Chapter 25 : The Curious Case of Steve Austin
By the next morning, Kane woke up quite late, but he could hear distant noises and chattering downstairs and he immediately knew that his parents might have discovered Steve unconscious in the garage. Nevertheless he had prepared himself for the outcome that definitely was bound to happen.
He had a blast with Mark and his friends at the party last night, but was able to withhold himself from drinking too much and just smoke a little bit, (mainly because he needed to drive home sober) but most of the time he just sitting with Layla and they making out for a short while in Michelle's parents backyard. He returned home around 4 am in the morning , cleaning up before he went to bed so he would not smell like alcohol and weed in the morning.
Kane hurriedly brushed his teeth and gurgled almost half of the mint-flavored mouthwash before he proceeded downstairs, pretending to be surprised as he saw Steve was now seated on the couch, with his parents, Seth ,Randy and Dean surrounding him. Apparently Dean and his father Jon were also there, and then there was Vickie who held a cup of coffee for Steve. Steve was looking completely messed up and bedazzled himself, probably still struggling to recover from last night's incident.
Hunter quickly turned his attention to Kane. "Kane? What the hell is going on last night? " He inquired. " I heard your grandpa dropping by? Jon found Steve lying in the garage this morning,"
"Yeah, " Jon confirmed. "I want to help with washing your car this morning, and I found Steve there. We thought he might be drunk," He crossed his arms.
"I know it," Kane groaned as he pulled a straight face, " I was really shocked when he showed up last night and he said he wanted to surprise you both. He had been swigging Mom's Scotch after that. He was kinda pissed because we did not keep beer. But I had no idea he was drunk enough to waste himself in the garage. I told him to use our guest room upstairs," He continued in a fake confused expression.
"We want to know what really took place last night," Stephanie said. "Steve did not remember much, but he said something about Grandpa coming and then there was a minister? Is that right?"
"It was a fake minister!" Steve suddenly exclaimed. "I can't remember much, but there was absolutely a con man dressing up as a preacher."
"Steve, what are you talking about? " Kane shook his head. "You were tipsy last night. There was really an evangelist visiting and he wanted to give a sermon, but you and Grandpa kept dissing him, remember? After Grandpa was gone, you acted worse by threatening to beat the poor old man. I have to ask the man to leave before you attack him," He said before he turned to look at his father.
"Dad, I asked the man to come in and I want to hear him reading the Bible to me. But Grandpa and Steve kept yelling and insulting the man. After the man went out, I asked Steve to just crash upstairs, but he took another shot of drink. I left him on his own device and went to bed after that." Kane continued.
"You're lying," Steve protested desperately. "I'm not drunk, goddamit! I swear! I can't fucking remember what happened last night!"
"But you smell like drunk, Steve." Stephanie said. "We found you with two bottles of Scotch. And they happen to be my favorite, for God's sake! "
"See, there was a book of Bible here. And Holy Water bottle," Randy chimed in, holding the book of Bible and also an empty bottle he found scattering on the floor.
"I told you guys. Steve and grandpa were busy accusing me of murdering my own family, and they won't even let me sit down to listen to a religious preach," Kane instigated, causing Hunter and Stephanie were even more shocked.
"What? " They shouted in unison. "Why the hell would you accuse Kane of such thing? " Hunter asked Steve furiously.
"Look, Hunter, " Steve began, trying to find something to say to justify himself, but Kane cut him off.
"You were suspicious of me just because they slept early on weekend night," Kane stated, 'And Grandpa was worse. He was mad that Randy and Seth also were sleeping , and you and him both making bad assumption of me just because my family sleeping like babies and would not wake up. You had a nerve of checking their bedroom to make sure I did not murder them alive," He added, earning another shocked look from both Hunter and Stephanie.
"You gotta be kidding me Steve !" Stephanie screeched. "You accused my son of killing us and trespassing our privacy?!"
"Steve, I love you man, but this is unacceptable to me," Hunter paced back and forth in distress. " I know my son is handful, I know Kane is capable of lot things, but if there was one thing I know about him, that he would never murder anyone. That was sick, man. You came over without notifying us, harassing a religious man and assuming our son a murderer?"
"I never say him murdering anyone!" Steve shouted back, clutching his head in agony. " I was concerned with your well beings! After all, you are the one who warned me that Kane could not be trusted to be left on his own! Can't you see that he's been lying straight to your face?"
"Why would he lie to us this time? And can you explain the whole alcohol thing?" Stephanie berated. "You were obviously drunk, Steve. I think you need to lay back and pull your shit together."
"I don't know, alright! I don't fucking know!" Steve howled in anguish. "All I remember was the preacher..the fucking minister is absolutely a fake. He's an impostor!"
"There you go again." Kane retorted. "That's what you keep yelling at the minister last night. You suspect me of doing bad things to my parents and you kept making fun of the minister's belief and his faith in God and Jesus. And when he tried to argue with you, you threatened to beat him to death," He alleged .
"Steve, look. You are drunk, man. Okay, I think you need some help here," Hunter tried to touch Steve's hands but Steve pushed him roughly.
"I'M FUCKING SOBER, ALRIGHT? I'M NOT DRUNK, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" He almost screaming in desperation.
"Dad, I think Steve really need to get a rest. Maybe last night he need to get off or something, I don't know. " Kane persuaded Hunter. "Let's just forget the whole thing. He seemed terribly knocked off from the alcohol last night,"
Hunter nodded in agreement. He was not really sure why, but this was one of the rare moments he felt like he believed Kane's words. Usually he never took Kane's story without being doubtful about it, but this time, he sensed that Kane spoke the truth. A part of him wanted to believe Steve but his side of story just did not make any sense, and he could not see any reason if Kane was lying either. He doubted if this was Kane's attempt of prank to evade his punishment from being sent to the military school, but it would also unrealistic that Kane had planned anything overnight because nobody knew Steve was going to come over.
"Steve, my man, come on. Let' s just drop this whole thing, okay? We are not mad at you for being drunk last night, or anything you did, okay?" Hunter tried to assure Steve. " Look, why don't you get upstairs, you take a shower and take a few hours off, alright? I can give you some aspirin for your hangover," He offered.
Steve glared at Hunter, Stephanie and Kane each in turns. "You know what? I like that." He nodded despite still fuming. " But I don't want your fucking aspirin because I'm not fucking drunk, Hunter. I was sure of that. And I don't need your aspirin because after I'm done with shower, I'm flying back to Washington." He declared, and pointed his finger at Kane. "And about him. I know we had reached an agreement about this smart punk kid of yours, Hunter but I think it was something that we need to rectify in the future."
"What do you mean? "Hunter panicked. "Come on Steve. Are we seriously going to do this?"
Steve smirked but he did not respond properly. "I need to know where I can use your shower." He replied coldly. Stephanie motioned for Vickie to bring Steve upstairs, and Vickie quickly obeyed.
"This way, sir, please, " She asked politely, ushering Steve upstairs.
"He's absolutely drunk, Hunter." Stephanie commented once Steve and Vickie disappeared from their sights.
"I know, but he seemed so upset . He did not even bother to stay," Hunter sighed, growing afflicted and worried.
"Dad, is he not going to accept me anymore to his school? "Kane suddenly asked.
"I don't know, Kane. Things are getting out of hand." Hunter muttered. "But don't think that this is going to be your bonus point, you are still gong to go to military school, no matter what."
"Of course. I mean, there are other plenty of military schools out there if Steve didn't want me, right?" Kane snickered.
"Listen, your dad and Steve are going to work it out," Stephanie assured Kane. "Yes, there are other school, but we trust Steve to look after you. Although, I have to be honest, after this morning, I doubt if he could be fully reliable for that. I did not like the fact that he had been drinking too much."
"Honey, Steve is not an alcoholic," Hunter was surprised by his wife's comment. "Maybe last night he wanted to get off or something, but I was certain he was not a drinker."
"Who knows? I mean, I should be worried for the fact on some random days, what if he choose to get drunk and waste himself off like today and did not remember a shit?" Stephanie complained.
"I'm sure if he wants to get drunk, he would do it outside the school," Kane said. "Although he can be a pretty douche bag when he was tipsy."
"Did Grandpa says anything else? " Hunter asked, changing the topic of the conversation. "I'm thinking I should text him or something."
"Not much. He was pissed off." Kane grinned. "He and Grandma brought some toys and gifts for Randy and Seth, I don't know if he left them here or taking them back home with him."
"He left them in my room," Seth, who were playing something with Dean, informed. "There were tons of them, I think it was all for me," He smiled, glancing at Randy.
Randy however, just shrugged. "Well, you can have all Grandpa's toys. After all, they were for immature kids like you, unlike me, I'm a big guy now," He sneered. The fact was, he did not really mind, because the toys would not remain fine long, he would smash them to pieces once he gets a chance to annoy his younger brother again.
"Randy, stop it," Stephanie reprimanded as she saw Seth was about to reply back to his older brother's teasing. "You kids are giving us headache ," She grumbled.
"At least you two should be grateful Grandpa favor you both, unlike me, " Kane chuckled. "I swear if it wasn't for mom and dad, he might have disinherited me from day one," He joked.
"Kane!" Hunter roared. "Show your grandfather some respect, will you?" He frowned in irritation, despite hating to admit the fact that Kane was legitimately right. Vince would have disown Kane from the McMahon family if it wasn't the fact that he and Stephanie were the legal guardians of Kane.
"Okay dad, I'm sorry," Kane raised both his hands as apology gesture. "I'm just kidding." He apologized ruefully.
"I would talk to Steve again later. Hopefully he won't stay mad at us forever, " Hunter told his wife. "I know it wasn't our fault either, but I really don't like this,"
"Why are we the one who should be upset? " Stephanie protested. "He was the one who were drunk and tried to battery people, not us,"
"Mom, I agree with Dad, " Kane said, "Why don't we all just drop the whole thing, you know? Besides, Dad and Steve had been longtime buddies, so I think this all just some misunderstanding. I'll even apologize to him if I had to," He convinced.
"That's right," Hunter was pleased that Kane actually agreed with him. " I think Steve will cool off soon. I think I should drive him to airport if he insist to fly home anyway," He mused.
"And don't forget to buy him six pack of beer," Kane suggested, but Stephanie was not amused.
"Seriously? You are suggesting him another shot of alcohol? "Stephanie's eyes widened in disbelief. "Look what happen last night when he downed two bottles!" She almost yelling.
"Mom, maybe it's your Scotch too strong for him? " Kane joked. "Isn't that what Grandpa gave you on your birthday? Anything from Grandpa always seemed hazardous to people's health,"
"Okay , enough , Kane! " Hunter scolded, although deep down he wanted to laugh at Kane's nasty sense of humor when he was making jokes of his grandfather.
"Alright, alright, " Kane retorted, turning away to return to his room. "You people has no chill," He mumbled as he strolled away to upstairs. As he climbed up the stairs, he couldn't help grinning wide, could hardly wait to text Mark the progress of their scheme last night.
So far everything had gone smoothly, Hunter and Stephanie were completely convinced that Steve was really intoxicated and even more better, Steve was beyond furious now. Chances are , he might be refusing to accept Kane's future admission into his school , but Kane realized that there was also possibility that Steve probably would not miss an opportunity to get his revenge.
It was something he should be worried, but the truth was, he was more than ready for the military school.
a/n : special thanks to :Plebs, Hey I left a message in your inbox. I just realize I had neglected to thank you because I kept forgetting to visit your profile!
To others: I hope you enjoy the chapter :P