Dirt

39; Epilogue #2

Princeton 

"Better."

She cocks an eyebrow over her coffee mug at that word, "Better?"

"Better."

"Prince, come on," Stan groans next to me, pouring his coffee. 

I just shoot him a dirty look, "Fine. I'm recovering. School took a hit a few months ago. Now, it's better."

It's a small lie. It is better. Grades lost priority about a year ago when I really started picking up work to make all the payments on time and still have the ability to own saving. I haven't had an A in a core class since my sophomore year. Right before the hospital, I was borderline fluking out of school. Luckily they let me attempt to catch it all up, some teachers took enough pity that I'm fucking psycho again they excepted half the shit I still had dragging down my grade.

She frowns, setting her mug down but keeping her hands wrapped around it for warmth, "That doesn't sound very promising. Education should never 'take a hit'." She sounds as stuck up as I've reimagined. 

I frown back, messing with my piercing. She sounds like I willingly tossed my education out the window. She acts like I never gave a shit about the only lesson she ever left behind.

"It took a simple hit, Diane. I didn't have a whole lot of time but I still tried. I am your son, surprise surprise."

She takes another sip, wrinkles between her eyebrows. She looks older, but not nearly as old as Dad. 

Stan sighs, "I didn't bring you to fight."

"The bus brought me and besides, I'm only doing this as payment on behalf of your temporary custody," I glare hard at him, playing the only card I have left in this situation; Guilt.

"Right, temporary custody," she brings it back to her as I expected, "But it's almost your birthday, right?"

I came out of her.

"Yeah. A couple of weeks."

"As you said bus I'm assuming you're not staying here with Stan."

"You are correct."

Diane purses her lips, probably getting tired of the game I'm playing. I'm not. I could do this all day if I had to. Stan stirs sugar in his coffee, glaring at me from the side of his eye.

"Where are you staying then?"

I sit up, pushing hair away from my face again, "I'm staying with my best friend, Cedar."

"Oh," Diane nods to herself like she's convincing herself its not a lie, "That's awfully nice of him. I hope his parents don't mind too much."

I can't help but smirk, "My friend's mothers practically love me better than my own."

Stan sputters a cough next to me, setting his coffee down while he continues to choke on the hot liquid. He turns to me sharply, wiping his mouth with his napkin as he glares at me so sharply I begin to feel bad. Stan really wants this. Stan wants so bad to rebuild his family all on good terms. The least I can do is make it just a bit easier.

But I'm also not going to back down.

Diane sits straighter, a scowl painting across her face for a minute, "I'm glad you have good friends."

I nod, "Like brothers."

She nods again. Our conversation is stilling again. I take a sip of my water, eyeing my brother next to me so he'll start a new topic.