WE NEED TO TALK
8:57 (2/17)
San Diego, California
"Sit down," Tyler said harshly, nodding towards the chair to his right. "We need to talk."
"Yeah, I figured that," Blake replied as he took the seat next to his father. "But I had to sleep outside last night. I'm a changed man now! I think that was a pretty fair punishment for-"
"Shut up," Tyler stated, cutting him off firmly. "It's too early for this bullshit. You're already in enough trouble."
Alicia walked in after him holding a plate of sliced apples, the dark circles under her eyes expressing her annoying without words. She sat beside Blake and ignored the food in front of her.
"You're not gonna ground me, are you? I'm grown!" Blake cried. His dad winced at his whiny tone.
"Then act grown for once." Tyler sighed before finishing, "You aren't grounded, but you are going to get some more responsibility around here."
"Jesus," Blake groaned. "You mean I have to get a job? Look, I know it's a life lesson and all that, but we have money! Why should I have to-"
"Goddamn, Blake. Have you not figured out that you aren't arguing with us this time? Let me finish."
"Yes, sir," Blake said, raising his hand in a mock salute. "Carry on."
"God, have you always been this much of an ass?" Tyler asked, becoming more exasperated as the conversation wore on.
Blake shrugged. "Probably."
"Okay," Alicia said, cutting in before Tyler could get more upset. "Here's the thing, your cousin Zebulon might be coming to live with us."
"What?" The snarky expression on his face was quickly replaced with one of confusion. "He's, like, twelve."
"Blake, he's eighteen," Alicia shook her head. "And while it isn't certain, it's a big possibility. So we need you to start acting like an adult."
"Okay, but like... why?"
"Why, what? Why should you act like a adult?"
"No, no, why is he coming here?"
Alicia looked to Tyler, who met her eyes briefly before shrugging.
"It's a complicated situation. He's been getting in a lot of trouble recently, and your uncle isn't sure the best way to handle it."
"So, shipping him across the country is the best answer? Yeah, solid logic."
"Blake, could you just drop the attitude for two minutes?" Tyler interjected. "This isn't about you, for once."
"Got it," he replied shortly. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know, maybe try and be a good role model? Don't stay out all night? Maybe even be respectful?"
"Damn, is that all?" Blake met his fathers eyes and quickly added, "Cause I can totally handle that, no problem."
"If that's not enough, we can go back to that idea you had about getting a job," Tyler said with a tight smile.
"Nope! That sounds great to me!" Blake forced a grin. "Are we don't here? Cause I gotta-"
He was cut off by Alicia's phone ringing loudly, and she fumbled to answer it.
"What?" she asked quickly. "Sam, what's this about?"
YOU ARE READING
Line of Best Fit
Teen FictionWhen Zebulon gets kicked out of another school, his dad sends him across the country to finish out senior year with his extended family. He's reluctant to let his guard down, but finds himself surrounded by a supportive family for the first time.
