Blacksburg

Baby Steps :

  Waking up I found myself alone on the patio, the sun was slowly rising in the distance, standing up I looked around to see if he maybe got up and decided the grass was more comfortable. But no, there was no sign of frowning to myself I quietly walk inside, taking a nap before getting ready for school.

    "Hey there rutabaga."
"What did I-"
"Every Time you tell me you hate it, the more I like it so just keep -"
"Okay, okay."
I waved her off as I saw a very groggy looking Michael walking down the hall.
"He didn't even bother looking over."
"Who?"
"Nothing, come on before were late for Mr.Brady's class."
Walking to class, walking in there he was talking and laughing with some of his friends.
Sitting down I put my head down until the bell run and he came to his seat. It was quiet, tense.
Looking over I saw him sitting as stiff as a two-by-four.
"Loosen up stiff."
He looked at me.
"What?"
"I said loosen up, I mean your straighter than a two-by-four."
He laughed a little crossing his arms, looking a bit shocked.
"Didn't anyone teach you about plagiarism?"
I smiled.
"Now today class we will-."
I looked ahead pulling out my note book, the tension disappeared as if it evaporated. It felt good.

   "You gonna eat that?"
I smiled at Flan.
"This I am that I am not."
I tossed a handful of fries on her plate leaving me a slice of cheese pizza. Sitting down chatting with Flan who was stuffing her face, honestly I ignored her and watched her eat she was bone rack skinny but ate like a 400 pound man. It was unbelievable.
"So what did you want to tell me about last night?"
"Oh you know the whole thing with Michael week he was drunk and-"
"Hey Flan, Gertie."
  Sitting side ways about two feet away from us at the lunch table was Michael.
"Hey Michael."
"Boozy how's it going?"
She winked at him picking up her almost empty, barley full try walking over to the thrash bins.
"Hey about last night I-"
"It's fine, actually pretty funny considering you weren't throwing rocks at my window, you were throwing them at my aunts roommate, Peaches window."
"Peaches?"
"I know I said the same thing, she's actually pretty cool minus this thing, that she does when your sleeping , she watches you, it's weird."
He laughed.
"I bet, but seriously -"
"I'm back."
Flan plops down looking at Michael.
"Okay?"
He said looking a bit confused.
"Well you need to go, this is my talk time with my friend, find some other time to talk about..... Whatever it is you two talk about. Now skedaddle."
He nodded getting up.
"I'll talk to you later."
He pointed at me walking away.
"So what did asshat want?"
"What?"
"Michael..."
"Oh something about English homework, but as I was saying... To you is that last night-."

      After lunch school went by so fast I found myself already sitting at home on the couch, watching dirty dancing.
"Rudy?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, Peaches?"
Turning slightly to look peaches in the eyes as I sat on the couch I saw her standing, arms crossed.
"There's some man on the phone, sounds pretty old, says his names Mo Malroy , now Rudy I don't know if you're father ever told you, but you should date men around your age, not much older or younger plus I think it's considered Rape if-."
Jumping up I raced over to the phone.
"Mo?"
"Oh to hear that voice again."
I smiled, jumping up on the counter sitting next to the phone.
"Oh, Mo do I miss you, how's everything with the shop?"
"Well firsts things first you never called me, which worried me sick luckily Viv called me."
"Oh, Mo I'm sorry, it slipped my mind with everything, going on."
He chuckled.
"I understand, but you asked about the shop, and it's been busy, real busy."
"But that's good, means more money."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong you don't sound happy, I think I'm happier than you are right now."
I chuckled as he cleared his throat.
"It's just that It's been real hard for me, I can't seem to find anyone for your fathers position, and not seeing you daily...."
"I know it's crazy not hearing his voice yelling at the television or him yelling at me telling me I have to get up."
I smiled to myself looking down at my dangling feet.
"Well duty calls, Rudy."
"I'll call you okay."
"Don't forget."
"I won't."
The line went dead, hanging the phone on the hook I sat there in the kitchen counter for a second.
"So tell me more about this Mo fella."
Peaches turned the corner.
I smiled.
"He and my father-"
Peaches face went white.
"Wait you're father was GAY?!"
I threw up my hands.
"Whoa peaches, if my father was gay where do you think I came from?"
"A test tube, the side of the road, a burning building?!"
"My father wasn't a scientist, or a fireman he was a mechanic, he worked in Mo's body shop, With Mo, who was his boss, he's like a grandfather to me."
Peaches nodded.
"It's good that your father could be both a fatherly figure and a grandfatherly figure to you."
She said walking away leaving me sitting on the counter. Thinking real hard about peaches. And whether I should ask aunt Viv if she was dropped on her head a few times or if something mentally wrong with her.
  Walking in the door was aunt Viv with a box of pizza, and man did it smell amazing. Peaches rushed back in and I hoped down join g the two at the dinner table.
"So Ruds how was school today?"
"Good."
"That's good anything new with that Michael kid?"
"Uhm, I guess so."
"Don't rush anything, baby steps Rudy, baby steps."
I nodded taking a bite of pizza.
"So did anyone else hear anything last night?"
Peaches nearly choked on her pizza, I stopped in mid chew.
"Oh it was a quick storm last night."
"Yeah, I was t sure but I swore I heard someone yelling. But then again it was probably just a dream."
I nodded looking at peaches who was looking at me, looking at her, look at me.
"More pizza anyone?"
We all nodded.
"Yes, please!"