Hello everyone! I'm so sorry it's been so friggen long since I updated. College is realling friggen hard. I'm broke af all the time. Hahahaha ask for my venmo if you wanna help out (kidding but also not lmaooo). Thank you all for waiting (though you didn't have much of a choice).
Chapter 3: Abe's Visit
Their father wasn't home when they returned from the Aquaman movie. The only light on was from the kitchen. Dimitri always left that light on. Ivan and Mason observed the kitchen, still talking about the movie they had just watched (A/N: When I wrote the last chapter I was hoping to see Aquaman, but never did. So… I'm just not gonna talk about it, no need to worry about spoilers.). On the table was two plates, wrapped up nicely.
"I told him we weren't going to need dinner," Ivan laughed while rolling his eyes.
"That's not gonna stop me from eating it!" Mason also laughed and unwrapped his plate to see a homeade torta. "How does Papa learn to make all this stuff? His food is always so good!"
Ivan sat next to Mason, also openning his plate to begin eating the food. They were growing teenage boys, they ate anything that was in front of them. Much like their mother. "It's probably because Mama was so terrible at cooking. You'd think after her entire life she'd learn."
They silently ate after Ivans comment, not speaking anymore about their mother. Ivan looked up at the clock to see it was alread 11pm. Exhausted from the day, he decided he didn't need to wait for his father and grandfather to return. For all he knew, the flight was delayed and there was no telling when his grandfather would actually arrive.
"I'm gonna knock out. You gonna stay up?" Ivan asked as he began to wash his plate. Mason put his next to Ivan on the counter. Ivan rolled his eyes and took the plate and began washing it.
"I'm gonna play games. You don't wanna play?"
"Nah, I'm fucking exhausted. Plus, I don't want to be awake when Grandpa Abe gets here."
Mason leaned against the kitchen table. "You know..."
"Hey, don't even."
"No, seriously. I'm sorry I'm not helping out more."
"Dude, I know. We are twins, I know you better than anyone, I'd like to think. You got that soccer scholarship and you are going to college. Don't sell yourself short."
Mason sighed, not totally feeling alright with that response. "Don't keep things to yourself, dude. Let me know what's going on." He paused and then smiled. "Also, stop starring at Henry so much. It's pretty obvious when you're in a theater, and there's only one place you're actually supposed to look at."
Ivan's face flushed. "Fuck you, man," and punched his brother in the shoulder. "I told Papa I wanted a dog."
"You did? I know you've been wanting one. We should tell Grandpa, he'd get us some cool illegal dogs or something."
They laughed together as Ivan recounted that their Papa had said the same thing.
Ivan and Mason had seperate bedrooms but shared a bathroom. Their was one guest room that had it's own bathroom and a master bedroom which was where their father slept, and it also had it's own bathroom. Mason's room had different posters up, some of them where his favorite artists. Drake, Panic! the Disco, Kendrick, etc. He also had his routine taped to his wall, a reminder every morning that he needed to keep his body in shape. His desk was pushed up against the wall, and there was a window that faced the backyard. A desk was across from his bed. Trophies and medals adorned the wooden desk as well as textbooks and other notes. A family picture from right before his mother's desk sat right on top of everything else. A piece of dried lavender sat in front of it. Mason knew their mother hated cheesy Rose things because of her name, so when he framed the picture for his desk, he decided he needed something besides a rose to show his love for this mother.
Ivan's room looked similar. The bed up against the wall and a desk across it. They both ahd closets and their dressers were inside. Ivan had two windows, since his room was at the corner of the house. On was directed toward their neighbors house, and the other to the backyard. Their rooms were right next to each other. Ivan had many decorations in his room. He had christmas lights that he pinned up and a large bookshelf that held all of his books. He had different posters on poetry and activism. The same picture Mason had was framed, but was inside Ivan's closet. He didn't like the constant reminder that someone in that picture was no longer in that house. Or in his life for that matter. Ivan quickly glanced out the window above his bed, the one facing his neighbors.
He silently wished Henry would open his window as well. Look out and see that Ivan needed someone. Needed someone to hold him and tell him everything was okay. Wishing that those beautiful brown eyes would meet his eyes and just know. But, that didn't happen. Ivan layed down on his bed, looking up at the dimly lit ceiling. As if on que, he could hear the click of the door open, and the heavy footsteps of his father and grandfather. He remained silent, not wanting to make it seem like he was awake in anyway.
He turned his face towards the wall, because he knew his father could tell when he was sleeping or not. A soft knock tapped his door and Dimitri stood in Ivan's doorway. A click of a switch and the christmas lights turned off and Ivan was left being surrounded in darkness.
For some unkown reason, a silent tear slid down Ivan's cheak. For the life of him he felt like he had no reason to cry, yet every reason in the world to lash out. Another click of his door a few minutes later and a dip in his bed.
Mason was there, hugging his twin while he silently wept everything weighing on his heart. Ivan didn't question it. Sometimes, they just knew. Maybe it was a twin thing, maybe it was a normal brother thing. Something Ivan never wanted to consider, a life without his brother. As the end of the school year was reaching upon them, he was beginning to realize that being alone was his reality.
"I'll always be your twin brother, Ivan. Even when I'm in college and your off being a badass business man. You'll probably get married to Henry and have a bunch of weird Russian, Turkish, Asian babies that look oddly amazing and get a bunch of followers."
Ivan laughed. "That's not how that works. We wouldn't be able to have babies together."
"Ugh, fine. You'll have werid Russian, Turkish, Asian, adopted babies. They'll somehow still look like you because, I don't know, the world is weird."
Ivan slapped his brothers arm. "Shut the fuck up already."
"Hey, at least you stopped crying." Ivan nodded. Mason didn't move though. Ivan didn't say anything.
"My boys! You look so fit! My god, can you lift a truck?" Abe hugged his grandchildren.
As much as Abe has aged, he still looks like he could kill you if he wanted to. He had a bright purple scarf with a satin grey button up long sleeve and slick black pants. He had a cane now, the handle was that of a snake. Something Dimitri couldn't help but role his eyes at every time he saw it. Zmey, he never changes.
How their grandfather looked so presentable at nine in the morning was something their brains could never truly wrap around. It was a saturday morning and yet their grandfather looked like he was about to hit the clubs.
"Hello, Grandpa." They both replied and hugged him back. Despite the anxiety it brought, they were truly glad when their family came to visit. Their grandfather was one of the few people willing to talk about their mother without holding anything back.
Abe's face had grown old and more wise over time. He looked at the two boys in front of him and could immediately see his own daughter in them.
"Well, why don't we all eat some breakfast, and then I'll give you the gifts I've brought you." Ivan and Mason smiled. One of the best parts of Abe visiting was his gifts.
They sat together at the table and Dimitri set down each of them a plate of french toast, eggs, and hashbrowns. Mason and Ivan immediately began chowing down. Abe watched them, smiling. It had been about two years since he'd last seen the boys. They often chatted online, but it was different to have them in front of him. If he weren't the kind of man he was, he would surely cry at the monstrous act of them devouring their breakfast. He had seen Rose do the same thing many times.
"You've raised some very hearty boys, Dimka."
"They'll eat anything I put in front of them. Sometimes I think I can put paste on their plate for days and they wouldn't notice."
"So, I was thinking you boys could take me out to town. I'm sure you need new clothes. Plus, I know Mason is gonna need some new gear for college!"
Dimitri gave Abe a look. They have yet to struggle with money. Rose had left much money behind, and Dimitri was still bringing in some money with tutoring. Also, Ivan was following in Roses footsteps, so there was still very little to worry about when it came to the future. However, Rose and Dimitri both agreed they would never spoil their children. They both needed to understand that not everything in life was handed to them. Abe knew this, but shrugged. He was the grandfather, it was hard to tell him he couldn't spoil his only grandchildren.
"Alright, you can take the car to go shopping, but make sure to be back by 1pm. Mason has practice." They nodded to their father, washed their dishes and ran to get changed.
Ivan came out in black ripped jeans with a dark blue plain t-shirt and matching converse. He was in need of a haircut, so decided to put on a plain black beenie to hide his messy hair. It was starting to get warmer, but not that much warmer, so he grabbed his tie-die Rick and Morty sweater.
Mason had decided to grow out his hair a bit more as he got older, which made him closely resemble his father. He tied it back in a ponytail that layed at the back of his neck. He had a long sleeve black shirt that had a simple red rose design on the right corner and plain jeans. There's a bracelet that his father gave him for his 16th birthday that he wears almost every day and finished off the look with Timberland boots.
After Ivan called dibs on driving and they made it to the mall, they began to head to the althetes store. "Now, what do you need the most?"
Mason shrugged. "Socks, honestly. They tear all the time. And some practice shorts."
They immediately moved to the area of the store where there was a dressing room and Abe sat down. "Whatever you need, just go get it and come try it on."
They do this at different stores before grabbing some lunch and deciding it was time to head home.
Mason runs inside to get changed and grabs the keys, rushing out the door to make it on time to his practice. Ivan brought his new items in and began to put them away in his room. He recieved a new wallet, some dress shirts and pants, and he was able to restock on some hair products he really liked. He also decided to buy a journal, something he spent on himself. Journaling wasn't something he had considered much in the past, but what with everything going on in his life, maybe he would feel better writing it all down at the end of the day.
How's ur grandpa?
Ivan smiled a the text from Henry.
Good. can't talk tho
Ivan plugged his phone in on his desk and walked out to the table where his grandpa and father were sitting, drinking some tea.
"Hello, Ivan. I think it's about time we have a talk."
Ivan nodded. "Yes, I know."
Abe looked at the tense look on Ivans face. "Alright, well, right of the bat, I want to tell you that you don't need to do this."
Ivan gawked and looked to his father who only gave him a reassuring smile. "My boy, I want to see you do great things with your life. I know it's been an incredible burden to live without your mother. I wish she was here to see how much you have grown, how much you have become a man. And I know, that if you were to decide to follow her footsteps and take up her position in the company, you would do great things.
"Even now! I've given you a few things to do hear and there and you've exceeded in everything you do. You are a wonderfully smart boy, I see Rose in you more and more, ever time I see you." Abe paused and took a sip from his tea. "But I also have learned many things over the years. And one of the most important is that it takes everyone time and room to grow. Sadly, your mother had to grow up incredibly fast and face a lot of challenges. In many ways I had failed as a father. I was gone for too long and there are many days I regret missing the beginning years of her life. I will not make that same mistake. I will be here for you, and support you in whatever it is you decide."
It was a lot to take in. Ivan had been working under his grandfather since he turned 15, and agreed that he was doing well in the small jobs he was given. But becoming a leader, simply because of his mother, somehow just didn't sit well with him.
"I understand what your saying. I… I want to do this. I want to continue what Mama started. But… am I the right person? I feel like Mama tried so hard to build something from the ground, starting when she was just in high school. What if I fail? What if I'm not good enough?"
Dimitri looked at his son. Saw the serious look in his eyes, but the sadness that weighed on his heart. He put his hand on Ivan's shoulder. "Ivan, you are an amazing man who is capable of so many things, but you are still young. We all have made mistakes. We all struggle through backlash and dissapointment, but it's what we learn from it, and how we use it to make us smarter and stronger."
Ivan layed his hand on his fathers and smiled, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm so happy you are here, Papa. I miss her so much. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have you too."
Dimitri began to cry as well and held his son. Abe stood, grabbing tissues for them all. "Look at this, Rose always knew how to make grown men cry."
Dimitri laughed. "That's true, your mom sure knew how to break som hearts, but also knee caps."
"Can you… tell me more about her?"
Dimitri and Abe nodded. "Why don't we wait for Mason to come home? That way we can tell you both together. You're mom has plenty of stories."
Ivan nodded. "I'm going to go to my room. Henry texted me. If it's alright, I'm gonna go out and I'll be back by later tonight."
Abe nodded. "That's fine. Tomorrow, we talk business." Ivan nodded.
A weight had somehow lifted off his shoulders. He still was walking into unknown territory, but the support and love he felt from his family was something nothing could be compared to. He was lucky to have this family, and was lucky that he was able to recognize how much they loved him and could show it back.
His grandfathers visit wasn't going to be as horrible as he thought.