"Morning Jen" Dan said while pouring himself a cup of coffee and taking a seat next to his sister "Where's dad?"
"He went to go get milk" Jenny replied "Is everything ok with you two?"
"Oh just splendid"
"Wow, it's a little early for sarcasm"
They were interrupted mid conversation by the sound of their front door opening. Rufus placed the bag on the counter and looked between his children.
Jenny could feel the tension I the air, it couldn't go unmissed. She buried her face in her coffee cup
"You go any further down in that cup Jen and we'll have to send out a search party"
"What you doing up so early Dan? I thought you wouldn't rise until….hmm 3pm" Rufus sarcastically shot his way
"OK stop! you both need to deal with whatever issues you have because I hate being amongst it all. The arguments, the hostility, your meant to be adults, can't we just go back to the way things used to be?" Jenny pushed her plate away walked out and called Eric to see if he would meet her early for school, not being able to stand the atmosphere any longer
"Way to go dad, your pissing off both your kids. You're on a roll" Dan snorted
"Quiet and less of the language boy" Rufus spat back "What was that all about last night Dan? Do you really think I don't care and neglect your feelings?"
"Yes I do" Dan said still not amending his current attitude or tone
"We'll talk about it when you drop the attitude" Rufus sternly spoke
"Always got to be on your terms, your way or no way, not that I want to talk to you anyway" Dan said under his breath
"What was that?" Rufus questioned
"Nothing, I'm going to school"
"Omg your actually going to show your face at school, I thought you had become to cool for education, lately you prefer to pissing your future away, looks like my little boy is growing up" Rufus barked
"Now you lay off the sarcasm" Dan shouted back and picked up his bag. "I won't be here after school, I'm meeting my friends"
"No, you'll come straight home even if I have to meet you at the gates and drag you by your hand, and your not seeing your so called 'friends' anytime soon either"
"Dad I'm not 10. I said I'll be home later tonight and don't tell me who I can and cannot see" Dan said through gritted teeth. He put on his coat and twisted the door handle, opening it.
Rufus sprinted over to him and jammed the door shut trapping him inside
"I am your father and you will do as I say now sit down you're not going anywhere until we figure out the cause of your major change in personality, I don't even believe you were going to school anyway"
"How many times, there is no change" Dan spat "Maybe you just haven't been looking hard enough at me
"Here we go, I've completely deserted you now have I? I don't think so, but no change huh? Then how come I found pot in your room Dan. DRUGS" Rufus said, disappointment written all over his face at his eldest child,"this is not you son" he softened his tone
"It was only pot dad; it's not going to kill me. I'm going through a bad patch is all"
"Only pot" Rufus choked out completely bewildered at Dan's casual thoughts of the drug "Only pot" he replied again pacing the floor. "If it's a bad patch then let me in, let me help you"
"It's not that big a deal" Dan said
"Dan just……your making this worse, it is a big deal, do you want to become a drug addict because pretty soon you wont be happy just smoking "only pot" He imitated his son's casual thoughts
"A drug addict? Don't be so over dramatic it's pot not cocaine, loads of teenagers do it" Dan said knowing he was making excuses for himself
"Not yet it isn't. Dan your not loads of teenagers, you're my son"" Rufus tried to get through to him
"I'm not addicted to anything, I don't need it it's just that the guys…
…Oh, the guys, you don't need people like them in your life, they are no good for you, there trouble an you know it"
"Leave them out of this" Dan said defensively
"Why are you protecting them?" Rufus said deflated, he thought he was getting somewhere before Dan snapped
"I'm not protecting them don't put words in my mouth, I'm sick of talking about this with you" Dan stood up and went into his bedroom, slamming the door
Rufus sighed to himself but was pleased he had got at least some issues off his chest. He just wanted his son back. He let Dan cool off in his room while he cleaned the kitchen and wrote music he didn't want to push Dan when he had finally started opening up to him.
……………………………………………………………………….
Eric and Jenny had left school for lunch and came to the loft. She had forgotten a book for her afternoon classes. Rufus had made them Turkey sandwiches.
"Dan" Rufus knocked on his door "I made you a sandwich for lunch, Jenny and Eric are here why don't you come out and eat with us". "Dan"
Rufus was getting impatient so decided to just walk in. He deeply exhaled as he looked around the empty room cursing to himself. Dan had left out through the fire escape. He placed the plate on top of the desk draws and checked in his wardrobe, making sure he had planned on coming back and had not packed up and ran off
"What's wrong? Where's Dan?" Jenny asked noticing the concerned look on her father's face
"He's gone, he climbed out the fire escape but he hasn't taken his clothes so that's a good sign I guess. I'm going to go look for him" Rufus said as he put on his jacket
"I thought you said you had been talking and were starting to mend things between you" Jenny said "We'll come with you"
"No you've got school, I don't want them thinking I can't control both my kids"
"It's ok, I'll go see my teachers later this afternoon, we've got more chance of finding him if we all go instead of just you"
"What's going on?, what have you offered my services for? Eric asked, completely clueless to the situation
"I'll fill you in later, come one" Jenny said
……………………………………………………………………………..
"I knew you would have a good night S" Blair stated as she walked with Serena to the school grounds after lunch
"I didn't, unless you call seeing your ex boyfriend who you are still in love with rubbing up against another girl and drinking up a storm a good night" Serena said matter of factly
"Yeah, what was up with that anyway, who knew Cabbage Patch had it in him?"
"Not helping B and will you stop calling him that… and stop insulting him"
"Wow, Humphrey's rubbed off on you" Blair rolled her eyes "Have you got a mask for tonight?"
"Yes, although I'm not going of my own free will, I'm being made to go"
"Don't get all excited at once S" Blair chuckled sarcastically "At least you'll have no worry about bumping into cabbage… I mean Dan tonight"
"That's the only bonus though"
…………………………………………………………………….
"Humphrey, man what took you so long?" Mason questioned when Dan sat down at the table between Zach and Rhys.
"My dad gave me this long winded speech on my behaviour 'change' "Dan emphasized change with air quotes. "You guys are lucky you don't have to deal with the pressure of annoying parents and school issues"
"Well neither have you lately"
"Listen were going to a party tonight in the UES, we'll count you in yes? Or does daddy want you home" Zach sarcastically said causing Mason and Rhys to snort "You know how we hate the UES crowd, why not make it a fun night and drink up there alcohol"
"Don't you need invitations to those events" Dan said
"We'll blag our way in; we've done it before, right guys, all we need are masks" Rhys smirked
"A masked party?" Dan looked unsure. He didn't want to be around the UES for many reasons …he didn't want to bump into…..her!
"What, you aren't scared are you? I thought we taught you well" Zach raised his eyebrow
"No, of course not, count me in"
