A Spirit Between Us (bxb)

Chapter 18 - Overbaring.

Finn walked through the front door of his house, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. The familiar scent of home, a mix of cinnamon and lavender, usually calmed him, anchoring him after chaotic days. But today, it clung to his senses like suffocating smoke. His head buzzed from too many questions, too much noise. All he wanted was silence. A nap that might last forever. Maybe then, he could outrun it. Outrun everything.

His foot hit the first stair, and he was already halfway to escaping life when his mother's voice cut sharply through the air.

"Finn? Can you come into the living room for a minute? Your dad and I need to talk to you."

The words hit him like a gust of cold wind, freezing him mid step. Something in her tone made it clear this wasn't going to be a casual chat. Like he'd been caught doing something wrong, even though he hadn't even misbehaved this time.

Dragging his feet, he trudged into the living room. His parents sat on the couch, his dad leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, while his mom sat upright, her hands clasped tightly together. The tension was palpable, thick enough to choke on. Finn quietly sank into the armchair across from them, gripping the arms as if bracing for impact.

His dad cleared his throat, glancing at his wife before speaking. "Your mom's worried about you, Finn. We both are."

Finn forced a smile, lopsided and hollow. "Worried? About what? I'm fine."

The lie tasted bitter.

His mom wasn't having it. "Sweetheart, we've noticed how much you've changed this past week. You've been distant, distracted... acting out. You're not yourself." She hesitated, her knuckles whitening as she squeezed her hands. "And I think I know why."

Finn's pulse quickened. His chest tightened as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Did they know?

"It's Archie." she said bluntly.

The name hit like a thunderclap. Finn flinched, stunned. "What?"

"Ever since you started spending time with him, you've been... different." Her voice hardened, a mixture of concern and something colder. Judgment. "I don't know what's going on, but I think he's a bad influence on you."

The words stung. Worse. They burned, ripping through him with a raw intensity. He blinked, trying to process, trying to find his footing in the emotional hurricane.

"That's not true," Finn stammered. "Archie's not a bad influence."

His mom shook her head, her expression firm. "I know you think you're close to him, Finn, but he's... strange. You don't see it, but I can tell he's pulling you into something. And those episodes—"

Finn's heart stopped.

"Episodes?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.

His dad stepped in, his tone gentler but no less unnerving. "Collapsing during the game, coming home late, skipping class, getting into fights... Son, you've never been like this before. Not until Archie."

His mother leaned forward now, her eyes pleading. "We just want you to be okay, Finn. I want my happy son back. The one who wasn't so..." She faltered, searching for the right word. "Angry."

Finn's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. They didn't understand. They couldn't. How could he explain the voice that twisted his thoughts, the shadow that clung to his every move? How could he tell them the truth when he barely understood it himself?

But blaming Archie was too much.

"He's not a bad influence," Finn growled through gritted teeth. "He's my friend. The only person who's been there for me lately."