ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 103

Lewis ran out of the hospital room and stopped in front of a wall near his father's room. He hauled off and hit the wall. Hard.

" Ouch ! ," he said softly. He shook his hand about slightly.

" You should know better, Poke. You a gamer not a fighter. "

He didn't turn around. He didn't want Richie Jenkins of all people seeing him right now. He felt like he wanted to cry. And he was not letting that boy see him cry. No. No way. It was bad enough that after Richie told him he was gay that he had started thinking about him funny. Especially when he went to sleep. Nigel thought he was trying to help around the house by doing laundry but it was just because his bedsheets were always wet in the morning. And he couldn't let anyone actually see them.

Richie came behind him and touched his shoulder. Lewis shrugged him off him , saying," Just go away. Go home. Why do you even care anyway? You hate my dad. "

Richie shook his head and said," I don't hate him. "

Lewis turned around then. Even with a tear stained face that had Richie's heart twisting up inside. " Yeah you do. All you do is insult him. You call him dumb names like Wide Load and Lard Ass. He isn't fat. I mean not much. He's old though so. "

" I don't hate him. The names are.... you know just a way of.... you know..... letting old guy know he's fire. I don't hate him. Or Pirate Man. I hate that guy who hurt him. Who hurting everyone. "

Lewis slid down to the floor and Richie sat next to him.

" Look , Poke , I know what it's like. My dad killed my mom. I saw it. I couldn't do nothing to stop it. I still miss my mom. "

Lewis sniffed ," He's not going to die. He can't. He spent most of my life working. And my mom .... she's ok but weird. My stepdad is nice but he's not Dad. When Dad got with Nigel he started being my father. I don't think he understands me but I think he might love me. Or at least like me. But now he might.... I never told him I love him. "

Richie reached out to touch Lewis' shaggy black curly hair and Lewis felt something odd surging through him. He couldn't figure it out. He was like he felt when he looked at Diamond or a few other girls. He didn't think he was gay but.... maybe he was like his dad ? Bi. Or maybe pan like Alan at school. His dad loved Nigel but he had seemed to like his mom once. In old pictures they had looked happy. Only two people could make his dad smile or laugh. Nigel and his mom.

" Then tell him. I ain't kidding. Look I ain't no doctor and ain't finna to be one either. That's Rebecca and Luci dream not mine. I wanna.... don't laugh or tell your dad or stepdad. I wanna be a lawyer. But yeah I read people in comas can hear you. So tell him. "

Lewis whispered," I'm scared. If he dies what happens to me ? And Rebecca? Nigel isn't our real father. Why would he want us? I mean he chose you and your sister. He didn't choose me. Or Rebecca. Or Niles. I don't want to go live in Japan with Mom. "

Richie leaned closer to him and put his arm around him. Lewis sniffed again and put his head down on Richie's shoulder. " It's ok to be scared. I'm scared too. I don't want to lose the old guy. I don't want to lose any of you. "