———Ben———
Sunday, June 30th, 2019
I was dimly aware of Anthony making small talk with my parents and his leg bouncing up and down frantically beside me. My blood was rushing in my ears, drowning out almost anything else. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me slightly back to reality.
Caroline: I didn't snitch, I swear
Caroline: I'm pretty sure it was Danny, but he isn't saying anything
Me: Can you stall getting back till this is over?
Caroline: Yeah, I'll do my best
Caroline: He's in a shitty mood
Caroline: I'm sorry
Caroline: : (
Me: It's not your fault
Me: Thanks, Care
As I put my phone back in my pocket, Dad stood up, giving his goodbyes before heading off to work. Anthony gave me a desperate-looking glance, and I nodded, figuring he wanted to make his exit as well. I didn't exactly want him to leave, but I didn't think I could handle staying in this situation either.
"I, uh... I should probably get going, too. I have some stuff I need to do for my brother," Anthony said with half a smile.
"Well, it was lovely to meet you, Anthony. You're welcome here anytime," Mom said. Anthony's face stayed neutral, but I could feel him tense up next to me.
"Thanks a lot, Mrs— thanks, Connie," he said stiffly. Mom jumped up and hugged Anthony the moment he stood up. My stomach twisted in knots, already knowing where this was going.
"You seem like a good kid, Anthony. Be good to my Benji, ok?" She said. Anthony's eyes locked on mine, and I felt like I was about to puke. I hadn't even been able to think about telling Mom and Dad yet... this was too much, too fast.
Mom patted Anthony's shoulder before going back to the table and picking up a very sticky Pip. She headed upstairs, likely to give Pip a bath. Anthony gestured toward the door, and I nodded at him, not trusting myself enough to speak without throwing up. Once the door had shut behind him, I sat down on the bench by the front door that everyone threw their shoes under.
I sat there for a while in a daze, my mind buzzing in a blur. I only snapped out of it when I heard heavy footsteps coming up the porch steps. The door slammed open, and Danny stormed in, followed by a frustrated-looking Caroline. Danny stomped upstairs as Caroline closed the door gently with a sigh.
"You ok, Benji?" Caroline asked. I gave a sigh of my own.
"Not really, but I will be, I guess," I said. "What the fuck is Danny's problem? Did he really tell mom?" Caroline shifted her weight back and forth and avoided eye contact. Before she answered, the sound of a door slamming hard came from upstairs, and I felt all of my anxiety harden into anger.
"You know what, never mind. I'll go talk to him myself," I said, then started up the stairs without waiting for Caroline to respond. I threw the door to his room open to see Danny sitting on a beanbag in the middle of the room with a controller in his hand.
"What did you tell mom?" I got right to the point. Danny ignored me and stayed silent. I waited, but the beep as he turned on his game console was the only answer I got.
"Danny..." I growled. He continued to ignore me with a blank expression until I stepped in front of his TV.
"What do you want?" Danny finally replied. I was already angry, but my patience with him was running out fast.
YOU ARE READING
Lost in Translation
WerewolfBen is a 22-year-old with anxiety issues and no idea what he wants to do with his life. Anthony is a college junior who knows exactly what he wants: to socialize with as few people as possible for the rest of *his* life. Ben wasn't looking for a ma...
