The blonde doctor wasn't having a good time of things. Sure he never handled kids before, but he thought things were going so well, he was proud of himself and his charge, even if it happened under less than ideal, or believable means. He was doing amazing in school, even if he took a few remedial classes to make up for missing time, had friends, was in activities, and then the muck came back into their lives.
Curing him of the mutations took around an hours soak in a special tank now that the doctor actually knew what he was doing. But some of the mental muck always took a little longer.
At the moment , wearing a blue sweater with khakis, tried once again to knock on the door of what his guest room now covered in varying posters for teenage bands, teenaged girls, and the occasional fish or toad.
"What?!" Came a mix of a growl and roar from the other sighed. Good, at least he was finally speaking to me thought the doctor.
"Gil, I'd really like it if you came down to eat soon- you know you have a big day tomorrow." No answer so he went on "yaknow school, possibly apologizing to your teammates and other students, the fam-"
"Not until I get my tv back!"
"Alright young man, you wanna make it two weeks?!" The doctor asked as sternly as he could. He waited a solid five seconds before he heard some stomping around the room an rushing of the door before it opened to reveal the small olive-skin face in a very unpleasant frown and even more unfriendly eyes.
"That's better." The doctor almost smiled, "now-dinner's almost ready. Go wash up," he pointed to the bathroom as if Gil hadn't been staying long enough in his home to know where it was. The teenager stomped by before the doctor even started his way back downstairs.
Once both had sat down to dinner, the doctor was too busy to marry before so the only women in his life were sweet lady science and the housekeeper who came on Mondays and Tuesdays, the only sound that came from the small dining room off of the kitchen was sraping of forks, Gil doing it purposefully as he rested his chin on his other elbow. Finally, the silence was broken.
"You had to make it this week? You couldn't move it?"
"Well you had to mutant your fellow campers last week. You knew what was airing this week. Don't think I don't feel bad myself, I know how you like that show. The carnage, the teeth, the suspense." He sighed "but it's for your own good."
"I already apologized...to the police and judge." His voice changed at least from annoyed to a slight pout, as he crossed his arms over his chest. His brow was still knit. It's not like the doctor went through with this stuff normally. A few days sure, but you can't miss a single day of this event. Heck, Gil even heard some people called in sick to watch the drama of the ocean deep unfold for one week. And of course missing the start of the week you might as well skip the whole thing.
"You still have to apologize to your school- I'm sure they'll understand." Honestly the doctor was amazed they'd been pretty accommodating to Gil, but it helpped the principal was a fan of Dr. Lurkin's work with mutated vegetables, strange man.
"Uuggh," Gil muttered under his breath "such a squeeb." Then asked louder, "can I be excused. I had a paper due Monday I forgot about." Or rather he didn't plan on doing it. Before the doctor could answer he was already scooting out of his chair and upstairs.
From his window you could sort of see the old riverbed across town. It was a bunch of apartments now, and a factory. Dry as a bone with no water to speak of. If Gil squinted hard enough he could almost see the light of the apartment he grew up in. Or so he thought, third floor in the middle. Mom and Dad still lived there actually. They were supposed to come by at least once a month with a social worker, or some guy in a suit anyway. Gil don't question it, and they didn't come by enough to question it. But it didn't make him sad, they made it clear they didn't care about him before. Heck, he wasn't even sure they noticed he hadnt been home in years. Tomorrow was when they were supposed to visit. The doctor would have him shower and he'd put on a nice shirt, and they'd wait two hours before giving up. Doctor normally seemed more upset over it than Gil. Then they'd go out to eat. Adults got to do stuff like that, they had all the power to make any choice they wanted. Not pick up your kid from camp? Sure, that's apperantly fine and not child neglect a person should be in jail for. Wanna go out to eat on a Monday night? No problem. Gil didn't think he was wrong for trying to take some power for himself. He loved swiming, and when you spit acid people don't tell you want to do.
He sighed and eventually banged out a half-hearted, half-written eassy for monday. Before eventually falling asleep still sort of upset over the camping trip.
The week went by and he slowly, but surely, went back to his old self. Or- his human self. He got an extinction on his paper, so come Friday the only issues clouding Gil's mind was a small suspension from the football team. Which only have him more time after school, his friends, the guys on the team, were having trouble warning back up to him. Not that Gil cared much, he was just trying to avoid spoilers for the week. During study-hall, were you did anything but study, himself normally playing paper football with Lenny Paliski, instead spent it wearing headphones, listening to a discount Oh-Boy's CD and tried reading his history textbook to avoid people. He knew the show was all that anyone talked about this week. Come Friday, it was killing him to not know the lastest blood-thirsty adventure. He never been more tired and bored than that week.
Sunday morning, noon, Gil was surpised with himself he actually got up early. Or that the doctor allowed him to sleep past ten. So he got up, showered and went to go make some toaster waffles. His punishment was up sure, but he sort of sulked down as now there was no way he'd catch up. Slowly he came into the dining room, the house was surpingly empty and the note he found on the dining room table didn't explain why. It was a blank VHS tape with 'play me' taped on it. A fan of horror movies would have put the tape back instantly, but Gil simply took it to the living room, forgetting his hunger.
It took a second, but the theme song started up. A beach restore was the setting as ctors playing teenagers laughed nd cried over the opening credit. Gil smiled as he settled into the couch, just as the front door open and his episode started as Alison and Christy, the lead girls of the show just realized that JT actually didn't have a twin, and they'd been dating the same person the whole time.
"Oh good," Dr. Lurkin smiled, "you found the tape."
"You recorded the new episodes?" Gil asked, smiling as the bloodbath started with Alison jumping on Christy, and Luke trying to break them up-getting pulled into the fight himself.
"Well- I figured you learned your lesson. And-It might not be the most educational program out there, but you like it."
"Oh here-" gil bent down and picked a textbook up from the floor. "I borrowed this last night."
"For school?" The doctor took it as it was a copy of some work he did a few years ago.
"No, I jus got bored." He returned to his show, not seeing the doctor's small smile. He knew he didnt know much about kids. But with Gil's mental muck gone- he felt he could handle it.
