Out

The Same Thing.

Dmitri's eyes glazed over. Vadim had been talking since the moment he got through that door, and he didn't know what about. It was always the same with Vadim. I'll be better. I'll try harder. I'm sorry. You just make me so mad sometimes because you're such a good kid. What did that even mean? It was bad that he was good? Would he get beaten less if he were a bad kid? He tried to look as if he were paying attention but he didn't want to hear it. He just wanted to go to sleep. He wondered if there was any way to make his room comfortable, to turn it into a real home. He was tired of Vadim and his stupid hollow apologies, but he was also used to it. Vadim wanted to go out for dinner tonight, for a fresh start, y'know? Dmitri had nodded blankly, thinking of Nicodemus. Of how far away his house suddenly felt. He wanted to go over there, he wanted to knock on his door and beg Nicodemus to take him back. To tell him how wrong he'd been, and how sorry he was.

"Hey, where are you going?" Vadim asked raising an eyebrow. He wasn't angry, Dmitri watched carefully to make sure he wasn't.

"I....I'll be right back."

"He's not there." Vadim sighed

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Your.... fella. He's not there. He parents left town a couple days ago to go pick him up from out of town. I guess he called them to come get him. He wasn't feeling well or something."

Dmitri sat back down at the rickety kitchen table.
"How... how do you know?" He panicked suddenly. He didn't want Nicodemus' parents to think that Vadim was some great guy. He liked Nicodemus' parents, he wanted them on his side. He wanted them to like him like he liked them. And if something were ever to happen... he wanted them to believe him.

"Anyway, don't pay any mind to that. It's not your problem anymore."

Dmitri couldn't figure out how much Vadim knew about the whole situation, and he was too scared to ask. So he looked away and changed the subject.
"Are we ready to go for dinner then?"

Vadim nodded slowly
"You're not going to do your hair? Or put on one of your little outfits?"

"I'm tired Dad. I just want to go for dinner and then go to sleep if that's okay."

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, what if we just stayed in tonight? I can order takeout and you can pick out a movie. Does that sound alright?"

Dmitri smiled a little. He had forgotten how good things were when Vadim tried to be good.
**********************************************
"Hey buddy, it's about dinner time. You hungry, you want something?"

Nicodemus didn't want to talk. His throat felt dry and scratchy. His lungs hurt. Everything hurt.

"I'm not hungry." He murmured.

"Nicodemus, you can't just waste away. I know Dmitri hurt you, I know, but you need to take care of yourself. We can't lose you."

"I'm not hungry." Nicodemus tried again.

"Before your mom and I were married, she left me too."

Nicodemus took his hand of his chin and watched his father.

"She said that we weren't good for each other, and it couldn't work in the long run. She said she was doing me a favour. Of course, I was broken hearted. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, all I thought about was her, and my mom told me that if I didn't get out of bed, and start showering, your mom would never rethink her decision, so I listened. I took care of myself, and I grew as a person, and so did she. Then one day she came by my house and told me that she didn't want to live life without me, and she wanted to try, to really try, to work things out. And we did and now neither of us could imagine life without each other."

"That's a nice story Dad, but what does that have to do with anything? I mean, how does that help me? I don't think he's coming back for me. I'm pretty sure that that was it."

Franklin sighed.
"I'm telling you to get out of bed, and start showering. You know, I really thought the same thing once. Maybe he won't come back, but live life for yourself then, because you're the coolest kid in the world, and I'm not just saying that because you're mine. You're worth taking care of Nicodemus. You take care of everybody, and you always have. Take care of yourself for a change. Maybe he will come back, maybe he won't, but don't let that hopelessness become you."

"Thanks Dad." Nicodemus said quietly.
**********************************************
"Thanks for ordering Chinese Dad." Dmitri smiled, putting the movie into the DVD player before sitting on the floor in front of the couch.

"No problem. You know, I have a lot of making up to do. How about I turn the lights off? Then it's like we're at the movies."

The question made Dmitri nervous, his stomach began to knot. Something about this felt familiar, in the worst kind of way. He didn't speak as he nodded, biting at his nails.

"You know, we have a lot to talk about. You left quite the mess when you left, huh? And what you did to the mirror... you're seventeen Dmitri, almost eighteen. I expect you to act like it. You can't just go around throwing fits, alright? I'm going to have to punish you for that."

Dmitri felt his breathing quicken as he set down his chow mein.

"Hey, hey, not right now, don't worry. Just get comfortable, how about you lay down, wouldn't that be more comfortable?"

"I'm just gonna go-"

"Lay down. You're fine. Just... watch the movie."

Dmitri closed his eyes, frozen in place. He wished he didn't know what was going to happen. He wished he had never come home. Why did he think things could be different? Why had he fallen into Vadim's trap again?
**********************************************
Franklin pulled into the driveway, Aubrey and Michael behind him. Nicodemus stretched his arms as he stepped out of the family's car, Michael quickly wrapping his arms around him. Nicodemus' eyes widened in surprise as he hugged Michael back.
"I missed you too buddy."

"Mom, can we go out for dinner? To celebrate?" Michael asked, smiling persuadingly.

"I'm actually not feeling too good, I think I'm just going to go to bed if that's okay?"

Aubrey and Franklin exchanged glances before Aubrey nodded.
"Yes, of course. You've had... quite the adventure. Go rest."

Nicodemus managed a small smile before unlocking the door and heading up the stairs.

Aubrey turned to Franklin as soon as the door closed.
"So, what did he tell you?"

"Not much. It sounds like Dmitri left because he started drinking again."

"I really thought last time would be, the last time." Aubrey sighed, wringing her hands.

"I know, me too."

"Are you taking him back to rehab then?" Michael asked.

"Yeah, yeah, he's not even fighting me on it. I think he's really shaken up."

"Did he say where Dmitri went? I mean, he's so young, and lord knows his father is no treat. I know I should just be focused on our own son but..."

"No, I understand. He's a good boy. Nicodemus didn't say anything. Just that Dmitri left. I don't even know if he knows."

"I don't know what went down, but if they manage to work it out, I really want him to stay here."

"I know. I was going to say the same thing."