Hiding Behind a Mask

Chapter 7-Secrets

Lance sat around the house during Sunday as the rest of his family got ready for church. He didn't bother putting on something dressy, he wasn't feeling to good. His Mom runs in yelling at everyone to hurry to the car cause service was starting soon. Lance got up and followed his siblings to the car. They left their dirt driveway and rode all the way across town to their small church.

The family all sat in a booth and waited for service to start. Lance saw Rico climb into the booth to sit next to him. As soon as Rico was victorious he leans against Lance and smiles. Lance rubs Rico's head and waits.

"You okay Lances?" Lance looks down at Rico who was staring dead at him with big brown eyes. He nods.

"Yeah I'm fine Rico."

"You sad?" He said. "Broder not like dances?"

"No I like dances Buddy." Lance said. "I just... didn't have a good time."

"Why?"

"I got into a fight with someone who I thought was a friend and-" He felt a pair of blue eyes staring him down. If it wasn't for his baby brother he would've ran out in fear. Rico leans against Lance again.

"Is okay Lances. You make up with friend soon... friends never stay mad at each other." Rico said. Lance smiles at Rico and hugs him softly.

"I know." He said happily.

Lance curled into a ball as Rebecca yells at him. He whines hoping it would end soon, well God wasn't answering prayers at the moment because Lance was still getting yelled at.

"¿Tienes que luchar contra a ese mocoso estúpido en un baile? ¡No puedo creer Lance! Pensé que ustedes dos estaban en igualdad de condiciones, pero no tenía que ser un idiota otra vez y escoge a usted! ¿Por qué molestarse salir con él ¿EH? No es un buen mocoso estúpido lo tanto odio! Juro que cuando lo veo otra vez que será el último de él! "

Lance covered his ears and refused to listen to her anymore. She saw he wasn't listening and began to hit him with a pillow.

"DO. NOT. IGNORE. ME!" She shouts with each hit. Lance whines trying to avoid his crazy sister.

"I'm sorry! I saw him at the dance and tried talking to him! He's... He got mad at me!" Lance whines. Rebecca smacks him one last time and groans.

"You keep walking up to him and trying to talk to him. What are you trying to accomplish Lance?"

"Nothing... after a while it felt natural to talk to him. Like nothing was going to happen." Lance remembers what happened so well, Keith's face burned into his mind. "I made him cry Rebecca."

"He feels emotion? What a surprise." She said in a monotone voice. Lance threw the pillow at her and sat up.

"I feel so bad." Lance said. "I want to say something to him, apologize... but I didn't do anything. He doesn't want to get close to anyone, he said he was afraid of hurting me." Lance looks at his sister. "What do I do?"

"Let him be alone and never talk to him again."

"Give me advice I'll actually listen to!" Lance said. Rebecca shrugs and turns the TV on. She sat next to Lance and rubs his back.

"He doesn't want you in his life. No need to force your way into a friendship with him. If he wants friends then he'll open up. You have no right to invade his life." She said. Lance still feels like Keith wanted to hang out with him.

He always came up and talked to him, starting conversations, offering help. Lance didn't know what he did to make Keith hate him.

"I want to know what I did Rebecca." Lance said. She sighs knowing nothing will stop Lance from trying to befriend him.