High And Dry

Sulk

Hey guys so I'm doing this from my phone which is why it's a short chapter and also why if there are any grammar mistakes or words that don't belong, it's autocorrect. I also don't know how to bold/italicizes words from the phone so I'll come back later and do it from the computer I guess.

Sorry.

Enjoy.

Or don't. I'm not the boss of you.

Anthony was at Kalel's house. Ian was by himself. He sat on a stool, his head in his arms on the counter. He was almost asleep, but the doorbell rang.

He groaned and stood up, buttoning his shirt up a few more buttons. He unlocked the door and opened it, "Hello?"

"Hey, Mr." The boy from across the street said.

Ian sucked in a breath, "Gryphon, was it?"

"That's my dog." The boy smiled, "I'm Toby."

He had met Toby a week ago, when he had first noticed that someone was moving in.

"Hey, Toby. I'm Ian."

"My mom wants to know if you'll show us around he neighborhood and talk to us about what's around here."

Ian grabbed his jacket and shut the door behind him, "Yeah, sure thing."

He ruffled Toby's hair and noticed that although it had the same effect on Toby as it did Anthony, it felt completely different on his hand. Toby's hair was curly, whereas Anthony's was just wavy.

Ian honestly wanted anything to take his mind off David. He's the only thing he could focus on right now.

"So, Mr. Ian. Mom says you have a son." Toby took Ian's sleeve and led him across the yard, stopping in front of the street to look both ways even though there were obvious no cars.

Ian admired the innocence in children. He was honestly jealous of it. He hated the problems adults had. He wished that sometimes he could just be oblivious to it all and forget everything that was an issue, mostly heartbreak. He wanted to be over this, but he wasn't.

"Yes, that's right. He's going to be seven next year. His name is Anthony."

"Do you call him Tony?"

Ian shook his head, "I call him Anthony, Ant, Buddy, or Little Man usually."

"Little Man?" Toby laughed and crossed the street carefully with Ian right behind, "My mom calls me a Big Kid."

"Same difference." Ian smiled, "You're a Big Kid, you're a Little Man. Pretty much the same."

Toby nodded, "That's cool."

Ian met the Turners. They were extremely kind to him and wanted to set up play dates with Anthony.

"Just send Toby over anytime you want and Anthony will be happy to hang out." Ian smiled.

They asked lots of questions and Ian answered them as politely as he could. He could sense that they knew something was a bit wrong.

When asked if he was alright, Ian nodded, replying, "I'm fine. Rough break up, that's all."

No questions were asked. No judgements were given for him being a single parent.

Ian went home right before dinner and Anthony brought Kalel. They wanted to have a movie night and watch the first Star Wars, only Anthony said fourth, which Ian was incredibly proud of. He was happy to have Kalel over, as he usually was. She was all smiles and laughter, which was normal. She and Anthony ended up pulling out the toy lightsabers and fighting each other.

Anthony ran upstairs and brought down the red lightsaber and handed it to Ian, who was sitting at the counter, silent and moody.

Ian smiled down at him, "What's this?"

"Come play with us."

"Maybe in a few minutes."

Anthony crossed his arms, "You can't just mope around all the time, Dad. I know he's not coming back but you have to cheer up a little and stop sulking."

Ian was taken aback. Had Anthony just been the more mature one? How did he know David wasn't coming back? Then again, he'd been gone for almost two weeks. Anthony was growing up and now he was telling Ian not to be so upset and mopey all the time. He got down from the counter and looked at his son.

Anthony, as if he already knew Ian's decision, was holding out the toy.

Ian held it and he felt like a kid again. He loved it. They fought for a while before Ian called Kalel's parents to ask if she could stay the night. As suspected, she could. Ian let the two of them sleep in the living room, while he went upstairs.

He knew that nothing would happen. After all, Anthony was only six and he would never tell Kalel that he actually thought girls were kind of cool.

Ian sighed and laid down in his bed, rolling over and burying his face in the pillow.

He wanted him back. He knew he couldn't sulk, but he wanted him back so he never had to mope.

Ian picked up his phone and called David. There was no answer, as usual.

He knew David wouldn't answer.

What he didn't know is that David stared at his phone screen, hoping that Ian wouldn't stop calling.

What he didn't know is that David almost did answer.

What he didn't know is that David was tempted to call him back.

What he didn't know is that David desperately wanted to answer.

What he didn't know is that David was scared.