Reunion In A Restaurant In Michigan

Alfred's Origin Story Pt 2

Isabella is Puerto Rico

Alfred POV

"What is this, your entire allowance?"

The older junior scoffs. I glare. "Just give me the damn weed."

He snickers. "Tough guy, aren't ya. Okay, here it is. Jeez."

I thank him, and stuff the bag of weed down my shirt. 

Later, when I see Ivan again, he wrinkles his nose. "You are high."

I giggle. "I sure am!"

Ivan chuckles a little, and then shuffles his feet. "How...how does it feel?"

I think, and then try to think more, and before I know it, my head is completely empty. A dorky smile grows on my face. Oh, finally.

Ivan giggles. "You have the stupidest smile on your face."

Bursting into laughter, I fall on the floor. 

From then on, I'm getting high whenever I can. I'm leaving class to smoke, buying edibles with quarters I steal from Mom's dresser. I let the drug empty my brain out, staring at my ceiling, blasting music in my ears.

One afternoon, Mom storms out again. I run after her, but she pushes me away, guns the engine of her Chevy, and peels out of the driveway. My feet pound on the concrete, but I am not fast enough. Arms wrap around my middle, pulling me back. I fight and kick.

"...stop fighting me, dammit!" Mattie lets go of me once we're inside. 

I hurl myself at the door. "LET ME OUT!"

I can't even see anything. My eyes are so blurry. Am I crying?

"Alfred, Alfred. It's okay. It's okay." I don't even know who is talking to me. I sob openly, pulling my legs to my chest. I want Mom! Why is she walking out?! What did I do?!

I somehow end up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. The TV is on. I hear Dad and Mattie talking. I quietly get off the sofa, hiding in the corner, blanket still around me. 

"...going on like this, Dad. You two need to figure it out. It's hurting both of us."

"...know, son. You're right. We just can't agree on shit."

"Dad, Alfred's freaking me out. You've seen how...how angry and emotional he is lately. The fighting...it's really not-"

Unable to take any more, I go back to the sofa, feeling rather exhausted. I pick up my phone to text the group chat, wondering how it got there. 

Leon: Hey! We called you and you didn't respond, dude!

I text back, smiling a tiny bit. 

Alfred: sorry...a lot happened just now...

Leon: Spill?

I sigh, closing my eyes. A headache is pending. 

Alfred: Mom left

Leon: I'm so sorry, Alfred.

Alfred: It's fine

I don't respond further, wondering idly if Leon has ever wanted to stop being my friend. I force that thought out of my head, unable to summon energy to entertain it. 

The couch cushions sink, and I smell Mattie's cologne as he sits next to me, turning on the TV. I feel strange, so numb, so detached, so out of control. 

Next thing I know, I'm brushing my teeth. I stop, putting it down, staring in ultimate confusion at myself in the mirror. A blonde boy stares back at me. I strike my hero pose, but it doesn't hit the same. A wave of frustration comes over me, so intense I smack myself in the chest. Relieved, I leave the bathroom...and feel toothpaste still on my teeth. After rinsing my mouth, I traipse off to my bed.

Mattie POV

As Alfred goes to bed, I drink a cuppa with Dad. He puts down his mug, sighing. "I think he should stay home tomorrow. Your mom'll be gone, it'll give him some space to calm down."

I wince. "Good luck telling him."

The next morning, we find out just how well it goes. 

"BUT WHAT WILL I DO AT HOME ALL DAY?! TWIDDLE MY THUMBS?"

Alfred is shouting at the top of his lungs. Yes, this is in fact normal for my brother. I am pretty sure he gets it from Mom.

I hear Dad talking calmly to him, sighing when I hear Alfred hit something. I mumble, "Come on, man, it's too early for this."

Alfred apparently wins the argument, because he pounds up the stairs. "MATTIE, GET UP! YOU GOTTA DRIVE ME TO SCHOOL!"

Grinning, I sit up. "You doofus. I heard the whole thing."

Alfred laughs, and I wonder just how fast his mood changed. He's always been moody, but these days it seems turned up to an eleven. 

He bounces around and shouts the whole time in my truck, giggling and video chatting his friends. I have to smile, even as I'm worried. The two of us head into school, me eying Che and Isabella. "Hey, there."

Che grins. "The blondies! Hey, little dude. Ope, there he goes."

Alfred zooms off to find his friends, Leon and Kris and Nan, who embrace him. I have to smile. Che drops his voice. "How's he doin?"

I sigh heavily. "Mom left yesterday and he uh....lost it. Dad wanted to keep him home today, but Alfred's a stubborn little shit."

Isabella shakes her head. "I'm guessing there was shouting?"

Che answers for me, "Always is with Alfred."

I smell a whiff of something flowery, and I turn as a blond girl walks by, books clutched to her large chest, speaking in another language to a tall boy Alfred's age. My heart flutters, and I try to catch her eye. Our eyes meet, and I panic. "H-h-hey."

She smiles, nods politely, and goes on, the boy beside her snickering. My face flushes, and Che hits my shoulder, Isabella giggling. "Oh, Mattie."

My face now hot, I shove them off me. "Shut it."

Next time I see Alfred that day, he's sitting by his friends at lunch, a blank expression on his face, the same one I keep seeing lately. More and more, it seems like Alfred isn't...himself. 

The pretty girl smiles at me in the hallway, and I'm so flustered and amazed I choke on my chocolate milk. Che guffaws, and Isabella pats my shoulder. I turn, and see Alfred leaning against a wall by himself, holding his books, seeming completely unaware of his surroundings. 

I cautiously go over, Che and Isabella looking worried. "Hey...Alfred...you'll be late to class."

He blinks, and hurries away, stomping needlessly loud.