Saving Sawyer [Boy/Boy] - 2013

Chapter 2: Touchy

Saving Sawyer: Chapter 2: Touchy

Cade's POV

               I rolled out of bed, my eyes groggy and my brain still begging for more sleep. I sat up and forced myself to stand, sadly it was only Wednesday. I could hear my dad clamoring in the kitchen and part of me wished I could just hide under my blankets and forget about the world for a few more hours. Nothing like having to listen to Olivia go on about Sawyer at school, having to work with him after then having to deal with an over-protective father with a hangover once I got home...my day was going to be great. Not. I jumped in the shower and got dressed before I went down stairs. 

"Morning son." My dad leaned against the counter with a bag of frozen peas pressed to his head. 

I grabbed the bottle of orange juice and poured myself a glass. "Morning." 

"Did you clean up last night?" He looked around at the now clean kitchen. 

"Yeah, if I would have left it then it'd stink in here." I forced a smile as I downed the juice. "I have another late shift so I won't be home until midnight." 

He tossed the peas into the sink, "You know I don't like you being out that late...it's dangerous." 

I rolled my eyes. "We need the money and this is the only job I could get without a permit." Vivian knew of my home situation so she paid me 'under the table' since I wasn't supposed to be working with the grades I managed. 

"I told you, you don't need to work, I'll get a third job." He smiled at me and a part of me hurt. It was the smile he always used when he looked at my mom. 

I shrugged out of his grip. "You can barely manage the two jobs you have, besides, I don't mind helping out." I did mind but I couldn't tell him that. He knew he needed help but he couldn't admit it, he didn't want to admit he failed at being a single father. "I gotta go, I'm late for school." I walked out silently, neither of us saying another word. 

               I walked the same route I did every day: down to the grocery store where I crossed the street then through the houses until I reached the high school. There was nothing wrong with the route except the fact that I passed Sawyer's childhood home halfway through. I had tried taking different routes but they just ended up taking me out of the way. I swallowed the knot in my throat and forced myself to move my feet. I had just passed his house when the door opened. I wouldn't look back, I couldn't... 

"Cade!" Vivian called cheerily. I cursed under my breath before turning around. 

She was still dressed in her bathrobe and her hair was wet from her morning shower. "Hi Vivian." I greeted back. She motioned me forward and I reluctantly back tracked. 

"Good morning Cade sweetie, how are you?" She held her cup of coffee closer to her. 

"I'm okay, was there something you needed?" I shuffled from foot to foot anxiously. 

She smiled and it sent a chill down my spine. "Well, I was thinking since you and Sawyer go to the same school, you guys could walk together." I felt nauseous to my stomach. "You guys were friends when you were younger, maybe you two could be friends again." She actually remembered me? Not only had I never seen her when I was younger...in all honesty, I didn't even know her and Sawyer were related. "Sawyer, hurry up, you're going to make Cade late." I couldn't understand why she seemed to be pushing us back together but I also didn't have enough patience to understand it either. 

Sawyer stormed out of the house, right past me, and was at the end of the front walk in a few strides. "Sawyer!" Vivian yelled. "Sawyer, come back here now!"