Flower Boy (BoyxBoy)

xxxii

kevin.

DESPITE THE LACK OF EMOTION IN THE TEXT, I HEADED TO NAT'S PLACE. "hey, uhhhhhh ur mom is here,"  it stated. I knew it was going to be bad, too. It's been a month since I've started crashing with them, and I've got to admit that I haven't really been trying to find a new place.

When I got to the house, the first thing I saw was my mother's car parallel parked by the side of the road. Walking inside, I wasn't too surprised to see her sitting at the dining room table with Nat's parents, talking over a glass of wine with Nat's mom while his dad drank a cheap beer.

"Mom?"

"Kevin, baby!" She cries happily. I walk over to her and hug her, brushing away crazy black hair to kiss her cheek.

"What're you doing here, mom?" I smile, confused. "I mean, I love to see you just... it's so sudden. Is everything okay?"

She smiles at me. It's beautiful, and I realize how much I've missed it. "Actually, hon, that's why I'm here."

I hum.  This can't be good.  The first thoughts that run through my mind are about my father dying or my student loans falling through.  Then, my mom hits me with the, "So, I heard that you've been having trouble finding a place to live?"

I sigh. "You don't have to sugarcoat it, ma. Isabel and I broke up and now I'm kinda freeloading with Nat's family."

My nose and eyes begin to sting as I focus on some area around my mom's huge black hair. Her head turns slightly, and I hear footsteps walking away. A soft hand touches my cheek, and I close my eyes. I lean into her touch.

"It's not your fault," she tells me quietly.

"I don't know," I say. "That's what Isabel told me. But I'm the one who overreacted."

Mom hums. "Let's talk about it, baby." She sits, and I follow suit.  The Goldberg's quickly leave their seats in favor of their bedroom, excusing themselves for the night.

"I don't want to talk about it, mom"

"Kevin--"

"Please, mom," I beg.  "I really can't right now."

Now, my mother isn't the type of person to let things like this go, especially when she sees me like this. And I know she can't take it, but I'm pleasantly surprised when she leans back in her seat, nodding as she looks at her hands; Her old, soft, painted-fingernails hands.

"I think you to move back in with me."

I look up from her hands to her eyes. I can't see them behind her bangs, but she has a familiar smile gracing her face.

"What? Why."

She sighs. "You're not happy here, Kevin. You don't have your home, your pets, and you're living with your best friend. And I know it was fun at first, but consider how Nat's parent's feel trying to take care of another college boy."

My eyes explore the old tile floor of the kitchen. "I know."

"And your father... he misses you."

"He doesn't even remember me," I say. The words come out like venom and I feel bad right as they leave my mouth. My mother takes a deep breath in and holds my hand from across the table.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I didn't mean to say that."

"It's okay, I understand that you're frustrated. I am too." She rubs her free hand under her tired eyes and looks at me. "But he does remember us sometimes, Kevin.  And he really loves the present you left for him."

I look at the ground, not sure if I should smile.  I got him a locket for his last birthday. I hadn't truly thought about it until now; visiting the special care unit late in the night after visiting hours, bothering the security guard for twenty minutes to let me in. "It's my father's birthday," I kept telling him. "There's no way I can miss it." The man stood strong and shook his head. Cursing under my breath, I rolled my eyes and finally asked him, "Can you just give this to him then? Please?"

He looked into my eye and after a few minutes, he nodded. I handed him the skinny rectangular box and walked out. God, I was so angry! I got over it quickly--I was kind of relieved that I didn't have to see him.  Now it's been months and I miss him to death.

"He still has the note next to his bed. And he wears the locket every single day." My mother says, laughing. "Every time he opens the locket he asks, 'Who are these beautiful people?' And the nurses tell him, 'This is your wife, and this is your son. Kara and Kevin.' And they tell me he raves about it all day! Saying, 'Look at my beautiful family! Kara and Kevin, Kevin and Kara.'"

I smile, laughing at the thought of Dad in his nightgown wandering around the halls of the hospital, waving his necklace around to show everyone who passes.

"Those poor nurses," I grin.

"Those poor nurses," She agrees. "So?"

"Hm?"

"Will you come back home?"

I take a deep breath. I don't want to leave. I don't want to be alone in the rural countryside as my friends live it up in college parties. I'd miss seeing Nat and my teachers and Edd every day.  I like not being home with my mom; living on my own with only myself to look after and only talking to people if I want to.  Commuting two hours is not very appealing either.

"I can't," I tell her.

She raises an eyebrow at me. "How so?"

"I just... I just can't, momma."

"Do you have somewhere you can stay, then, Kevin? The Goldbergs have taken care of you long enough, don't you think?"

I hum. "Actually, Mom, I... Uhhh, already found a place to live."

"Did you?"

I nod. "Yeah. On Prince Street, I think."

"You think," she states, disbelief in her voice.

"I'm bad at addresses, but I know how to get there from here. And it's really close to my university and my new job."

"Well, when can we go? I want to see where my son is living and who with!"

I look at the clock on the wall behind my mother.  "It's a little late, isn't it?  Plus, I should probably let my roommates know first. And none of my stuff is there yet," I smile at her, pleading.  "Why don't you come over next time you visit?"

"So this all just  happened?"

My head bobs up and down and when I look into my mother's eyes she looks skeptical.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing," she says. "I'll let you know when I can visit next, babe."

I nod, and she hums.  "It was nice seeing you, honey.   Come down more often, okay?  Visit your father.  Soon, a picture won't be enough."

"Okay, momma," I sigh as I show her to the door.  After my mom left, I frantically texted Edd.

Hey edd is that room still available??

Edd replies after thirty gruesome minutes.

Yes, are you interested?

VERY.

Okay (: When are you available to meet
up to talk about this?

Tomorrow? Right now? Literally any time
you're available Edd

Any time is fine for me

Okay, how about queens st cafe round noon?

He sends me a thumbs up, which makes me smile.  I check the time. It's almost ten o'clock, so I text Edd and tell him good night.