The Foster Kid (Part 6) (A Foster The People Fan Fiction)

Secret

At the end of the day, we all went home to go reflect. The guys offered to drive us home but I politely turned it down. I don’t know if they notice it, but AJ is starting to microscopically tremble again. So AJ and I walked home in silence. I noticed how he would flinch at every horn of vehicles. It was a sunny day and the atmosphere was really calm. So, why not? I was walking him home while he glued himself to me. Frankly, I kind of felt like I was the big sister and he was the little brother, not the other way around. Then we finally got home, but the house was still empty. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked him as we flopped on the couch,

            He nodded reflexively, “Remember when Cubbie said that if anything’s bothering you, go talk about it?”

            “What’s wrong?”

            “D-do you want to know what kind of trouble that I’ve gotten myself into that turned me into this?”           

            I shifted closer to him, “Do tell.”

            He took a deep hesitating breath, “Glen.”

            Glen? Who the fuck is Glen? Do I look like I know any Glen? My eyes went straight to his, “Did he hurt you?” I don’t know why I asked him that but anything could happen,

            “No.” He shook his head,

            “Then what?” My voice suddenly got softer, “Deep breaths.”

            He inhaled and exhaled and it took at least five minutes or so. “H-he’s my boy.”

            “You have a son?” I made sure that I didn’t sound like a total ass,

            He nodded, “Yea, and I’m a horrible father.”

            “Why’d you say that?” This was all sinking in at a painfully slow pace,

            “How do you think I understood why I was given away? I had to do the same thing to my own son. His mom took off and I had to give him up at the age of five. That’s the problem I don’t want you guys to be burdened with. I had to take care of a baby on my own.” He sighed, “He must’ve hate my guts by now.”

            I swallowed a fistful of spit, “AJ, where is he?”

            “Orphanage. He’s in the orphanage.” He snickered pathetically, “I have to go through that shit all over again through dad’s eyes.”

            “How old is he now?”

            “Seventeen.”

            I’d count the year difference between AJ and Glen but I didn’t feel like it. I thought.

“I had him when I was only eighteen.” He admitted and I nearly choked on my own breath,

 I bit my inner cheeks, “Why don’t you take him home now?”

            He fidgeted, “I don’t think I could handle the financial issue.”

            “I know you’re scared but just try to take him home. I’ll help you.”

            His eyes showed a glimpse of hope, “You think I should take him home?”

            “He needs his father, AJ.” I said with a soft yet stern tone, “Anyways, he’s old enough to work. I’ll help him get a job.”

            “You’d really do that for me?”

            I smiled, “You’re my brother after all. Besides, a son needs his father as much as humans need water.”

            He smiled back, “I’m a lousy brother. You’re a lot better than me, you know? I’m glad you didn’t have to go through what I had to go through.”

            I shifted awkwardly, “Thanks to your little brother.”

            “Yea.” He sighed halfheartedly, “Andy.”

            “We’ll take Glen home, okay?” I just met my long lost brother and now he’s telling me that he has a seventeen-year-old son? Jeez, what’s next? I can feel steam coming out of my ears from my brain. It worked too hard in digesting indigestible information. I just took in my brother and now I’m taking his son in too. What more could possibly happen? I mean, seriously.

            Mom and Andy’s little tribe went home at the same time. I don’t know how they do it, but they knew that something was up. Maybe I am that readable after all. They might find it weird that AJ and I were both on the couch and that he was shaking like a Chihuahua. So everybody sat down and it was all suddenly tense. That was the first complete family meeting I’ve ever had, minus dad, obviously. AJ was too shaken to talk, so I had to explain everything on my own. I got the reaction that I was happy with. They dealt with it with acceptance, even though AJ was on the verge of the ultimate guilty sobs. It was some slap to the face but they took it pretty well. I don’t even know if I’m actually seeing things or not. I’m starting to feel that this is just dream. “You don’t have to worry about losing him anymore, sweetie.” Mom said to AJ, “You have us helping you now.”

            Andy shrugged, “I’d like to meet my nephew.”

            “Well, what do you know? You have a cousin, sweetheart.” Riley said to Stella,

            I gave AJ a nudge, “I told you, it’ll be alright.”