His phone buzzed disruptively in his pocket, so Kaoru quickly plucked it out to stare at the screen. Hikaru was calling him. But it was a bad time, so he silenced the phone before throwing it back into his pocket.

Kaoru looked back up at the teenager in front of him; he was sure he had seen this kid somewhere at school. "Where's the money you owe me?" Kaoru asked, leaning back against the brick wall of the backside of the grocery store.

"Here," the kid said quickly, handing Kaoru a wad of cash, bundled together by a black rubber band. Kaoru took the cash gingerly before dropping down next to his backpack. He fished his hand through the bag until he found the small bag hidden between the notebooks and binders lying uselessly there.

He tossed the bag to the boy and he caught it quickly. "Thanks," the boy whispered.

"Go," Kaoru urged, looking around the corner at the parking lot, looking for witnesses. When he turned back, the boy was far away. Kaoru slumped against the wall, dropping to the floor, and began counting the cash. Suddenly his phone buzzed a second time and he wrenched it from his pocket. Kaoru set the phone on the cement and stared into the harsh glow as it rang and rang and rang.

Kaoru slammed his dishes into the sink along with his tray and clutched the edges of the sink. He breathed hard with his eyes closed and his bangs hanging in his face. With a deeper breath, he kicked the counter in his frustration.

"Kaoru? Are you okay?"

Quickly, Kaoru straightened and turned to face Tamaki. "Yeah," he said, scrubbing a hand over his face and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just need a minute."

"That guy seemed like a jerk," Tamaki said, coming forward with his own brown tray of dishes. He began to sort his dishes into the correct piles, sorting Kaoru's as well. "What was he yelling at you about anyway?"

"I dropped his food right in front of his booth," Kaoru responded somberly.

"Well that's a stupid reason to yell at somebody," Tamaki replied, scraping food into the trash.

Kaoru didn't respond. He was too busy remembering the words pathetic and useless.

"Kaoru?" Tamaki asked stepping away from the sink with a tray clutched to his chest. He moves a hand in front of Kaoru's eyes to snap him out of it. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Kaoru said quickly. "Just give me a minute."

"Okay, okay," Tamaki replied, approaching the door. But he paused, staring out the small window into the restaurant. "Hey, Kaoru? Your brother is here."

Kaoru looked up sharply. "Seriously? Tell him I'm not here!"

"And if he doesn't leave?"

"Just do it," Kaoru hissed as he struggled his apron off. "I'll be out back." And he quickly slipped out the back door to avoid his brother once again.

"Why is there so little of this?" Mom asked sharply, shaking the small bag, holding her drugs.

Kaoru stared at her with wide eyes, backed against the front door which was triple locked. "Mom, I didn't sell enough last week. I'm sorry," Kaoru pleaded, wrapping his arms around himself.

"Well tried harder next time!" she screamed hysterically. She raised a hand slowly. Kaoru could see himself reflected in her cold eyes. She brought the hand down hard with a harsh slap. Kaoru's head was forced to the left at the force against his cheek. He felt his eyes warm and sting.

"I will, mom, I promise," Kaoru said quickly. He turned to look up at his mother.

Suddenly she was wrapping Kaoru into a rare hug, holding him loosely. "I know baby. I know you'll make me proud."

Kaoru nodded against her shoulder. He felt the forceful urge to make her proud, to finally make her love him. Kaoru raised his arms to hug his mother back, but she pulled away abruptly. "I will expect more next time," she said firmly, holding up the small bag. Then she turned and trudged into her room.

Kaoru backed into the corner by the door and sat numbly onto the carpeted floor.

The room was dark as Kaoru stared straight at the soft glow of light outside of his window. The pressure was on. It was halfway through the week and he had only sold about half. He breathed slowly, sitting on the bed with his full clothing on.

The door rang sharply against Kaoru's thoughts, and he closed his eyes. Really? Now? He glanced at the clock. It was 10:37.

Getting up slowly, Kaoru scurried stealthily out into the living room, closing his bedroom door silently. He leaned up against the door, looking through the peephole. Hikaru stood on the other side of the door and his face was distorted by the peephole. Kaoru stood there, staring as Hikaru stared unseeingly back. Kaoru looked over his shoulder and was happy to see that his mom's door was closed and silent.

But when Kaoru looked back, he panicked to see Hikaru had his phone out. "Shit," he hissed to himself, grabbing his phone from his pocket. He turned the phone to silent just a second before the text reached his phone. He sighed in relief.

Kaoru had sold the majority of the drugs and he smiled for the first time all week, seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Quickly, he unlocked his door, dodging the stares of his neighbor, Mr. Park. He entered the living room to find his mother sitting at the kitchen table in her night gown with coffee clutched between her hands. It was two in the afternoon.

He kicked off his shoes, opening his mouth to speak when he was silenced by the glare. He stopped in the middle of the living room, staring and waiting.

"Why are you here?"

"I live here," Kaoru said slowly, not knowing where this was going.

"Well maybe you should have gone with your father! Maybe you should just have left too!"

Kaoru felt his face fall but he didn't dare to move. "Mom, that's not fair."

She began to cry. Kaoru was startled as she wrapped her face into her hands. Crossing the room, Kaoru wrapped a hand around her shoulder. "It's okay mom, I won't leave you."

"You better not!" She hollered, pushing his arm away. "This is just funny isn't it? First Hikaru leaves me and then your father… and you know what I got stuck with? You."

Kaoru backed away suddenly as if he got burned. "Mom!" he cried, feeling the frustrated tears leap instantly from his eyes.

"Just get out of my sight! Don't come out for the rest of the night!" She screamed, throwing the spoon from her coffee at Kaoru's head.

Kaoru jumped out the way before dodging into his room. He slammed the door shut before collapsing onto the bed, sobbing.

I wanted to create a chapter with more of what Kaoru is going through. Let me know what you think!