The Academy

Eighty Three

Rose:

You know what’s awful? When your own son has to go to your sister’s help instead of yours. That was not a very helpful in my self esteem mother meter.

At home I went to the kitchen and grabbed the cereal, I was in a bad mood so excuse me if I was eating breakfast for dinner. (What would that be? Brinner? Deakfast?) I grabbed a bowl and filled up the cereal and filled it up with milk.

Jace got home with Matthew, who promptly showed me his first tattoo. “This is cool!” he exclaimed looking at it before bounding off to his room and Jace walked over putting an arm around me. “How was your day?” he asked, and I frowned, “Do you really want me to answer that question?” I shrugged his arm off and went over to the table plopping down and glumly eating the cereal.

“I get it, you’re mad you couldn’t-” “It’s not that, I couldn’t care less about it. He could get snake bite piercing for all I care. I just worry about him and he’s supposed to go to my sister for help. Useless mother, 0, Tink, 1.” I muttered the last part, shoving another spoonful of cereal in my mouth as if I could drown my worry with Lucky Charms.

He sat down next to me, “You’re jealous?” “Not so much jealous, just…” Just. Gods on Olympus I used that word too often. “It’s hard to explain.” I murmured, sighing and taking another bite.

“Alright, I won’t pry. Just you’ll tell me if something seriously wrong in that head of yours, okay?” “Okay.” I muttered, and sighing. He stood up, “We’re going out.” “Huh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You seem so...I dunno, depressed, we should go out tomorrow, just us.” “I have work.” “After work.” “I’ll probably have something to-” I started but Jace frowned, “No excuses, I insist.”

I rolled my eyes and finished up the cereal before getting up and tossing the bowl in the sink. “Okay, how fancy?” “Casual fancy.” he replied, tapping his chin. “What time?” “How about I pick you up after you’re done with work and I’ll surprise you.”

He’d done this a couple times, a surprise date, where I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Once it was an amusement park, once it was the zoo, another time it was a boat ride down the river. They varied so I was nervous and excited.

Matthew yawned and walked in, “I’m going to go to sleep momma, goodnight.” he said and knelt down. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek then hugged Jace’s legs. “Night daddy.”

Then he hopped to his room and I casted a worried glance his way. “He’ll be fine.” Jace said, reading my mind and I shook my head. “I wish I could agree with you so easily.” I muttered, walking to our room where I crawled into bed and curled up, hoping I could do more for my son but I was useless, utterly useless.

Jace came to the bed too, and put a hand on my shoulder. “Go to sleep Rose, I’ll keep an eye on Matthew.” You nodded quietly and listened as he walked to Matthew’s room and sat in the chair in corner of the room.

At least there was someone who could look out for him in the room with him…