Echoes of Fear. {REWRITING}

Chapter Three

Two days had passed since Kai had sent the manuscript to his mother's boss and before he knew it he was in the car, driving to the appointment — first, though, they were dropping Amara off at school, much to her chagrin.

"You know, I'm perfectly capable of walking from here." she complained to her mother as they turned the corner.

Maya huffed, "Amara, your brother has been away for months, do it for him, okay?"

Technically, I didn't ask for this, Kai wanted to say, but kept quiet.

Amara grumbled, "I'm sixteen years old, I don't need an escort to school.  This is so humiliating."

As the car pulled outside the school, she threw her hood up and grabbed her bag, looking like she wanted to hide from all the prying eyes of her peers.  She looked over at her brother, taking notice of his withdrawn expression, the way he tugged awkwardly at the sleeves of his hoodie.

Reaching out to squeeze his hand, she encouraged, "You'll kill this, I know you will."

Kai nodded, forcing a smile despite the ants that were burning under his skin, "Have a good day."

Amara gave him a stiff side-hug then clambered out of the car, heading towards the school's entrance — as Kai watched her, his gaze suddenly was distracted as he noticed another student.

It was Ren's sibling, Haru.

For a brief second, he'd allowed himself to forget, to pretend that Ren was just a distant memory, but the sight of Haru brought him back to the reality of his situation.

Haru Takahashi was a youth on the cusp of sixteen, a slight, tiny individual who lived alone with their older brother.   They also resembled him somewhat, having fluffy, medium length black hair and dark eyes, though were dressed in an oversized Cute is What We Aim For hoodie and black jeans, a far cry from their brother's fashion sense.  They were shuffling awkwardly, quietly and it made Kai feel guilty, particularly when he saw some of the other kids snickering in their direction.

Seeing Haru made Kai think back on the night he and Ren first met, after the party when they were discussing their respective home lives.  Kai had excitedly babbled about his own family then, not knowing it was a sore subject, had decided to ask about Ren's.

"So, why don't you live on campus?" Kai had asked as they walked together through the grounds, their hands brushing, "It's over an hour's drive each way from here to Detroit, wouldn't you be better off?"

Ren replied to him, "I can't stay.  Someone has to look after my sibling and I can't rely on a babysitter all the time, it wouldn't be fair."

There had been a sadness to his expression as he answered the question, and Kai had slipped his hand into his as a form of comfort before pressing, "If you don't mind..."

"What happened?" Ren looked up at the taller man, his dark eyes shining, "Well, dad died not long after Haru was born from cancer and mom, she— well, let's say she didn't take well to us being... different."

Kai looked up at him with wide, sorrowful eyes, "You mean..."

"I came out as bi when I was fifteen, told her after I'd already told my friends and Haru and being young and stupid, I expected her to be fine." Ren began, "I mean, she'd never been particularly maternal, but she was my mom, you know?" there was an uncomfortable, pregnant pause and he stopped in his tracks, "It didn't start big.   I told her, she said nothing.  But then, she just-- she began making these comments.  It wasn't like she was calling me a queer or anything, but these small, knife-edged comments about how I was promiscious, about it being a phase.  Honestly, I think that hurt more than if she'd just come out with it." he bit his lower lip, "She lied to her friends, making up that I had a girlfriend and slowly, but surely, she started restricting me from seeing Haru, worried I was somehow dangerous and I'd influence them." he released a shaking breath, "Then one day, I blew up at her, told her that I was done with this treatment, that I would one day maybe have a boyfriend, and she'd have to accept it.  And you know what she said?" at Kai's head shake, he added, "She said 'not in this house, you won't'.  And she threw me out."