ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀʙᴏʏ {} 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝚡 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗖

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: Sunshine

"Nathan." A low voice echoed in the darkness of the Harrington Household. A silhouette stalked forward through the front door, with a female in tow. "How was your day today?" The voice seemed to hold almost little to no warmth or kindness in its tone.

"Fine." Nathan simply responded, straightening his back and standing at attention. The man stomped forward, placing his golden keys on the marble kitchen counter, "Delivering papers was fine, I assume?" The man paused, sliding off his jacket before turning the kid. "Actually, come here for a second. I want to talk to you for a moment." The man raised his index finger and gestured for the young Harrington to come closer.

The woman breathed in, "Honey, I think that-"

"No." He said turning his head toward her, pointing his finger at her before stepping towards her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm just... I'm just speaking to my... youngest son. Go check on Steve upstairs..." He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips, murmuring against her lips. Nathan stepped forward, using his slow strides to approach his prideful, perfectionist father.

His mother gave him a pitiful look, walking away to leave him to fend for himself.

"So, I hear you did good at the game..." His father said in a low voice, walking to the fridge and pulling a metallic glass bottle from inside. 

"I-I tried my best, dad..." His father chuckled, 

"Tried? You... tried?" His father grew irritated.

"I've never raised you to be a... trier. People who only try to do something never accomplish anything. Tell me, did you try your best when you let Jordan's defensive line pick you apart all game? You call that trying?"

"I just... got distracted."

"And that's why you lost?  You got distracted? Unbelievable.. fucking disappointing."

"So are you..." Nathan retorted in a harsh whisper, his nails digging into the palms of his hands. He gritted his teeth and was sending a harsh glare at his father. His father turned around and set the glass down with an audible 'clank.'

You could hear a pin drop.

"I-"

His father stepped forward, grabbing the kid by his jersey collar. He rammed him back into the kitchen wall, his face close to the kid. He breathed through his flaring nostrils.

"What'd you say?"

Tears welled up in the boy's eyes, and his world was sent spinning as he was suddenly on his hands and knees on the floor. He raised a hand to his head, a sharp pain coming from his temple. 

His father grabbed him by neck once more, raising the kid to his feet harshly and pushed him against the wall once more.

"Don't ever speak to me like that again. You understand? I'm trying to teach you life lessons and you're not gonna fuckin' take them for granted cause of your ego."

"Do you understand?"

Nathan simply nodded, a dead look on his face as he looked into his father's eyes.

His father released him, walking back around to the beer bottle on the counter. His mother slowly came down the stairs, hoping to alleviate the tension in the air

"Nate, you did all your homework right?" His mother asked sweetly, walking over and cupping his cheek with his right hand.

"Y-Yeah, I did." He whispered.