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Chapter 5: Something Amiss
The week he spent with his sons came and went all to quickly for Derrick Strider. He felt like he had just gotten to know his sons, and now he had to leave them. He wanted to get closer to his sons, closer to Dave. Two weeks ago, he had no idea that the boy even existed. 13 years of his son's life that he will never get back, and he'd be damned before he missed another moment.
Unless...
"Hey Dirk, can I talk to you a moment?"
"Sure Dad, what's up?"
"How would you and Dave like it if I stayed with you two for a a bit longer?"
"Sure Dad, we'd love it. But what about your work?"
"Oh don't worry about that Son. I can take a sabbatical. There are much more important things in life than work."
"Well, okay.", Dirk gives in to his father's request.
"Wonderful! Thank you so much Son for allowing me to spend more time with my boy..s.", Derrick said.
Dirk caught Derrick's almost slip of the tongue. Dirk did notice that their dad was spending more time with Dave than he did with himself. And Dirk really didn't have a problem with it though. He was sure he'd be the same way if he just found out that he's had a son for 13 years that he had no idea even existed. But still, something about his behavior was little odd to Dirk. He knew something was up, but just couldn't out his finger on it.
"Hey y'all, what's going on?", Dave asked as he walked into the living room. "Good news, Little Man. Dad can stay with us a bit longer.", Dirk said, putting his hand on Dave's shoulder. "Awesome.", Dave smiled. "That's right son.", Derrick embraces his youngest son. "You and I will have much more time to get to know one another.", Derrick whispered in his ear.
Derrick's statement made Dave feel a little, unsettled. Why would he say that Dave, and didn't want Dirk to hear it? Even their hug was getting a bit too uncomfortable. It was prolonged. Dave almost had to shove the man to get him to end it.
Yeah, something was definitely up. But, neither of the Strider brothers knew what.
A few more days passed without much incident. The days were pretty much spent like those of the week before. However, both Strider siblings were starting to notice that their father's behavior was becoming increasing disturbing.
He was opting to spend more and more time with Dave, and was beginning to almost completely ignore Dirk when Dave was around. Dave was beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable to all the attention his father was giving him. It just seemed that everywhere he turned; BAM, there he was. One night, Dave opened his eyes in the middle of the night and he could have sworn he saw Derrick standing over him. Now he was getting a little too close for comfort.
Derrick seemed to be getting a little possessive over Dave. During that 4-5 hour time frame that the three has together before Dirk had to go to work, Derrick always wanted Dave to be closer to him, than his brother. When the three were all sitting on the couch one day watching a movie, Derrick pulled Dave closer to himself. Dave had his friends over one after noon, Derrick didn't like it one bit.
Even when Dave was outside the apartment, Derrick felt like he had to be right behind him. Take the other day as a fine example; after school (and after he finished his homework under the watchful eye of his father) Dave had asked Dirk if he could go to the skate park with John. Dirk of course said yes. And while their father was out for a moment, Dave slipped off. When Derrick returned 30 minutes later, and discovered that Dave was not there, he through an absolute fit. He was hollering and screaming at Dirk. Saying that if he had any ounce of common sense that he would know the dangers of letting a young boy out on the streets in such a huge city. Dirk tried to explain to Derrick that Dave wasn't alone and that he would call him if there was anything wrong. But, Derrick wouldn't listen to any of it. He took off toward the skate park and basically drug Dave home, deaf to his protests. The was the last time Dave really saw his friends outside of school.
After that little incident, Derrick's behavior toward Dirk was becoming increasing erratic. He just seemed to go off at Dirk for whatever reason, over the smallest things. He fussed about everything from Dirk leaving Dave all alone at nights while he worked, to those suggestive smuppets that he found everywhere. Derrick continually argued with Dirk that he should encourage Dave to seek a career elsewhere than the music world. He felt that world wasn't stable enough to sustain oneself, let alone a family. Dirk told him time and time again, that Dave Strider is gone do what Dave Strider wants to do. And that there is no amount of talking into that he or anyone else could do that would change Dave's mind once he had it set on something.
For Dave's sake, Dirk didn't get too into with his dad. But there were somethings that just pissed him off. He didn't like leaving Dave alone anymore than Derrick did, and he would take Dave with him if he could; but sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do. Then Derrick would accuse him of not putting Dave's best interest at heart. THAT is what truly pissed Dirk Strider off. He was providing Dave with the best life that he could give him. Everything that he has ever done from the night Dave was born had been for him. Even letting Derrick into their lives, which Dirk was now deeply regretting, was because Dirk thought that it would be the best thing for Dave.
In those situations, the best thing that Dirk knew what to do to keep from flying off the handle was take a few deep breaths and just walk away. If he didn't, he was pretty sure that he would be arrested for assault before the end of the night.
Things around the Strider household were becoming increasingly tense when Derrick and Dirk were around each other. It was getting to the point where the two could just look at one another wrong, and they would get into it. Dirk was seriously beginning to question if he made the right decision letting Derrick into their lives. Was he an overall good and caring father to Dave? Of course. Derrick was able to provide for Dave what Dirk couldn't. But still, his increasing hostel behavior made him question if he made the right decision.
The tension in the apartment had gotten so bad that after school, Dave just mostly stayed in his room. He DID NOT want to be around those two when they were together. He was secretly beginning to wish that his bro never had let that man into their lives. I mean, everything was going great at first; then, something in Derrick just clicked. Like he was almost a whole other person than when they all met. Dave never personally seen his brother and father go at it, but he could definitely feel the tension between the two. Like trying to walk into a force field.
Dave felt like if he didn't get some sort of escape soon, that he was going to explode.
* DING*
Dave looked over toward his computer, he just got a pesterchum message from John.
'Thank God...'
"ectoBiologist starts pestering Turntech Godhead at 18:45"
EG: Hey Dave, you there?
TG: yeah
EG: How's everything going?
TG: oh man
TG: you know that tension you get when you push two negative magnets together
TG: thats pretty much how it feels around here man
EG: Wow, that bad?
TG: thats just the tip of the iceberg
EG: Duuuuddddeeeee, why doesn't Bro just tell him to, you know, screw off.
TG: i dont know
TG: i wish he would
TG: i mean i know he means well
TG: but the guys a creeper
EG: Dude! You need to tell Bro.
TG: i would if i could man
TG: the man if freaking everywhere
TG: and he and bro look at each other like theyre about to bite eachothers head off
TG: and they keep telling me that everything is fine
TG: let me tell ya
TG: everything is not freaking fine
EG: What exactly is going on?
TG: between him and bro
TG: or me and him
EG: Both
TG: with me
TG: hes been possessive
EG: Possessive?
TG: yeah
TG: like you own something
TG: its like he doesn't want me around bro or anybody else at all
TG: well i gotta news flash for him
TG: he doesnt own me
TG: no body does
EG: What exactly has he done?
TG: well
TG: i told you about the time i thought i saw him standing over me
TG: and im quite positive you remember that time that you guys came over
EG: God, don't remind me...Do you think he stood outside the door the whole time?
TG: i dont know
TG: and i really dont want to know
TG: all i know is that i need to get away
TG: and soon
EG: Well, actually. I asked Dad if you and the girls could stay over tomorrow night. Being that the day after tomorrow is the last day of school. He said it was okay.
TG: egbert
TG: you are a god send
TG: thank you man
EG: Eh, don't mention it. You seem like you could use a break anyway.
TG: oh man
TG: you have no idea
EG: Hey man, I gotta go. I guess I see you tomorrow.
TG: yeah man
TG: thanks again for inviting me
TG: see ya tomorrow
EG: See ya
"ectoBiologist quit pestering Turntech Godhead at 19:01"
"Hey Little Man?", Dirk knocked on Dave's door before entering, "I'm fixing to go okay?" "Can I go with you?", Dave asked. "I wish you could Little Man." "What the hell is going on between you and dad?", Dave sincerely asked his brother. "I don't know. A bunch of crazy shit Little Man, that's all I can say.", Dirk said shaking his head. Dirk looked over at the screen. "Who are you talking too?" "John." "What all did he say?" "Asked me what all's been going on, and shit like that. He said he asked his dad if we could stay with him tomorrow night, and he said we could. Can I Bro?" "You ain't gotta ask me. I'd let you stay over there tonight. But I'd catch hell for it from Dad." "Dafuq is going on with him Bro?" "I don't know, but I've bout had it with him." There was a few more moments of silence. "So right after school tomorrow?" "Yep." "Good. I need to get going Little Man. If you need anything, please call me.", Dirk said looking his baby brother in the eye, not wanting to leave him alone with the man who claims to be their father. "Okay, I will." Dirk kissed his brother on top of the forehead before exiting his room.
"I'm off Dad.", Dirk said as he walked out the door.
"Alright Son.", Derrick said coldly, not even looking up from his paper.
Dirk hated leaving his baby brother with that man. But he really didn't have a choice in the matter. I mean he couldn't bring a 13 year old to a bar. He done it once when Dave was 11 and he almost lost his job. CPS got involved, and over all, it just wasn't pretty. But if he thought Derrick would actually hurt Dave, he could care less about his job, he would personally see to it that that man would never come into contact with them again; or would even be alive for that matter. But like himself, Dirk was certain that Derrick would never do anything to hurt Dave. That was the ONLY reason why he let Derrick stay around for as long as he's been. But still, if he so much as found one hair out of place on his baby's head, the end results wouldn't be pretty.