Prompt: Matt - "Can't be scared with a gob full of chocolate, can you? Fact." - 'Frankie'
The house seemed too quiet with our parents gone, hence the reason the TV was up louder than usual. I didn't quite understand the feeling because Kurt and I had been left alone before. This time though, Mom and Burt wouldn't be back until next weekend. They weren't just out having dinner or enjoying a movie, they were down in D.C. in their own apartment.
I had thought this experience was going to be cool. What high school wouldn't want to be on their own for a majority of the time? However, only having returned from the airport a few hours ago, I was finding the idea daunting. If something went wrong, Kurt or I would have to handle it ourselves.
As a commercial break came on, I realized that Kurt still hadn't returned from the kitchen. As he had said he was going to do the dishes, and what dishes there had been shouldn't have taken more than ten minutes to wash, I was a bit worried. Getting up off the couch, I headed for the kitchen.
Walking through the doorway, I found Kurt standing at the sink. Looking at the dish drainer it appeared that he had completed his task.
"Hey, Kurt," I called out.
Kurt jumped at the greeting. I hadn't seen him that jumpy since the incident with Karofsky a year ago.
"Sorry," I told him, walking toward him. "Didn't mean to startle you."
"It's fine," Kurt said quietly. "I was just lost in my thoughts," he said. I didn't miss the motion of him wiping away tears or the sparkle of unshed tears when he turned around.
Apparently I wasn't the only one finding the situation harder than anticipated. Putting my own anxieties aside, I finished closing the distance between us and pulled him into a hug.
"Hey, everything is going to be okay. Being on our own is going to be an adventure."
"What if something happens, Finn? What if the last time I see my father is when I saw him get onto that airplane? What if the job is too stressful and he has another heart attack?"
"Dude, your father is going to be fine. You saw how excited he was to be starting this job. How excited he was to be able to make a difference. And he's got mom to look out for him and make sure he eats right. It's going to be fine."
"If you really believe that why did you hardly eat dinner and why are you blasting the TV?" he asked, pulling away.
I smiled. Kurt knew me too well.
"Okay, so the idea of being alone is a bit daunting," I admitted. I pointed to the kitchen table. "Have a seat. It's time for some comfort food," I instructed, heading for the freezer.
"What are you up to?" Kurt asked, sitting down.
Pulling out the carton of chocolate ice cream, I held it up. "According to my mother, chocolate is the best way to soothe anxieties."