It Travels with Them

Chapter Three - Take a Hike

Welp back to the present.

"WHERE IS MY GODDAMN BELT!!" I hear Michael bellow.

"DON'T KNOW, STOP YELLING!!" I shout back.

"Oh. My. God. Will you guys be quiet?" Tyler growls. I roll my eyes and smirk, "Yeah, yeah."

Tyler stands and stretches, then looks at his watch, "3:17. Dad should be back soon." 

Michael walks into the room, his face is red, "ALEX! What did you do with my belt!?" He's only wearing boxers. 

"I don't know. And please... put some pants on," I say averting my eyes. He smirks, "What? Am I making you uncomfortable?" He moves closer. 

My face turns red and I walk away, "Sonofabitch," I mutter. I step out into the afternoon sunlight and take a deep breath of the cool air. Walking back towards the building I decide to climb up onto the roof. I stand there for a moment then slap both hands on my face as it turns beet red. "Stupid Michael!!!" I yell. Why did he have to be like that? This was already hard enough. I sit heavily still slightly blushed. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."

I look up as Henry pulls into the parking lot. I grin and jump down from the roof, rolling when I hit the ground. "Hey Henry! Find anything?"

He sighs, clearly disappointed, "Nope, nothing."

My grin fades a little. He sees this, "It's alright kiddo we'll find it, and we won't leave until we do."

I nod still smiling and we walk inside.

"Hey dad," Tyler says as we walk in the door. "Heya boy," Henry responds.

"Nothing?" Tyler asks.

Henry sighs, "Nothing."

Michael barrels into the room, "Dad I need to borrow your belt!!"

"Woah cool your jets Mikey. Why do you need my belt?" Henry says bemused.

"Alex stole mine!" He explodes, pointing to me angrily.

"I did not!! What would I want with your stupid belt anyway!!??" I yell back.

"Everyone just calm down!!" Henry shouts over the bickering. I huff and while Henry isn't looking I flip Michael the bird. He makes a face at me in response.

Seeing this, Tyler facepalms. "Oh my god. You guys..."

This is so stupid, I sit down on my bed. Michael, still mad, walks out, "I'm taking a walk," he grumbles. I watch him go.

Henry shakes his head and grabs a water bottle from the fridge.

Tyler sits next to me, "Do you hate him or something?"

"No," I say "he just irritates me." Tyler sighs, but doesn't say anything more.

After a moment I stand saying, "If you need me I'll be on the roof." Henry nods and tells me to be careful.

I walk out the back door to a ladder to the roof. I climb up and walk to the other end. I stop and pull out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. I light one and take a deep drag, holding the smoke in my mouth before blowing it up into the sky.

I sit with my legs dangling off the roof and look down. I see Michael in the parking lot drinking from a can of beer. I look away, the Motel isn't very high so he's probably already seen me.

I look up at the sky and just watch the clouds move across the horizon.

I finish the cigarette and push it into the concrete of the roof, putting in out. Then I lie back, legs still dangling and watch the sky. After a moment I close my eyes.