Addicted to waves

The Jacobs

When Alex entered the room, a cheery Robert in front, he noticed how incredibly uncomfortable his parents seemed. They where perched right on the edge of the stuffed leather couch, sitting as straight as nails, their heads moving round as if danger was lurking within the cosy room. Alex smirked at that, his parents where so used to being outright uncomfortable and professional that they physically couldn't cope with relaxing. A total contrast with Robert, who currently had his elbows on his knees after throwing himself down in the little recliner in front of them.

Alex could only use the word quaint to describe the house, the walls where the wood that built it covered with family pictures Alex would look at later. The living room was large leading to the kitchen and the dining room at the back. At his side was a wooden staircase leading to presumably the bedrooms and a room where filing cabinets and a single desktop was situated. Alex stood taking his surroundings when he realised the chatter between Robert and his parents had stopped. Right then Alex realised how damaged his and his parents relationship was. within Roberts eyes he saw a fondness, respect and understanding, Robert liked him even with the short time they had known each other, but when he looked at his parents all he saw was... well... nothing. They where completely empty, he was just an object to them, he was their son, the word being so empty that it was just a word without meaning.

"I have some paper work you need to sign first, then you can leave," he said getting sheets of paper from the side of him and giving it to Alex's parents. His mother skimmed through the sheet before signing all the spaces. Alex looked at Robert who was watching her, not what she was doing but her, eyes narrowed, but as quickly as the interrogating look was there it was gone. A friendly smile graced his lips as Mrs Williams brown eyes locked with his blue.

"Well thank you, we must be on our way. Important business meeting you see. Have fun son." Mr Williams said as he stood up. Patting Alex's shoulder lightly he made his way towards the door, but before he could Robert was there standing in front. The quivering business man looked up from the strong chest in his line of sight, to Roberts shadowed face. Robert toward above him, back straight and face serious even a bit threatening, but only slightly. A shadow was cast over them as Robert stood in the light radiating from the door, his aura changed completely sending a visible chill through Mr Williams. Alex was at the back standing behind his mother but even there he felt intimidated. A little squeak of fear came from his mothers mouth, shocked she slapped her hand over it to prevent other noises from slipping out. The room was painfully silent.

"A parents child is the most precious thing to them and should always be on there mind, what is on your mind Mr Williams?" he asked looking down at the small suited man. Alex's father squirmed under Roberts glare, but Robert didn't back down. Slowly he reached behind him for the door handle his eyes never leaving Mr Williams. "You're a smart man I think you understand what I'm on about. Don't you?"

"Y-yes." The man stuttered as he stared up at Robert, his wife hugging his arm tightly. Robert snorted, a smirk appearing on his face, extending his arm he gestured them to leave. Scurrying to the door they wrestled with the fly net desperately trying to get out, making both Robert and Alex laugh, before running to the car.

"Ahh, works a charm every time." Robert said shaking his head chuckling as he walked to the kitchen, gesturing Alex to follow him. "Don't worry kid, they'll call tomorrow."

Alex looked at the deep voice confused, as the man pulled open the refrigerator to retrieve a cold one. The click sounded through the room as Alex sat watching with some amusement. Robert was like him and didn't look that far from his age either, even in the way he dresses. If Alex took a guess, he would say he was in his thirties.

"It always works. They go home, think about what had happened, and feel guilty. They call in the morning just to try and... Make amends so to speak. It happens every time in these cases."

"These cases?" Alex asked watching the man take a swig of the drink in his hand, before he began to pull pots out of the cupboards.

"Mm yeah, the classic parents don't give two hoots and the child goes all rebellion story. We get a lot of that here." He said moving around the kitchen, giving Alex a glance and a little wink when saying 'rebellion'. Alex raised an eyebrow at that, shaking his head as he sat on a seat at the side next to a little table, presumable for Robert when he didn't have guests.

"You can't deny that's what's happening, I can see it, I am trained you know." Alex thought about it before realising that that's all it was. Suddenly he felt incredibly stupid, he needed a drink.

"Don't feel like that kid. It happens. It's hard but sometimes that's what you need."

"What do you mean?"

"Well you are rich aren't you? Probably don't realise how lucky you are. You only see the bad 'cause all you've ever had is good. I find it interesting really." He said putting spaghetti in the pot of boiling water, before putting the sauce in another smaller pot. Alex watching as intently as he was listening, he had never really watched anyone cook, in fact he was rather enjoying it. The only thing he really makes is cereal because that's all he can make, the butler usually does the rest.

"Money doesn't buy happiness, but it does buy freedom." Robert said, pointing a tomato sauce covered wooden spoon at him. Alex smiled but thought about it as he watched, asking himself questions that would never really be answered.

It didn't take long for Robert to drag Alex into the intense cooking session. As he ran around mad trying to stop the water from foaming up and the sauce from burning, Robert commentated as if he was on an episode of master chef. Messing around they lost themselves in laughter as sauce covered their faces and hair. Alex flicked the spoon so that a thick layer of tomato covered Roberts face, Roberts mouth opened in shock before he wiped it off his face with his hand, pausing to look at it he quickly slapped it on Alex's face initiating a play fight. Wrestling and putting each other in head locks they fought but it stopped quickly when Robert froze in place, Staring in the direction of the doorway, mouth open in shock. Very slowly Alex turned to see a young girl leaning against the door, her hand on her hip as an amused smile crossed her face.

Alex was in as much shock as Robert, a blush formed on his face, the girl was gorgeous which made the whole situation worse for Alex. Different shades of blonde ran down her back in beach waves, as the kitchen light made her sun kissed skin glow. A light dusting of freckles framed her sea blue eyes that almost definitely came from Robert, although that's the only thing that had seemed to come from him, well apart from the clear beachside look and the beaded necklace. A smirk crossed her features as she looked at the pair of boys, frozen in action which clearly showed there resent activity was fighting. Slowly she moved to the spoon held in Alex's frozen hand, taking it lightly she brought the spoon to her lips and tasted the sauce before nodding.

"It's good, keep it up. Although it could use some salt." she added as an after thought, placing the spoon back onto the counter. Turning she wiped her hand on her shorts before heading to continuing out the door. As soon as they relaxed to normal standing position, her head popped back around the frame once again, her gaze directed to her father.

"Oh and dad I packed the gear in the boat for tomorrow," she said before turning her head to face a yet again frozen Alex, "and you must be Alex. I'm Charlie by the way, nice to meet you. I would shake your hand but you're... eh... covered in sauce."

"Yeah, eh sorry."

"No, no its nice you're having fun," she said smiling kindly, "Besides we're big kids here."

"Eh yeah," he said unsure of what to say, she smiled kindly before her head disappeared round the frame again.

"Call me down when dinners ready, I'm starved!" she shouted. They listened to her steps as she climbed the stairs turning to look at each other silently, when they where sure she was gone they erupted into laughter.