A Faltering self (Distorted Reality book 2)

Chapter 34- Kosher

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We all grab our plates and get food. I stay quiet. The voices are too much for me right now as I try desperately to sink inside my head to better block them out. Into my own little world to help distract me from the one at hand. The only thing I am thankful for is that Peter seems to have gone away for now, but I see shadows lingering around the corners. One in particular is the attachment to the house. He's tall and jet-black. I'm not sure what he wants, he mostly lingers around, but something deep down tells me not to trust him. Peter and my other attachment never seem to interact with him, so that's good at least. One less to team up against me.

I'm brought back to now when I notice it's my turn to put food on my plate as everyone else has gone to the stove. Something seems off with Jonathan though. He seems aggravated, but I'm not sure from what. Everything seemed fine with him a moment ago. I notice Zach lightly jabbing him in the side and telling him to lighten up., so I assume then that he must have done something to irritate him. One of his 'jokes' I gather that Jonathan didn't take as well as he does many times when he's not the one on the other end.

Crap!

About to put some ham on my plate, I remember that I was supposed to tell Jackson and them what was kosher. I was so careful to make sure we had options for them only to forget with everything going on. I turn to him to let him know, yet it takes a moment to recall everything taken extra care with.

"Hey, uh,"

...

What am I trying to say?

"I got Grandma to make some things for you. I know that you can't eat pork right? Or dairy with meat? I looked over the food rules and made sure to have things you have plenty of options to eat."

That didn't sound right.

He's quiet for a moment and I realize that I probably didn't explain it right.

"The food rules?"

Liam looks at me confused before I get a smile from what seems to be Jackson before Connor.

"Oh, you didn't have to do that Mads, I don't follow the kosher laws. But that was really sweet of you."

I look back at the food on the counter feeling embarrassed for the extra effort.

Grandma will probably be upset it was a waste.

I really should have asked first.

'You really should have.'

He bumps his arm into mine to bring my focus back on him. He looks at me curiously.

"But, I'll eat kosher today. Who knows, maybe I'll like it. You put in all the effort, so tell me, what am I allowed to eat?"

I smile at that before I decide to eat the same. I help make his plate and tell him some of the things I found out while looking up all the rules. There were some things I didn't know. The dairy and meat thing was definitely new, but thankfully adjusting some of the ingredients in some of the recipes weren't as hard as I expected. And with all the dairy alternatives nowadays, it made it even easier.

The rest of supper goes pretty well. I'm stuck quiet for the most part listening to everyone else. I usually am when it comes to big gatherings. It's hard to know when to step in or even remind myself that I haven't. I find that the majority of the time I'm mostly observing things in life.

I'm thankful that everything seems like basic family things and not the drama it can be at times. Then again, that usually happens after dinners. Almost like the restraint only can be stretched so far.

Liam and the guys seem to fit right in. I'm glad to see them able to do so because I know how hard it usually is for them, or at least Jackson. Even at the clinic, he would tend to stay by himself. When we were younger even more so. There was one little girl he got along well with during the last trials, but beyond that, he'd tend to stay just to them. I was actually surprised when he let me in this year. It was Connor at first, but eventually, Jackson started talking to me as well. Alder though stayed mostly silent still. I sometimes think he hates me.