Chomp

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5:

It was barely the first week of school and my teachers were handing out assignments like hotcakes. Shoving my Trigonometry textbook onto the floor, I stretched out on my bed and massaged my temples. What would I need Trig for in the real world if I'd never even use it in my major? My mom was already on my case about applying to a bunch of colleges, not worried about Theo's future at all. Leaving the room, I found my mom sitting in the living room drinking a glass of cheap wine. Her auburn hair was pinned to the top of her head and she still had on her scrubs. She worked at the local hospital in the E.R.

"What's this?" I asked nodding my head towards the movie playing on the flat screen. 

"Some sci-fi crap," she answered glancing at me from the corner of her eye, "The graphics looked even worse in HD." 

She was right. Whatever it was that she was watching looked so unrealistic that I could practically see the strings holding up the half squid-half shark creature. We sat there watching the horrid film for a while before she spoke up. The house was quiet with Theo gone M.I.A. with Diana and Uncle Hector sleeping upstairs. He worked days and mom worked the night shifts. Someone had agreed to take her shift for the night since Theo was back and she's missed her baby. 

"Are you and that Wendy girl-" I cut her off immediately, already knowing where the conversation was going.

"Mom," I groaned, "We're just friends." 

"Okay, but sometimes one thing leads to another and-"

"Gross! Could we please not have this conversation? I don't need you to give me the talk," I ground out, "I'm practically a grown man." She stared at me with wide eyes for a moment, her mouth opening then snapping shut before she turned back to the TV. 

"I just think it's strange that a boy your age isn't going out and talking to girls. I mean, look at Theo-"

"Theo is Theo. And I’m . . . me. We're not the same person, mom," I snapped feeling my anger boiling over. I hadn't missed this at all over the summer while my brother had been gone.

Theo was a lot better than me at a lot of things: school, art, talking to girls, making friends, being nice. The only thing that we sort of evenly matched up on was sports, but I never gave much thought into joining a team or anything like that. Despite my good physical coordination, I just couldn’t see myself wasting all that money on equipment, uniforms, and transportation knowing that I wouldn’t end up going pro. Theo almost felt as adamant about it as I did. Mom and Uncle Hector worked their asses off to put aside money for college funds and travelling, and I’d be damned if I ruined the flow because I wanted to chase after a damn ball. 

Still, none of that seemed to matter to my mother if it would improve my lack of exquisite social skills. She even once said she wouldn’t mind spending a few hundred just so that I could be on the team. Any team. It didn’t even matter if I was kept on the bench. 

“Leo, you know I love you both equally,” my mom said laying a hand on my knee and giving it a light pat, “But you can be so much better if you just put forth some effort and tried. Live a little and be the rebellious teenager I’ve been dreading dealing with since you were twelve.” 

“Uh, shouldn’t you be happy I’m not rebellious? And I hardly see how that would make me a better person,” I pointed out fighting the urge to roll my eyes. 

“Don’t get smart with me, boy,” she warned but there was a hint of a smirk in her eyes, “I only meant that maybe you should follow your brother’s example. He has a lot of friends and that cute girl he’s talking. Not to mention he already has a plan when he’s done with high school. . .” 

A heavy silence hung between us and I was seething on the inside, my temper taking over slowly. She never could let it go. I would never be good enough for her so long as Theo did right. I couldn’t blame him for any of it though because he had always been there for me. Like our deceased father, I was a dreamer with no life plan or idea of what I wanted to be. My dad had travelled around the world and wasn’t the type to settle down— one of the many reason why my parents' marriage never would have worked even before his demise all those years ago. 

“Why can’t you just accept me?” The words sounded so dull and monotonous on my tongue, but there was emotion behind it. I met her pale green eyes that were so much like Theo’s rather than my dark brown orbs. 

Mom shook her head, tucking a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “It’s just . . . you’re a lot like your father, Leo, and I worry sometimes.” 

I stood up, making my way towards the door. “I can’t listen to this anymore.” 

“Leo it’s late. Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded following me out onto the porch. “I’m talking to you. Don’t you ignore me!”

I shrugged her hand from my shoulder and pushed on into the night. It was warm despite the hour and I knew that if I hadn’t walked when I did, I would have blown up right then and there. My feet led me down the street and in the direction of the local park where Wendy always jogged. Both hands were stuffed into the pockets of my jeans to keep me from taking my anger out on a tree or something stupid like that. I needed time to think, to recollect my thoughts. 

The night was still carrying not even a breeze, but I could still smell the remnants of summer. Plopping down on a nearby bench, I sat under a dimly lit lamp post and washed a hand over my face. I thought about everything my mom had said and grew even more frustrated that she was sort of right in a way. She didn’t have to pick at my flaws though. It wasn’t fair, and it was unjust to constantly compare me to Theo. Growing up, he had lied more than once to save me from getting into trouble: fights, bad grades, and even breaking things around the house. 

“Meditating?” my eyes fluttered open, staring out into the darkness. 

“Who’s there?” I questioned squinting and standing to my feet. There was a rustling of leaves turning the warm colors of autumn as the owner of the voice stepped from the shadows. 

My jaw went slack as I stared at her. Long chocolate brown hair fell short of her waist in loose waves, her honey brown eyes glowing in the darkness. Full lips slick with pink lipstick pulled back in a curious smile, her eyes smoky with liner emphasizing the long thick lashes she batted in my direction. My eyes fell to take in her sweater, leggings, and boots— an odd combination for warm weather. I blushed inwardly, realizing that I was staring. 

As she drew closer to the light, it dawned on me as to who she was. What she was. My mouth went dry and a swell of fear and nausea swept over me. It was the same girl from the party. She had been . . . feeding . . . on Claire? My stomach twisted in knots as I stumble backwards. Run, my mind kept repeating, run and don’t look back.

A/N: Usually I don't really think casts or pictures of characters are necessary, but let me know how you feel. Well, with the pictures at least because this isn't a vampire story although Ray is a main character and happens to fancy blood. If you like this so far then I have a more serious story that does center more around the vampire world. Let me know what you think. :)