Geek Squad {Muke}

29 - Taking Fault

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. ~Albert Einstein

Luke's POV

I woke up that Monday morning to something crashing, I opened my eyes and noticed that it was still dark. Checking the clock, it was only two in the morning.

"The hell.." I mumbled before stumbling out of bed, upon opening my door I heard another sound of something breaking, carefully I navigated myself down the stairs and then I heard crying.

I peaked around the corner and saw my father standing there, smashing pictures, tears running down his face as he took one after another, throwing them to the ground.

"W-What are you doing!?" I yelled. "Don't break those!" My father lifted his eyes to me and showed no emotion, no sadness or agitation. Just..A blank face. "Why would you break all of these?"

"Go away." My father snarled.

"No, why would you break all of our picture frames.." I said as I began to pick them up. "Don't let mum find out she'll be so upset." Another one was thrown next to me, close enough to make me move back slightly. "Hey!"

"These don't matter anymore.." My father said quietly. "Why keep them?"

"D-Dad.." I mumbled. "What are you doing..Are you alright?" I stood up and walked around the glass towards my father, gently guiding him to the couch is when I could smell the beer.

He was clearly drunk.

"Oh great." I sighed, I walked to the bathroom. Grabbing a wet towel I came back out and began to wash his face. While I was doing that I heard a gasp and turned around to see my mother, wide eyed as her hands covered her open mouth.

"M-Mum.."

"Luke why would you break all of these..?" My mother asked and I went wide eyed.

"W-What.." I mumbled. "I-I didn't!"

"Then..You!" She pointed at my father, scowling. "You broke these!?"

I had a split decision to make here, I could let my father take the fall and just increase tensions between my parents. Or I could just take the lateral.

"I broke them.." I said quietly.

"You just said you didn't." My mother said as she turned to me.

"I-I lied..I-I'm sorry mum. I-I can buy all new frames, a-and put them back up.." I said as I took steps closer to her.

"First you get suspended, then you break my pictures, then you lie about it?" My mother asked, a look of dismay was crossing her features.

"I'm sorry.." I said quietly.

"Your father is right, I'm raising you wrong, I have to do something different." My mother sighed. "Luke if you cannot behave, I am going to have to start putting punishments on you."

I ducked my head. "Al-Alright.."

"Clean up this mess, now." My mother said and headed back up the stairs. I turned to my father who looked at me with zero emotion once more. I then began to sweep up the glass an take care of the photos. After finishing cleaning my father, without him saying a word, I walked up the stairs and back to my room.

I could not fall asleep though, my mind was racing. There were tears running down my face as well, I felt awful for what had just happened to my mother. But the way she looked at me was not one I had yet seen. She looked at me with disappointment, and as if I had betrayed her. Either way I did lie, I just did not want my father to have to leave again. I needed to bond this family together the best I could.

Even if, in the end it hurt me.

The next morning I rolled out of bed, put my clothes on and headed out tiredly to go to school. My mother usually had a drink or something for me in the morning, today she was sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee. There was nothing for me.

"I-I'm going to s-school.." I said quietly.

"Make sure you apologize to that boy." My mother said coldly. I nodded my head and stood for a moment longer. "Get going, Luke! You're going to be late if you don't."

"Y-Yes ma-ma'am." I stuttered as I walked out of the house, heading to the school.

When I finally got there I did not give any indication of my presence to any of my friends. Instead I walked straight up to Dallas.

"I'm sorry for hitting you," I said, my eyes cast downwards. "It was wrong of me, I should know better."

"Are you alright?" Dallas asked, I lifted my eyes and saw a - what genuinely looked like - concerned face. I nodded my head. "Do you need me to go find Michael for you or something?"

"No." I shook my head. "But if you're going to rip on me, now would be a good time."

"I'm good." Dallas said quietly. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Thank you." I said, nothing above a whisper, before turning to my own locker.

"Does Michael know you're here?" Dallas asked and I shook my head. "Well here, let me text him - "

"No, I-I don't wanna talk.." I said. Dallas rolled his eyes, and I think he texted Michael anyways but soon left the hallway. When I went to turn the corner I bumped into someone - like usual - and realized it to be Michael, but I went to keep walking.

"Luke?" Michael spoke as he grabbed my wrist. "Where are you going?" I shrugged as Michael pulled me back towards him and to stand in front of my locker once more. "Are you alright? Dallas texted me and I thought he was joking, but you don't look too good." I shrugged again. "Luke, c'mon you gotta talk to me."

"I'm okay.." I said quietly. Michael lifted my face up to his, looking me over carefully.

"What happened?" Michael asked.

"N-Nothing." I said as I shook him off of me. "I-I just wanna go to class."

"Baby, c'mon. You have to talk to me." Michael said, he was practically begging at this point. I swallowed the lump in my throat, shook my head and turned and walked off.