The Beckett House

Chapter 21: Chuckled

Decker's Point of View:

I'm not going to lie and say I didn't expect this. Kaz had always been known for being a ticking time bomb even when he was young. That's why we try to keep him busy and we're always breathing down his neck. If left to his own devices Kaz would spend the whole day pondering and thinking. I thought therapy was a great idea, for Kaz. Me on the other hand? I didn't need it, nor did I want it. I didn't say anything though now wasn't the time. Right now, my priority was Kaz. He'd calm down enough to where we were good to bring him inside I wanted to get him to eat but I also didn't want to force it on him. I opted to grab a granola bar from the pantry on our way to his room. Luckily for me Keith got the attention of the boys away from us and on to a different subject so Kaz didn't have to feel like some freak show.

"I don't want you worrying about what happened, okay? Right now you need to rest. I snagged you a granola bar if you feel like you can stomach it but don't feel obligated to eat it."

(Kaz) - "I'm fine Decker, I'm over it. You don't have to sit here and coddle me like a baby." I remember the days he used to crawl into bed with me after every minor inconvenience and refuse to sleep without me. How he would only try a new food if I was holding his hand and how he would give me the silent treatment the day after spending the night at a friends without him. No matter how much he grew up I would always see him as the baby I held in the hospital. The baby my dad told me to look after and protect. Despite being a three year old somehow I knew I had to be his big brother and he was going to be my baby forever.

"I know, sorry. Just get some sleep." I turned to leave but he stopped me in my tracks.

(Kaz) - "I changed my mind, will you stay a little while longer? Just until I fall asleep?"

"Sure bud, anytime." I laid next to him until I heard soft snores. I should have left but I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him. What if he woke up in the middle of the night? So there I stayed until I too fell asleep.

...

(Jude) - "Hey, it's almost ten and they wanted you up before then." I startled awake, confused and groggy.

"What are you talking about? What time is it? Why didn't the alarm go off?" I woke Kaz up when I spoke.

(Jude) - "Keith and Brian turned off your alarms last night, thought it would be best if you took the day off from school. But they wanted you up before ten so you didn't throw off your schedule or something like that. Max is downstairs making y'all food for whenever you get hungry."

"Who the hell is Max?"

(Jude) - "That's right you don't know who Max is, well you're in for a real treat." Not only did he not answer my question, but he left before I could re-ask it.

(Kaz) - "Am I missing something?"

"Nope you know just about as much as I do. Come on, we'll figure it out downstairs." I picked up a shirt from off the floor and threw it at him for him to put on which he did as we walked down the steps and into the kitchen. Hovering over the stove stood a tall lengthy man probably mid-twenties. He had dirty blonde almost brown hair and grown out stubble. Max.

(Max) - "Good morning sleepy heads, I'm Max." He extended his hand towards Kaz which he shook but when he did the same to me my hands stayed in the pockets of my sweats.