Violet Nights

Chapter 30

Of course Lance's mom was questioning him after he got home Why wouldn't she? He'd stayed out late that night, came back with bruises all over him and a bloody nose, and walked in the house as if nothing was wrong. He could definitely understand why she had been all over him, asking what happened, and who did it. Lance knew it wouldn't work, but he tried the old-fashioned "I fell" excuse. It was worth a try, but his mother was a lot smarter than he thought she was. She didn't make him explain himself, but just to promise that he would be careful and clean up before leaving to go to bed. His father didn't say anything about it. Nothing. Nothing at all. He began to think the man just didn't care what happened to him anymore. He already knew that his son wasn't a virgin, and that he sometimes snuck alcohol up to his room. Maybe his dad was just done with having to deal with him. Maybe he was just sick of trying to fix him. He never did tell his mom. At least, Lance didn't think he ever did. If he did, she just didn't say anything. In fact, now that Lance thought about it, he didn't tell anyone in his family. Maybe he didn't want to ruin their views of him by exposing his secrets..because his view was ruined years ago. He was never proud of him. Never. Lance could see why...

"What happened, mijo?? You are coated in bruises? Why are you bleeding?" Lance stood in front of his mother, who was constantly adding question after question, palming every inch of his mangled face. He'd tried to sneak upstairs, but she had emerged from her bedroom too soon. It was actually his nephew who exposed that he was injured. 

"I'm fine, mama. I just...had an accident."

"In your car?? Or with another person?"

Well that didn't work.
Lance didn't say anything after that. He didn't normally get into fights, but his mother knew what wounds from hands looked like. She wasn't stupid. In fact, she was very intelligent. 

"Oh, mijo, why must you hurt people?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Oh...well..go fetch the first-aid kit and clean yourself up.." 

Lance was confused as to why his mother didn't ask about what exactly happened. She wasn't much for getting into his business anyway. She always told him 'whatever the problem is, fix it.' His father was the opposite. When he had entered the kitchen to see him like that, he just sighed and walked past him. He didn't say anything...just sighed..and it was over.

Even after that night, Lance was still thinking about it. His dad, that is. He just wanted to make up all of the things he'd done to disappoint him. Somehow. If there was a way, he would be more than willing to do it. 

Keith? 

He was coming to dinner with them soon, so...maybe is he could get Keith on his dad's good side-- would that even work? He would have to pretend like he liked Keith a lot.  Of course, as a friend. He wasn't into guys, and even if he was, he would never date Keith, of all people. 

Maybe this would work..but he would never know unless he tried.