"I wasn't really going to do anything!" Shorty glared sullenly at his foster father. Indy glared back.
"Not going to do anything!? You were about to jump in!" the older man was trying to stay calm. He really was. But his bad temper was getting worse as he aged.
For a moment, Shorty just sat eyeing his captor. Indy was sitting stiffly in his leather-backed wooden chair, obviously waiting for some sort of response.
"Well, I don't understand why the hell you wanna marry Willie anyway." The Chinese teen slouched in his own chair. "She only likes you for your looks."
Dr. Jones blinked, letting Shorty's declaration set in for a moment. "First off, you can use that tone with me as much as you want, but it won't make things any better. Second, it's time I stopped hitting on every girl I meet. I need to settle down and show some commitment."
"Absolutely!" Shorty sat up slightly. "I agree entirely. But why Willie!?"
"Why Willie!? Maybe because she's an amazing woman. Or maybe because she wouldn't have to adjust to you, she already knows you, or.."
"Hold on," The younger Jones leaned forward slightly, looking his father in the eye. "What's so amazing about her? That she's pretty?"
"You're walking on awfully thin ice here, kid. If you're not careful, you'll find yourself in that water after all."
Before Shorty could retort, the two men were interrupted by a knocking sound at the door. "Stay." Indy said, walking to answer the call. It was almost midnight, no one in their right mind would come at this hour. He peered carefully around the corner of the living room doorway. Indy was looking through the small glass window in the door. He grimaced, unlocked the door and opened it.
"Well, hi there, boys!" Willie strode gracefully into the entry hall, her evening skirt bouncing as she walked.
Shorty ducked back into the living room and made for the stairway on the far side. He'd just go to bed now. That way he'd get out of the argument and talking to Willie.
"Evening, toots." Indy closed the door behind her and accompanied her into the living room. "Shorty was just off to bed."
Shorty grimaced from his position at the top of the stairway. He was trying to decide whether to stay and listen in, or go to bed and get some much needed rest.
"You're out awfully late." Dr. Jones' voice drifted up the stairs towards Shorty. He was definitely not comfortable with Willie coming this late.
"Oh, I know, Indy. But I just had to come."
"Well, what's up?" It was a somewhat unexpected question from Indy. He wasn't usually so curt with Willie.
"That's what I came over to see about. I saw you coming home from town tonight," the blond-haired woman's voice sounded artificially sweet. Shorty grimaced. If she'd seen Indy, she'd probably seen him too.
"I just wanted to make sure everything was all right.. you know." Awkward silence followed this comment. At last, Indy replied, "Oh yeah, Shorty just... had one drink to many."
The teen couldn't believe Indy'd tell Willie he'd been drinking. Frustration threatened to break through his carefully checked temper. After all, he reasoned, why shouldn't he tell her? She's concerned, that's all.
Willie's silvery laugh was easy enough to hear, even from where Shorty crouched. "That doesn't surprise me, he's always getting into trouble."
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm rather worn out," Indy was obviously insinuating he didn't want to talk anymore right now. "I think I'd better turn in."
"Oh, of course." The sound of a quick kiss. Shorty felt like he was going to throw up any second. "Good night, Tiger."
Ewwwww.. Shorty tried his hardest to understand, he really did. He knew what it was like to admire a girl, but how could anyone do it in such a gross way?
The two voices moved away towards the door and Shorty could no longer understand them. He stood stiffly, all his joints aching. But especially his head. He turned, finally ready to go to bed. He heard the sound of the closing door and footsteps approaching. Shorty bounded quietly down the hallway and into his room, jumping quickly into bed and yanking off his sneakers.
A few moments later, Indy knocked on his door. Shorty allowed his eyes to close just before Indy opened the door a crack. He knew it was childish to feign sleeping, but he really didn't feel like talking anymore right now. His door closed and Shorty sat up. He was very tired, but he couldn't sleep. Somehow, he knew he had to apologize to Indy, without damaging his pride too much. Again, childish, but not a desire Shorty was willing to let go of easily.
He sat silently for some time, trying to decide what he could say to Dr. Jones in the morning. But sleep was not going to allow him many more waking hours, and eventually he let it claim him. He was sleeping in his good school clothes, but he didn't care.