The King And His Nerd. #1

chapter 5

“So, am i too fabulous for you, or what?” i say, wiggling my eyebrows and striking the most ridiculous pose i can think up. Leo takes a drink of soda as he glances up, and the fizzy drink comes out of his nose as he laughs. Emily looks up from her conversation with Mrs. smith. She lets out little snort-like giggles. Jessie looks at me with something like fondness. Felix and Debbie followed us as they chatted with Naomi, who was dressed up in a beautiful green dress with her wavy brown locks tied up with a ribbon. Naomi dances up to the box of pizza and takes a slice. She yawns, and i scoop her up.

“Alrighty then, bedtime,” i say. I sigh out of the office, with Leo and Emily following. Emily’s mother hands me the papers as i asked, and we load up into my truck. I drive back to the house. As i park the truck, i sigh. 

“Thanks for putting up with that.” i yawn. I grab my stack of papers and hop out of the truck.

“I didn't mind. They gave us a tour of the building, and Mrs, smith told me more about you, so i thought it was fun.” Emily says, not realizing she said it until it came out.

“Wait, i didn't mean it like that- I’m sorry that sounded creepy-

OH  MY GOD EMILY!!!” she covers her face and squats down into a ball. I try to keep myself from laughing so i don't embarrass Emily any further, but an ugly snort of laughter comes out, and once it starts i cant stop.

“I only meant that your sort of an odd and mysterious person. I mean, you're super buff but you can cook like it's mothers' home cooking. You seem like you are aggressive and love to fight, but you are actually kind and gentle.” she blushes because of her honesty, but obviously doesn't want a misunderstanding.

“Yep, that's the ian i know. I remember in 5th grade, Ian had a different cat named Mr. Dibbles, and he brought it to school because he didn't want him to be lonely.” Leo chuckles, and I sigh. I set the sleeping Naomi down in the couch. I pat her cheek.

“Hey Naomi, you gotta wake up. I don't want to accidentally give you a panic attack in your sleep just because i tried to get you out of a dress.” Naomi sits up groaning and rubbing her eyes.

“Ok, thank you bubby.” she wobbles towards the stairs, hand on the wall to keep her balance. I collapse down on the couch.

“W-why would she have a panic attack in her sleep? I mean, your her brother. Your probably the only one she trusts other than your friends.” I sign, not wanting to tell her. I sigh again.

“Ok, if i tell you why, you have to promise me that if you see her in the hallways at school and she seems a bit lost, can you please go try and calm her down?” i run my hands through my messy hair. 

Emily nods frantically, trying to understand.

“One night, last year i came home late from school with Leo, Axel, and Isaac. I was getting ready to make dinner so i had a pan in my hand, and i went to go find Naomi to ask her what she wanted to eat,” i start shaking, but i push the words out.

“I walked into her room and found our father pressing her against the wall, and his pants were down. Naomi cried out for help, and i knocked my father out with the pan, and-” the bile that was rising in my throat tries to force in out of my throat. My breathing becomes unsteady. My mouth fills with a metal taste, and the nauseous feeling in my stomach grows, making me dizzy. I dive over the couch and make a dash for the garbage can. My dinner comes pouring out of my mouth. I groan as my stomach muscles scream in pain. Leo hurries into the kitchen and rummages through the medicine cupboard. I recognize my bottle of anxiety and PTSD pills. He shoves it in my hand, filling a glass of water. He hands me the glass of water and sits down next to me.

“Take them, Ian,” Leo orders me, being as firm as he can without making it worse. I grab the glass of water from his hand and wander back to the living room. I sit back down on the couch, Leo sitting down next to me. Emily looks completely shocked and utterly bewildered. I open the pill bottle, and down one of them. I sit waiting for the pill to kick in. I set the glass down on the coffee table. 

“I’ll be right back. I’m just going to Mrs. Jones’s” i say, standing up, unsteadily. I slip my shoes on and wobble out the door. I cross the grass and knock on the door. When the old woman opens the door she smiles.

“Hey Ian, did you come for the guitar?” she asks. When i nod, she disappears into the house. She comes back with a large and rather heavy-looking guitar-shaped case. She shoves it into my arms.

“Take it and shoo! I’m bingeing Disney movies with my grand-daughter!” she tells me excitedly. I crack a small smile. I sling the case over my shoulder and wander back into my house. I plop back down on the couch and get to work. Emily and Leo watch as I clean the guitar and re-string, and tune the old wooden instrument. I take an experimental strum and wince. Then i laugh weakly.

“Holy shit, this thing is old.” I sigh as I continue to tune it. Eventually, everything is perfect, and I sigh as I let the guitar sit in my lap.

“Do you really know how to play that?” Emily asks. Leo grins.

“Of course he can play it. When he used to play, it's like the world went silent just to hear it.” Leo tells her excitedly. He glances at me. I sigh, and pluck at the strings gently forming a sweet melody. The song fills the room, and I sing along softly. My voice starts out rough and deep, but as I continue to sing it gets easier to sing along with the tune. I sigh as the song ends as soon as it started. I place the guitar back in its case. I walk upstairs, and collapse on my bed. I can hear Leo and Emily talking softly, but I don't care.