That Summer in Nevis (Lams)

Chapter 7

3rd Person

"I-I don't really wanna go on the trip..." John lied. He did want to go on the trip.

He wanted to spend time with his friends, he really did, but he didn't want to worsen the relationship he had with his father. It was terrible already.

"A-Are you sure, Johnny?" Peggy asks him.

"Yeah..."

John could feel the tears threatening to spill out. "I'm just gonna go..."

John walked out the door, and onto the street, right beside the side walk.

The summer without all of my friends. He thought. At least we're all going to the same college. I wonder when Dad takes that away too.

"John." He heard a familiar voice say from behind him.

The boy turned around to see George running towards him. "I'll drive you home."

John smiled and nodded.

"So, what's wrong?" George asks.

John was surprised. Usually, he was pretty good at concealing his disappointment and sadness. He'd skipped out on events before.

Nobody needs to know...

"Nothing, I'm fine." He replied as a fake smile strained his face.

Straighten the spine, smile for the neighbors, everything's fine, everything's cool...

The Washingtons gave John a weird feeling. It was a feeling that John only felt with his mom. And it only felt stronger once she passed away.

Ever since John had met the Washingtons, they had been there for him. Especially after his mother's death.

Before John could retreat to his room, George pulled him into a hug. "You're not, son."

John attempted to respond, but a sob unintentionally escaped from his chest. "I-I'm really not..."

George closed the front door, and sat on a nearby bench. While rubbing the boy's back, he whispered, "Let it all out."

After a few minutes, he calmed down, and George asked the typical questions like, "What's wrong? Are you okay?" John answered those questions vaguely, but there was one that he couldn't seem to answer.

"C-Can you repeat the question?" He asked, even though he heard the question very clearly.

"What made you decide not to go on the trip?" George repeated.

John didn't know what to say. He knew if he avoided the question, George would be even more suspicious. He knew George would figure it out eventually, but he didn't want anyone to know about what had been happening.

It would probably only get worse.

"No comment?" He tried to avoid the question.

"You sure?" George knew something was wrong, but he didn't want to force the boy. "I don't wanna force you to say anything, but I can tell there's something wrong."

"Don't tell anyone. Don't do anything."

The man nodded, but was suspicious. He was like the boy's father.

George didn't know Mr. Laurens very well, they had only met a few times when John was being picked up or dropped off. Something seemed off about him, though.

"I don't want to upset my father." John paused. "He's a little...harsh when he's upset."

"How?" The man started rubbing the boy's back comfortingly.

"He said I was ungrateful, and he yelled at me, and he said that he didn't want to pay for my part of the trip."

"We already said that-"

"I know." John interrupted. "I just really don't want to upset him."

"How about I stay with you until your father get's back, and I'll talk to him." George offered.

"Okay."

***

"Hey!" A voice shouted.

John assumed it was his dad, and was correct.

John crept downstairs, and peeked behind one of the walls in the kitchen, so he could see what was going on.

"Who are you, and what the hell are you doing in my house?!" Mr. Laurens shouted again.

"Sir, if you could just let me explain-"

"No! Who are you, and what the hell are you doing in my house?!" Mr. Laurens repeated, cutting off George.

"George Washington. My name is George Washington, and I was dropping off your son." George sighed when Mr. Laurens calmed down. "I actually wanted to talk to you."

"We can talk in my office."

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Okay, so where I am, it's almost 2 am. Guess who woke up, and decided to write bc she couldn't go back to sleep? Me.

Yay! My other book got 1.1k views! (edit: 9/15/2020: and now this one has 1.2k! Even if this is some of the cringiest shit I've ever read, I'm proud of you. Look at where you are, look at where you started.)

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