Chapter 549: SeaView Manor

Saturday, February 25th, Morning

He sat in the window looking out onto the neighboring property. Leaning back against the window frame and crossed his arms across his chest. Tucking his chin to his chest, he kept looking out the window at the closed-up, empty house next door.

Leighton, that was the name of the neighboring house and lands. It was the home of someone close to him who used to live there but moved away three years ago. Now it's empty, which made Gareth sad.

"What are you doing?" Dr. Meggy Reuter, MD, Gareth's mom, asked as she walked into the room.

"Nothing," Gareth said.

Meggy stopped and nodded, "Nothing, you say," she said.

"That's right, Mom, I'm doing nothing," Gareth said.

"It looks to me like you're staring at Leighton," Meggy said.

"I'm not; I'm sitting here doing nothing," Gareth said.

"I see," Meggy said, "I understand not begging me to go to Beaulieu, but you've not asked for a ride to the game tonight."

"I don't want to go," Gareth said.

"You're always going to the games; you don't want to watch Keni and Sawyer cheer? Especially Sawyer," Meggy said.

"No, I just want to sit here and be alone," Gareth said.

"What's gotten into you? I'd expect you to jump at the chance to see your friends," Meggy said.

Meggy walked over to where Gareth sat. She scanned the room, found a chair, and sat down. "What's wrong, Gareth?" Meggy asked.

"Nothing," Gareth said.

"Is it that your dad's not here? If you want to talk to a man instead of me, I can have Mister Scott come over," Meggy said.

"No, I don't, especially not him," Gareth said.

"Why not him? Mister Scott has always looked at you like a son, Gareth," Meggy said.

"I just don't want him involved," Gareth said.

"Okay, if not Mister Scott, then who?" Meggy asked.

"No one, Mom," Gareth said, closed his eyes, and bowed his head.

"Maybe, I can get you in to see someone professionally?" Meggy asked.

"No, Mom," Gareth said.

"Gareth, why are you being so difficult?" Meggy asked, frustrated.

"Because I was thinking about walking the dog," Gareth said.

"Walk the dog? We don't have a dog," Meggy said, then her mouth got wide in a big O, "Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but you had your door open."

"Well, you did," Gareth said.

"So, you want some alone time?" Meggy asked.

"Yes, but the moment has passed," Gareth said.

Meggy nodded and looked at her only child. "Gareth, I know there's something wrong. I know because you've been moping around the house since the fight, but it's gotten worse since you've returned to school," Meggy said.

"Mom, it's nothing," Gareth said.

"I find that impossible; you're not acting like yourself lately," Meggy said.

"It's nothing to worry about, Mom," Gareth said.

Meggy nodded, "Why don't I take you over to Beaulieu? You can spend time with Sawyer and Keni. That always cheered you up," Meggy said.

"No, I'd rather not," Gareth said.

"Why not? They've been your friends forever," Meggy said.

"They aren't my friends anymore," Gareth said.

"What? What did they do to you?" Meggy asked.

"Nothing," Gareth said.

"Nothing? So, why aren't you friends with them anymore?" Meggy asked.

Gareth shook his head, "I just couldn't be friends with them anymore," he said.

"That makes no sense, Gareth," Meggy said.

"It's something I had to do, Mom," Gareth said.

Meggy shook her head. "I just can't see the world without Sawyer, Keni, and LK in your life. I still remember the day you met them, we had just moved down from Baltimore, and we went over to meet the Scotts. Mrs. Scott was watching the girls; they came out in front of Leighton. Your eyes it up when you saw Sawyer, and you followed her around like a puppy dog the rest of the day…wait a minute, Gareth, are you in love with Sawyer? Is that why you ended your friendship? Gareth?" Meggy said.

"I don't want to talk about it," Gareth said.

"You are," Meggy said.

"So? It doesn't matter," Gareth said.

Meggy looked at Gareth. "Why doesn't it matter?" she asked.

"She doesn't feel the same way," Meggy said.

Meggy shook her head, "Gareth, I know a few things," she said.

"Like what?" Gareth asked.

"Sawyer cares about you deeply. Deeper than friendship, but I'm not sure she's ready for more than that," Meggy said.

"Why do you say that?" Gareth asked.

"Sawyer is outgoing, sure, but she's guarded with her heart. She's a big mush on the inside, though, but tough outside. She feels deeply, and she cares about you, but I don't think she's ready or about to be open to that," Meggy said.

"Why?" Gareth asked.

"People would say what happened three years ago, but if you remember, it started it long before that your happen," Meggy said.

Gareth nodded, "Yeah," he said.

Meggy stood up and looked at Gareth. "Think about it, and I think you should think about things," she said.

Gareth nodded and watched Meggy walk out of the room. Gareth looked out the window at Leighton.