Broken Hands

93. Julian why?

Alex's unmistakable voice filled the hall, louder and more frustrated than Grayson had ever heard it. Alex, the one who usually lets things slide and who prefers soft scoldings and quiet worry, was clearly at the end of his rope. This wasn't anger—it was something deeper. Maybe fear.

Russell and Grayson stood outside the study, their faces mirroring concern. They didn't need to eavesdrop to know what was happening. Julian had done something unthinkable, something that had pushed Alex to this point.

"What were you even thinking?" Alex's voice rang out, rough with disbelief.

"Dad, I just... I needed a break," Julian's response was barely audible, a small voice drowning in the weight of Alex's frustration.

"You needed a break?" Alex repeated, his tone climbing. "You could've told me, Julian! Told anyone! Don't you think that would've been a better idea than sneaking behind my back, skipping school and practice? What's going on with you?"

There was a beat of silence. Grayson and Russell exchanged a glance, tension thick between them.

"Are you getting bullied or something?" Alex's voice softened slightly, tinged with worry.

"No," Julian answered quickly, his voice earnest but shaky. Grayson could almost picture him fidgeting, twirling his fingers nervously like he always did when he was caught.

"Then why the skipping? And how long has this been going on?" Alex pressed, his tone demanding answers.

The silence stretched on uncomfortably.

"Julian," Alex said again, softer this time, but firm. "I need you to be honest with me. How long has this been happening?"

Grayson held his breath, waiting for Julian's response.

"Not long," Julian said at last, though his voice wavered. "Maybe... more than a couple of times? But I did go to practice sometimes."

Alex let out a sharp exhale, clearly trying to keep his frustration in check. "Where did you go after skipping practice? Because as far as I knew, my son was at practice every time he left this house. Not until I got a call from your instructor telling me she hadn't seen you in days. Julian. Where were you?"

Another pause.

"Hanging around the neighborhood," Julian admitted quietly. "With friends."

"What friends?"

"Dad! They're not bad people," Julian whined, his voice edging into defensive territory.

"I didn't say they were bad," Alex shot back, his words laced with worry. "But I don't know them, Julian. And you're in a hell of a lot of trouble for this."

There was a soft gasp from Julian, followed by a desperate, "Dad—"

"Don't 'Dad' me," Alex interrupted, his voice rising again. "I wasn't expecting this from you, Julian. You're responsible, you're smart. I didn't think I'd have to deal with this. And you didn't even plan on telling me, did you?"

"It's not what you think!" Julian's voice rose, frustrated and defensive. "I'm not a kid anymore!"

Alex let out a dry, humorless laugh. "You're not a kid, huh? Because skipping and lying means you're all grown up? Tell you what? It's the opposite. What if something had happened to you, Julian? What if you got into trouble with these friends of yours? What if something went wrong, and we didn't even know where you were?"

Julian didn't respond.

"And you're skipping classes during exams? Do you have any idea what that could do to your grades?" Alex continued, his frustration boiling over. "You didn't tell me because you knew I wouldn't approve. Next time you need a break, you tell me. I'm not asking you to narrate every detail of your life to me if you don't want to, Julian. But if you say you're at practice, you better be at practice. No more lies."