Betrayal's Child; Suspicion
'JUNIOR! KID! WAKE UP IN THERE!'
Junior's head snapped up to find both Matt and Pete staring at him.
Pete rolled his eyes muttering something about having '3 boys not 2' and left to make a phone call leaving Junior with a very confused, very annoyed, slightly worried Matt. Who expressed his concern like only a true best friend could.
'The hell's wrong with you?'
Junior however knew Matt well enough to recognize the concern some might mistake for anger. He also knew him well enough to know he wasn't getting off easy. But he had to try didn't he.
'I… nothing man I'm fine'
'Junior' Matt began in a voice that made it clear he wasn't buying it.
Luckily-or at least he thought it to be, Pete came back into the room before Matt could keep up the third degree.
Junior looked up at the mention of his name and eyed Pete warily. He knew that tone full and well from when he glued his teacher's pants to the table, 'liberating' the horses at day camp and mattress surfing down the stairs of Davis Manor-second grade had been some year!
That was the tone people used for him when they really wanted his head on a stick.
But what had he done now? He'd been acting more r less like his usual self-but then again, that also had a tendency to annoy people.
He threw an anxious look at Matt before turning to Pete.
'Yeah? What's up?'
Pete fixed him with such a glare Junior froze on the spot. He felt like he was 9 and his father was coming at him-and he couldn't even explain why.
'I called the insurance company. Y' know, to make sure we were covered….'
Uh oh.
'Funny' he said in a voice that made it obvious he didn't find it funny at all. 'They told me we weren't covered and that I'd made a mistake'
When Junior said nothing, Pete closed the distance between them towering over him.
'Tell me Junior, did I make a mistake?'
'See it was more of a misunderstanding....' Junior said-he couldn't help it. He joked when he was nervous. And right now he might as well be a clown.
I knew this would come back to bite me.
'WHAT IN THE HELL WHERE YOU THINKING?!' WAIT I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING! NOTHING THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE THINKING!'
Junior didn't say anything. He couldn't. The resemblance between Pete and his father was too much. He wasn't even sure what was wrong with him. He'd had flashbacks of time spent with his father before but they'd never gripped him like this.
So he just stood there frozen in place and let Pete go off on him.
'DAMN IT JUNIOR YOU KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF WE WERE CAUGHT WITHOUT INSURANCE?!'
'Dad' Matt tried to intervene but couldn't for the life of him find the words to get Junior out of this one.
As it was he didn't have to. Pete apparently having had enough of teenage boys for the day gave Matt a look that clearly said 'you handle it!' and stormed off.
'Your dad has his pants on too tight' Junior said trying to joke his way out of it once he was sure his voice wouldn't shake.
The look Matt gave him told him that was one joke too many.
'He's right Junior. That was your responsibility. You told us you were on top of this'
Junior rolled his eyes at him 'Why are you making such a big deal out of this. I'll get on it'
'This is a big deal! You just don't realize it because every time you get in a bind like this you ask mommy or daddy for a hundred-dollar-check' he said more sharply that he had intended to.
As soon as the words were out of his mouth Matt wished he could take them back. He knew for a fact that, contrary to popular belief The Davis' lives weren't any easier because of their money-and he also knew that he was out of line saying this.
Junior was glaring now-well no that wouldn't be right, Junior never glared so much as he just gave you these wounded look. Which was worse. It was a nonverbal guilt trip thorn bushes and all.
'Junior' he said but the other boy cut him off.
'My mom's fallen off the face of the planet' he said resentfully-whether the resent was aimed at him or at Isobel Matt really wasn't sure. And then Junior's expression changed. It wasn't resentful but something else entirely.
'And my dad…'
He trailed off then and sat down with his back to Matt refusing to say any more. Choosing to stare at the ground instead. He wanted to tell Matt s badly it was eating him up inside.
Junior felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to meet Matt's apologetic look with his own haunted accepting one and no more needed to be said.
Matt felt and the concern he'd been feeling the last couple of days go up a notch. He suddenly realized just how tired and worn out Junior looked. He'd definitely been less energetic-of course being Junior there really was n way he could be MORE energetic but it was something else. Junior's eyes which had always been bright and quick to give him away had a dull defeated look to them that didn't belong there. There were dark circles under his eyes and his hair-which was messy by definition now basically defied gravity.
It was at that moment that he decided it. He would find out what was going on with his friend. After all, even the snake charmer's son couldn't act forever.
Could he?
'Why don't you come over to my place today? Dad's leaving today, won't be back for a while. Mom wouldn't mind and I know Dani has plans we'll catch a game watch a movie whatever'
He said it as a proposition even thought by this point they both knew Matt would tie Junior up like a deer and strap him to the hood of his car if he even thought about saying no.
'Fine' he said ''but I get to pick the movie. I'm sorry I am NOT watching any more lame flicks to spare your feelings'
Matt rolled his eyes but relented whatever Junior was going trough couldn't be that bad if he was still able to annoy him like he had for the past 16 years.
'Fine but I'm driving. You look like crap'
'But I always…'
"Junior!'
'Ok'