Guardian Without Direction

Chapter One

It was a humid night at the Hayes house. The front door and windows were open and the lights flickered in the kitchen. The warm smell of jumbo soup filled the room and the siblings noses. The clicks of their spoon hitting their China bowls were the only noise filling the silence they shared. The fan was on its highest power yet it did hardly anything against the intense burning heat. The youngest brother seemed to almost be panting as he ate more heat and fed his body's sweat. His tank top clung to him and his long blonde locks were pushed back with a headband. The eldest recognized the headband for his girlfriends, realizing she must have left it. The eldest was suprised his brother even touched it but since it wasn't pink and wore no flowers he could understand why. Although, in the heat they were in, he wasn't even sure if his brother would care. A bowl slid across the table and a chair scratched against the dirty tile floors when it was pushed away from the wooden table. The eldest looked up. His brother held the table with his hands tightly and he let out a large sigh. "Did they text you? Call?" He asked quietly, looking away. The eldest studied him for a moment before continuing to eat.

"No. Her flight must have been late. Just relax and eat." He told him calmly. The youngest felt his lips curl into a sneer.

"Her flight is always 'late'. Come on, Connor, can't you see they're lying to us? I bet they're out partying or something crazy like that while we have to 'hold down the fort'." The youngest groaned and rubbed his face as he started to pace. "Honestly, I'm sick of it! You can't tell me you don't see the lies!" Connor pushed back his chair and stared at him sharply as he stood.

"Oh yeah? What could we do about it, Austin? Just accuse them just like that?"

"No but-, you know what I meant!" Austin snapped. Connor sighed and collected their bowls and headed over to the sink.

"Listen, I know you don't like it and I don't either but we can't do anything about it. Just live with it. They're going through tough times right now. Maybe they need a break sometimes." Connor shrugged as he turned on the faucet. He grabbed the sponge and soap and began scrubbing at their bowls.

"Oh they need the break? Wow, that's BS. You're working to get a job and I'm out their in the fields doing dad's job!" Austin huffed. "Last time I saw them actually work was when Uncle Rob come over and they needed to fix the tractor."

Connor hummed quietly as he listened. "Put away the soup and stick it in the fridge," he told him. Austin headed over to the crockpot and opened a cabinet underneath.

"I just don't get it Connor. I want to do more in my life than just...this," Austin sighed and opened the container. He paused and looked at Connor. "You know?" Connor stopped for a moment and nodded.

"I know." Connor shook his head. "Once your done can you turn on the light on the front porch? I'm taking a shower first."

"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. I think I'm going to head to the shack."

"Careful of snakes." Austin snorted at that.

"Thanks mom."

"Mom wouldn't say that." Connor mumbled. Austin lowered his eyes and smiled slightly.

"I know." Austin whispered as he began pouring the jumbo into the container.

...

Connor sat on his bed holding his phone in his hands. He stared at the black screen, hoping for something. A text from his girlfriend or even a call from his parents. He didn't expect one. He hoped though. His eyebrows knitted together and he laid down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling. The shower droplets falling onto his face from his hair. Connor pushed his hair back from his face and sighed. A slam caught his attention. He shoved his phone in his pocket and grabbed his shirt, slipping it on. He walked out of his room and headed down the hall.
"Mom?" No answer. Connor rose an eyebrow and stuck his head into the kicthen. Austin sat on the counter with a rag to his hand. His face was scrunched up in pain. Connor frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Sitting." Austin looked up at him.

"On the counter?" He asked.

"Yeah, so? I do it all the time. What's up?" Austin questioned.

"Still no call." He shook his head.

"Figures." Austin snorted. Connor stared him for a moment.

"What did you do?" He asked. Austin smiled sheepishly.

"Cut my hand. My fingers slipped."

"Again? Starting to think I should lock up the shack." Connor laughed. Austin smiled. Connor felt his pocket vibrate. He reached down, pulled his phone out, and answered.

"Hello?"

"Connor? Hi, the traffic is bad. Your father and I are heading to a hotel to stay the night. I'll be home tomorrow evening." She informed him. Connor forced himself not to look disappointed. His own mothers voice betrayed him. The sweet voice that warms him like a fresh baked apple pie on New Years.

"Tomorrow evening?" He repeated. Connor felt his brother look his way but ignored him.

"Yes. Your father has to go to Uncle Bill's house. They just moved in and the Internet needs to be set up so he will be gone and I have another meeting tomorrow." His mother explained. Connor calmly nodded his head.

"Oh," he mumbled.

"Will you two be alright?" She asked. Connor felt the urge to roll his eyes. His mother asked this every time she was gone. It seemed to be Austin and him all the time. Connor could handle Austin. His eyes drifted to the cut on his hand. Connor could handle Austin sometimes.

"Yeah we're fine, Mom. Don't worry about us." He reassured her as he watched Austin hiss when he took off his rag on the cut. He heard a small sigh of relief.

"I'm glad I can count on you. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, son. Love you,"

"Love you too," He nodded. "Bye." He ended the call and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

"Won't be home til tomorrow afternoon, huh?" Austin snorted as he brought his cut close to his face to examine.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Connor crossed his arms. Austin smiled.

"Lucky guess."