Girl Meets Closet

Chapter 4: Girl Meets Beliefs

------Jason's POV------

After Mrs. Matthews had stopped by, I had kept true to my promise and restrained myself from dancing.

Ever since Dad left us, I'd dropped football and taken up dance. He'd never really supported me, always wanting me to grow up a proper man, and had enrolled me in peewee football since I was young. Maybe he wanted to live his dreams through me.

So I'd tried to please him, researching all the greats. And when I found out that they took dance classes to help with dexterity, I'd asked dad if I could take ballet and ballroom classes.

Course, that didn't go over well with him, and my butt hurt for weeks on end after that. He told me that real men didn't take ballet, no matter how many examples I showed him.

So when he left, I asked mom if I could take the classes, and she made sure that I could take them as often as I could. Now, after about three years, I was pretty good at dancing. Nowhere near professional, but good enough for me.

Anyways, when I had finished bagging the pancakes and putting them in the freezer, Mom came out in her robes. She froze when she saw the still steaming pile of pancakes, and the clean rooms. "Jason, done with your chores already?"

I smiled while grabbing the pancakes to set them down on the table, before saying, "Yeah, I woke up early to get them done. I've got to meet one of my friends for homework today, so I thought I'd get them done quickly."

"Oh." Mom sat down at the table, ready to dig in. "But, what about Brandin?"

I froze, memories of last night coming crashing in. "Well, the sooner I get this done, the sooner I can go visit him. I already told him that I would be pretty busy today."

"Jason, if you want to talk-"

"Mom, I'm fine. He's not leaving, not like dad did!" I snapped.

Mom just looked down at her breakfast before saying, "Of course not. I... I just want you to be happy."

I sighed before pulling a chair next to her and sitting down. "I'm happy Brandin's awake. Really, I am. You know that I bottle my feelings right?"

She sighed. "I wish you wouldn't. The therapist is supposed to be helping you express yourself."

"No offense, but the therapist is saying words, words that don't help. I've tried everything, but maybe this is something we need to work through in a different way," I said, before pulling my mom in a hug.

"Ok. Do you want me to try to find a new therapist?"

"I mean, if you want. I don't care," I mumbled into her shoulder. I let go of the hug and checked the time.

9:45.

"Well, I should go. I'm meeting Lucas at 10:30," I said, standing and putting the chair back.

"Ok, do you need any subway fare?"

I shook my head, before waving and saying, "Love ya Mom!"

"I love you too, Jason. I'm here if you want to talk," she offered, looking at me.

"Thanks mom, I know."

She smiled before turning back to her breakfast, and I popped my earbuds in, smiling as the comforting vibes of Sigala's "Feels Like Home" started playing.

Nodding my head to the music, I opened the window and headed out. I could've gone out the front door, but some of the best greenery, in my opinion, could be found on the fire escape, as Mrs. Cooper made sure to take care of the ivy and the flowers on her balcony (of sorts). Plus, it was a little faster to the street.