Chasing Pavements

A Nice Exchange

STEF POV

Seeing my son beat up was a difficult pill to swallow especially since I had no clue he was being bullied. It was hard to come to terms with even if I knew his appearance had changed a good amount over the last few weeks I assumed he was ok. But I assumed wrong and I should have asked more, I should have inquired more, and I should have made him feel like he could talk to me regardless of everything that was going on. That was my error and I felt terrible about it.

FLASHBACK

"Alright young man you are good to go. I'd just ice it for a week and put the ointment on it like I suggest Ms. Foster."

"I will be sure too. Thank you."

"Of course. And you take care Jude. Alot of people out there just aren't nice.But your a good guy. Stay that way." He says as my son smiles as I hold Marie and my lap and Frankie sits beside me coloring. It was late since we had to wait over two hours and I called out sick from work. Sure that money was something I could really use but Jude came first and so did my other kids. 

"Alright baby boy lets go home." Nodding his head I gather up Frankie's crayons and bundle her up along with Marie as Jude holds his sisters hand.  As we all gather in my old camero I strap the babies in as I look to my son who sits in the passenger seat. "Jude, I want to know why you felt more comfortable telling a stranger rather then me what was going on with you baby. You know you can always come to me and I've told you that from the time you were born. Why love?"

"Mama, you have alot going on." He says as he plays with the zipper on his coat.

"That's not an excuse Jude. It's just not. You are always, always able to come to me no matter what in the hell I have going on. You are my son and I will always be there for you regardless of what is going on. You know this." I say sternly but with a sense of softness as he looks back at me with his big brown eyes. "How long has this been going on?"

"I don't know." He shrugs.

"Jude you do know. That's not a good enough answer my love. You and I have always been close. You barely know Lena."

"It happened by accident Ma. Those boys jumped me a few weeks ago and she saw them and pulled them off. She threatened to rearranged their faces if they didn't leave me alone. So many days she walks me home from school and I just started to talk to her." He blurts out as I can see tears run down his face and I gently grab his hand. "I didn't want you to worry ok? You have enough with Brandon being in jail and taking care of me and Frankie and your two jobs. I thought I could handle it myself. But I couldn't ok?I'm sorry, OK? I'm sorry." He says getting even more upset as I pull him in for a hug.

"It's ok baby. It's ok."

FLASHBACK ENDS

Sure I felt like shit right now as I light a smoke and take a seat on our pouch knowing I needed to talk to my neighbor. I had really been an ass the last few weeks even if she played her part in the beginning I could have stopped it when she asked if our kids could play. But I was irritated with her I really was as I soon hear her door open and turn to look right at her. Well it was now or never.

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LENA POV

"Sorry I didn't mean to disturb just came to take my trash out." I say as she turns to look at me with a much softer expression then she ever has.

"No it's fine. You aren't at all."

"How is Jude? Is he ok?" I ask treading lightly as she puffs her smoke and nods her head. For the first time I could see the stress on her face and I knew what happened to her son was killing her. It would kill me too as I stood were I was with my garbage bag.

"Yeah, he's ok.  Look, I suck at certain things and being polite is one of them. Jude told me what you did for him and I want to thank you for that."

"Of course.  But listen I want you to know I wasn't going behind your back in terms of talking to Jude. I encouraging him to tell you what was going on. But today when he knocked on my door and I saw him, I knew I needed to say something."

"No I get it. I do. Look I'm sorry for being an ass to you."

"I was an ass first. I could have been more polite when I initially spoke to you. I have sometimes an issue with my tone." I laugh as I see a small smile form on her face.

"Well we most certainly have that in common now don't we Lena?"

"Definitely." I smile as she continues to stare at me with a good amount of intensity. Jesus she was rather intense. "But apology accepted. You were probably fed up and I'm sorry for all the noise. And these excessive noise I made after."

"Apology accepted."  I say as she looks away rather shyly. Something I really didn't expect from her.

"So my son son you threatened to knife those boys?" She laughs as I bust out laughing myself. "Where in the hell are you from?"

"Detroit. I'm not as nice as I appear."

"Ha no shit! I pegged you all wrong!"

"Yeah most people do. I've been around the block Stefanie."

"No skidding. And Stef is fine." She corrects as I nod my head.

"You got it Stef. But let me know how Jude is and anything I can do to help let me know."

"Sure. And there is one thing actually." 

"Sure."

"My daughter really does want to place with yours. She's been bugging the shit out of me about it and anytime you want her to come over or I can watch them from the living room."

"I'm sure Mariana would love that."

"You have a son too I see."

"Yes Jesus. They are twins. He's a bit of handful." I laugh as she smiles again.

"Well he's welcome too. Anytime."

"Thanks. Same as well Stef. Have a good night."

"You too Lena." She says heading back inside her home as  a warm smile forms across my face. No Lena. Nope don't go there. She's clearly straight and I was with the twins father. Or was I really?