Winter Freeze

Chapter 3

"What if I was pregnant?"

Owen blinked. "Are you?"

"Of course not."

"Oh."

"But what if?"

He shut his eyes again. "Bell, it's three in the morning. What-"

"Whitney missed her period."

"Bleh." He couldn't help making that noise. The last thing he ever wanted to hear about was her sister's period. "Is she?"

"No," Annabel sighed. "I've been waiting all day for you to call me, but you wouldn't. That's what I spent all Monday doing, listening to Whitney whine about being pregnant. Then she did that whole pee on the stick thing. So she's not. Came back negative."

"…Why did you call again?"

"Because it's three in the morning, I can't sleep, and I'm so bored. Everyone's mad at each other in the house. I hate it."

"Poor Bella."

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"Alone?"

"Well, yeah, but-"

"I'm coming over."

"At three in the morning?"

"I'll sneak out and then… Better idea. Come pick me up."

"Annabel-"

"You're home alone. Not to mention awake."

"Thanks to you."

"Please, Bear? I can't sleep. I slept all day other than when I was listening to Whitney whine."

"What do you wanna do over here?"

"Be with you," she told him. "And I have the show in the morning in a few hours. So you pick me up, we sleep for a little at your house, do my radio show, go back to your place, sleep some more. Sounds like a plan, huh?"

"You sneaking out doesn't."

"I'll get out. Just be here in, oh, ten minutes or so?"

"Bella-"

"Please, Bear? I can't sleep without you."

Letting out a long groan, Owen pushed out of bed, feeling extremely cold at the loss of his blankets. "I'll be there soon, Bell."

"Okay. Love you!"

She was way too perky. Dropping his phone onto his bed, Owen stood slowly before going to get dressed. It was snowing outside and he really didn't feel like going out, but for Annabel, he'd travel across the world.

The roads were dead the whole way to the Arbors. Completely. Owen didn't even see any cops. It was kind of creepy, honestly.

"God, you're freaking frozen solid. Get in the car," Owen scolded as Annabel did just that. She had been waiting down at the end of her street, at a stop sign. "And what are you doing out there? Just standing there in the middle of the night? Anyone could have gotten you."

"Anyone?" Annabel immediately turned up his heat.

"Anyone," he said, nodding. "A killer, a rapist, a mugger. Do you know what time it is?"

"Let's just get back your house, alright?"

Owen looked over his girlfriend, who had clearly dressed for the radio show in a few hours. This didn't shock him as they would be leaving straight from his house.

"What were you doing out there anyways?"

"I couldn't wait in the house, Owen. Someone might have seen us. So I left and came to wait for you out here."

He just groaned. "You kill me, you know that?"

"I love you though, Snoogie." She smiled at him. "I'm just so, you know, wired tonight or whatever. And I was so bored in the house. Everyone was in bed. Even Kirsten. I had to do something."

"Sleep sounds like a good idea."

"I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to be with you."

He just shook his head. "And now you are."

"Oh, and by the way, the more I thought of it, the worse I think you would be as a parent."

"What?"

She nodded. "You have a major anger issues, Bear."

He blinked. "Not major."

"Yes, major. I wouldn't want you to, like, hit the baby or shake it when you get frustrated."

"I would never hurt a baby, Annabel," he said now, offended as they pulled away from the curb. "My God."

"No one thinks they would, Owen, but that's part of the problem, why so many teen dads do hurt their babies. They just get annoyed and then-"

"I wouldn't hurt my kid. End of discussion."

"I think you would."

"I don't care what you think."

"See? Anger issues."

He let out a long breath. "So what? You'll never have a baby with me?"

"Right now? No. Ever? I dunno."

"Did you ever think that I wouldn't want to have a baby with you?"

"What?"

He nodded. "I think you have a bad family life and it would influence our child."

"I think you have a bad family life."

"I think you have a worse one."

"Well, you're stupid."

He glared at her for that, but Annabel only giggled.

"I'm joking, Snoogie. I would never have a child with you because I fear your genes might be dominant. I can't have an ugly baby, can I?"

Letting out a long sigh, he said, "You really get to me sometimes, you know that?"

"Do you love me?"

"More than life."

"Then it's okay, huh?"

"It really is."

She smiled then, staring over at him. "How did the surgery go?"

"It went," he told her stiffly, clearly not wanting to speak about it. Annabel let it go though, knowing he'd get around her to telling her eventually.

"Well, Whitney's little scare came and went too."

"Mmmm."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You seem-"

"You and your sisters just breed drama, is all," he told her, turning his stereo down slightly. "You know that you do."

"We do not."

"You know as well as I do that you do," he said, shaking his head slightly. "It's fine, I mean. Nothing horrible. You're just drama breeders."

"You're annoying."

"You're the one that wanted to be with me."

"I have no idea why."

When they got back to his house, Annabel was all giggly again, rushing from the Land Cruiser up to the house, Owen following at a slower pace.

"Come on, Bear," she complained, jumping up and down. "It's freezing! Open the door."

"I'm coming," he sighed, as he got to her. "I'm right here."

Once they were inside, Annabel quickly headed to his bedroom, Owen trailing behind. She jumped into his bed the second she saw it, shivering as she cuddled into his blankets.

"I'm freezing, Bear."

"I'm coming," he mumbled, going to turn on his stereo before pulling his shirt off and dropping his jeans. When Annabel raised an eyebrow, he said, "This is how I sleep."

"Mmmm."

"How do you sleep?"

"Not in my underwear," she told him as he got into bed with her. She quickly snuggled into him, giggling when he almost fell off the bed. "One day one of us is going to have to get a bigger mattress."

"Don't I know it," he mumbled, kissing the top of her head. "I love you."

"Do you?"

"Mmmhmm."

"How much?"

"Enough to leave my comfy bed and go out into the cold to get you when you were bored at home."

"That is true love, I believe."

"The truest."

Giggling, she asked, "Do you have an alarm set for when we need to get up?"

"Yeah. I have to take a shower before we go though."

"That's fine."

"So let's just sleep until then, huh?" He tucked her head under his chin as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Bella."

"Is that what you want to do?"

"Yes."

"You're no fun."

"Fun? You want fun?" He snorted. "I freaking snuck out to go pick you up at, what? Three in the morning?"

"You didn't sneak out. Nobody's home."

"You're so unappreciative."

"I feel the same way about you. I mean, God, I snuck out to be with you. And you haven't even made out with me yet."

"You wanna make out?"

"Well, I didn't come over here to have stimulating conversations."

He just blinked. "Are you calling me dumb again?"

"You're so cute." She kissed his neck. "Bear."

When she began stroking his chest, Owen just settled out, lying there as he breathed slowly in and out. She was humming softly, but Owen couldn't pick up on the tune. He was nearly certain that it was some pop hit or something that he would never have anything to do with.

"I worried about you and your sister all day today," Annabel whispered to him at one point. "I love you."

"I know you do. I love you too." He closed his eyes tightly. "Forever."

She poked his chest gently. "Forever."

"I mean, God, is there anyone hotter than Cortana? Like in the newest game? In all videogames ever?"

"Try a lot of chicks."

"Name one."

"Catwoman, Talia Ghul, Zelda, Samus-"

"Shit. Yeah, Samus totally beats out Cortana. No one beats Samus."

"Lara Croft."

"Bullshit."

"Ask anyone. Lara Croft is way hotter than Samus Aran."

"In what way?"

"In every way!"

Annabel groaned though neither guy looked at her, their eyes trained on the television. When that didn't get their attention, she just leaned up to Owen's ear and whispered in it, "I think the pizza rolls are done."

"Oh, shit." He jumped up then, pausing the game he and Rolly were playing. "We forgot the rolls, bro."

"I didn't forget shit," Rolly said, reaching forwards to grab his beer off the coffee table. "My Cheetos took no prep time."

Annabel yawned slightly, shifting on the ground now that her boyfriend wasn't there to lean against. "Bring me another beer, Owen."

"Aye-aye," he mumbled, heading into the kitchen. Rolly's parents had left for the week, heading to spend Thanksgiving with some family. Rolly told them he couldn't go because of work and they had let him stay home. It paid have freaks as parents. For as lax as Teresa was, she still liked to reign her son in from time to time. Not Rolly's parents.

Teresa told Owen he could drink so long as he did so responsibly and told her after. Rolly's parents bought him beer and kept the house stocked with it. Teresa told Owen he could 'experiment' if he wished, just nothing too dangerous. Rolly's parents had no boundaries; it was a free for all.

So of course Rolly had had parties. His parents had left on Friday and so far, there had been a constant stream of people in and out of his house. Still, when Owen had asked him if Annabel and him could come over, Rolly made sure it would just be the three of them. He knew that his best friend had issues with being around other people. Not to mention, Owen was drama in and of himself. He didn't need to add other people milling around, breeding their own buzz of excitement.

Owen spent some time in the kitchen, trying to find something to drink other than beer. His head hurt and he was kind of woozy on his feet. He wanted a coke, but he was having a hard time locating one.

"Dude, the fuck are you doing in there?" he heard Rolly call to him when he accidentally knocked a box of cookies over. "I want my fucking pizza rolls."

Owen shook his head, finally looking in the fridge for a drink. Of course there was a can of coke in there. Of course. Why hadn't he thought of it before? The fridge. Duh.

"I feel more fucked up than I am," Owen told his two friends as he came back into the living room with the plate of snacks in one hand and a coke in the other. "My head…"

"You're tired," Annabel told him from the couch where she was now perched. "Beer's not helping anything."

"Nah, man, you just need to relax some."

Owen frowned at Rolly, who at some point rolled a blunt while he was gone. "I don't do drugs."

"You read that off the back of a minivan?"

"Go to hell." Owen took his spot on the ground once more before holding up the plate to his girlfriend, letting her take a few pizza rolls. Then, setting it between him and his friend, he said, "Let's just get back to playing."

"I don't wanna play Halo," Rolly said then. "Ain't no fun offline."

"If you had paid your internet bill-"

"I had other…affairs to take care of."

Owen was going to say something, but Annabel hit him in the head suddenly, ruining that. "What?"

"You didn't bring me my beer."

"Who needs beer?" Rolly inhaled whatever he had rolled up in there before letting it out slowly. "Who needs shit?"

"And we've lost Rolly," Annabel sighed, snuggling into one of the couch pillows. "Let's watch a movie."

"Yeah," Rolly said then, nodding his head. "A movie."

"I don't want to watch a-"

"Owen," Annabel whined. "Please?"

"What movie?" he groaned as he got up to turn off the Xbox. "Guys?"

"Let's watch a fucking porno."

"So what movie, Bella?" Owen asked, ignoring his friend. "Seriously?"

"Mmmm…something nice. And sweet."

"Or not." Owen went over to where the Rolly's family kept the DVDs. "Let's watch a horror movie."

"We always watch horror movies," Annabel whined. "Then I can't sleep. And I get scared. And I'm all alone at home."

"Tough."

"Owen-"

"Fine. We'll watch-"

"Porno."

"Rolly, you're about to get kicked out."

"It's my house."

"You-"

"It is his house, Owen," Annabel pointed out.

"Annabel can stay. You leave," Rolly said before inhaling some more…crap. That's what that stuff was. Crap. It annoyed the hell out of Owen, watching someone get high. It really did. "I'd rather make one than watch one."

"If I wasn't pretty sure I couldn't drive straight down the road right now, we'd totally leave."

"No pornos," Annabel mumbled as she settled out on the couch. "Sorry, Rolly."

"Wasn't expecting much."

"This isn't funny. I'm not laughing."

"Calm down," Annabel said, sitting up slightly. "Just put on a damn movie."

"Don't curse at me."

"Oh grow up."

"You need to relax, Owen," Rolly said again. "Relax."

"If you say relax one more-"

"Re-"

"I need another." Annabel pushed up fully then, heading back into the kitchen. While she was gone, Owen put in a movie before going back over to the couch.

"Why does getting drunk suck so fucking much?" He laid down on the couch, sighing. "I don't…I feel horrible."

"It's okay, buddy. You're just all stressed about your sister and shit. I get it. Just chill some, huh?"

Chill some. Right. Owen hardly looked up as Annabel came back into the room, another beer can in her hands.

"How drunk are you getting?"

"Shut up, Owen." She took her rightful place at his side, sighing slightly. "Who are you to judge?"

"I'm not judging you," he told her. "I'm just curious. That's all."

A long silence fell over the three of them as Annabel sat down and the movie started. It didn't last long though.

"I think Clarke hates me."

Owen was ready to ignore Rolly. It was what he was best at after all. Annabel though, wasn't.

"I don't think my sister and Brian should get married."

Frowning at her, Owen tried to ask what she was talking about, but Rolly just spoke again.

"I did horrible on my SAT and ACT tests."

"I think my parents might be getting a divorce."

"What are you-"

"I think I'm gonna vomit."

"I think I hate my sister for getting pregnant."

"Seriously, knock it-"

"I think I'm going to end up alone forever."

"I think I am too."

"I think Owen is also."

"I think Owen is as well."

"I don't get the joke," Owen complained as they both started laughing. "I don't-"

"There is no joke, Owen," Annabel told him as she sat her drink on the coffee table before moving to lay her head down in his lap. "That's the joke. That there isn't one."

"Yeah, bro," Rolly said, staring at the screen. "Your chick hangs better than you."

That was just an insult. Pure and simple. Scowling, Owen said, "I think my sister's going to die."

"Owen-"

"No. That's the game you're playing, right? Right?"

"It's not a game. God. Not everything's so serious." Annabel shifted in his lap. "We know that you're worried about Mallory. We are too. Aren't we, Rolly?"

"I ain't worried 'bout shit," Rolly told them both. "Life works out, bro. Always. Never doubt that and you'll be fine."

"Life doesn't always work out though," Owen argued.

"Does for me."

"You were just complaing about Clarke and being alone and stuff."

"Yeah, Owen, I was. But that stuff will work out. It will." He blew some more smoke, which was pretty symbolic of the smoke he was blowing figuratively. Owen honestly just wanted him to shut up. "And if I do end up alone and Annabel ends up alone, then we'll probably, you know, end up together."

"Will we?" Annabel had her eyes shut them, breathing softly. Owen thought she was trying to go to sleep and was slightly pissed she had insisted on the movie if she was.

"Yeah," Rolly said, nodding his head. "I mean, you're not my type, but you have a hot body. I'd fuck you."

Usually this would have embarrassed the hell out of the teen girl. At that moment though, she was buzzed if not drunk and feeling extremely good.

"But would I let you?"

"No," Owen answered for Rolly, frowning. "She wouldn't."

"You don't factor into this, bro," the other teen boy told him. "You're, like, dead or something."

"Dead? I thought you said everything would work out."

"If you believed it would," Rolly corrected. "You didn't. Now you're dead and I'm going to knock up your girlfriend."

"Shut up."

"Now, now, boys," Annabel sighed.

"Let's just watch the fucking movie." Owen shifted on the couch, resting a hand on the back of his girlfriend's head. "Dickwad."

"Owen-"

"Not you, Bell."

"Me?" Rolly laughed then, very loudly. Too loudly. "I love you too, Owen."

"Shut the fuck up."

"How are you guys friends?" Annabel mumbled.

"Because we love each other."

"Shut up, Rolly."

"What happens when the two of us are alone, stays between the two of us alone." Rolly laughed. "It's not gay if you're both straight."

"Shut up. That's not even-"

"He's kidding." Annabel kissed Owen's thigh, sighing slightly. "Stop messing with him, Rolly."

"It's cool," Rolly told her. "You're not my type, Owen."

"You have a type. As far as men goes."

"Like you've never thought about it. Everyone should know their type if they ever decide to-"

"I won't."

"You can't say that, Owen," Annabel mumbled. "You never know how when you'll find that special-"

"I thought you just told him to stop messing with me?"

"Burly isn't my type," Rolly went on. "Nah. I don't want a man. Not like that. He'd probably be too rough for me. I mean, you're too rough for Annabel, right?"

"Hey!"

"What? You're the one that told me about the br-"

"You told him?" Annabel sat up then, almost falling off the couch in the process. Owen felt slightly bad about hoping that she would though it was only because he wanted her to land on Rolly and injure him.

"Yes," Owen said slowly. "He…I mean, you said I could."

"I told you that I didn't care if you told him we had sex. Not you could tell him everything."

"I didn't tell him everything."

"Close to it," Rolly butted in. He wanted to kill him, Owen truly did. "You're a bleeder, eh?"

"Owen!"

"Rolly!"

"You guys are no fun." Rolly let out a loud yawn. "For the three bestest friends ever, we have zero fun together."

"What would be fun for you, Rolly? Other than telling my girlfriend all the things I've told you in confidence?"

"Pornos."

"If you don't-"

"I have to go to the bathroom," Annabel said then, standing. She was speaking loudly now and was using hand gestures. It was a official; Annabel had crossed over from buzzed to drunk. Great.

The two boys just sat there, watching her as she left the room. It wasn't until she was gone that Rolly started laughing again.

"What?" Owen asked, frowning. "What is so funny?"

"I love you guys. I love you so much. You're my world, Owen boy. You and your girl."

"Shut up, Rolly," he sighed as on screen the two main protagonists met for the first time. It was a chick flick, meaning they would no doubt end up together regardless of the fact that they were currently displaying their initial hate for one another.

"Annabel, Rolly, and Owen. ARO. RAO. OAR." Rolly gasped. "That's our new croak name!"

"You mean code name?"

"OAR. OAR. So cool." Rolly started laughing again. "I love myself."

"Yeah," Owen sighed. "I know."

"Mmmm. Can you and Annabel stay? All day?" Rolly leaned his head back, staring up at his friend. "I don't like being alone."

"That's why you have those parties. Have another party. With your Fountain friends."

"My fuck friends."

"What?"

He just laughed slightly before closing his eyes. "I don't like 'em like I like you guys."

"Annabel and I aren't anything special."

"You kidding?" Rolly smiled. "You guys are my best friends."

"Annabel doesn't even really like you."

"She loves me."

"She loves me," Owen corrected. "She tol…tol.. deals with you."

"Tall? She thinks I'm tall?"

"I was trying to say…tol…"

"Tall."

"Tolerate," Owen finally got out. "She tolerates you."

"Oh. Well, I am tall though."

"Not really."

"Not compared to you, burly man. Compared to normal men."

Owen had a headache. He was honestly starting to wish that he had gone to the hospital to see his sister.

"Your chick's been in there a long time," Rolly said. Then, giggling, he said, "Maybe she had to shit."

Eating some of his pizza rolls, Owen sat there silently for a few minutes before saying, "I want a guitar."

"I have a guitar."

"You have Guitar Hero."

"And Rock Band," he said, nodding his head slightly.

"That is not the same thing."

"It is the same thing. I have DJ Hero too. We can play-"

"No."

They both frowned as Annabel came back into the room.

"No?"

"No," she reiterated to Rolly. "We are watching this movie."

"You don't even know what's going on in this movie," Owen pointed out.

"I don't care." Annabel immediately sat back down on the couch. Then, to the other teen boy, she said, "You have a nice house, Rolly."

She was talking so loudly. God, she'd be a mess to get home.

"Thank you," Rolly said.

"A really nice home."

"I know."

Though Owen really did hate to admit it, she was right. It was a really nice place Rolly's parents had. It wasn't Arbors nice or Wildflower Ridge, but it was pretty damn nice. It was an older home that Rolly's father had put a lot of work into or so he told Owen randomly. It had a pretty open living room that led right into the just as open kitchen. Big flat screen, one of those L-shaped couches. It was freaking awesome. Owen wasn't sure how he ended up with a rich girlfriend and best friend, but he kind of dug it.

"There's a concert tonight at the park," Rolly mentioned randomly as Annabel settled out on the couch again, this time with her feet in her boyfriend's lap. "We could-"

"I told you, Rolly, that that band is shit."

"It's just a local one," he went on, trying to explain to Annabel for some reason. She was on the cusp of falling asleep though. "Perkins fags, but they're alright. They have a chick for a drummer. She blew me once, back in-"

"We're not going to the damn concert," Owen told his friend, frowning.

"It's free."

"So is sitting here eating pizza rolls."

"For you," Rolly grumbled.

"And that's exactly why I like it."

"Bella? We're here."

She groaned, not moving from her spot in his passenger seat. "I don't wanna get out."

"You gotta," Owen told her. "I have to get home. So come on. I'll take you inside."

"No."

"Annabel-"

"Why can't I go home with you?"

"Because you can't."

"My head hurts."

"You're drunk. Or coming down off it. Whatever." He patted her arm. "Come on. No one's home. It's the perfect time to sneak you in there, wouldn't you say?"

She just moaned slightly. "Carry me?"

"No. Get out. Hurry. Before your parents show up or something."

She was not happy to say the least as she slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the Land Cruiser. Owen was quick to get out to, wanting to help her along, afraid she'd stumble and hurt herself. He hadn't gotten nearly as wasted as she had.

"I don't wanna go upstairs," she told Owen when they finally managed to unlock the first door. "I'mma sleep down here. Okay?"

"No," he told her. "You have to sleep up there. If you fall asleep down here, your parents will speak to you, notice you, and just realize that you're drunk. Do you want that?"

"Mr. Honesty," she reprimanded with a slight laugh. "That'd be a lie."

"Yeah," he sighed. "I know. Thanks to you it's almost like I support that lifestyle."

Annabel just pushed away from him slightly, heading further into the house. "No one's here, Bear."

"I know," he sighed, closing the door behind them.

"Let's have sex."

"What?"

She just laughed before rushing up the stairs. Frowning, Owen quickly followed, knowing there was a good chance she would fall.

"You really want to have sex?"

"Yes!" Annabel made it up the stairs without fail, but almost tripped over her feet on the way to her bedroom door. She rested against it for a moment, hand on the doorknob, before pushing in and stumbling over to her bed. "Now."

"Really?" Owen came into the room after her. "Because-"

"I'm sleepy, Bear," she cut him off, snuggling into her covers. "So sleepy."

"Of course," he sighed, never believing for a second that he could really have sex three times in seven days anyways. "You always get that way when you're drunk."

"Lay down with me," she mumbled, her eyes slipping shut. "Owen."

"Bella, I gotta go home. Really. My parents-"

"Just for a minute?"

He sighed, going to sit on the edge of her bed. Annabel smiled slightly though as he reached behind himself to stroke her side.

"Love you, Bella," he mumbled to her, looking out the glass of her bedroom wall, making sure that her parents didn't pull up. "I have to go though."

"Mmmm."

"Tomorrow's your last show of the week. I'll be there. And then Thursday is Thanksgiving."

"Mmmhmm."

"And I'm sure your mom and Whitney are cooking, right?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Good. I can't wait."

"Mmmm."

He sat there for awhile, listening to her as she drifted off. It wasn't long before she was in deep slumber, her breathing evening out not soon after. Owen just sighed as he stood up before leaning over to give her a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"See you later, Bell," he whispered before heading out. He really didn't want to leave her. He honestly hadn't even wanted to leave Rolly's. But his parents had called him home and there was no way he was leaving his drunken girlfriend with his stoned best friend. Because even though they were the only two people in the world Owen could trust, he wasn't stupid. Not even close.

Once he was back in his Land Cruiser, Owen immediately opened the glove box. Since he had begun dating Annabel nearly a year ago, he started keeping a little bottle of that Axe body spray in there just in case he needed it. He had gone through tons of bottles at first, as many guys do when they're first learning that balance. Their first few dates Annabel about chocked to death from all the fumes. These days, Owen mostly just used Axe to cover up the smell of alcohol.

Not that he was going to be lying to his parents. Because he wasn't. He was totally going to tell them at some point that he and Annabel had gotten drunk with Rolly. Just not when they were all worried about his sister.

"Where were you all day?"

Owen frowned as he came into the house, slightly shocked to find his father sitting there on the couch. Since when did his father become so comfortable in his ex-wife's home? It was…creepy.

"With Rolly and Annabel," Owen said simply as he walked further into the house. "Is anyone else here or-"

'Your aunt." His father nodded towards the kitchen. Looking in there, Owen frowned when he saw his aunt cooking. "What-"

"Mom and Dad are coming, Owen," Cam said as she turned to look back out at him.

"Coming?"

"For an early Thanksgiving."

"I don't-"

"And they're bringing a few people."

"Here?"

She shook her head. "To my house. I just decided to cook a few things over here. You know your mother has much more ingredients than I do."

"Right," he said slowly before looking back at his father. "Where's Mom?"

"The hospital still."

"Oh." He frowned at his father. "What are you doing here then?"

"I was waiting for you, Owen. The only way I had back from the hospital was with Camille and she was coming here."

"To cook," the woman reiterated. "So, Owen, what were you and your girlfriend doing that was so important anyways?"

"Nothing. I told you that we were just with Rolly."

"What were you boys doing all alone with-"

"Enough," his father said, standing then. "Come on, Owen, we're going out."

"Out?"

"To dinner."

His stomach was not up for that. His head was not up for that. He was a little dizzy at the moment.

"Dad-"

"What? Did you eat with Annabel?"

"Well, Rolly had pizza rolls and-"

"Ah, nonsense. That's not a real meal." Then, to his son, he whispered, "Neither is what Camille's preparing, but-"

"I heard that."

"Come on, Owen." He clapped his son on the shoulder. "There's much to discuss."

"To discuss?"

"Yes."

"Like?"

"Things."

Owen really didn't want to discuss 'things' with his father. The last time they discussed 'things' he got in trouble. It wasn't fair. His father shouldn't be allowed to force him into a conversation and then punish him when the outcome wasn't up to his standards. It just wasn't fair.

"Where are we going to eat?" Owen asked as he headed out of the house, his father right behind. "Dad?"

"I was thinking that place you like so much. The one we ate at last time I was here."

"World of Waffles."

"Yeah, let's go there."

"Dad, I'm really not that hungry."

"You will be tonight, right? You can just take what you don't finish home with you and eat it later. I'm sure there's nothing there's nothing eatable in that house. You can't deny that."

Owen really didn't want to drive again. It made him nauseous. Why did his father suddenly have to have all the answers? Huh? And what were they going to talk about anyways?

He didn't find out until they got to World of Waffles. All through the car ride his father was silent, even enduring Owen's music in silence. Why couldn't all of their conversations be that way? Silent? Nonexistent?

It wasn't until they were seated in the practically empty restaurant that his father spoke.

"God, I always forget how cold it is in here," his father said, rubbing his arms while looking around the place. "Good thing I had a jacket. Don't know how you take it down here, son. Too cold for me. I can't wait to get back home."

"I hold up," Owen said evenly, not even looking at the menu in front of him. He always got the same thing anyways.

"Still. I'd take the desert any day."

He would as well. If it wasn't for Annabel, he'd probably have already asked to go stay with his father down in Arizona again. Oh, and Anger Management. That was a pretty important part of his life too.

"I guess so."

His father tried to smile at him again, but Owen just saw all the lines and wrinkles in his face. His father wasn't too old, yet time seemed to have been unkind to him. Especially the more recent years.

It wasn't until the waitress came and left that his father spoke again. Even then it was only after taking a long sip of the coffee he had gotten. He made a face then went to add a pack of Sweet'n Low.

"They make it strong," he remarked before looking into his son's green eyes again. Owen was just openly staring at him, wanting to just get on with it so he could go back home to sleep the day off.

"So, I just wanted to take you out tonight, get everything out in the air. I won't be down here forever, you know, and something tells me that it won't be easy to get you to come down to Arizona for Christmas break."

He blinked. "Annabel and I-"

"Oh, Owen-"

"-are having our anniversary over break. So no, it won't be easy."

It was his father's turn to blink. After he did, he just looked off, frowning slightly. "Well, anyways, that's not what I wanted to discuss."

Good. Owen knew if they did, they would only end up fighting. That was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment.

"Okay," he said slowly, wishing his father would just get hurry up.

"I was thinking, and your mother agrees with me, that maybe after you graduate, you could come stay out with me."

"Stay with you."

"Yes. Come live in Arizona. I have that house all to myself and-"

"Why would I-"

"You say that you don't want to go to college, Owen. You have to do something." He shook his head slightly. "Your sister isn't getting any better."

"I know that."

"Your mother doesn't have the money nor the time to support you."

"She's not going to."

"Owen, if you're not going to school and are only delivering pizzas while living in her house, she is supporting you."

"And what exactly would I do in Arizona?"

"I could get you a job, maybe, in my office. Nothing big. Just something to occupy your time. And then-"

"No," Owen said, a frown present on his face.

"No?"

"No," he repeated. "Annabel-"

"Annabel is going away for college, son. I know you don't want to think about it, but she is. Do you know where she's going?"

"I know where she's applied."

"And are any of them near here?"

"One."

"How close?"

"A few hours."

"See, Owen? A few hours. How many times do you think the two of you-"

"I don't want to talk about Annabel." Well, actually, he did. He liked to talk about her. How much he loved her, how much she loved how, all the fun things they did together. It was more he didn't want to talk about her in the way his father was.

"Life doesn't wait for you, Owen. You don't want to go to college? Fine. You don't want to go into the military? Fine. But don't think that a career will just come up and stare you in the eyes. You have to go find one. It's not just going to be waiting for you."

"I don't want a career."

He laughed at that. He literally laughed. "You don't?"

"No."

"Then what do you want?"

"I just want to work. I don't want to-"

"Work. Right. Minimum wage the rest of your life. See how much fun that is. See how much you wished you had listened to me then. Because you will, Owen."

"I really don't-"

"I know you don't want to talk about it, don't want to think about it. No one does, son." His father sighed. "But you have to. You don't get a choice."

"I am not going down to Arizona."

"Your mother-"

"If she doesn't want me, fine. I'll go stay somewhere else. But I'm not leaving Annabel behind."

"Even though that's the exact same thing she's doing to you?"

That was it. That was the same point of contusion everyone tried to get to with him. About how she was leaving him. She wasn't. She wasn't! She loved him. She told him so. She said that they'd make it all work out. And they wouldn't. Annabel would never leave him behind.

…Would she?

"So are you?"

"No."

He could almost hear the hesitation in her voice as she said his name. Only she didn't say his name, not his real one. "Gavin-"

"Stop it. Don't call me that."

"I like it."

"I know you like it. I don't care. That's not the point right now."

She sighed. "I just think that maybe it's not a bad idea. Going to stay with your father after the school year's up. Get out of your mom's hair, let her deal with Mallory, spend some time with your dad."

"What about us?"

"What about us?" she retorted.

"…Are you breaking-"

"No, stupid," she said with what he was sure accompanied an eye roll. He couldn't be too certain though as they were speaking over the phone as he lounged in his bed, sure that she was doing the same in her own.

"Don't call me-"

"What I meant was you leaving doesn't change what I feel for you. There's an us, Owen. There will always be an us."

He shifted on his bed, sighing slightly. "And I appreciate that the sentiment is returned. However, you know how much I hate being cut off."

That made her giggle, but it was a soft one. "Yeah, I know."

"Well, try not to do it so much."

Owen was home again, having gotten out of a fight with his father by mostly focusing on his dinner. The man was stubborn though and had insisted that Owen at least think about what he had said. Of course the teen agreed, as he would be thinking about it anyways. Thinking about how much he hated it that is.

"What are you doing right now?"

The teen boy's eyes were shut at that point, offering him up an easy answer. "Trying not to fall asleep."

"Mmmm."

"How'd being drunk go?"

"Slept most of it off, I think."

"It's what, midnight now?"

"Just about."

"Today was pretty good."

"For a day spent with Rolly? It was alright."

"So. Porn."

"What?"

He opened his eyes, now embarrassed that she didn't immediately pick up the reference. "You and Rolly. Remember? You said-"

"I said what?"

"You and Rolly said that you would-"

"I did no-"

"Stop cutting me off, Annabel."

"God, you're grouchy, Gavin."

"Stop calling me-"

"See what I m-"

"Stop cutting me-"

"Don't yell at-"

"Then stop cut-"

"I'm hanging-"

"No you're-"

She hung up on him. No, she seriously hung up on him. Growling, Owen sat up slightly to call her back.

"Don't you ever hang up on-"

"I will do it again. I will."

Owen frowned in the darkness. "You were cutting me off."

"And? Get used to it."

"Then get used to me snapping at you when you do it."

"Then get used to not having a girlfriend."

"Then get used to being a friendless-"

"Owen!"

He slowly laid back down, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "I got carried away."

"Yeah, you did."

"Well-"

"Apologize."

"What?"

"Now."

"You treat me like a dog."

"I can't hear you until you say that you're sorry."

"I'm sorry."

"Say it with more feeling."

"No."

"You're no fun."

"We have to get up in a few hours for your dumb radio show."

"R and R."

"Fine. Your highly unintelligence radio show."

"Yes, because old men wailing on about the sea is intelligent."

"It's cultured. My show is cultured."

"Just because it's from another culture doesn't mean it's intelligent. Many old empires allowed slavery. It was culture. Does that mean it's a good thing?"

He just groaned. "Why do you always win every argument?"

"Because I'm smarter than you, Bear. It's just another thing to get used to."

He was pretty sure he already had.

Yeah, I meant to have this posted yesterday, but started playing Arkham City and it just didn't happen. Life goes on though.