Homebound

Chapter 9

        Robert bites into his vanilla frosting covered donut noticing the taste isn't as sweet. His coffee tastes bitter; he spits it back into his cup and pushes it away. Instead of the sun shining its yellow glory, the sky is a dark grey and waiting to send a downpour.

       "A donut? My god, you're one of those cops." Asher greets him like it was a regular morning. However, his comment is cold. He doesn't bustle like he does to prepare his breakfast. He's wearing the clothes in which he first arrived in. He woke up by himself; a rare occurrence. His backpack is evidently light.

      "Good morning to you, too." Robert tries to pretend everything's okay. Asher goes along with it and rolls his eyes like always.

      "I'm going to head to Mrs. Katz myself. Thanks for everything, it's been a good run." He sticks his hand out for a shake.

       "No need for goodbyes now. I told Mrs. Katz that I'll give you a ride. Also, you didn't finish packing. Your backpack shouldn't be able to zipper with the number of clothes Laura bought you. She and Joshua would most likely want to see you off, as well. Sit down and have breakfast."

       "You guys did enough for me. I'll just head off without making a great deal of it. I think it will be better for everyone. I don't need the clothes; you can donate them to the less fortunate."

       "You're being ridiculous. Sit and have breakfast."

       "I told you what I want."

      "I don't care what you want. Sit and have breakfast."

      "I don't want to overextend my stay; I'm leaving."

       "I said you should sit and have breakfast."

      "I said goodbye." Asher walks out of the kitchen, and Robert gets up after him. They leave the house, and Robert unlocks the car.

      "Get in the car."

      "No, I can take care of myself."

     "I took responsibility of you and-"

      "And you don't want it anymore. Stop playing holy f*cking saint here. I hate self-righteous people. Remember yesterday? I'm a burden." Asher snaps and at that moment, thunder claps, and the droplets of rain begin to descend and is slowly getting stronger.

      "Fine; walk." Robert shrugs and enters his car. He waits a minute, and Asher still doesn't enter. He glances out the rear window and realizes Asher isn't even standing there. "That boy." He pulls out the driveway and drives up to keep up with Asher. "Get in the car!"

      "No." He stubbornly replies back.

      "I'm not asking you now. Get in the car."

     "You never did. You know what? I didn't even want to stay with you guys from the beginning. It was you who decided for me."

     "We can discuss this in the car."

     "Like hell I am."

     "Damn it, Asher. I'll arrest you for resisting officer's orders!" That made Asher stop in his track, and Robert has to reverse a little.

     "You're going to arrest me? Then do it! I've been waiting for you to do your job." The storm outside is emulating the internal storm within Asher. His emotions are raging and threatening to drown him. "F*ck you, Robert," is the three words that summarize Asher's millions of droplets of feeling. That causes Robert to snap. He gets out of the car with lightning speed and grabs Asher's forearm.