honeysuckle ✔️

11 years old

Tanner returned once again. This time, Rowan couldn’t help but look at him. He’s getting bigger. And taller. Rowan’s breath would sometimes stop when he saw him. But he pushed these feelings aside. The only concept he has of love is his dysfunctional family, not exactly the best example.

The case of the $50 wasn’t brought up. Because Rowan thought that Tanner would never give him anything again. 

“Hey, Ro!” Tanner called out. Ro turned after eating the nectar of a honeysuckle and saw Tanner walking out of the creek and drying his hair.

“Yeah?” He asked.

“I was thinking, why don’t you come over to my aunt’s house.” Rowan had never been to someone else’s house before, besides his mother’s dealer but that was more of a trailer. He didn’t think he was good enough.

“Umm, I don’t know. What if she doesn’t like me?” He asked.

“She will! I’ve told her about you!” Rowan blushed now knowing that Tanner discusses him with his aunt. Meaning she knows how close they are.

“Really? Well… I guess. Yeah! Let’s go!” The two boys gathered their items before walking side by side, barefoot, down the street to Tanner’s aunt’s house.

“Auntie said that we should probably swim at her pool because the creek has leeches.” Tanner said. 

“Yuck! Good idea!” Rowan said. He’s never been in a pool before. His expectations are high.

Coming up on the house, it’s much, much bigger than Rowan’s shed. The two-story colonial house was painted all white. A beautiful garden was placed at the front with colors of every type. A woman sat on a chair at the porch rocking back and forth basking in the sun. She turned to the two boys.

She immediately recognized her nephew, the spitting image of his sister. But following close behind was a boy she’s never seen before. But his face looks similar to Regina Vaughn, the woman who once tried to give a blowjob to a police officer to let her go. And the cuts only confirmed her assumptions of the boy.

“Hi, Auntie Ava!” Tanner said. He walked up the steps until he hugged the woman and kissed her cheek. 

“Tanner! Hope your day was fun!” She turned to see Rowan standing atop of the stairs wondering if he’s welcomed. “And you must be Rowan. Tanner’s told me a lot about you. You hungry?” She asked. She couldn’t help but want to cry at how skinny he was. She’s heard the rumors of the poor family that lives at the edge of town. She knows the rumors, some a bit too much, but she never knew it was this bad.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am. I'm a bit hungry.” Rowan said to the woman. She smiled back at him and invited them into her home. 

“You two go use the pool. I’ll get lunch started.” The boys ran off to the backyard. Rowan looked around the home and didn’t see any stains, peeling wallpaper, blood spatters, or rats anywhere. He likes this place.

Within the backyard was a picket fence that surrounded a large area of land. A few trees were scattered here and there and some chairs were out. There was a small garden with a few summer herbs there. But the main attraction was the pool, which was in the center of the field.

“Before we get in, we need to wash off.” Tanner said, holding a hose in his hand. Rowan was about to ask why until Tanner sprayed him with water. The water was cold and Rowan shivered.

“Okay. My turn.” Tanner said and handed the hose to Rowan. He sprayed him too and set the hose down before returning to the pool. 

“Do we jump?” Rowan asked. The redhead thought about it.

“Heck yeah!” They climbed on the edge and stood there, both turning to look at each other before holding their nose and jumping in.

“WOW! This is awesome!” Rowan yelled. Tanner was giggling and just enjoying seeing the other happy. 

From a distance, from the kitchen window, Ava Brandenburg watched on as the two boys played in the pool. She smiled at the thought that her nephew is looking after the young boy like he was his own.

‘Could they? No, they can’t! They’re too young! But… it’s better to find the one earlier in life. But they’re just boys. They have no concept of love yet. Maybe when they’re older and wiser, they’ll maybe see there’s something there.’ Ava thought.

If it comes down to it and her suspicions are correct, she’ll vow to stay silent. She wants these boys to enjoy their lives, together or not. Lord knows she’s experienced losing a loved one. She’ll never forget the day when the woman she loved was married off to another man. Ava couldn’t do anything. Just watched as empty words were exchanged.

She’ll never live away from that. She’s forced to carry the burden of being a coward for the rest of her life. And now, Ava hopes she can at least do something to protect the boys here.

“BOYS! LUNCH IS READY!” She yelled from the deck. The boys came running out and would sometimes fall on their chests. They sat at the outdoor table and looked at the food before deciding to dive in.

Both boys had worked up an appetite and finished the first plate of sandwiches. Aunt Ava came back with a few snacks. Their legs swaying back and forth on the seats. Ava had put towels over the boys to stop them from freezing.

It was overall, a very good, beautiful, and special day. Rowan would keep this memory close to him and remember it forever.

Before Tanner left, he pulled his aunt aside and asked for a small favor. “Could you let Rowan eat here with you while I’m gone?” He asked.

The woman’s heart fluttered. “Yes, Tanner. I’ll let him have dinner here.” She said. She has more than enough to feed him. And who knows, the two could get closer. Ava just wants to get to know the boy who Tanner is obsessed with.

Rowan was told of this arrangement. He was grateful that he won’t have to starve now. And he grew fond of aunt Ava and her cooking. He thanked them both and wanted to cry but held it in.

That year was a little better than the years before. Rowan noticed he started to gain weight and didn’t look like a dead corpse. He started to feel a bit better about himself. Though his abuse continued.

Just a few more months and his savior will return.

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bye! i love you all!

<3