Class of '97

10. Second Thoughts

February 13 1997 12:45 pm

Doomwas alone in his father's basement, playing video games, drinkingfrom a metal flask, and waiting for a telephone call from Kyle tolift him from his seclusion. The day was a bright beautiful one, thesun was out and it shone through the high cellar window. The sunmeant nothing to Doom as he relaxed on the couch.

"Corey!"Megan's voice rang from the stairs.

Hequickly threw his flask under the couch and sat up straighter. Thedoor flew open and the woman stepped into the room, a smile on herface. Doom was stunned.

"Comehere!" she said quickly. "We have a surprise for you!"

Doomwas taken aback and he struggled to comprehend what she was saying."We?"

"Comeon! Come on! Come up to the driveway!"

"Driveway?"Doom jumped up and followed her up the stairs. He almost stumbledover her as she lead him to the driveway. A strange new black vehiclestood in the way and his father leaned over it proudly.

"Whatdo you think, Corey?"

Doomsmiled.

"1989Lincoln Town Car. It's yours."

Doomjumped. "Mine?"

"It'syour new car! I told you we'd find one for you!" his father saidsmiling. When Doom stood still, staring, he said "come on, comeover here and give it a look over. Try her out. We got real lucky onthis one."

Doomcame over and touched the black paint. It looked brand new andpolished.

"Ieven got it in your favorite color," joked Doom's father.

"Comeon, Corey, take me for a ride!" Megan said eagerly.

"ShouldI?" Doom asked.

"Yes!Yes! Take her around the block!" his father encouraged.

"Okay."

Hisfather tossed the keys and Doom missed the catch. They fell to thepavement. He scooped them up in one motion and quickly went to thedriver's side door. Megan got into the passenger seat. His fatherleaned into the open window.

"Whatdo you think of the interior?" he asked Doom.

"It'snice, very nice."

"Yea?It's good ain't it? Now listen. I've got work to do, but why don'tyou take Megan to that ice cream place and get yourselves a cone."His father pulled out a ten dollar bill from his wallet and handed itto Doom. Doom took the money, staring at it like it was foreigncurrency. Were these his real parents?

"Awe,isn't that sweet," Megan remarked.

Hisfather stepped away from the window and waved at them as Doom startedthe car. He was nervous, he had just been drinking. Carefully, hebacked out of the driveway and took off down the road.

Thesun shone down and Doom smiled a genuine smiled as he turned on theblinker and turned towards the ice cream shop.

"Youknow, Corey, I know no one says this to you very often, but we docare about you."

Doomfroze up, almost hitting a curb. He relaxed and straightened outbefore replying. "I know," he lied.

"No,really, I want you to know, Corey. We love you. We're proud of you,and we care so much for you. It breaks my heart when you lockyourself up in the basement. I want to see your smiling face upstairsonce in a while." She reached over and ruffled Doom's hair. Hesmiled and ducked away bashfully.

"It'sokay." Doom felt weird, talking to his step mother about what hehad been hurt by since as long as he could remember.

"Iknow things are hard for you, jumping between your mother's house andours every other week, but don't let that make you feel like you areany less than a member of our family."

Doomfelt emotion spill out. "It's your family," he said, surprisedwhen he heard himself speak. "It used to be my family, but now it'syour family. I used to be part of my family, and now I'm partof...your family."

Meganwas speechless.

"Noone wants me around, not you or my mommy. No one gives two shitsabout me. When something happens to me nobody notices, nobody cares.Only Kyle cares. He's my real family, not you. I'm just thered-headed step-child. No one wants me."

Meganlooked down ashamed. "I'm sorry. I really am. You must believe me.I'm going to be honest. I did not know you at first, I thought youwere a..."

"Awhat?"

"Abad influence on my sons."

Doomshook his head and pulled into the parking lot.

"Ithought you were a bad kid, Corey, and I was so wrong. You are thesweetest, gentlest soul in the whole house. I was wrong to makejudgments on you so quickly, I was wrong to let them dictate how Itreated you. I was wrong to treat you like a stranger at first, and Iwas wrong to not correct my ways sooner." Megan admitted. "Idon't expect you to forgive me."

Doomsat perfectly still, staring through the dashboard of the now parkedcar. He felt hot tears behind his eyes and struggled to push themaway. But when they came he felt a wave of self pity wash over himand he shook his head. "No one wants me."

"Oh,Corey!"

Helet the tears spill out of him as Megan put her arm around him forcomfort.

"Thatis not true!" she told him. "I want you! We want you! Your fatherdoes and your step-brothers do! I promise."

Doomfelt a twinge of guilt in his heart as Massive Retaliation wentthrough his head.

"Megan,I felt so alone," he mumbled as he hugged her.

"Ifyou need anything, anything at all, just come upstairs. We're therefor you," Megan promised.

Kylesat in front of his house, not taking notice of the Lincoln until itpulled into his driveway. He smirked as Doom stepped out.

"Geta new car, richie?"

Doompatted the roof firmly. "What do you think?"

"It'sbadass! It'll be perfect for bringing everything for Mass Retal. Iwas worried about how we'd get our gear there."

Doom'ssmile faded. "I wanted to talk about that today."

"Metoo! I have so many new ideas! I drew up a basic map of the school,and-"

"Idon't wanna do it," Doom admitted.

Kylewas speechless. "I'm sorry...what?"

"Kyle,Megan...she just told me that....well I can't explain but my family,they want me."

Kylewas furious. "Your step-mom did something? No they don't! Theycompletely ignore you!"

"Megansaid she was sorry, and you don't get it. We were at-"

"Doom!"Kyle jumped up from his spot and pointed his finger. "You need totell me right now, are you in or are you out?"

Doomwas quiet but he shrugged. "I'm out, Kyle."

Kylestepped back. "I don't fucking believe this! You fucking asshole! Itrusted you and you're going to walk out on a plan?"

"Peoplecare about us, Kyle, we can't do it! We'll hurt the people we love!"

"Idon't love anyone! I used to think of you as my brother, but now Isee that is the farthest from the truth! You fucking asshole! I hateeveryone! That's why Massive Retaliation needs to happen! That's whywe are doing what we are going to do!"

Doomfelt his heart breaking as Kyle yelled at him. Kyle had never treatedhim like this before.

 Kyleturned to went into the house but before he did, he looked Doom inthe face and with every ounce of honesty in him he said, "you'renothing Doom. You are nothing. You are nothing without me. Now fuckoff. Don't come round here again."