The Kids Don't Stand a Chance

I have a breakdown on my front steps

Will Solace was a nervous person. His mom said it was anxiety, but he didn't like putting a label on it. It made him feel like there was something wrong with him. Which there wasn't. He just felt a little more nervous than other people. Okay, a lot. And yeah, he gets panic attacks sometimes, but who doesn't?

Today he was more nervous than usual. Maybe even anxious. He is moving in with his dad, in a whole new state.

But, Will can't show that he's nervous because his mom is nervous and there can't be two nervous people at once. That doesn't work. So he has to stay put together, tell her that it's alright and nothing is gonna go wrong, all the basic crap that everyone tells him. He's also saying it to himself, I guess. But it doesn't work. He is nervous out of his mind.

Will's mom got pregnant very young. Will's dad wasn't mature enough to... how do I say this? Stick around. So he left, but every month he'd send a little money. And then, randomly on Will's fifth birthday, he came home and found a white car in his driveway with a New York license plate.

He didn't really remember a ton from that day, but he knows that since then his dad has been a lot more present. But they never moved back together.

Will's mom never officially told him that they got back together. Will just assumed when they were kissing last Christmas. And then there was a ring, and now they're moving together.

He understands why they did all of it. Why they're having him move hundreds of miles away from his friends, why they kept it a half secret the whole time. It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, though.

His stomach churned as he stepped off the airplane. He's never been to New York, and now he has to live there. Which is weird. Will isn't a New Yorker, he's a Texas guy. This isn't going to work.

His dread was soon replaced with a snort when he found his dad. He was dressed in an orange Hawaiian shirt and sandals with socks. He held a sign that said "Solaces" on it, but he clearly ran out of room on it because the E and S were squished together.

"Will! Naomi!" His dad smiled when he spotted them. He hugged both of them and grabbed some of their bags. "It's so nice to see you. I've already said this so many times, but I'm really happy that all of this worked out."

Naomi smiled and laughed and tried to say something but a string of random vowels and not-quite words came out instead. Will stepped in to save her dignity. "Us too. I'm so excited to live with you."

"You'll love your new school, all my friends' kids go there and they say it's great." His dad answered the top question Will was thinking. Could he read his mind? "And don't worry about being the new kid. You'll make friends in no time. You're awesome." His dad rambled. I guess Will got that from him.

"Great, really great." Will smiled again. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to say something totally embarrassing, or something accidentally rude. He just... didn't know what to say. Which was funny, because it's not like he hasn't ever met his dad before. They meet up for holidays, they call all the time. But this time is different, it's real. He's living with him now. He can't just ignore his next call if something goes wrong, that doesn't work anymore.

"What are we thinking about for dinner? I can get some takeout, we can eat in front of the tv, or I can cook, or we can go out for Italian?" His dad asked as they started loading their things into the car. Will grunted and stuck his giant suitcase in the back.

"I'm fine with anything, but I'm pescetarian and my mom is vegetarian in case we forgot to say." Will replied. He assumed his mom forgot to tell him since she's basically the number one most forgetful person.