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Jaylen (Jay) Soo POV:
I sit in the car as my mom drives us to the new house we'd be sharing with her husband—my stepdad, Kavari. I wasn't excited. Well, for my mom, I was. I was happy she was finally getting the love she deserved. But I was more focused on how I left Utah, and the 'memories' I left with it.
My dad was a drug addict who was killed coldly on the street for money he never paid. I wasn't even sad when he died. Even though he's gone, all the pain he caused will always be something in the back of my mind. All the long nights, and days I saw my mom abused will always stick to me like a bandaid that can't be taken off.
Kavari Sr. and my mom met during high school, and recently connected again through facebook. It was as if I were watching a cheesy 90s romance movie whenever they talked on the phone. I saw how my mom fell in love, right before my very eyes.
I'm happy my mom found love, but I wasn't ready to just get up and leave. Especially having a step brother? He didn't even like me. All through the wedding all he did was give me dirty looks. We didn't even talk to each other, and suddenly he didn't like me?I only knew his name, because my mom told me.
Kavari Floyd except he was a Junior. I can't imagine taking their last name.. Jaylen Floyd...? I guess it sounds nice. A little too western for my liking.
Moving from Utah to Atlanta Georgia was definitely not on my schedule. At all. The three hour flight left me feeling nauseated and tired. Kavari heavily suggested he'd pick us up from the airport, but my mom wanted to see Atlanta before settling in, so she rented a car and had us all over the city before driving to the house. All I want to do is unpack, shower, and sleep.
Mainly sleep.
The car comes to a slow stop, knocking me out of my day dreaming. Before me is a two story house with green grass and a black mailbox.
Yay, we're here.
That was sarcasm by the way.
"Jaylen, get your bag." My mom says putting the car in park, turning off the engine. I rub my eyes before unbuckling my seatbelt.
Yeah, I'm exhausted.
As my mom opens the trunk, I grab both our suitcases, allowing her to grab her purse. What'd she even pack? This thing weighs a ton, geez.
"Thanks." She says giving me a warm smile, and kiss on the cheek. I return the smile and follow behind her. As my mom rings the doorbell, Kavari Sr. quickly opens the door.
"Hey!" He says giving my mom a warm hug and kiss on the lips. I can see how happy my mom gets just at the sound of his voice. I'm happy for her. She deserves everything and more.
"Hey Jaylen, what's up man?" He says inviting us inside.
"Nothing much." I say, setting the suitcases down at the door, taking in my surroundings. "This is all your stuff?" He asks, pointing to our luggage.
My suitcase is a simple black one full of stickers I've gotten from the skate shop. While my mom's is a purple heavy duty one, bulky and heavy.
"The moving truck doesn't come until tomorrow." My mom says, setting her purse on a nearby coffee table by the entrance.
"Oh okay. Y'all wanna sit down and watch a movie?" Kavari says walking, motioning us to the living room where he sits. My mom follows, but before she does that she turns back to me and tells me to smile.
One thing I can't stand is when people tell me to smile. Maybe I don't wanna smile, ever thought of that?
I give her a sarcastic one, that even hurts my cheeks. It hurts my pride a bit to even smile. I let out a sigh walking over to the couch, sitting down next to my mom and her overly happy attitude.
"Junior! Come down here!" Kavari Sr. shouts. I've only met Kavari Jr. twice. Once on accident. You'd think my mom and my stepdad would've had us hung out. But not at all. It wasn't even brought up as an idea. I met him once at a family gathering. My mom said he wouldn't be there since he wanted to hang out with his friends.
Or so she said.
Even then he seemed cautious around me. Was it a race thing? I hope not. I mean we're both minorities so maybe we should get along.
The other time was at the wedding, he seemed to avoid me just as much as I was avoiding him. Awkward situations don't sit right with me. Especially when I know someone dislikes me.
Kavari Jr. comes walking down the stairs. We make brief eye contact but I look away instantly. "Yes?" Kavari says. His voice is almost as deep as his fathers, it's a heavy voice but you can tell he's a child. "Come sit down, boy."
Please don't.
"Why? I'm boutta go hoop." He says cocking his head to one side. Please go. As rude as it sounds, the awkwardness would kill me. Plus, I'm pretty sure he doesn't wanna be here just as much as I don't.
"Cause I said so. Me and Lily boutta go eat. I'll cashapp y'all some money to order doordash, alright?" I look at my mom quickly once I hear her and Kavari Sr. are going go leave. She purposely ignores me knowing I'm staring at her with pleading eyes.
So she couldn't tell me they were going out to eat?
They're really gonna leave me here alone with him? I can hear my mom's aggy voice now: "You need to get along with him." Well, I've been trying, mom. I subconsciously roll my eyes causing Kavari Jr. to give me a dirty look.
I wanna go back go Utah. Me and my mom could've just stayed there for the rest of our lives. I could've gotten some random job, at some random coffee shop and made minimum wage.
"You hear me, Junior?" My stepdad says causing Kavari Jr. to look over at him. I can tell Kavari wanted to say something other than 'yes', he probably wanted to tell his dad to 'fuck off'. Even as a scrawny Asian kid I know not to talk back to my mom.
"Yeah, I hear you."
I wish I didn't.
• • •
As we sit in silence on the couch, the only thing that's heard is a movie I've never seen before. I notice Kavari put his phone next to me. I glance to see doordash was open, showing the fast food joint Burger King.
Does he want me to order?
I look at him and notice him ignoring my gaze. Just like my mom. Why can't people use their words? It'd be a lot easier if people just communicated.
I pick up his phone putting my order into Burger King. He's stubborn, and for what reason? I don't know. Is it because I'm Asian or because I'm another guy?
As I finish my order, I hand his phone back to him. "Thanks, Kavari." I mumble.
"It's Junior. No one calls me that, and I'm sure as hell not letting YOU call me that," Geez. Temper tantrum..? Or is he naturally just a dick? I think he's a dick that's HAVING a temper tantrum.
"We're not friends, not buddies, not brothers, not shit. We're acquaintances. Get that shit right." Kavari- ahem, Junior, stands up from the couch, heading upstairs, slamming his door shut.
I guess we've gotten acquainted just well.
• • •
A/N: First chapter what y'all think?? What do you think of Kavari and Junior?
