Handcuffed

Chapter 4

Beep. Beep. Beep.

My alarm goes off, I try to shut it off with my hand but quickly realize that Alex's hand is cuffed to mine. I use my right hand, and I nudge Alex awake.

"Wake up," I said shaking his shoulder. He didn't hear and continued sleep, "Alex."

He moaned and started mumbling in his sleep, "Oh yes, I love...," His voice drifted off, I wonder what he was dreaming about...or who, "Mmm...oh J-"

I couldn't take it anymore, "Alex! Wake up!" I yell in his ear, loud enough to wake him, but not father. Alex bolted up right, he looked around frantically until his eyes found mine, then he calmed down.

"Don't do that! I was having the best dream too!" He whined, his cheeks a faint pink. I laughed, "What's so funny?"

"You were moaning and mumbling in your sleep," I laughed.

His face paled slightly, "What did you hear?"

"I'll tell you while I make breakfast," I say dragging him out of bed with me. I pull out some pancake mix and begin breakfast, "You were saying how you loved how someone or something was, but I woke you up before you said a name...care to tell?"

"Um, no thank you, that's my business not yours," He blushed and looked away. I dropped it and thought about what to say, but he beat me to it, "So I have a question."

"Shoot," I said, looking up from cooking.

"What's up with you cleaning and taking care of the house, while your dad just makes it harder for you?" His eyes held an emotion I couldn't name.

"My mom died in a car accident when I was five, after that my dad changed. When I was seven, I was told to take care of the house, so I did and still do," I say not looking. I felt Alex move closer, I moved over to the griddle and began cooking and flipping pancakes.

"I'm sorry, is there anything I can do?" He seemed like he genuinely wanted to help. I turned the griddle off and looked at him.

"Promise you won't pity me. I don't want or need pity, especially yours," I said, staring him straight in the eyes.

"Okay I promise," He said, happy he at least promise that, "Anything else?"

"Yeah, don't tell anyone about this," He nods. I grab three plates, I filled two with more than the last one. I gave one of the two fuller plates to Alex and left the other one for my dad. Alex looked at my plate then put one of his pancakes on my plate. I looked at him, his expression looked like he was angry and sad for some reason. I gave him a questioning look.

"You need to eat more, it's unhealthy," He stated.

"Why do you care?" I tried not to be rude, I don't know if I was or not, "Not to be rude or anything, I just mean like—why?"

"What do you mean 'why'? You should be eating more than what you give yourself. If you're doing that, you're technically starving yourself and I'm not going to sit here and do nothing," He sounded annoyed.

"I'm used to eating this much," I say. It's true I give my dad larger portions of food than I do myself.

"That makes it worse!" He shouted, I quickly shushed him

"Shhh! You're going to wake my father up!" I whisper-shout. I grab out plates and put the leftover food in the fridge, I clean up and check the time. Almost 6:30, he's going to be wake up soon, "Let's go to the store."

I drag him outside after we freshen up, the walk to the city takes about 15 minutes. I lead him down the path I've walked since I was ten.

"So how long have you been doing everything for your jackass of a father?" Alex asked, breaking the silence and my train of thought.