Knightly in Shining Armor

Lukas

           

Bennett had left a few days ago, and Luann was in Ireland visiting family. Lourdes was at work or class or something, so I had time to kill. I decided to call one of my brothers to see what he was up to. I decided to phone Bradly. He was annoying enough to not answer, so I called Sawyer instead. He answered on the second ring.

          "Hello?"

          "Hey, Sawyer," I replied. "How's everything at home?"

          "No better than usual I guess. Except now they have no one to take it out on, so they're lashing out on all of us. Well, except Lucy for some reason."

          I sighed. "Is Louis okay?"

          "Mostly. He's wondering why father keeps yelling at him."

          "May I speak with him?" I sat down at the counter in the kitchen.

          "Yeah, let me get him." Sawyer shuffled about in the background, looking for Louis. Eventually, there was a younger voice on the phone.

          "Lukas?" Louis asked.

          "Yep, it's me," I smiled.

          "When are you coming home? I miss you and I want someone else to play with besides Phil. He's the worst."

          I laughed. "I'm well aware. Ask mum and dad, they're the ones who sent me abroad."

          "I don't wanna talk to them," Louis protested. "They keep yelling, and I don't like yelling. Earnest and Joey won't even leave their rooms."

          "That bad, huh?" I murmured. That was bad. I couldn't even remember the last time it was like this. I had to have been Louis's age, 9 years. "Sorry kiddo. I'll see if mum will let me come home soon. Or at least visit."

          "Yay! I wanna see you!" Louis exclaimed. "Also, I learned how to do a backflip. It's pretty cool. You'll have to see when you come home."

          "That sounds fantastic Louis. I'll hopefully be seeing you soon, yeah?"

          "Yeah! Bye Lukas, love you!"

          "Love you too, Louie." I hung up and sighed. I'd have to get home soon before things got even worse. I had nothing better to do, so I decided to read up on New York City so I could do a little better on my own.

          A couple of hours of research later, my phone began to ring again. I saw my father's contact blinking up at me from the screen. I answered it.

          "Hello?"

          "Lukas," he curtly greeted me. "I assume you're causing Lourdes no trouble?" I thought back to the storming out, arguments, getting beaten up, and getting drunk.

          "Nope, none at all."

          "That's funny because it's come to my attention that there was an internet post by a bartender about you being drunk out of your mind on a Saturday evening." I cringed as he spoke.

          "I, um..." I had nothing to say to defend myself. "Lourdes and I took care of it."

          "Really now," My father drawled, his voice getting harder by the second.

          "Dad, I promise, it's not gonna happen again. It was a lapse in judgment after an unexpected incident."

          "And why do I find that hard to believe?" He accused. "Could it be because I've seen you do the same here in London and have Sawyer or Bradly bail you out of trouble?" I had no reply. "We sent you to America so you would stop making these stupid decisions. I see now that it has been in vain due to your lingering privilege."