Troubled One (Wilde #2)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Someone's quiet," Laughlin said as I continuously poked my food instead of eating it. I couldn't help it; I hadn't been hungry ever since I saw the cast list for the first time. "Are you going to talk anytime soon, Munro?"

My reply was to stab my steak with my fork before crossing my arms and leaning back in my chair. I was not going to talk to my older brother for a long, long time.

Elliot sighed. "Come on, Munro. You have to understand that you had to be punished for releasing scorpions in the science lab."

I looked at my sister-in-law. "And why couldn't have I gotten a detention or suspension?"

"Because you wouldn't have learned your lesson," Elliot said. "I know you're mad about the whole getting the lead thing, but have you ever thought about anything good that can come out of it?"

I scoffed. "Nothing good will. I'm in a play and I'm the lead. I have to play this boy who has a horrible past and doing that will only...." I stopped myself before I continued. There was no point on telling Elliot or Laughlin why I didn't want to be in the play. They weren't going to pull me out anyway.

Nick looked up from his plate and at me. I nonchalantly shook my head, silently telling him not to say a single word about the truth of me not wanting to be in the play. He didn't say anything, thankfully.

"Munro," Laughlin said, but I didn't even look his way. "What do you expect us to do? You can't just do whatever you want and expect to get away with it."

That got me to look at him with my eyebrow raised. "Really?" I asked. "So all those times when you were seventeen and you were boxing and getting in to so many fights, you didn't get away with it? Unbelievable."

"I didn't get away with it."

"Are you kidding?" I asked. "You came home with cuts and bruises because you got into a fight and Grandma and Grandpa didn't even bat an eye. I come home after getting into a fight and you freak out on me. It's hypocritical!"

Laughlin sighed. "That's not my fault. I don't want you to turn out like me, alright?"

"And why not?" I asked. "Your life is perfect now. You were able to get through your crap and now you have a perfect family."

"So all that is an excuse for you to act up?" Laughlin asked. "The only reason my life turned out better was because of Elliot. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be taking care of you and your brother right now. It's not because I got into trouble."

Crying on the baby monitor started suddenly, so I got up from the table. "I'm not hungry, so I'll get Aaron." I walked to Laughlin and Elliot's bedroom and to Aaron's crib. I began rocking him, trying to get him to stop crying. After a few moments, he stopped crying and curled up, closing his eyes as if he was going back to sleep. Even thought Aaron was just a day old, he was a quiet baby.

I walked out of their bedroom, where everyone finished dinner. Elliot was washing the dishes and Laughlin was sitting on the couch, watching TV. I walked over to him before handing Aaron over to Laughlin. "I'm really sorry that you got the lead," Laughlin said. "But trust me. You need it."

"I don't need to be in the play," I said. "Can you please think of some other punishment?"

"No," Laughlin said. "You need to learn that you just can't do whatever you want and get whatever punishment you want. You're staying in the play."

"Please?" I asked Laughlin. "You don't understand. I really can't be in the play. Please."

Laughlin stared at me for a bit before saying, "What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing," I lied. "If you get me out of the play, I'll do anything. Wash the dishes for a month. Not watch TV for a week. Anything."

Laughlin raised an eyebrow. "So you want to be punished at home for something you did at school? Munro, you're punishment for doing something at school is to be in the school play. Got it? Nothing you say or do will get you out of it. So you might as well make the best of it."

I sighed, leaning against the couch. My brother was stubborn. If he said nothing was going to get me out of it, then nothing would.

"Munro?" Elliot called from the kitchen. "Can you get the dessert out of the fridge? Grayson and Poppy are coming over."

"Sure," I said, getting up from the couch and walking to the fridge. I pulled out the cake we were having for dessert. We rarely had dessert so when we did, it was for something special. "Why exactly is Grayson and Poppy coming over?"

Grayson was Elliot's cousin and Poppy was his wife. They had been dating for five years and they really loved each other, only recently getting married. Everyone wondered why they took so long.

"They're just coming over to hang out," Elliot said. "Poppy feels like they've been trapped in their house for too long and wants to get out."

"Great, a pregnant Poppy is coming over," I said sarcastically. Poppy was a really sweet person, whereas Grayson was an old man albeit being only 23, but Poppy was currently pregnant with triplets and whenever she came over, we had to be careful about what we said to her.

Besides, I had to live with my wonderful sister-in-law when she was pregnant with Elizabeth and Aaron and that was torture. I mean, Elliot was such a great wife to my brother and I was happy he found her, but I could only take so much of pregnant women.

It wasn't long before there was a knock on there door. Nick went to answer it, being the closest to the door. "Hi, Grayson!" he said. "Hi, Poppy! And, of course, hi, Ryder!"

"Hi!" Ryder, Grayson and Poppy's three year old son, said.

"I got a new game," Nick said to Ryder. "Want to play it with me?"

"Yeah!" Ryder said happily as the three of them came in. Nick and Ryder went to the couch and Laughlin turned on the gaming system for them.

"Is that Aaron?" Poppy asked. "He's so cute! Isn't he cute, Grayson?"

"Well, he's my cousin's son and my cousin is related to me, so I would say so," Grayson said.

"Arrogant," I said within a cough.

"Devil spawn," Grayson shot back.

"Old man."

"Holy crap, I am not an old man!" Grayson said. He hated when I called him that. "I'm 23! I'm the same age as your brother!"

"Munro, you really need to stop calling Grayson old," Laughlin said.

"Right, like I'll listen to you," I snapped.

Grayson snorted. "What's your deal?"

"Nothing," I muttered.

"He released scorpions in the science lab, so his punishment is to be in the school play," Laughlin said. "And, get this. He's the lead."

Grayson burst out laughing. "Shut up," I scowled.

"Him? In a play?" Grayson asked. "Best punishment ever!"

I scoffed before heading to my bedroom. I hated being in this stupid play. Why did Laughlin have to put me in it?

________________

I had to re-write part of this chapter because before I unpublished it, Grayson and Poppy weren't married and they didn't have Ryder. That was the whole reason I had to unpublish it. It was contradicting with my plans for Protector #3 and if I went with those plans during this book, I would have spoiled it.

But I'm glad I'm writing this again! And three year old Ryder will make a few appearances here and there.