Future Complex

8.

Ethans p.o.v 

Each time we hung out I felt more and more comfortable. I think that is to be expected. We were suddenly spending almost all free time together.
But in the passing week I've noticed that something wasn't right.
It's been almost a month now since we started hanging out and Dominic has been acting kind of... weird lately.

I looked over At him but he seemed to not pay attention to me at all. He was somewhere far far away from here.

"What are you thinking about again?" I asked while we were walking to his car. I waited for me the entire practice just so we could go to my house. Mum has been pressuring me into inviting him for dinner for some time and I've finally had enough confidence to actually do it.
"Stuff" he said with his head still in the clouds.
"Thanks for being specific" I groaned and opened the door to the passengers seat while he was already getting into the car.

We got on the road. Silence. I can't say I didn't appreciate it though, because I had enough mental space to properly focus on the stuff we were passing by. I felt like a child. Just being entertained by looking out the window.

I could feel something in the air however. Dominic seemed on edge. But I just dismissed at as me being paranoid.

My therapist started seeing some improvements in me, without me even telling him about Dominic.
But when I did tell him, he said to me 'be cautious but not paranoid'.
And I decided to take his words to heart.

"Hey can I sleep over too?" He asked completely out of nowhere. I was a bit startled by the sudden question but I answered without hesitation.
"Yeah, sure. I'm almost certain mum won't have a problem with it" that was true. In fact I think she will be overjoyed. I didn't let anyone sleep over since Luke. And that was a long long time ago.
But it's not like anyone wanted to sleep over at my place anyways.
"Cool" was the only thing he replied to me and started fully focusing on the road again.

My suspicion was still growing stronger but not enough for me to actually confront him about it.

"Do you think it'll be awkward?" He already interrupted my precious silence so I didn't want to go back to it.
"Dunno. I hope not. I'll try to not make it awkward" yeah, I think my mum will take care of that.
"But we don't have to ponder much longer. We're here"
He pulled over on our driveway and we both got out of the car.

With Dominic closely behind me I opened the front door.
To no surprise my nose got hit With a delicious smell.

Without saying anything we both went into the kitchen only to see the dinner table to be properly made and my mum already putting the food on three plates. I can't say I didn't fell kind of emberassed already. 

"hey boys" she said, not lifting her eyes from what she was doing. I was still able to see her huge smile.

"Hello miss Reid" Dominic pulled that charming smile of his back at her. She gasped when she looked up at him. She put everything down and walked over to us.

"Dominic? You've grown so much! I remember you still smaller than me" Funny. Now he was towering over her.

"It's been a long time yes. You are still looking amazing as ever though" Eww what a slimy bastard. He will hear me complain about that later.

"Oh don't be so polite" she waved her hand in front of her face. " But I'm not going to say you're wrong" and she puffed her hair.

"MUM!" I hissed at her but she just laughed and walked back to the plates.

"It's good you boys are here already. I was just preparing the food. You can go sit down if you want" she said, completely dismissing me.

"I'll probably go wash my hands first. Ethan, could you tell me where the bathroom is please?" He still had that semi-polite smile that was making my skin crawl.

"First door to the left" I pointed out the kitchen door. With a simple but pretenciously classy 'thank you' he left the room.

I immediately speedwalked to my mother. I didn't get a chance to voice my complains though.

"Ethan, I don't want to put any pressure on you, but if don't catch this fish I will"

"MOTHER-!"

"I'm joking! He does seem like a nice young man though. I'm glad you decided to give him another chance" I just huffed in response to that and washed my hands in the kitchen sink.

Dominic came back a second after that and took a seat. I sat down next to him because I was not letting my mother do that after what I've just heard her say.

She put a plate full of food in front both of us and also herself, sitting down in the process.

Dominic quickly thanked her for the food and started digging into it like a goddamn animal. All the manners were out the window. I think my mothers perception of him being an elegant young gentleman disappeared right there and then. Comical, really.

"So...How are you doing Dominic? How are your parents?" She asked a bit timidly. 

"I'm doing okay. A lot of football. I enjoy it though. My parents on the other hand...They are doing great! Mum is always away on business trips nowdays and my dad is happy taking care of me and my siblings" he said with food still in is mouth. It was really making me laugh on the inside.

"What about you? How is...Dave, was it? How is he?" he asked and me and my mum looked at each other, horrified.

"You know..." mum took a breath and gathered her thoughts. "Dave is in jail now" she said in a cold tone. 

Dave was my mums boyfriend for a long portion of my childhood and early teenagehood.  A while after my mum and dad got divorced she met him. I was still small but I clearly remember never liking him.

Abusive son of a bitch that was tormenting me and my mother. The same son of a bitch that made my mum cry more times than I can count. The same asshole that brought the police to our house multiple times. The same motherfucker that made me fear physical contact. 

"OH! I'm so sorry I didn't want to bring up a sensitive topic..." so far so good on not making it awkward Dominic.

"We're doing fine. He's in jail and he's not getting out soon" and that was as much as I was going to say on that topic. I knew I had to take control of the conversation for it to go smoothly.

"Mum? We're doing good, right?" I looked over at her and smiled. She smiled back.

"Yes. We are doing very good"

The rest of the evening went fairly okay. I didn't let Dominic or my mum slip into another dangerous territory.

Mum spared me doing the dishes for tonight and let me and Dominic go into my room right away.
Finally I felt like I could breathe properly.

We got to my room and I immediately fell face first into the bed.

"Sup?" Dominic said right after closing the door behind him.

"That was exhausting" I muttered with my face buried in a pillow.

"How was that exhausting? It was cool. Your mum is great" he sat next to me on the bed.

I rolled over so he could hear me properly.
"I know she is. But you probably didn't notice how much I had to control the flow of the conversation, did you?" I didn't mean to sound angry or condescending. I was just explaining.
"I did actually. And I don't get why you did it. There was no need for it. Your mum could tell me herself if she didn't want to talk about something, and I'd do the same to her. You're being paranoid and kinda selfish dude. I think you only did it for your own comfort. And not me or your mum" I already had my mouth open to protest but he continued.
"You were so scared of it going the wrong direction that instead of that you made the convo stagnate" I was taken back by all that he said. How did HE come to this conclusion?
And what's worse? He might be right.

"Maybe...maybe you're right. Sorry. These things just make my stomach flip upside down. When you mention that stuff with Dave... I guess it send me into a place where I did not want to be" I looked at him with an apologetic smile.
"Hey, totally cool. If you'd like to tell me about it...I'm all ears okay? If you need to talk about something I'll listen" he told me and I felt my heart drop. I hope my suspicions are wrong...