the hamptons | t.chalamet

15

"morning, caerus." my father greets me when i walk into the kitchen.

i'm surprised to see him enjoying a cup of coffee in his pajamas. 

"oh. you're still home?" never in my entire life have i ever seen my father at home in the morning. 

he nods and puts his coffee down. matty quietly slides me a plate of waffles with a small smile before going back to the stove. i've mentioned that the home staff always get really stiff and unnatural whenever i bring up my father in conversation so having him sit right in front of us is definitely scaring matty.

"i'm meeting ben for lunch and decided to take the morning off." 

i swallow a piece of my waffle harshly. 

ben is xavier's dad. our parents have been business friends for ages and the herrendale clan is one of johansen's strongest parternships.

but i haven't seen or spoken to xavier since the party on friday when i left after he yelled at me. i know he got back safely because someone graciously informed me that he had gone and hooked up with a girl who graduated from st. augustine's a few years ago. he won't get in any trouble because as far as the rest of the world knows, his loving girlfriend threw him a fantastic birthday party and that's the end of the story.

it's pretty pathetic since every teenager here is aware of our peculiar relationship but as long as we hold hands and smile at our dads' events, all is swell.

"sounds fun." i reply curtly.

the kitchen goes silent except for the sizzling of whatever matty is cooking on the stove.

"i heard the party was a success." my dad suddenly says.

i didn't see my dad all weekend because he was on a short business trip to one of his offices in new york and it's not like i ever text or call him first.

"it was fun. lots of people came."

"did xavier enjoy himself?"

i nod stiffly. "i think so."

"well that's good. he deserves a good birthday celebration."

i hum a response.

the room goes back to a nauseating silence and i eat as fast as i can so i can get out of here.

"caerus, you're cutting it real close again." terrence's voice on the intercom cuts the air and i mentally thank him.

"i'm coming!" i call into the hallway where i know he's standing by the door.

matty gets onto the stool and retrieves my pill box. i try not to look at my father watching the whole process with calculating eyes. 

i pop the monday compartment open and find three different pills and two m&m candies. i share a smile with matty over our little secret before easily washing all the pills down with a cup of water.

"how are you liking this new medication plan?" my father pipes up.

i look over and find him staring at me like i'm a puzzle. "um... good?"

"do you feel better than before?"

not in the slightest. if anything, this new plan is making me more tired and sluggish but i guess that's the goal for him.

i nod anyways. "yep. much better." i lie and smile a bit to sell it.

satisfied, he goes back to his coffee and phone.

matty raises his eyebrows at me, silently asking if i'm alright, and i nod at him too. i scoop the two chocolate pieces out of the compartment and pop them into my mouth before hopping off the stool.