Intertwined

Part 29: Failure to Commit

Sitting in the motel room after a two weeks of pure avoidance, Helen looks through her emails on her laptop, when Lukas comes in with Logan.

They discharged him from the hospital after three weeks of inpatient care. He seems brighter and less depressed than he had- although his head still kills him from time to time and he seems to feel stupider than normal- he smiles at his Mum as they come in from shooting hoops.

"Hi! How was it?"

"I'm off..." Logan says frowning.

"That's okay. Your eyes are still adjusting, Baby. I'll be kicking your arse at shoot offs when you're ready to challenge me." She says and he comes over and sits on her lap. "Ooof...cafeteria food really hit you. I love that your appetite is back."

Combing her fingers through his flat hair, she smiles sweetly at him and yet he knows something's off with his Mum.

And no one will tell him why it is that they haven't been hanging out with Max, Luna, and Lauren since he got home.

He doesn't see them in her classroom in the morning and they don't go over for food or chats.

It's as if they started over in a new city again with no friends.

"What's wrong, Lovey?" She asks as she holds him.

"Are we gonna go see Max and Luna this weekend?" He asks and Helen briefly smiles, but it fades rather quickly.

"I think they're busy, love."

"You said that this past week. They were never busy before I got home. You were over there every single day for nearly an entire month according to Lukas." He says sadly and Helen frowns even more. "Does he not want to see me any more? Cause of Dad?"

"No! Darling, no. This has nothing to do with you. I promise. It's...it's a me thing." She says, hoping not to upset him. His moods are still all over the place and his doctor said they may never go back to normal. He may always be slightly irate or easily saddened and frustrated. So Helen tries her best to just keep him calm and happy.

"Huh...I wanted to see him and Luna." He says softly and Lukas, who is lounging on the bed- sighs before sitting up.

"Mum— do you think he and I could go over? Just for a bit?"

It both warms her heart and yet hurts her to see her boys wanting to spend time with Max and Luna.

Especially when neither of them truly wanted anything to do with them before.

"You can text him and ask, I suppose." She states with a sigh. Lukas gets out his phone and messages Max, who doesn't answer back and instead calls Helen. She begrudgingly picks up and reminds herself to be cordial. "Hello."

"Hey, um...Lukas messaged me." He says softly.

"I know. Logan really wishes to see you and Luna—and Lukas does as well." She says with a montone voice and can hear him fiddling with something in the background.

"If you all wanna come over then you're more than welcome. I'm grilling some food up since the weather's nice."

"I'm sure they'd enjoy that."

"Are...do you...um...would you like to come over too?" He nervously asks and Helen bites her inner cheek.

"I'm personally busy today, but I'll send the boys over on the bus—if that's okay."

It breaks his heart.

"Yeah...that's um...that's no problem. I'll be here."

"Alright, thank you." She hangs up and Logan seems really excited and Lukas just seems sad that his Mum is deciding to be alone once more.