fight freely without getting suspended."

Finn wanted to say something but then withdrew when he heard some footsteps and a womanly voice whistling a song. It was Emma shuffling towards the kitchen. He took a hesitation and when the song faded off, he glared at Jethro.

"You see you must be a fool to think I'll turn my house into a boxing ring." He said with a sinister smile.

"I'll take that as being scared of getting another hot blow." Jethro laughed, hinting at the red spot on Finn's left cheek where he had given him the blow yesterday.

"If Emma was away, I could have taught you a lesson." Finn raged, his fingers rolling into a ball.

" You're so cowardly at many things." Jethro licked a wry smile on his lips "I guess you're afraid she'll send you out of the house because you're a brat who..."

"Hey!" It was Finn's turn to holler and attack while Jethro's back hit on the wall behind, still with a smile on his face.

A noise suddenly broke out as the harsh sound rumbled through the hall. Hasty footsteps approached and soon Emma appeared with a nervous look on her face.

"What's that?" She asked and Finn instantly pretended to be stroking Jethro's hair.

"Nothing Mum, we just chatting." Finn gave the best pretentious smile.

Emma did not say a word. She just rolled her eyes in a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Mum, he's just a dude I know from school." Finn cackled when he saw the expression on Emma's face.

"Really?" Emma cooed, "Do you also attend Riverdale?" She inquired from Jethro.

"Yes ma'am," Jethro replied with a fake smile as well.

"Alright." Emma grinned at the boys, "I'll be in the kitchen preparing lunch for all." She drawled the all and then scuttled away in her double-sewn apron.

Smiling faces turned steely again. The boys scowled at each other, breathing going ragged, and without a word they separated, taking opposite routes away from the hall.

When Jethro got back to Mother T, she was done with the laundry and when she asked if he had cleaned the toilet, Jethro just frowned and hissed.

A few minutes later, Emma's excited voice could be heard announcing that the lunch was done and Mother T was amazed when she was told they would also be partaking in that.

Emma was such a sweet soul. A friendly and humble woman who perfectly contradicted her cold and arrogant son.

"Feel free to take anything you want." She said as she laid the tray of Quinoa pear salad, spinach, and cranberries on the table.

Finn had made a light complaint about her bringing too many cranberries before he packed almost half into his salad. Emma peered awkwardly at him and he burst out laughing as he stuck his mouth with a spoonful of salad.