Tripping Down 12 Steps Into Malibu

Opposites Attract

"How are things?" Ryan's father asked as soon as he sat down.

"Good." 

"I can tell."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ryan was a wrong word away from standing up and leaving.

He wasn't in the mood to deal with his father today. But he'd already skipped out on him last visitor's day. And Brendon insisted he see his father, so he did. Though he would have preferred staying in bed with Brendon. Continuing to read the book he'd gotten from the library out loud to him.

"You just look happier. The bags are gone from under you eyes. Your  skin is glowing. You even look like you may have smiled this week."

"Ha ha." Ryan wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"What's got you so happy?"

"Who says I'm happy?" He challenged.

"Are you?"

"No. This place is still hell. They still treat us like children. And I'm still pissed you forced me in here."

"It was either this or prison, George."

Ryan pushed his wrist together and held them towards his father. Pretending they were being held together by handcuffs. His immature way of telling his father he was still open to spending his time in prison.

"Throw away the key." He muttered.

"You'd really rather be locked in some shoebox cell with some criminal for 20 hours a day?"

"Throw away the key." He repeated.

"Does your roommate still snore?"

"What?" The mention of Brendon successfully threw him off.

"Your roommate." He repeated. Smirking at the guarded look on his son's face. "You haven't complained about him in a while."

"Yeah." Ryan sat his hands in his lap. "He still snores."

"It doesn't bother you anymore?"

"I got use to it." His eyes narrowed suspiciously. He knew his father. He wouldn't just bring that up without some reason. "Why?"

"Because if that was one of the reasons you were still having a bad time, I could maybe take care of it."

"Thanks for the offer, dad. But no thank you."

"Are you sure-"

"Do you have nothing else to talk about?"

"Why are you getting upset?" He smiled.

"I'm not!" Ryan said between clenched teeth. "So drop it."

"You like him. Just like I said."

"Dad," his voice held a warning tone. "Drop it."

"I knew it. I could tell by the way you'd stare at him. Though, I haven't seen you do it these last few times."

"Oh." Ryan's fingers began tapping against the table top impatiently.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen his boyfriend come visit."

"That's none of your business."

"But is it yours?"

"You're unbelievable." Now not only were his fingers tapping, but his leg was bouncing under the table.

"I knew he was your type." He teased.