Not All The Same ⭐(Completed)

Chapter 1: Denial.

"Aren't you going to school today? Do you plan to sleep in your bed all day long, Colby?" His mother shouted, followed by a series of countless knocks on the wooden door before he heard a helpless sigh and receding footsteps.

Groaning as he sat up, he rubbed his sleepy eyes and leaned against the headboard of his bed, closing his eyes and stretching his legs. The sun had already risen, casting golden flakes of light inside his tiny room. He checked the alarm clock on the nightstand beside his bed and realized it was dead. That was why it hadn't alerted him.

Swinging his legs off the bed, he took a quick shower and dressed for school, mentally taking note not to use up too much time. He was already late as it was—the time on his wrist watch said eight so he grabbed his schoolbag, shuffled in as many books as he needed and went downstairs.

His mother was eating breakfast by the counter in the kitchen and she appraised him with a curious look as he entered. "I thought you weren't going to school today. Have never seen you slept much in the morning before. You're always an early person."

Seth grabbed an apple and poured himself a cup of coffee, "I slept late last night. Couldn't get much of sleep with all the noise from our neighbours."

Holly rolled her eyes and took another sip of her coffee. "The neighbours or the stupid wrestling stuff you watch?"

"Mom, they're not stupid." His voice softened a bit as he added, "I don't watch wrestling on Sunday nights and you know it." Holly's eyebrows rose a bit and Seth groaned.

Sure she'd caught him multiple times watching wrestling when he's supposed to be sleeping especially on Sundays. But he had promised her on her birthday three months ago that he won't do it again. He didn't want her to cut off his allowance. He needed it. He needed her. "I swear it was the neighbours that kept me awake last night and not WWE."

Holly applied peanut butter on her slice of bread. Not a fan of peanut butter, Seth looked away and scrunched up his nose. "I'm sorry. I know you're trying your best. It's not easy leaving something you. . . . love. Old habits die hard, as they say." Holly slid a bowl his way, "This is your lunch. Eat it on time and please no more working out after school. You're growing lean, Colby."

"Seth," he corrected with a sly smile, "Old habits die hard indeed. Don't worry I will eat my lunch but only on one condition?"

"What?"

"Let me visit the wrestling school. I heard it is open today and I will like to take a look at it. You know, see for myself what it is like. Nothing more."

Holly shook her head, "I'm sorry Colby but you can't. At least not today."

Seth's brown eyes grew dark, "Why not? I've been behaving. I sleep early, I do my homework, I study. Hell, I even throw out the trash and come to your work to help you whenever I can."

Holly beamed at him. He really was trying. He has been putting his best efforts into everything ever since he talked to his dad. Well step-dad for that matter but whatever the case, Rick always seemed to have a better effect on him than she ever had. "Colby, I'm sorry but not today. New neighbours are coming and I told Annette that I'll have you help her with the stuffs. She's coming with her sixteen year old daughter so you see, they'll need a helping hand."

Seth ran a hand through his short, black hair, cursing softly. Here he was dreaming the entire time last night about visiting the wrestling school on the other side of the street and his mother had sold him off to help a bunch of new people he didn't even know. He grabbed his schoolbag in a frenzy, gulped down the last of his coffee and slammed the cup on the table making his mother jump. "I'm not helping anyone. You should have told me beforehand. I've plans and now I have to leave everything because once again you took a decision without telling me."

"Colby, please let's not fight this early in the morning," Holly pleaded, hanging her head.

"It is fucking eight in the morning Holly," he hissed.

Holly shot to her feet, her sliced bread forgotten and her features hardening into a sizzling glare. "No swearing in this house. I thought I already made that clear to you. And stop calling me Holly. I'm your mother and you will show me the respect I deserve. I have every right to make any kind of decision that I see fit according to your life and as long as you live under this roof, in the house that I bought, you will do as I say."

Seth chuckled but it was more in bitterness than anything else. He grabbed another apple and wiped it on his dark pants. "More like the house that you and dad bought. I would've appreciated it if you will include him in your decisions because unlike you, I still consider him as my father."

"Colby, I know that," her voice had softened but her eyes were still burning. "I'm trying okay. I'm trying to be everything you need. Just give me a chance. Let me in again, Colby."

Mother and son gazed at each other for what seemed like forever. Seth could see how much she wants this. How much she wants for things to go back to the way they used to be but without his father here with them, it was pointless.

"I'm going to school," he announced, heading for the door.

Holly's voice stopped him, "Be sure to come back early from school to help our new neighbours. I promised them you will help and you aren't going to make me look like a fool. Be careful." Before she could get her last words in, he had already opened the door and left.