affection

thirteen

friday, even later.

"my mom got this new boyfriend, uh eric, and that's his daughter. her name's layla and we haven't been getting along, at all. actually, i haven't been getting along with any of them, i feel like my mom's trying to be a better parent to her than she ever was to me." kai sighs, "i can barely talk at the dinner table, i don't know, it's stupid. i'm sorry for not saying anything, i've just been too caught up in this all."

he's mumbling, but he can't stop it.

kai had showed up at his house about an hour after he messaged, he managed to find a ride after walking half the journey as one of the designated drivers from another group saw and recognised him from the party on the way back. otherwise, as kai warned, he would've walked the entire distance. the air outside sobered him up enough to be safe about it, at least.

elliot tries to listen but the nausea hits and he suddenly rushes up to the bathroom. kai pats him while he vomits and sits back when he's finished. he's not sure if to believe this or not, kai's hand feels like fire and it's burning small circles into his shoulder blades, his spine is on fire from his touch. surely he's lying to cover this up, how would he hide an entire family moving in? how did he not realise, or notice?

admitedly, they've been spending their free time either outside somewhere, with their other friends or at elliot's house. he did wonder why they never went to kai's anymore, but figured he was embarrassed about his mother's drinking habits and wanted to get out the house more. he didn't once think of this. he wants to quiz kai, to see if he's lying or if this is really the truth, can he trust him after this? he decides to try.

"so, if you don't get along why were you so close earlier?" his words burn his own throat, pain clouds his neck.

kai laughs dryly, "i locked myself in the bathroom and freaked out about drinking too much. she found me and i couldn't speak, i was typing to her on my notes app."

"okay...then, why are you scared of this?" elliot pauses, "your mom seems happy and healthy, isn't that a good thing?"

"yeah, it's great. or it would be if i wasn't in the family. they've all turned into this picture perfect family and i feel like the outcast. i don't want him to hurt my mom, i don't want her to go back to her old ways but it's almost inevitable."

"what if she never does go back to that?"

kai smiles weakly, "you really think he'll stay after the way i've been treating him? i know i should be nicer, i can't help it. i just...know he'll go eventually and know what it'll be like when he's gone."

"i get it, kai. i've been feeling pretty similar. i gave my own dad a time limit to destroy our family. it feels like a bomb, just ticking down the days before everything...blows up."

"well, i'll be right here with you. we can watch our families go up in flames together,"

elliot grins, but it fades quickly. "i'm scared, blue."

kai warms at the nickname, he always does. "me too."

...
wc: 580
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boyfriends<3

another very short chapter for more wholesome dialogue.