Just Jump

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

          "Kale?"  He heard from behind his shut and locked bedroom door.  The voice was oddly familiar, but he still couldn't place it.  It was like something out of a dream . . . but a very bad dream where someone was calling for you and you know you can't do anything to help them. 

          "Kale, open the door this instant.  I need to talk to you," his mother's voice was now recognizable and he groaned in displeasure.  He was still upset with her for not being home last night; they were supposed to sit down and talk about what happened, but she just had to pick up extra hours at work.  He knew she needed the money, but family was a little more important to her once upon a time . . . and now, it seemed like she didn't even give it a second thought. 

          "Kale, I mean it!"  She was yelling now, causing him to grunt and stand.  Walking over to his door, he swung it open and glared at his mother.  His hair was disheveled, he wasn't wearing a shirt and his boxers hadn't been straightened out.  Kale's mother took one look at him and shook her head in disapproval. 

          "What?"  He muttered before turning around and heading to his dresser.  He grabbed out a change of clothes consisting of shorts, a t-shirt and a new pair of boxers.  Heading out of his room and to the bathroom he started the shower and watched as his mom followed him into the bathroom. 

          "You can shower later," she stated through frustration. 

          "Why?  So you can cancel that on me, too?"  He snapped. 

          "That's not fair, Kale.  You know I need to pick up extra hours whenever I can.  You can't use that against me; we won't be able to afford bills," she sighed, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. 

          "I don't care if you need extra hours.  You wouldn't have bailed on your girlfriends like that, Mom.  We'd been planned this for a couple weeks, because it was your only night off.  Now, if you will excuse me, I have a hot date with the shower," he snapped, pushing her out of the room and slammed the door in her face. 

          Kale felt bad for what he'd said to his mother, but at the time, he didn't care.  He hadn't showered last night, his arm and face stung from yesterday's fiasco with the ground and he was still feeling shitty over leaving Elliot without giving her much warning. 

          When he finished showering, Kale stepped out and dried off.  He checked his weight to see how much more he had to lift to get to his goal and groaned.  He was ten pounds under; which meant a week of heavy lifting. 

          Sighing, he dressed and brushed his hair back with a comb.  Then, he shook it out and let it fall around the top of his head.  After he'd finished brushing his teeth and had his towel hung, he headed out of the bathroom to see his mother hadn't moved. 

          "Don't slam the door in my face, again," she snapped at him. 

          "Don't bail on me, then," he smirked cockily. 

          "Kale, I don't appreciate the attitude.  I've had a long day and I really don't need to deal with your drama.  I have two things to tell you and then I'll be out of your face, alright?"  She snapped back at him. 

          Kale wasn't used to this side of his mother; usually, they were laughing and joking around.  They were close . . .  It never really occurred to Kale that they could fight like this and it made him feel even worse.  Sighing, he shook his head and spoke. 

          "Mom, I'm just . . .  I've had a rough week.  I'm sorry I'm taking it out on you," he wrapped his arms around her small frame in a tight hug, making her smile and hug him back.