The Perfect Family

11. Jamison isn't who he seems.

24 hours earlier

Maci yawns out of bed slipping into her black hoodie, opening her bathroom door to start brushing her teeth. It was Friday and she was dreading the weekend, having plans with Jamison that Cora signed her up for unwillingly. Getting ready for school, Cora uses the front door instead of Maci's bedroom window. Greeting everyone, including Orson who is eating a strawberry from the fruit bowl Samuel made for him, Cora sits by him eating a grape. 

"How are you?" Cora asks Orson softly. 

Orson shrugs, "I'm just worried about school, you?" 

He looks over to her, when he does Cora gets butterflies about to fumble her words. 

"Come on Cora we're going to be late." 

Maci takes Cora's hand not liking how she's secretly drooling over her brother.

Once those two leave Lainey comes down fixing her necklace from being tangled up.

"Good morning Oreo," Lainey walks over, kissing his head while finally getting the silver chain loosened and hanging nicely on her neck.

Orson fakes a smile having a headache ready to cave and take his meds again.

"Ley?" Orson says low.

Lainey turns from grabbing a granola bar from the cabinet, "Yeah?" She looks to Orson waiting for him to speak.

"Everyone asks if I'm okay but how are you?" Orson says out of the blue.

Lainey puts on a fake smile too, shrugging, "There's nothing wrong but I heard about the project...good luck."

Taking water out the fridge, Lainey leaves bumping into Nero who is walking in from parking his car out front.

"Good morning and goodbye." Nero says ruffling Lainey's hair then making himself coffee in the kitchen.

"Nero?" Orson calls out to his brother.

Nero turns after putting the hot caffeinated liquid into a coffee mug, "What's up?" Taking the mug he sits by Orson adding sugar.

"How do you deal with our family "curse" or whatever."

Nero chuckled low then gave it some thought.

"I try not to overwork myself."

Lies.

"I work to keep myself calm."

Another lie.

"Find something that makes you happy...I think that's what really helps."

Not a complete lie.

Orson nods, "Thanks Reo."

Tesni kisses both her sons on the cheek, getting herself and Samuel coffee.

"Look at my boys," Tesni says proudly.

Samuel kisses the boy's head then kisses Tesni on the lips.

"Buongiorno, my family."

Nero finishes his coffee while taking out a small piece of paper from his coat.

"This was left on your car wedge in between the window wipers."

Samuel takes hold of it reading to himself then clears his throat.

"I'll make sure to nip it in the bud before dinner tonight."

Tesni takes hold of it, scoffing.

"¿Una amenaza? ¿Por quién?"

Samuel kisses Tesni on the forehead telling her to not worry, wishing her a good day at work.

"¿Papá?" Nero says unsettled.

Orson blocks out the conversation going to school by walking trying to clear his scrambled brain.

What seemed like twenty minutes was actually an hour as he stands in front of his professor's classroom not going inside. 

The professor notices wanting to let Orson know it was okay to come in and take a seat but he just keeps lecturing. 

Once the lecture is done the professor goes out with the students worried for Orson as he seems disconnected to reality. 

"Mister Reed?" The professor says before tapping Orson's shoulder.

 Orson turns rubbing the back of his neck, "Sorry, am I late? Can I present my project?" The professor, stunned, takes Orson to one of the picnic tables on the campus, sitting him down. "Orson are you doing alright?" Orson smiles, "Yeah, must've felt tired or something but I'm okay now." Looking at Orson, the professor fixes his round glasses. "Orson you missed class. You never entered the room." Orson shakes his head, "No, I came on time. I waited until the door was opened and it never did." The professor sighs, "Orson I'm sorry but I think you should head home for the day...get some rest maybe?" Orson looks down, really degrading himself in his mind, making his mind drift to dangerous places.

While walking by, Lainey notices about to go over to him but sees Kade talking to some girl in their class they have together.

Lainey prying her eyes off him looks for Orson who isn't sitting anymore.

"God damn it Orson," She whispers to herself while searching for him.

Orson walks off campus having his mind set to go home but ends up walking to this car outside of this convenient store.

The owner of the car is getting a bag of chips with a drink talking to the pretty cashier.

Orson goes to touch the car's rear view window seeing his reflection distorted (a side effect to not taking his meds) making the car alarm go off.

The owner rushes outside ready to go toe to toe with whoever messes with his car but Orson takes off running into the nature trail near the house.

While running Orson falls hurting his knee getting back up with a scratched knee.

Back at Mac's highschool, Jamison is waiting for Maci at the end of the hallway to walk her home until someone asks for something, having him reach inside his backpack sliding it into their hand secretly. 

"Fifty bucks right?" 

The person asks having Jamison nod while keeping an eye out for teachers.

 "Here, I only have twenty-five." 

Jamison takes back the small clear baggie, "Then you can't purchase." The kid groans, "Come on man." Jamison shrugs, "Fifty or nothing." The kid gets out more cash then snatches the baggie out of Jamiosn's hand. "Pleasure doing business with y-" Cora sees the small pass off he just did shaking her head. "Come to think of it, I don't think you should be hanging with Maci." Heading off to find Maci, Cora grabs a juice from the cafeteria. "Mac!" Cora calls out while seeing her sitting at the outside tables. Maci takes one earphone out looking at her best friend. "Yes?" Cora sits placing her juice down then slamming her backpack on the table itself. "Jamison isn't who he seems." Maci scoffs, shaking her head. "No, I'm serious Mac." Maci looks to her best friend, "So what is he then besides an Aussie boy from the outback?" Cora hits Maci wanting her to be serious. "Just don't go out with him this weekend." Maci tilts her head at Cora, "You already told him yes so..." Cora shrugs, "I'll take it back. No big deal." Maci chuckles putting her headphones back in her ear studying before their last class of the day.