VAPOR

CHAPTER 26 - The Diamond Lake

AARON

"How about...no?" I said smiling brightly even though every fiber in my body told me to rush out of my mothers house and never look back. It was no way I was going on a walk on the beach with my mother after seven years being apart. I had nothing to say to her and I was sure that she only would say cliche things and spit out poems. Like people always did at reunions. I didn't see the reason to say that you've missed someone when it's not the truth. Sure, I had missed my mother once but I was way passed that and right now I couldn't help it but keep asking myself why I had thought it was a good idea coming here in the first place.

I partly blamed Lea but knew that it wasn't her fault just like it hadn't been her fault that Brandon hadn't told me that he was gay. I was stupid to not have figured it myself. But how could I had? He'd acted like he was married for the last years, with a woman.

"Come on Aaron, what are you even doing here if you're not going to talk to mom?" Asked Brandon in a whining voice.

I shrugged. "I actually don't know. I guess it was a mistake coming here and that's exactly why Lea and I are flying back home tonight."

Brandon sighed dramatically and threw a pink rubber ball in the air before catching it. "Do you remember when you were four and I bought you this? You got so happy over a small little rubber ball..." He said, smiling softly. His gaze still locked on the ball. "When I broke my foot you gave it to me saying that you wanted me to have it because it had given you good luck. I knew how much you loved that silly rubber ball but instead of doubting me you said that you trusted me enough, you were so sure that I wouldn't lose it. So I kept it."

I chuckled softly. "And...?"

"Well if you're going to have your fist real talk with mom today -- for the first time in five year -- I bet you need some luck." Brandon threw the ball at me and even though my usual clumsiness, I managed to catch it.

"And who said that I'm going?" I huffed.

"I am. You trusted me enough to keep your favorite toy safe when you were four, so why not trust me when it comes to this too?" He shrugged and got up from the sofa bed. "Mom said she's leaving in fifteen, ten minutes ago so you better hurry." Brandon flashed me an idiotic smile before he walked upstairs, leaving me alone in Kevin's studio.

My glance fell to the window that showed the front yard on full display. Lea and Mason were sitting by one of the apple trees, playing some board-game. Her hands were covered by my hoodie, that was way too big for her. She grit her teeth when a spring breeze hit her,  she was probably freezing.

With a sigh I grabbed a blanket from the bed and her jacket. I took two steps at once when I walked upstairs and soon I was out on the front porch. Lea looked up when she heard the door shut closed and shone up at the sight of the blanket and jacket.

"Where are you going?" She said softly, nodding at my own jacket flung over my arm.

"My ape to brother played some sort of emotion card on me... So I kind of have to go." I said, rolling my eyes and handing her the blanket and her jacket.

Lea bit her lip to hold back a huge grin but squealed quietly in excitement. Mason too had a hard time looking neutral. "Oh shut up you two. I'm just gonna' talk to my mother. No biggie." I quickly kissed Lea's head. "I'll be back soon. Please pack my bag too if you have time? The flight leaves at eight."