SBI family AU

Part #17-Homecoming

Tommy was sitting outside his school gym, looking at the pavement. He heard the music blasting and the sounds of everyone dancing, but here he was outside, alone. He should have taken Techno's advice about Homecoming, but anything Techno told him not to do, he just had to do it to annoy him.

Maybe I should listen to him more, he thought to himself as a car pulled up to him.

The sound of the door quietly closing and footsteps walking towards him finally made him look up. He was met with a worried Dad looking at him, "Did you get hurt?"

Tommy shook his head, "Nah, it was just people jumping up and down. Boring really," which was true, it was a boring experience and a waste of five dollars.

Dad nodded and started walking to the car, Tommy following close behind, "Well let's get you home. Techno had to go to the bookstore for somebody missing their shift and Wilburs, uh, out. So it'll just be us tonight, won't that be fun?"

Tommy looked at the smile on his dad's face as he opened the passenger door and forced a smile on his face too, "Yup, just like old times," Tommy slipped himself into the car and stared out of the window the whole way home, half listening to Phil ramble on.

"Tommy? Are you alright?" Tommy jumped and looked at Phil, who looked concerned again, "We've been home for a couple of minutes. Are you feeling alright?" Phil reached over to touch Tommy's forehead only for the boy to quickly shove him away.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm just tired is all," as Phil pulled back, he got out of the car quickly, heading to his room as fast as possible.

Locking the door behind him, he changed out of the suit and into a hoodie and sweats. He flopped on his bed, glad that he was home and as far away from that gym as possible. He was never really clued in on his family's financial state, but he knew they weren't the richest family in town. Seeing all those kids in their nicest clothes, watching them pull up in their expensive cars, it finally hit him. They were barely able to stay afloat and they were all working to keep Tommy oblivious to it all.

Tommy felt tears prick his eyes. He couldn't believe that they had been lying for so long to his face, that they couldn't trust him with this blatantly obvious truth. He wasn't a child, he could help too. He'd get a part time job too, maybe at the gas station or the grocery store.

There was a knock at the door, "Tommy, do you want hot chocolate and to watch a movie? You can pick one," Phil called through the door.

"Uh, sure," Tommy called out, unlocking and looking at his dad, his lying dad. He put on a fake smile, he'd talk to Techno about getting a job. Techno always knew what to do.

Together, the pair headed downstairs and both fell asleep during the movie.