Match Your Weakness With A Name

We Can Skip This One, We Already Know Chapter Thirteen Will Be Unlucky.

"Don't."

"Watch me."

Awsten storms downstairs, determined and full of hate. I want to make a stronger case, but I sense there's no stopping him. If he gets hurt it will be all my fault, I know it.

"Mom!" he yells.

She jerks her head up. "Awsty-pie?"

"Can I go to the fireworks with Geoff?!" he shouts. I flinch.

"Oh, I don't think that's a good idea, honey," she says. "You know how you are, and we don't know Geoff well. I'm going to have to say-"

"No!" yells Awsten. "No, no, no. I know! I know I don't have a good track record, but I'm not an infant! I'm fifteen years old!"

"Awsty, I'm aware, but-"

"Is it too much to ask, to just go one place without being chaperoned?" asks Awsten. "I'm not a grade schooler on a field trip! I don't need to be watched every second of every day!"

"I understand that, but-"

"At seven o'clock, on the fourth of July, Geoff's gonna be here to take me to the fireworks, and I'm gonna go with him whether you like it or not."

He's getting too testy with her. I want to drag him away.

"Awsten Constantine Knight, sit down!" she yells, and Awsten gasps.

I hold my breath. From past experience, I know there is no way this will end well.

"I am your mother, and you will do as I say!" she shouts. "You are not going to those fireworks until you learn to control yourself!"

"But-"

"No buts. You're grounded."

Awsten hangs his head in defeat, and I stare, waiting for the moment to come.

Awsten's mother turns to me. "I'm sorry about that, Jerry."

"It's Geoff," I say.

"What?"

"My name. It's Geoff."

Awsten snickers, and his mother shoots him a death-glare. "I'm sorry, I'm bad with names."

"It's really fine, I space out a lot," I say.

"Well," she says, taking a big breath, "this has been pleasant, but I have a son to deal with, and I suppose you could stay if you wanted to..."

"Uh, I think I'll just-um-go," I say. "Not to be rude or anything. But I don't think I want to see."

"Alright," she says, and I wave to Awsten. He doesn't wave back, and that sticks in my mind as I leave.

When I get to the sidewalk in front of the house, I remember that my car's still at the pool. 

I turn around, planning on doing a full three-sixty, and jump a few thousand feet in the air. Otto is standing behind me.

"Do you need a ride?" he asks.

"Uh, yeah," I say.

"Well, get in, then." He climbs into the front seat, and I call shotgun.

We drive in silence. It's slightly disconcerting, but Otto doesn't seem to mind. I wish we could play music so I don't have to think.

Otto lets me out in front of the pool gates. I get in my own car and put on the loudest CD I can reach, and drive home as quickly as I can.

*****

I can't sleep that night. All I can think about is Awsten.

It's very irrational, but I worry he might be hurt or something. I worry he'll be bored out of his skull if he's grounded too long. I worry he'll react to it badly. I. Just. Worry.