~Cariño: A Quackbur Story~

~Kid in a Candy Store~

I hate the feeling of loneliness

Sure, being by yourself to unwind and relax is fine in intervals, but I haven't spoken to anyone other than myself in the past two weeks.

Niki has been extra busy, trying to balance school and two jobs on her shoulders. She wants to go to college and make a name for herself. And doing so does not involve being social.

I don't have many friends at school... it's difficult to make them.

I sighed, defeated, walking home from the park Quackity and I used to frequent. I was tired of looking for him, and when I saw him at the program, he'd always avoid me like the plague...

The sun was setting, the sky in an array of warm colours.
It looked beautiful, but did not cheer me up in the slightest.

Finally, I reached my house. I pushed open the door as my house welcomed me in with a loud creak. I plopped my backpack onto the floor, kicking off my shoes and heading towards my room, praying that I was in the house by myself that day.

.

I haven't spoken to my parents, not like they care anyway. My father works himself into the floor, so I never see him. And my mother... she must have taken up some new hobbies as she is very rarely home.
Which, honestly, is fine with me.

I fell onto my bed, yearning the soft embrace of something familiar. I sat up suddenly, pushing my back against a wall and grabbing guitar off of the ground.

My day, lately, consisted of school and studying.
And on the weekends I write. I sew together my thoughts and ideas into little songs, then I sing them.
Before, they read like poetry. Sensual and romantic.
However, my songs have gotten really depressing as of late.

I strummed the tighten strings of my guitar, searching my mine for words that expressed how I felt besides the word 'lonely'.
'Despondent', maybe? Or is that just a synonym for 'lonely'?

Suddenly, I heard a quiet knock on my bedroom door, a sound that made me tense. I clenched my teeth, grabbing the neck of my guitar and setting it on the floor.

"Who... is it?" I mumbled, truly knowing it could only be one person.

"It's me, honey." My mother spoke as she creaked open the door to my room. I held back a sigh as she glided into the room, sitting down on the bed beside me. I felt my skin crawl.
"I wanted to know how the program's been going. Have you learnt anything interesting?"

I shrugged, staring blankly at my lap. "It's okay."

"Anyone from your school there?"
I nodded, messing with my bedsheets.

I bit my tongue, looking deeply at my sheets as my ears began to ring. I had never noticed how rich in yellow they were. I felt fluffy and light, like I wasn't where I was at that moment.

"Wilbur, are you even listening to me?"

I tensed, looking up at my displeased mother.
"What did you do?"

She stared back at me, curiously. Her eyebrows quirked up. "What?"

"I... I've been thinking about my past jobs recently. I was just wondering why you were so... calm every time you would find out I had gotten laid off."

She sighed, patting my leg. "Wilbur, dear, I had to be strong for you. If I started acting nervous or sad, that would affect you too, wouldn't it?"

"It never reminded you of when dad got laid off?"

She bit her lip in thought. "Sometimes... sometimes it did. But, you, going off to work for hours, reminded me of the days after, which was a lot worse than the before."

I fidgeted in my bed, pondering if I should even ask this question. "Did you ever... interfere with them?"
"You mean, get you purposefully fired?"

I nodded, staring at her.

"Wilbur." She paused, examining my face as if she was trying to read me. "...No... why would I interfere with them? I mean, what would I gain from that?"
She smiled. "You should go to bed, honey. I bet you had a very long day."

She stood up, ruffling my hair. "You need to get a haircut soon. If you're going to be a lawyer, you have to look the part!"

"Mom." I grabbed her wrist. She looked down at me, still smiling.

"Yes, honey?"

"Would you hate me if I told you I still love him?"

Her smile faded.
"What?"

"No matter what ever you wedged in between us that you won't tell me, no matter what you told him or his family... I will still love him." I blushed, tightened my grip on her wrist. "And... if you continue to refuse to tell me what you did... when I turn 18 this fall, that will be the last you see of me."

I watched her skin pale as she tried to awkwardly pry her hand from my grip. "You don't mean that."

"I do."
I let go of her hand, watching her stumble backwards. She stood there, glaring at me, testing to see if I was being serious. Her nails dug into the skin of her palm as she sighed.

"Alright." She sat on the floor, crossing her legs. "Just know... that I love you, okay? I've only done this to protect you."

I squinted my eyes and nodded slowly as she began to unravel the truth.

- - -

Words: 913

A/N: Hiiii so yeah I posted twice this month so you ducklings will have something to consume in case I don't post early in September! (School is starting </3) So yeah I hope you enjoyed... also, what you do think Wilbur's mum did? I'm curious to see what you guys think.