𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐎𝐔𝐒

• 𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐈 •

flashback:

"I'm just saying that if-"

"Yeah, yeah I get it darling. Andrew doesn't have that many friends, nevertheless, I don't think Nicolas is any good for him. They aren't on their best behaviour when they are together."

"He has always been a little prickly and difficult to deal with but since he started hanging out with him he has also started saying stuff that I, and you too should consider outright unacceptable he's a teen, granted he's still a kid but it's exactly because he's still a kid that we should call him out when he assimilates wrong notions," I said with finality in my tone, resuming the chopping of the carrots needed for the salad.

"Yeah, I understand, but do you really think it's that serious?" Monique asked.

"What do you mean not that serious? We had a meeting with the school principal because he harassed a girl in his class, outright bullying her. Also, have you seen the videos he watches? We either address it now or we fail as parents."

"We'll talk to them at dinner," I said when she didn't answer.

"You talk to them. I don't think it's my place to lecture someone else's kid and I don't agree. The girl was not being harassed. Nowadays, you cannot even compliment someone or joke about anything."

"Nicolas's parents are out of the picture and you know it. If there is something that boy needs is direction, it would be nice if my wife supported me in educating our son instead of coddling him, but fine, I'll talk to him alone."

We kept cooking in complete silence and when the dinner was ready, Monique went upstairs to call the boys, I sat at the head of the table waiting for the others, Monique was the first to appear sitting on the other head of the table, not acknowledging me, still mad at the discussion we had five minutes, after her the boys come down stair and join us.

While we ate, the boys talked about a new game they had begun playing. Completely disinterested by the subject, I didn't engage in the conversation until Andrew seemed to change the topic.

"Mom, can Nicolas stay the night?" Andrew asked, looking at his mother.

"Yes, of course he can! We have so many guest rooms available. I'll just make sure he calls his grandpa first to let him know, and since it's Friday, what about staying until Monday?" pissed at my wife for asking him to stay longer when we were just discussing how bad of an influence they were on one another.

"Thank you, Mrs. Gresham!"

"Oh, don't be silly, just call me Monique!"

"So...Andrew and Nicolas, we should talk about what happened last week at school." Both of them plus Monique turn to look at me, like they are finally realising I'm there too, understanding what I want to talk to them about. An expression way opposite from excitement appears on their faces.

"Oh c'mon Dad, you will ruin dinner! nothing happened. That girl was being dramatic, hence why we didn't receive any punishment."

"You asked her if you could grope her as a 'dare' and when she rightfully called you out, you called her a 'bitch that can't take a joke'. The only reason you didn't get expelled is because of how much I and your mom spend on that school."

"Yeah, but nothing that bad happened dad, can you drop it already?" Before replying, I glanced at Nicolas, who was quietly staring down at his plate and seemed lost in thoughts. However, Andrew appeared uninterested, if not annoyed.

"No, I'm not dropping it, Andrew, If I hear that you two did something like this again I promise you, Nicolas won't be allowed to hang out with you anymore, I also believe you deserve a proper punishment for that behaviour, so your devices will be confiscated, we will invite the girl I believe her name is Beatrice right? We will invite her and her family this Sunday, and both of you will apologize accordingly."