The next week was a rush. Finals were starting and the mood around school had turned very bleak as everyone was focused on passing. Well… almost everyone. Never mind the jocks and cheerleaders, they were in a league of their own. After the day ended however, the summer sunlight revived their energy as everyone rushed out of the building wanting to get away from the harsh focus. Carl, Blake, and Hoodsey set off to go grab a bite to eat at a nearby 24-hour eatery set on discussing their plans for the prom weekend which was quickly approaching.
"I guess… I will just have a cheese burger and a pop." Carl said passively to the waiter after he had studied the menu.
"Same thing." Hoodsey added.
"Honestly… How could you two eat such a greasy pile of unidentified meat between two slabs of slightly stale bread… It's bound to give you heavy indigestion." Blake muttered as he held his attention on the menu for a minute more. Carl just rolled his eyes silently as Hoodsey cast a light glare his way. "I'll just have a salad with the vinaigrette dressing on the side, please. I also would like a glass of carbonated water, no ice."
The waiter held a slight look of contempt on Blake before he quickly adjusted his expression and nodded politely after he had collected the menus from them. "I'll get you your drinks and your meals will be right out as soon as possible." He said calmly before walking off.
"Where were we?" Blake asked out loud. "Oh, right. Carl had suggested Mexico and Hoodsey, you wish to visit Long Island. I have never actually visited Long Island myself… but I do know of a fantastic, private resort in Cancun. I am curious as to why you would wish to go to such a place, Hoodsey."
He just shrugged, "I looked it up and it seems modest, calm, and pleasant. It's not too far away from home so we don't need to dip into the money for travel. We can just take a nice road trip there. There are some nice places we could stay at right on the coast and there is a good amount of stuff to do. It was just an idea."
"It's not a bad idea. It's just when I think of Long Island I think of retired old folks sitting on the beach sipping tea or something." Carl said with light humor.
"That isn't exactly true…" Blake said seriously. "There are plenty of people our age but they just go to Manhattan for a good time. I don't blame you for wanting a peaceful trip after all the stress that senior year brings… and I don't mind toning it down a tad for a calm vacation. It sounds pretty nice actually… I've been to Mexico plenty of times but I wouldn't mind experiencing a new place. I don't get to do that often enough."
"So you're favoring a calm, quick getaway and not a fun, out-of-country experience?" Carl asked skeptically. "..I'm surrounded by teenage retirees."
"Well that's hardly fair…" Blake noted in a low tone. "Statistically, there are more retirees down in Mexico especially during the turn of the summer."
"Alright, Long Island it is." Carl said in surrender. "I guess it's only fair for Hoods to experience New York himself before driving out to Cali."
"I've been to New York before… Remember, eighth grade? We took that trip to New York City." Hoodsey pointed out. "It just seems like a nice idea to see a.. calmer side to New York, y'know?"
"I will make the arrangements. I'm sure I could find a decent place to stay in no time at all." Blake said as he wrote out a quick note on his notepad before stuffing it in his bag.
"Here we are. Two pops and a carbonated water, no ice." The waiter chirped as he transferred the drinks from the tray to the table. "Your meals will be out momentarily. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to just wave me over."
"Thank you very much, kind sir." Blake said as he placed his hands around the glass he was presented with. The waiter just gave them a slight nod before rushing to the door when more customers came in.
"Okay, but Blake.." Carl started as he tapped his finger on Blake's hand. "No work and worry about the apartment while we're there. It's a vacation. Even though we will be close by, I don't want you going over there after every phone call or email you receive from Chris."
Blake just stared at Carl calmly for a moment before he gave him a slight smile, "No need to worry yourself, Carl. I will be there in Long Island every minute with you two. No detours or side quests. Unless there is an urgent issue, of course. Which I highly doubt will transpire with it being so close to completion."
"Good." Carl said, satisfied with the response.
"When will your place be done anyway?" Hoodsey inquired.
"I have estimated it to be completed around the end June, early July timeframe." Blake explained before he took a delicate sip of his water.
"That's an improvement to the timeframe Chris gave us." Carl said slowly. "Actually. Isn't that your original estimate?"
"There is something you always have to remember, Carl." Blake said with ease. He smiled as Carl gave him a questioning look. "…I always get what I want."
Carl snorted a little as he cracked a smile as he leaned into his chair, "I see that the smug boy we have all grown to love has come back out to play."
Blake smirked lightly at the redhead across the table, "Well nothing is going to progress if you just wait for it to happen, Carl. If you want something to happen then you play the tender game of business and barter. Both of which I have an immense skill in."
"You didn't bribe the man, did you?" Carl asked in a joking manner.
Blake scoffed lightly as his eyes turned cold for a moment, "Please…" He said in mild disgust. "I am not my father."
"And here are your meals!" The waiter said as he approached them with a filled tray, cutting the light fog of tension with his presence. He placed the plates in front of them and he smiled. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No thanks. I think we are all set over here." Carl said politely.
The waiter gave him a nod, "Enjoy your meals." He said before he swiftly left them to tend to another group.
"Soo…" Hoodsey said lightly. "About the finals… How do you think you did on them?" He sipped his soda before eating a fry as Blake turned his attention to him and he looked at Carl for a second before smiling.
"Aced them. Naturally." Blake said as he picked up his fork.
"Classified." Carl added passively before he dressed his food with the mustard and hot sauce. "I'm not taking the chances of jinxing myself."
Macie drove from her university in California, as careful as ever of course, for half a week. At the moment she had booked a room in Dallas, Texas for the night before furthering her trip. She sat on her bed and contemplated her route that she had carefully created so she could hit all the spots she was aiming for. With a quarter of the U.S. behind her, she was nearing her first goal. Ginger who had just finished her finals when they had last spoke the day she left. She didn't tell her of the visit as she was hoping to surprise her best friend on her way home. Florida was a long way off the straight shot home but she was always worth the extra gas. She was also going to stop by Dodie's on the way up even though they haven't exactly spoken in a month or two. She actually lost count since their last conversation wasn't exactly memorable by any means. Just five minutes of useless chatter on Dodie's end and Macie listening to the latest gossip that she couldn't follow. The bad thing about being in different schools is that none of them were in the loop of their day to day lives. Hopefully the visit would bridge the gap some. It was a far reaching hope but a hope nonetheless.
Macie also created the extra stops to allow time to pass so Hoodsey could finish up his school and probably be there in time for his graduation from High School. She got butterflies in her stomach every time she thought about seeing him face to face for the first time in a long while of separation… Either that or it was a bout of indigestion from all the fast food she had been eating on the road recently, The bad thing about long road trips is that normal pre-packed foods never really held for very long. So she had to improvise when the sandwiches were eaten… She was pretty sure it was butterflies though. She had some antacids with her just in case though. Can never be too careful. She recited those words to Jenny when she watched Macie pack all her emergency medicines such as flu and cough syrup, Advil for headaches/ backaches/ any other kind of ache, her inhaler refills, and her bag of menthol cough drops. She received an amused eye roll from Jenny when she explained the stuff. She pretended to not see it, of course. After Jenny picked on Macie a little, they both said their goodbyes before she hopped a plane back to her own home in Oregon like she did every holiday.
Macie was pulled out of a daydream she had drifted off to by a ping on her laptop which was charging on the nightstand beside her. She looked at her watch and it was just about quarter after ten at night. Curious, she put the map down and grabbed her computer, placing it on her lap. She opened it to reveal her opened inbox, just as she left it only a single email unread from Hoodsey. She opened it with a hint of excitement since his last email was a few days ago.
Well, First round of finals is over and I am doing some last minute studying before I finish the last two classes I need to test in. The good news is I have an exemption in my morning final so I can sleep in if I need to! Thank god for exemptions, right? I also believe I did pretty well in my finals today. I can pass this year pretty well! It all counts to improve my final GPA in High School education, I'm pretty stoked to finally get out of mandatory education and on to bigger and better things in Berkley.
I can't wait to see you when you come home for the summer. I know I have been saying that a lot since you told me of your plans and everything but I can't help it. I am truly very excited to see you, for real this time. Maybe when you get here I can possibly treat you to dinner…? If you have plans with your parents I understand, I don't want to get in the way of your reunion. The offer will stand when you have a bit of free time to spare, so no rush on the decision, okay? You can tell me about your trip home then. Until that time comes, be safe on the road, alright? Feel free to call me just to let me know you're alive and well. I am studying for my US History final at the moment but I would be more than happy to take a break if you do decide to call! I'll have my cell phone near me. If I remember correctly, I gave you my new number last week. So, seriously, call whenever.
Macie smiled shamelessly before opening a hidden folder in her computer and as soon as the picture she received of Hoodsey, her heart skipped as she stared at his face before focusing on his bright eyes. She never took the time to focus on the picture for very long until now, when she was certainly alone in a room without worry of interruption. Her stomach fluttered and twisted in knots all at the same time. Why was she nervous? She had been around him since childhood. She was pretty fond of him, she knew that. Maybe it was the fact that they hadn't seen each other face to face for years.. The dry throat and sweaty palms were a bit much but she couldn't control it. She sighed lightly as she felt her chest tighten slightly, she mindlessly took a deep breath from her inhaler as she stared at the picture for a few moments longer before she went to work on composing her reply.
Hoodsey went to work on studying for his U.S. History final with the stack of flash cards he had created a month prior. He had to turn his computer off for the evening so he didn't have any temptations while cementing the info in his brain. Card after card he muttered to himself facts and dates he needed to know in order to pass this final with high grades. He had been doing this for a good two hours since he sent his email to Macie. He couldn't help but worry for her knowing she was on the road alone. He knew she was cautious but the fear was there since it was a long drive. She had assured him that she had scheduled breaks and nightly stays before she left the state. She had made the trip three or more times in the past, she knew her way well enough… but still, he worried. He was probably going to worry until he saw her in front of him safe and sound.
"Communist leader of Cuba who led a successful revolution in 1959. He declared Cuba would become a Communist state." He read to himself with a heavy sigh. He rubbed his eyes as he felt the tiredness poke at them as he searched his brain for the answer. He groaned softly before answering. "Fidel Castro. Duh." He opened his eyes and flipped the card and breathed a sigh of relief even though he knew the answer right off the bat. "Correct." The last card of the night read, "Victory in Europe Day." Hoodsey scratched his nose as he went through all the notable days he could remember. He always had trouble putting the acronyms with the actual dates themselves. "March.. no, May. 8th… 1955?" He peeked behind the card and met the answer with slight disappointment.. "How did I come up ten years in the future? 1945. 1945…. 1945." He repeated to himself with his eyes closed before taking in a deep breath. He exhaled, "May 8th, 1945. VE Day. Got it… I hope."
The sudden rhythmic vibration on his desk startled him out of his concentration, he wasn't sure if he could get used to having a portable phone with him. He picked it up and glanced at the caller ID on the front. He smiled a little before flipping the phone open. "Hello?"
"Quick, what happened during the Sacco and Vanzetti trail and why did they did not receive a fair trial?" Macie asked abruptly. "You have three seconds to answer. Three…. Two…"
"Uh… Well, they robbed a shop. They didn't get a fair trial because they were immigrants… Right?"
Macie let out a breathy giggle, "That would be the short answer. But yeah, more or less. Correct."
"Good thing this isn't a verbal exam." He said with a slight laugh as he leaned back into his chair after setting his cards to the side. "How is your road trip going?"
"It's going well. I drive for maybe eight to ten hours a day, effectively crossing one or two states. Good thing I don't have a time limit to travel by. I hate driving in the dark under stressful conditions. The trip will go by faster once I get out of Texas. How goes the studying? I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Nope. Still awake. I just finished looking through my flash cards. I was just about to head to bed, so you called at a good time." He said heavily as he felt himself relax at the sound of her voice. "It's really good to hear you're okay. You're not in a shady motel or anything, are you?"
"No, don't worry. I only stay at one chain of hotels. It's decent and clean. No shady business here. Or at least from what I can tell, anyway." She assured calmly. "If I stay at a franchised hotel, it's easier to juggle my reservations."
"And you are still planning on visiting Ginger and Dodie on the way, right?"
"That is my plan. I hope it goes well."
"From what I heard from my mom, Dodie is staying at her residence dorm this summer. She says it's close to the summer camp she is going to be working at."
"When does she start working there?" Macie asked, sounding a little shocked.
"I think she said sometime in July." He answered calmly. "You have time before she starts. You plan on arriving in a week, right?"
He heard a slight sigh on her end, "A week... Maybe a week and a half, that's the plan." She said happily. She gave a nervous laugh. "I almost had a heart attack… I thought I would miss my chance to visit her."
"Nah." He said with a wave of his hand before he got up and started pulling his night clothes out of his dresser. "I'm pretty sure she would be going to parties or something until she has to work. What else do people do on their time off?"
"I'm sure you're right." She said in a stiff tone. "…Is it bad if I hope she doesn't do the partying thing while I'm there? That's selfish, right?"
Hoodsey furrowed his brows in thought for a moment. "Uhh… A little… but I can understand your stance. You don't like those things and you are going over there to visit her… It would actually be selfish of her to not spend time with you just for the sake of a party…"
"Right… I guess I'll see what happens when I get there… I'm doing this because I don't want to lose touch with them.. We haven't actually spent time together since two summers ago…"
"I know. It will be fine, Macie…" He said in attempt to comfort her. He could tell she was worried by the sound of her voice.
"I believe you. I may just be overthinking it a little…" She said before she took a deep breath. "I always overthink things.."
"You'll have a great time, I know it." He said calmly before he smiled at the wall he was staring at. "…After that, you will have an even better time here."
She laughed a little, "Now that I can trust fully." He smiled wider in response to her sure tone. "I can't wait to see you again, Hoodsey."
He felt his cheeks burn slightly after she said that, He gave a light laugh. "Well.. I'm pretty sure you know where I stand there."
She laughed again and his heart skipped, "I think I know by now." She said softly. "On account of you reminding me in each one of your emails."
"What can I say? I'm excited to see you." He shrugged bashfully to himself.
The second round of finals started the next morning, the tension in the school was pretty thick as people shuffled slowly to their classes, ready to get them out of the way. Some people dreading the hours of staring at a packet of questions they possibly didn't know the answers to. There were even a couple people sitting in the hallways getting in some last minute studying as Carl and Blake stood at the lockers, observing their fellow classmates around them.
"So Hoodsey has an exemption this morning, what is it… Biology?" Blake asked mindlessly.
"Close, it's actually Chemistry II." Carl said calmly.
"Did you study last night for these last three exams?"
"A little bit here and there." Carl shrugged. "It's usually a bad outcome if I obsess and stress out over these things. I know the stuff so I'm not worried."
"Even British Literature?" Blake asked with a knowing smirk. "Zorski did kind of pick on you through that entire module."
"Only because she noticed I was reading a comic that one day at the beginning of the lesson. I do know the material. She was just being a hard-ass… like usual." Carl muttered. "I mean the bell had just rung and I was finishing a page before putting it away."
Blake laughed a little bit and placed his hands on his hips as he squared off to Carl, "If you are going to waste my precious time, I will not hesitate to waste yours." He said in mocking tone.
Carl grinned at Blake and shoved his shoulder a little. "Yeah, yeah. She hates me. I know."
"Please, she hates everyone." Blake said with a roll of his eyes. "I'm sure you will be pleased to get away from her after this final is all over and done with."
"I will be happy to step out of this school once and for all no matter who the teachers are. Love 'em, Hate 'em, whatever. The taste of freedom is teasing me." He looked at his watch and sighed. "Only four hours to wait."
"After this we have 'Prom' then graduation." Blake said right before the bell rang loudly through the halls. "I guess we shall knock these tests out quickly then." Blake walked past Carl and headed toward their classroom. Carl smirked and followed behind him before the rest of the class rushed inside after they both took their assigned seats.
"Alright, Hurry up. I know this is the last bit of school and all but that doesn't give you an excuse to dwaddle!" Zorski said roughly to the last few chattering groups of people slowly making their way into the classroom. "The bell rang, it's time to see what you all know." She said as she closed the door with a bundle of packets in her arm.
Carl, Blake, and Hoodsey found each other in the cafeteria after their second exam of the day. Hoodsey was in good spirits but he looked a bit tired and was drinking something from a tumbler.
"Just one more… One more then we are home-free…" Carl groaned as he sat lifelessly in his seat next to Blake who was patting his shoulder lightly.
"I do have to admit that focusing on one thing for forty-five minutes is rather draining." Blake sympathized after he ceased the comforting gesture.
"How did you guys do so far?" Hoodsey asked them. They both just looked up at him, silent for a moment.
Carl shrugged, "Can't complain. I knew the material. That is all I'm saying"
"I second that casual statement…" Blake said as he sat up straight and poised. "Did you happen to get any extra sleep before taking this last one?"
"Uh.. kinda… not really." Hoodsey confessed vaguely as he rubbed his arm nervously.
"If you didn't then how are you more awake than us?" Carl questioned him.
"Well… Whatever is in motion, stays in motion…" Hoodsey stammered a little.
Blake blinked at him and exchanged looks with Carl before turning back to him, "I am positive that even Isaac Newton needed to gain adequate sleep at some point." Blake said to Hoodsey as he took another sip from his lidded tumbler.
Carl snatched the tumbler from Hoodsey's grasp and took the lid off, getting the strongest smell of bitter coffee before Hoodsey took it back in a hurry. He just smirked at his best friend. "Woah… Seems like Hoods is getting a little help staying in motion." He snickered to Blake.
"…Arabica or Colombian?" Blake asked with a similar smirk.
"Hoods, you never drank coffee before." Carl said with a hint of amusement.
"I only got four hours of sleep, give me a break." Hoodsey said with a huff.
"Up all night studying?" Blake asked.
"Nah, he has limits…" Carl said with a soft shake of his head. "You were up all night emailing Macie, weren't you?"
"Noo!.." Hoodsey said with a glare. "…Talking on the phone."
"Ah the freedom a simple cell phone gives a person." Carl teased. "That sure was a nice gift your parents gave you."
"I would just like to warn you to use it wisely." Blake added.
Hoodsey sighed and rolled his eyes as he frowned. He gripped his tumbler and his study materials, "Yeah, yeah. Keep teasing. I'm going to go over some dates I need to know before my History final." He dismissed roughly before he got up from the table. "See you guys on the other side." Carl and Blake smiled at each other as he walked out of the cafeteria.
The last final flew by in a rush for Carl since it was in his easiest class, Statistics. Soon he was waiting by his car for Blake and Hoodsey, flipping his keys in his hand and watching the clouds float above him. The relief had washed over him and all he had to do now was wait out the rest of the week then school was over and he was free for the summer.
"Freedom!" Blake's voice pierced through Carl's peaceful meditation. He just smiled at the blond as he approached him with Hoodsey dragging his feet behind him.
"How about we go out for some ice cream to celebrate our newfound freedom?" Carl asked them as they met up with him.
"You guys can go ahead. I'm dying here.." Hoodsey said, clearly expressing his fatigue as he just got in the backseat of the car leaving the door wide open as he sat there with his eyes closed.
"Hm.." Blake said as he studied Hoodsey with an amused glance. "In comes the crash." He gave Carl a light smile before getting into the front passengers seat. Carl just smiled and shook his head as he closed Hoodsey's door before hopping in himself.
"I'll take you home, Hoods." Carl said as he started the car and pulled out of the parking spot.
"Yeah. Thanks." Hoodsey said softly from behind him.
He did just that after Blake informed Hoodsey about the misgivings of sleeping in the middle of the afternoon, which he was obviously not listening to. Carl and Blake ended up in the nearby park to grab their ice cream and go for a much needed walk in the sunshine as it spread its early summer heat.
"This is nice." Blake said softly as they walked. "The finals sure were draining."
"But now they are over. All we have to worry about is our moving situation." Carl replied before he bit into his cone.
"And even that is a little while away."
Carl smiled a little, "Not that far away. A month… maybe month and a week."
"That's oddly specific." Blake said with a light laugh.
"A prediction." He smirked.
"Oh? The return of Carl, the great prophet, by any chance?" Blake asked.
Carl shrugged, "Possibly. No profit though, this one is a freebee, Gripling."
Blake chortled openly, "I shall count my lucky stars at once."
"As you should." Carl said confidently. This earned him a mildly displeased look from Blake. He chuckled slightly, "Annnd so should I, for other slightly related reasons." He smiled at Blake and he just stuck his nose up in the air.
"That was quite the save you attempted, Carl." Blake said in a low tone. "I regret to inform you that the save did not work. However, I will choose to 'let it go', as you may say."
"…Can I make up for it later?" Carl asked softly with a slight smirk.
Blake smirked and shook his head at him, "Not today, I'm afraid. Father has initiated this 'family bonding' segment into my day whenever he has the time to comply. Sadly, it is in effect until we leave for our trip."
"Bummer…" Carl sighed before finishing his cone and tossing the napkin into a bin as they passed it. "How are things at home anyway since I disabled that thing?"
"The situation is unpredictable.. The tension is high and I have been guarding my belongings with my life. I sincerely cannot wait until I get out of that place. I may just move out ahead of time. Even if that means me staying at a hotel for a while until our place is deemed livable."
"That's taking it a little far, isn't it?"
"Not in my books. I cannot fathom the thought of my father watching my every move nearly every waking moment. It would be best to get out when I am able to."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Carl asked slowly.
"Oh no.. I wouldn't dare take you away from your family. There is just so little time to spend with them before we are due to move, officially of course." Blake said in a rush.
"If you say so… But you know I will leave when you need me, right?"
"I appreciate the sentiment, Carl, but it is hardly necessary."
"Well… the offer stands."
Blake smiled as he tossed is napkin as well and they stopped walking the path as they had gone full circle around the park. "Speaking of which…" He said as he checked the time on his watch. He frowned a little at it. "I should make a timely appearance… I don't have any desire to participate in another argument with him."
"Well this was short lived…" Carl noted as he ran his hand through his hair. Blake gave him an apologetic look as Carl led the way back to the car.
"I'm really sorry, Carl… You know I would rather spend my afternoon with you rather then him.."
"It's not a problem, Blakey boy." Carl shrugged. "Believe it or not, I think you should try to spend the time you have with your family as well and we both know how I feel about your father at this point.. We will have all the time in the world once school starts up again."
"Is that really what you believe?" Blake asked seriously.
"Yeah, it is." Carl gave a nod before they both got into the car with a stiff silence between them.
They sat in semi-silence most of the way back to Protected Pines with the exception of the music playing on the radio. They entered the neighborhood when Blake finally spoke.
"….Thank you, Carl.. Truly." Blake said softly as he focused his eyes on his hands in his lap.
"What for?" Carl asked with a slight laugh.
"For everything.. Your thoughtfulness, mostly…" He said with a slight shrug. "I wasn't aware you had that opinion. I guess I just assumed you had the same view as I do…"
"Well.. To be fair, you never really asked."
"That's true." Blake said as he looked at Carl as they had stopped at a stop sign. "I guess… I will suck it up and attempt to get along with my parents until we leave. But if it goes south…"
"You will contact me first before you make any major decisions." Carl finished for him with a stern expression. Blake blinked at him before nodding silently. "Just give it a chance, Blake. Your folks may surprise you."
"I certainly hope so." Blake muttered as they rolled in through the gates of the Gripling residence.
Blake really wanted to go with the whole 'Optimistic thinking' thing but it was next to impossible when he thought about his distant parents trying to build bridges the late in his family life. When he was dropped off at home he just waved to Carl as he pulled out and left. It was worth the try though if it was for Carl. He could understand why the thought of leaving family while enduring a rocky home life with them would leave a bitter taste in his mouth. Carl was really close with his parents. Of course he would want Blake to salvage whatever was left in this life of his. He just wished for the drive to get him through it though as he walked inside the house with a frazzled mind he was trying to keep clear.
"Good afternoon, Master Blake." Winston greeted as he closed the door behind him. "Were your exams pleasant enough?"
"The exams went as expected, Winston. They were hardly a challenge at all." Blake said as he handed his leather carry bag to the maid who was waiting to take it since he arrived. "I do hope I am not too late for this bonding my father insists on."
"Your father apologizes.. He had just been called on for an important meeting in the next town over. He will not be back until tomorrow evening." Winston said as he followed Blake into the library where his father had told him to meet him after the day at school was complete. Of course there wasn't anyone there. Blake rolled his eyes to himself as disappointment grew, replacing the annoyance he felt prior.
"And I will assume Mother is at the country club like she always seems to be when Father is away.. Of course." He muttered in a low tone. He took a deep breath and straightened his posture a touch as he turned to the butler behind him. "No matter.. would you care to have tea with me, Winston? I wouldn't want this time to go to waste."
Winston gave him a gentle smile, "Sounds lovely, I'll go fetch the tea. You go relax, I'm sure you had a long day."
"Time-consuming and wearing…" Blake stated pointedly as he sat himself on the armchair next to the fireplace. He placed his chin in his hand as he stared off to his right. Of course this would happen when he decides to give his father a chance. As far as he knew, his mother was probably about three glasses of champagne in and schmoozing with the other board members. Blake just couldn't help but feel a tad underwhelmed at this whole situation. No matter, It was just a waste of his time is all. It's a little annoying that his father didn't even try to contact him to tell him this information after demanding him to set the time aside for this reason in the first place. That was rather rude of him to just expect him to come home only to see these plans had been cancelled by word of Winston. His father's action never ceased to perplex him.
"Here we are, Master Blake." Winston announced as he walked in with a silver tray in his hands. He gave Blake a smile before setting the tray on the coffee table in front of him and serving him a cup. "I thought it would cheer you up if I brewed that special Oolong Tea you are fond of."
Blake could tell right away from the smell of it as he held the teacup and saucer in his hands. This made him smile a little in response. "Thank you." He said softly as Winston took a seat in the couch to his left. The butler only smiled at him politely in response. Silence fell upon them as Blake stared into the steaming cup after taking a small sip. It was wonderful but it didn't solve this growing distress in the least.
"Oh dear.. Did I not steep it long enough again?" Winston asked with concern etched on his face as he was observing Blake.
Blake blinked at him as he snapped out of his thoughts, "No, not at all. It's perfectly made as always. Do not fret." He said calmly. "I'm just.." He couldn't find the words to describe his mixed feelings about this whole situation with his parents. Winston waited for him to speak but Blake had trailed off into silence for a few moments. "Winston… May I ask you a rather serious question?"
"Of course, Master Blake. Anything."
Blake wasn't even sure which question he was going to ask so he just set his teacup down on the coffee table and served out a fresh cup for Winston as he thought about it. He held the teacup on the saucer to Winston, who took it with a grateful nod. "..Please, answer honestly… Am I wrong to feel the way I do about my Father?"
"What are these feelings in detail?" Winston asked calmly before he sipped the tea.
Blake just picked up his own teacup and sat back fully into the chair as he tried to sort out these emotions into words. "Well… For most of these four, maybe five years, I have become distant from him.. and recently I have just become angry.. and resentful towards him.. So much so that I can barely be in the same room with him for no more than an hour without an argument. He just makes me feel so incompetent at times."
Winston gave a subtle sigh after Blake admitted these thoughts to him. "It's not wrong to feel this way at all. Let's look back for a moment… In your adolescence, your father was normally away on business so he hardly got the time to see you grow up and get to know your personality… When he did get the time to come home, it seems like he got himself into far too much trouble when he got arrested out of the blue, like he did. That would be enough to plant the seeds of distrust in anybody." Winston gave him a small sympathetic smile. "…You went through a major obstacle of poverty until he could build his wealth up back to how it was. Of course you would be resentful. Having everything taken from you so suddenly without warning.. but you, your sister, and mother got through it. Since he has been home, you two just don't know each other. You have grown up without him around. He does have the tendency to compare you to others or to himself so that just made you feel like you weren't living up to his expectations. To be honest, He has been trying to get to know you but you seemed to have burned that bridge a while into the past and you just refuse to allow him in. I have a good guess as to why, however… You have been maintaining this relationship with—"
"You're deductions are correct, more or less." Blake interrupted in a slightly hushed tone as he looked around the room a little, fearful about someone or something listening in any further. "I cannot discuss that particular subject in this house, Winston." He warned.
Winston stared at him for a moment before setting his teacup down on the tray, "How about we go elsewhere." Winston suggested with a calm yet cheerful smile. "It has been a while since we took a drive."