I'll call you in like an hour.
Blaine texted fast because he was worried that he'd be in more trouble for it. He bitterly started up the lawn mower again and began working his way across the rest of the backyard, hoping the allergy medicine would kick in soon. Sometimes everything just sucks.
Rosalie watched him out of the window in the kitchen. He looked sullen. It wasn't surprising, given he'd just been reprimanded, but she wondered if this morose face was going to be visiting the dinner table the rest of the summer now. There was no reason for Blaine to feel competitive with his brother- what was that "Mr. Perfect" comment earlier even about?
"Teenagers." she muttered.
"What now?"
"Nothing. He's doing the lawn. He's just looking pretty dour about it."
"He's just in a mood because he's nursing a sore backside. I don't know where this attitude this morning came from."
"It's Greg. He feels like he has to prove something or—"
"But why? It's not like they're the same age. Greg's in college. When he gets to college he'll be doing the same things he is now. They shouldn't be rivals. He says we compare them too much- his brother isn't even here most of the year to compare him to!"
"Maybe he's just used to being an only child around here. Greg has more privileges, he's getting some attention because he just got here. He's jealous."
Gabriel shrugged. "Maybe. I'm telling you, with the older one I never had any problem wondering what was going on his head."
Rosalie sighed. "Well. I don't know what to tell you. Blaine's a different kid. Greg's just always been more... confident. Blaine needs encouragement."
"Encouragement? If he's talking back to us and cussing I think encouragement is about the last thing-"
"What happened to 'He's been punished, now it's over,' Gabe?"
Gabe sighed. "I mean, if this kind of behavior becomes a phase-"
"He needs a little breathing room to be... moody sometimes."
"Moody is not the problem. He's going to show respect, whatever mood he's in."
"He tries, usually."
"Sure. Because we've been consistent with him. He knows we don't tolerate bad behavior."
"I guess." Rosalie was unconvinced.
"It's not going to be a problem, Rosie. I told him if he pulled any of this crap again he'd get a good spanking for it. He's going to toe the line."
"Gabe, it's not the behavior and the consequences I'm worried about." Rosalie was getting frustrated. "My kid's unhappy and I can't wrap my head around why."
"He's not unhappy. He's fine. I told you, he's just mad he got his bottom swatted."
"And all this 'I'm not a baby' talk and bitterness towards his brother?"
"Rosalie. He's a teenager. That's what they do."
Rosalie bit her lip. Maybe Gabe was right. Sometimes Blaine acted like a little adult and it probably was good that he had a teenage outburst every now and then. Proof he was human. Truth be told she didn't know what was going on in his head half the time either, and these rare flares of anger were kind of enlightening. It was like getting a glimmer of what he was really thinking underneath all that Dalton dapperness. The conflict with Greg bothered her though. Rosalie had always had an unspoken assurance that if Blaine was in trouble Greg would tell them. She knew Blaine looked up to Greg and it said a lot that he came out to him before he told his parents. Teenagers don't always want to talk to their parents, she figured. But if he's decided to resent Greg now, she wondered, how's he going to make this decision about school next year? Does he even really have anyone to talk to? His boyfriend would listen, she supposed. But who does he talk to about that? It's not like his father was comfortable enough to answer a question. He said himself that he didn't even want to know what his kid was doing with his boyfriend. How do you feel comfortable in your own skin when your own father gets queasy about that? But it's not like he's going to want to go to his mother either, she mused. Glancing out the window again, she sighed. Things were more straightforward with the first kid.