The Grey

Cards on the table

NOTES: Hey hey finally back with one more chapter and I'm so ready to show some real personality today. We have the biggest red flag. It's time to really get to know some characters and things will start to get more serious and weird so let's go!

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— Mi amor?  – Will heard his mother calling.  — Are you ready? We need to go.
— Just a minute.  – Will finished fitting the large white disc into his ear hole. He looked in the mirror one last time, running his hands through his wet hair, messing up the curls even more. He ran down the stairs, throwing his backpack on his back and smiling at his mother who was waiting near the exit door with her bag hanging under her arm and a dissatisfied expression on her face.
— You don't need all that.
— But while you visit Mrs. Anderson I'll fuck around.
— Watch your mouth.
— Sorry. Can I use your car?
— No. — they were already getting into the car. The day had not yet dawned, the sky was dark and the clouds brought rain.
— Why not? I have a license to drive but you never let me take the car. Mom...
— No is no, Will. Not annoy me.
— Please. I'm just going to see Moke and Adam. It's not even far from Mrs. Anderson's house. I can drive you there and then keep the car, just tell me what time to pick you up.
Will saw his mother take a deep breath as she looked in the rearview mirror, backing the car out of the garage. The boy fell silent. She was always very calm, she almost never got angry, but when it happened the best thing was to leave her alone.
— I don't know if I want you to see these boys.  – the mother said suddenly, but firmly.
— What? Why?
— First because you know I don't like them, second because I don't want you walking around New Jersey alone.
— You are kidding? Mom...
— It's a 5 hours travel Will, I'll think about whether to allow it or not.
— What do you expect? That I go and visit Mrs. Anderson? I'm not seeing that fucking hag.
— Will?!
The boy made a clicking sound with his tongue, unwinding the cord from his earphones to put them in his ears and looking out the window, sulking.

•°•○•°•

Noah woke up that day smiling unconsciously, stretching under the blanket. He immediately pulled the phone off the bedside table when it vibrated and unexpectedly there was a new message from Will, even though Noah hadn't answered to the last ones.
"Guess where I am XD"
Noah frowned, checking the hours. 10:35 am.
"I have no idea... x.x"
It didn't take long for Will to respond.
"New Jersey!!"
Noah sat up in bed suddenly, feeling his heart beating fast. He typed the message quickly without checking for errors.
"Wjat? Why? You wpn't live gere antmore?"
"Haha I will. We came to see my sisters. My mom wants to visit a friend, and I'm trying to convince her to let me see some friends too"  Will's laugh made it clear to Noah that he had overreacted "you're not getting rid of me that easy ;)"
Noah was smiling again and felt his hands shaking, but he couldn't answer because the door of his bedroom suddenly opened and his grandfather came in.
— Are you still in bed?
— I already asked you not to come into my bedroom suddenly, I could be naked.
— You have nothing that I don't have too. Get up! It's almost 11 in the morning. Did you check your stuff for back to school?
— Not yet.  – Noah got up, looking for the elastic to tie his hair, ignoring his grandfather's gaze.  — You said you were going to the city in the afternoon, I would check this morning.
— I decided to go now.  I have things to sort out.  – the grandfather watched as the boy opened the wardrobe, taking out a backpack and a large box.
—I don't need anything. We bought a lot of things at the beginning of summer.  – Noah rummaged through his backpack, then opened the box, showing a large amount of school supplies.  — I definitely don't need anything.
Noah saw his grandfather nod, putting his hands in his pockets and starting to walk around the room.
He watched the man as he walked around, fiddling with one thing or another. Noah didn't get along with his grandfather. He could deal with his grandmother, but his grandfather was always more strict and cruel. They almost never speak to each other and Noah never lacked respect to him, but in the last 3 or 4 years, it was rare that they exchanged a few words.
— I don't want you near this boy who moved to Peach Tree Yard.  – Grandfather’s voice was harsh. Noah felt like he knew something. — I don't want you running around with a criminal.
— How do you know if he's a criminal? He just moved.
— It doesn't take much effort to know.
—But you didn't even see him. Judging someone like that is not a God thing.
—Didn't you hear what your grandmother said? A freak raised by a Latina who is a single mother. What do you think comes from this? He's definitely involved with drugs and crime. Your grandmother and I are trying hard to raise you away from anything that could harm you and hinder you from becoming a successful man devoted to God.  – Noah rolled his eyes and luckily his grandfather wasn't looking at him.  — But you've been rebelling lately. Rudely polite, always wearing those earphones, always having an excuse not to accompany us to church on Sundays. I was trying to understand and not be hard on you, because I know that adolescence is a time where we have a lot on our minds, but with this freak moving here I worry that you might find this interesting.
— Can you please stop calling him a freak?  – the grandfather finally turned to look at Noah, who was staring at him.  The boy shrugged his shoulders tiredly.  — I'm not going to get close to him if you want that so much, okay? But he's not a criminal and he's not a freak, and I know that because yes, I've talked to him.
His grandfather looked at him for a few seconds, he had a serious expression on his face, one that Noah could not recognize, then he checked the time on his wristwatch, looking back at Noah still very serious.
— When I get back tonight we'll have a talk.
Noah didn't respond. He felt apprehensive and didn't look away as his grandfather left the room, but he felt like he was going to fall apart as soon as he was alone. He sat up in bed, looking for his phone. He didn't respond to Will's message, but he deleted them all. He knew his grandfather would want to inspect his phone later.