Haunted

"I'm just trying to be normal" - UNEDITED

Disclaimer: This chapter has not been edited from the original as posted on JBFF. There will be mistakes, typos, continuity problems and other issues.

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"No, we're not taking him," Kylie was saying as Wes came down the stairs that morning.

It was January and the first day Wes was allowed back at school. He'd been up most of the night worrying about how it would go. His hair was coming back and he looked better than he had but still not the same as before. You could tell, he knew you could tell.

"Ky, this is my family," James argued.

"Then they should have acted like it," Kylie slammed something down. Wes froze. "I never want them to see him again."

Wes could hear his father sighing and then his mother's sniffle. He almost never heard his parents fighting, not like this. But he knew they were fighting about him.

"I'm going and I'd like you to come with me," James said. "We'll leave the kids with your mom."

"Okay," Kylie said.

They were quiet for a minute after that so Wes felt safe going the rest of the way downstairs and into the kitchen. James looked up when he walked in and smiled. Kylie was wiping her eyes, trying to hide that she'd been crying.

"You look great," Kylie said.

"My jacket's too big," Wes said.

"It won't be for much longer," James said. "You'll put the weight back on in no time, don't worry."

"Thanks," Wes said. He sat down at the table and Kylie put a plate in front of him.

"We have something to tell you," Kylie said. "I don't know how you're going to feel about this."

"Okay," Wes said.

"Your grandfather died yesterday," Kylie said.

"What?" Wes's heart stopped for just a second. Then he remembered their fight. It wasn't Justin.

"My father," James said. "He had a heart attack."

"I'm sorry, Dad," Wes didn't know what else to say. He got up to hug his dad.

"Thanks," James's voice sounded rough.

"The funeral is next week," Kylie said. "Your father and I are going to leave you with Gma."

"I can watch Dylan," Wes said.

"We'd feel better if you were with Gma," Kylie said. "I know you can watch Dylan but..."

"You don't think I can handle it," Wes realized.

"Let's see how school goes this week," James said. "Maybe we'll talk about doing that soon. If you don't mind."

"I wouldn't mind," Wes insisted. He was tired of having everyone else take care of him.

"That would be a big help," James smiled.

Wes finished his breakfast, eating more than he felt like he could handle because his stomach had gotten so small while he was sick. He made himself keep eating so he could get strong and not look like he was still 12.

Kylie drove Wes and Dylan to school. Wes tried not to look anywhere near as nervous as he felt when he walked into the building again. He'd been working with a tutor and doing his assignments at home so he wouldn't fall too far behind but he'd still missed 4 months of school. And the actual work was only a small part of what he was worried about.