The End of Days

[41]

The door slammed shut behind them, nearly clipping Caleb's heel if it hadn't been for Cam's big brother spidey senses yanking him forward at the last second. And knowing his dad well enough.

"All good?" Cameron checked, reaching to see if the kids arm was still in its socket which had him snickering. "It's chill."

"It's chill? Where the hell did you learn that? Ugh, your a child act like one."

"I'm not a baby anymore, I know things." Caleb huffed. He then turned as his hand was dropped, looking to his big brother that stood a foot and a half above him.

"What? You're a big boy, right? Walk yourself to school, I got places to be and friends to entertain."

He huffed, "no you don't."

Ouch, kid. Shouting rang out from the screen of the living room window. "School now!"

The booming voice had Caleb shrinking in a bit although Cameron had grown immune to it by now. Kinda had to save face, for the kids sake at least. How could he be strong if his big brother couldn't?

"Come on." Cam mumbled, his hand easily accepted as it was presented out. They began their walk to school, ranting about videogames and tv shows Caleb liked. He made sure to get his lil bro started on all the classics, at least in his mind. Ben 10, slug Terra, TMNT, just about every type of CN show.

"Bye honey, mommy loves you very much. Be good, okay? Pick you up early, right?" One of the random mothers spoke to her son who flinched away from the contact like she was contagious or something.

Caleb rolled his eyes, "Hayden's such a suck up. Ow!" He glared back at the slap up the head he got.

"Don't be a dick, dude."

Cam gave an incredulous look, playing it off although he got why Caleb was always so salty about that stuff. Mom was around yeah but didn't make much of a difference either way, just as bad as dad in their..parenting.

They paid bills and put food on the table, that should've been enough. That's what they always said anyway.

"Fine. Whatever." He'd dropped the hand holding a block back but accepted as he was pulled into a bone crushing hug. "Put me down!"

"I thought you liked Superman?!" Cam shouted, shaking the boy around in his arms like a ketchup bottle. Caleb gave in, making those sounds you'd make when the car hit those median bumps or you'd go driving through a tunnel.

"Boys." One of the shapparouns leading kids from the cars gave him a look to calm down. He conceded, she was just doing her job. Cameron let go where he dropped to the ground like the big boy he was. Kid flashed a toothy grin and he knew he did his job well.

"Love you lil man, remember no walking to the highschool there are pedos out. You wait at the bike rack for me, I mean it. Now get out of here." He ruffled the strawberry blond hair, pushing him on to the doors.

Cam hiked up his bag to go but just before he could, the pipsqueak called out again. "Yeah? What, man?"

"You're coming back, right? You forgot last time."

"One time man, I forgot once." Cameron chuckled, arms splayed out. Caleb still waited for an answer so he again gave in, "I'll be here man, it's chill."

"Okay. Don't forget."

"I won't, promise."

The hallways were impossible to navigate as the majority of students had trailed in and packed the way. Cam called out to the table where Josie sat, pink hair dangling in her face.