Lag

1.

Camille

"Put your books and stuff in the trunk. We have to make room." My mother fussed at me as soon as I opened the car door.

I look down in the passenger seat and see the entire seat taken up by a large, elegantly beautiful emerald cake. My mother is the best cake decorator in California, I swear by it.

I can tell by the look on her face and the crease that lines her forehead that she is slightly behind on whatever baking agenda that she's got going on today. I realize that shotgun is not an option and close the door back and end up in the back seat.

"What do we have to make room for?" I ask curiously as I shove my book bag behind my seat letting it fall into the wide and open trunk of the Escalade. She doesn't waste time and shifts the gears into drive causing me to jolt back from the speed of the acceleration. "And you might want to be careful. Don't go too fast mom, you'll ruin the cake." 

"Oh, I'm sorry baby. I just ended up taking on an extra task I really didn't have time for." She glances at me in the rear view mirror with apologetic eyes.

I cant help but smile to myself. She's so beautiful, even when she worries. "What was it?"

She reaches her right arm out to keep the cake steady as she takes a quick sharp turn off of a red light. "Victoria asked me to pick up her son at the church and drop him off to her. Apparently she's got an important interview going on and she wasn't able to get him in time."

I raise my eyebrows, "Victoria? You mean The Victoria? Victoria Timberland?". She nods her head jerkily. Wow, no wonder she was stressed out. I had seen the Timberland kids at school of course but I never spoke to them before. Mom must have been having an anxiety attack all day over this. Mom has done several cakes and and treats and other dishes for the family before because they request for her specifically whenever they have any kind of function because she is just that good at it.

However this was the first time my mother was asked to do something, well, normal for the family. Pick her son up at the church? How odd. And how odd out of all the people she could have done it she chose my mom. 

"Yes, that's the one. She said I was the only one that she could think of could get him for her." The church wasnt far away from school and before I know it shes pulling into to the large cathedral's parking lot. She parks right up at the front door and lets out a sigh of relief to see Victoria's son already waiting for her.

I look out the window to see which son we were carpooling. Up on top if the steps stood the one I've always known to be the smallest. I can't quite remember his name, he wasn't talked about as much as the other siblings. I can see why. He was tall and skinny, he was handsome like his brothers with the styled dark hair, beautiful blue eyes and a strong jawline. However his face didnt hold the same confident and sure cocky smiles the others have. His held a frown and down cast shy eyes. A total look of uncertainty. Almost as if he was fragile.

Mom rolls down her window and smiles up at him. "Hey! I'm Linda Smith. You're mother sent me to pick you up."

He looks at her but doesn't respond, instead he slowly makes his way down the stairs towards the car. I slide over so he could get in on my side. He glances at the cake in the front seat as he opens the back door. 

I watch him as he carefully puts his books down in the seat before he gets in. However Midway into putting his first leg into the car he freezes completely. His leg still stuck in suspention almost comically.

Oh, so this was Lag. I had heard about his condition but never seen it for myself. His face is turning red as he tries to look anywhere but at my face. Failing inevitably, he gives me an almost pleading sort of look as our eyes lock on each other.

I smile at him politely. It's okay. You don't need to be embarrassed. I want to say the words out loud but I feel as if that might embarrass him further so I hope he can see it in my eyes.

However he only stares at me as if I was a foreign object. A moment or two pass before I can see his body physically relax and he is able to finish getting into the car with no issue.

"Are you comfy back there, Kyle? Do you need more room?" My mother asks as she glances into the review at him.

He looks down at his hands, "it's Keenan. I have plenty of room."

His voice is low and soft. Almost soothing. Therapeutic in a way even. "oh, I'm sorry hunny." Mom says. I can see her cheeks turn red from awkward exchange. She's kicking her self mentally for getting his name wrong.

The car reminds quiet for a few minutes before Keenan speaks up again, "The cake is beautiful." He is still looking at his hands but his voice was louder this time.

Mom smiles at him through the mirror, "thank you. It's for the mayor's wife. It's their anniversary today." She's glad that he isn't upset with her and beams warmly.

He returns her smile with the smallest twitch of the mouth. He glances back at me and I give him a smile and nod my head to let him know the compliment was appreciated. My mother doubts her talents and it makes me happy to see her reminded that she is incredible.

The twitch in his mouth disappears and he looks at me the same odd way before. He breaks the gaze and looks back down at his hands.

"Is this the place? I don't see a house." My mom slowly pulls up to a long driveway that seems to lead to no where.

"Oh, it is. My house is actually farther down and behind that tree line over there. But you can let me out here. I like the walk." Keenan tells her.

She turns around in her seat to look at him. "Are you sure? I don't mind taking you the whole way."

He's already opening the door when he replies, "yes, I'm sure. But I appreciate you taking me home. My mother told me to thank you."

"It was no trouble hunny." She says with a smile. He gets out with his books and gives her a half wave as he begins to walk down the gravel without a second look at me.

I frown to myself. How odd. "He was a sweet kid, don't you think?" Mom asks as she puts the car back into drive and head back to her original destination. To you, maybe. "I guess so." I say but her head was too busy thinking about her cake and whether or not the mayor's wife would like it to catch my tone.