Aurora (#1)

e l e v e n

"So you're not screwing each other?" he asked to clarify.

"Screwing is such a crude way of saying sex. Why can't you just say are you two having sex?" I asked.

"No we're not fucking each other." Christian interjected.

"Language." His father snapped.

"I can say whatever the fuck I want." He said.

"Not in this house you won't."

"What are you going to do about it dad?" Christian sneered. "It's not like you're home at all for you to enforce any sorts of punishments."

"I can still cut off your credit card." His father said.

"Do it then. It's not like I want your money. All you ever do is think about yourself so why should you care about your own son?" Christian said angrily.

"I do care about you son." His father said with furrowed brows.

"Like hell you do. If you care so much about me you'd spend time at home." Christian shouted.

"You don't need to raise your voice." Mr Jamieson shouted. I shrunk back in my chair.

"Fuck you." Christian spat. No one saw it coming and it was definitely a surprise for Christian when his father slapped him across his face. I gasped loudly, eyes widened. Christian's eyes filled with hurt and anger. Instead of replying he stormed out. I sat there awkwardly not knowing what to do. I played with my fork before setting it down.

"I'm going to..." I pointed in the general direction of Christian's room.

"Yes. Go ahead." Mr Jamieson sighed. He looked exhausted both mentally and physically, something I could relate to very well. I could tell by his face that although he was still fuming he felt guilty he raised his hand to his son.

"He'll come around." I said.

"He hates me." Mr Jamieson said dejectedly.

"He doesn't hate you. He could never hate you. You're his father, his blood relation. He loves you even if you anger him. Give him some time." I said before leaving the man to his thoughts. I scurried up the stairs to find Christian. A cold draft wafted in through his room and I found that his balcony was open. I walked over to him and saw that he held a handmade cigarette between two fingers.

"You know every cigarette you smoke you reduce your expected lifespan by eleven minutes." I told him.

"Why do you care?" he said harshly.

"Why would you throw away your life like that?" I challenged.

"You don't care about me so why would you come here? Did my dad send you to talk to me?" he asked, taking a long drag.

"No. I came because I wanted to." I said. He turned to me and blew a puff of smoke into my face. I coughed lightly before trying to waft the foul smelling smoke away. "And I do care." I said quietly. He sighed loudly and extinguished his blunt.

"I don't smoke often." He said.

"Really?" I found that hard to believe.

"Whatever, I'll just have a matching set of black lungs to go with my blackened heart." He snorted.

"I'm guessing your parents don't know?" I said.

"Talk to your dad. If not today or tomorrow but soon. You may be angry at him for all that he's done but he's still your father and you need him more than you think. Just don't leave it too late. Like I am now. I should get going. Take care of yourself Christian. You deserve a good life, you have lots to live for." I gave him an encouraging smile and hugged him tightly. I don't know what came over me, probably something in Christian's smoke, but it felt nice to hug him. His arms came around me hesitantly at first but then he secured them around my body. A breeze blew past me and I shivered.