"How was school?" Theo asked me.
Fucking awful. I am not going back tomorrow. "It was fine," I mumbled, looking out of the car window.
Shit is getting so bad I can't even be on my phone.
All I could do was sit here and watch the cars drive by, as Theo dodged and weaved in and out of traffic.
Sometimes he goes really fast, and sometimes he goes really slow; it's really a gamble with him.
"How were the tryouts?"
"Fine."
"Did you make the team?"
"Yeah."
"That's good."
"Yeah."
I mean, I want to tell him what happened, but at the same time he tells my dad fucking everything.
I let out a small sigh.
So I guess I will tell him when I am ready to tell my dad.
"Is something wrong?" Yes.
"No, just tired; it was a long day."
"Did you make any friends?" D1 PRIER HOLY FUCK.
"Yes, a couple of big horns and a small horn; they were all pretty nice," I said, trying to get Theo off my fucking back.
"Oh…what were their names?" he asked, pulling into the driveway.
"Are you doubting that I have friends?"
"Yes," Theo said, pulling the car into the driveway and getting out.
"Well, I actually made friends, well, sort of."
"What do you mean sort of?" He asked, and I grabbed my bag and got out of the car.
Then Theo looked me up and down. "What did you wear for tryouts?"
"This."
"In your new sambas?"
Awkward.
"Yeah, sorry," I said, brushing him off.
He mumbled something that I didn't hear, and the two of us walked into the house through the garage.
How do I even tell anyone about that?
Especially my dad.
Like…I don't even know.
Whatever, I'm just gonna take a shower, and I'm not going to think about it.
I looked around the living room.
No dad.
Weird.
"What do you want for dinner tonight?" Theo asked with a smile.
"I don't care; whatever you make is fine."
He raised his eyebrow at me. "You always have something to say about my food. Come on, I will make you whatever you want tonight."
"I'm… I'm not really hungry." I am losing my appetite just thinking about what happened today.
God, now I feel dizzy again.
Those eyes…just thinking about them makes me feel…God, I don't even know.
"I am gonna shower, and I will be back."
"Okay, no eating in your room, so please actually come back downstairs," I heard Theo say as he let out an annoyed sigh.
I nodded.
Then I felt myself walking quicker than my legs could even fathom.
Suddenly, the shower seemed like the best thing in the world right now.
"How was school?" I felt myself stop dead in my tracks.
I turned around and bowed to my dad. "It was fine."
FUCK, I haven't even made it to the stairs yet, dude.
I looked him up and down with a confused look on my face.
What is he fucking wearing?
"Why do you have an attitude then?"
I rolled my eyes and started walking up the stairs.
"Don't roll your eyes at me. I asked you a question," my dad said, walking up the stairs towards me.
Fuck.
"I have no attitude, Dad; my day was just fine."
Here comes Mr. Fear Monger, Dad; please hop off.
I continued up the stairs as I heard him walking directly behind me.
"Why were you talking to Theo like that?"
I swear he has super sonic hearing or some shit.
"I wasn't talking to Theo like anything," I said, pushing open my bedroom as he followed me in.
I put my stuff down on the floor
"I heard you!"
I heard the door slam and then his footsteps walking towards me.
"Look at me when I am talking to you," He said, shoving me lightly.
I sighed, turning around slowly.
Oh, he doesn't look very good.
"Are you okay? Also, didn't you have work? Why are you in your pajamas?" I asked.
My dad looked so out of it; oh my god. And for a man who ALWAYS wears a suit, his being in pajamas was so weird, especially this early.
"I'm fine. Why were you talking to Theo like that?" He asked, this time pushing me so I was up against one of my bedroom walls.
"I wasn't. And if I was, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
"I do not want you to talk to him like that ever again, do you hear me? Once you get out of the shower, you need to apologize to him, you ungrateful…" His voice faded out as he started to rock back and forth.
"Dad?"
Then I watched as, almost like a robot, he whipped around and headed for my desk.
I followed him. "Are you sick?"
"No," he snapped at me.
I watched him quickly pick up a picture off my desk…our family photo, actually.
Just me, him, and Theo.
I watched as he smiled at it.
"Dad, dad, give me that," I said, taking the photo back from him.
This fucking weirdo–what is wrong with people today?
He snatched the picture back as my eyes lingered on his face.
His eyes were this dark, dark color, and his horns were curving, which, fun fact, they normally don't do!
"Theo!" I called out.
"Don't call him."
"Why? You are obviously not well; he will help you."
"Please, don't call him," my dad said, and he sat down on my bed, the photo still in hand.
Then he pulled out his phone with his other hand.
God, he was giving that a weird smile too.
As soon as my dad figured out how to do the photo shuffle wallpaper, he put, I swear to god, every single picture of Theo he has ever taken in there, and I think I have one…wow thanks, dad.
"Everything okay, honey?" HOLY SHIT! I didn't even hear the door open.
"Oh, family meeting without me!" Theo playfully said, walking into my room.
"I told you not to call him," my dad spat.
I heard Theo sigh.
"Get up, you big bear," he said, helping my dad to his feet.
Theo took the picture of his hand and then put it back where it went.
Then he mumbled something to my dad, and my dad's smile grew.
Gross.
"Now go, leave him alone," Theo said, and just like that, my dad was gone.
What the fuck is happening?
"Um, food will be ready when you're done with your shower, and make sure you take a while…just gotta cook the food…extra well," Theo said, winking at me.
AH NAH. That's fucking disgusting.
I walked over to my bathroom and took off all of my clothes.
Dude, what is up with my dad?
Whatever.
I turned on the water and then got in.
Oh god, why is the fan so loud? Oh, and the lights. Why are they so bright? AND why is this water so fucking hot?
Oh my god.
I let out a sigh.
Fuck whatever.
As I cleaned myself in the shower, my mind started to wander…wander to a person I really wanted to forget right now.
Nate.
I feel my heart start to race again.
Why am I thinking about him? And why…why is every detail suddenly so clear?
Where I was standing in the gym, every person standing around me.
Nate's body.
I mean, he was pretty big, but he also had a nice sleeper build.
He also had these golden eyes that were kind of sunken in.
I felt my stomach drop.
God, just thinking about the…eye contact we made.
Just thinking about him.
I can't…I can't wash his touch away, even if he barely touched me.
But part of me doesn't want to; part of my sick fucking brain doesn't want to ever wash off his touch, his eyes.
I closed my eyes.
I felt his hands on me, holding me, going every which way.
Now the memory…the memories are all wrong.
I feel his hands all over my body with those golden eyes and giant horns.
I felt my heart start to pound in my head as I opened my eyes.
I shouldn't have gone to tryouts; I should have just left. Fuck I shouldn't have gone to school at all.
I turned off the water, dried myself off, and put lotion on.
Then I took off my shower cap and fluffed up my curls a bit.
I made my way to my mirror and stared at myself in it, continuing to mess with my hair.
Great, I look like death.
I shuffled into my room and then to my dresser, opening one of the drawers and taking out boxers and pajama pants.
I put them on, and then I slowly made my way down the stairs.
Damn, something smells good as fuck.
I made my way to the bottom of the stairs, and then I let out a long sigh.
These two have to be some of the nasiest mother fuckers I have ever met in my whole life, because what the hell? AND in front of the food too.
Theo and my dad were being all lovey-dovey in the kitchen, with my dad laughing and smiling at something Theo had just said.
I felt a small smile spread across my own face.
Seeing my dad laughing makes this house feel more…more warm. I can't really explain it.
I walked closer to the kitchen, and then I heard it: the song they danced to at their wedding.
"Let me finish cooking," Theo said as my dad held him from behind.
"I am…I am," my dad said, in a voice I almost couldn't recognize.
Gross.
"What's for dinner?" I said, and I watched my dad jump and quickly step back.
"Pasta, your daddy's choice, because you didn't want to pick."
One daddy, disgusting. Two, "I am fine with pasta."
"Even if you weren't, you would still have to eat it," Theo said.
I shuffled into the kitchen, grabbing plates and silverware, then walked into the dining room and set the table.
"Go put on a shirt."
This bitch.
"Bruh no."
"Don't fucking bruh me, go put on a fucking shirt." Oh my god, blowing stuff out of proportion so fast is my dad's middle name.
"Honey, it's fine," Theo said, coming to put the food on all of the plates.
Then we finally sat down to eat as essential dread washed over me.
God, I really don't want to go to school tomorrow, because knowing my luck, I will see him without fail.
"I told you to take your medicine, but you always want to be mister tough guy." Suddenly, my problems aren't as important, because what?
"Theo, I just forgot, I'm sorry."
"And what if I wasn't here? Then what?" Silence.
"You don't have a job." Oh!
"Bitch."
"What did you just call me?" my dad yelled.
Theo turned his attention towards me. "Did you learn anything new in your classes?"
"Hey, I'm fucking talking to you-."
"When you want to talk to me nicely, I will respond."
"Maybe don't call me a fucking bitch then…" My dad's voice died out as he started to stare at Theo with this look that made even me uncomfortable.
"Your son, Lucien." Me what?
My dad turned his head toward me.
The black eyes were back, as well as this soulless look. "It's a shame."
What is happening?
"I learned a lot, actually, specifically in this one class with one of the friends I made and his boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" the gays say in union.
"Yeah. His boyfriend is weird as hell, though. Oh my god, he knew so much about me; it really freaked me out. But Jasper…"
"Is Jasper a big horn?"
I nodded. "So is his boyfriend."
"I don't want you around big horns," My dad said.
Too late.
"They were the only ones who wanted to be friends with me, and besides the ones I am friends with, all have partners; they aren't worried about me."
I felt myself gulp, and I tried to muster up a smile.
"Anyway, just some more stuff about life essence and shit y'all never taught me, but it is all pretty interesting."
My dad nodded slowly. "Okay, and did you go to tryouts? It was a pain to sign you up."
Liar, you don't even know; Theo signed me up for everything.
"Uh…yeah, I made the team and…" I don't know if I should tell them or not. "And there was."
Yeah, no, maybe another day.
"There was a lot of magic; it was really weird," I said, trying to cover for myself.
"You're being weird," my dad said as I ate my final scoop of pasta.
"I am not; it was just my first day, and seeing that many demons was just overwhelming."
My dad never even listens to anything I have to say. Why is he suddenly so fucking good at reading me?
"Did you try to lay low?"
My face changed.
I mean, I tried.
He let out a sigh. "I told you, you need to lay low."
I grabbed my dish. "I haven't even said anything!"
"You took too long to respond."
"I am trying to stay low."
"Why aren't you doing? I don't need you trying."
Theo got up and grabbed my dad's dishes as well.
"Ignore your dad; he's uh going through some things, didn't take his medicine, and is now crazy." What does that even mean?
I put my dish in the sink and walked over to the fridge to look for materials for a root beer float.
I grabbed them out and put them on the counter. "Theo, you want one?"
"Of course, honey," Theo said, turning to look at me.
Okay, why is everyone acting weird today?
"Sorry I am staring, you just remind me so much of your dad when he was in high school," Theo said in a weird tone of voice.
I also forgot that they went to the same school. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Good thing; he was so cute."
"Dude, hop off, you are my stepdad," I said, laughing, and Theo started laughing too.
"I don't mean it like that; I just mean, I am glad you are taking care of yourself, that's all."
I was a chubby kid; that's why he is saying that.
"And I'm glad you are finding your confidence again; don't let your dumb dad knock you down, okay?"
I nodded.
Weird little moments like these make me feel like we are a family and an actual one, instead of my dad's secret life.
"Did Dad ever creep you out?"
Theo nodded. "All the time. When I first met him, he was crazy and would mess with me, so not only did he creep me out, but I also hated him."
"Then how'd you get together?"
"We didn't, you know that." Oh my god, I just blanked about my mom; that's crazy.
"Oh shit, I forgot," I said, laughing, and Theo just smiled at me.
"I still had a crush on him, though, which was crazy considering all the stuff he did to me. I saw him every fucking day, because we played basketball together; I mean that's also how we met."
I felt my heart start to race as I could only think about his name.
Nate.
It was playing over and over in my mind as Theo continued to talk.
"He was messing with me every day since then, and I fell in love. I don't even know how. My heart would race whenever I even heard his name. I was just…stupid, but I was convinced we were soulmates."
Soulmates?
"But then he met, uh, your mother; he stopped messing with me, and slowly he stopped talking to me, and then finally didn't even look my direction. He stopped coming to practice to avoid me, stopped coming to the classes we shared…" Theo's voice faded out, and I watched as Theo dropped the dish he was holding, the shattering making us both jump.
"But it's all in the past now; let me go get a broom," Theo said, blinking.
I heard my dad walk into the kitchen. "Don't move; I will get it."
"No, you need to be resting."
Then, just like Nate did during basketball tryouts, I felt my legs lift off the ground, and my arms get pinned to my side.
I turned to my right and watched Theo get lifted up, too.
I watched as the glass disappeared beneath us.
I didn't know my dad could do magic–what the fuck?
My dad stumbled back as he dropped Theo and me down onto the floor.
"Honey, honey, what did I just tell you?" Theo asked, rushing over to him.
My dad mumbled something to him, and Theo turned to me. "Why don't you go up to your room, and I'll bring the float to you, okay?"
I feel like this isn't really a good time to ask questions because my dad looks like he's losing his mind.
I nodded. "Okay."
I made my way out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and into my bedroom.
God, I haven't done this in a while.
I pulled my journal out from the bottom part of my bed and laid it down on my desk.
I sat down in my chair and started to flip through it.
It was filled with a bunch of random stuff and sketches.
I flipped to an open page and started to write.
Nate.
Dad's being weird.
I didn't know Dad could do magic.
Just like how Nate had pinned me during the scrimmage before the incident happened, my dad just did to Theo and me, but he had a different look on his face.
For once, my dad looked weak.
I can't explain it.
I can't explain the pull with Nate.
My heart tugs.
I don't understand.
I don't understand any of it.
I am trying to, but I can't; I really can't.
I just have to avoid him.
I just have to avoid the friends I've made.
Truly, I think he's trying to get under my skin because he's Vincent's friend.
I just need to avoid them.
But they are cool.
Wait, new thing. Avoid Nate. Avoid him at all costs.
And get someone's phone number or Instagram, specifically Jasper, because he was actually pretty cool.
A very chill dude at that.
I wonder if.
I heard the door open, and I quickly shut the journal and hid it.
I turned my attention to my phone.
10 minutes had gone by; oh my god.
I then turned around and watched as my dad and Theo came in with root beer floats.
My dad shut my door behind him.
Oh, so it's family affair day in my room, okay.
"Hello, handsome, we have come bearing gifts," Theo said.
Okay, it's also getting in my bed with food time.
Theo handed me my float and sat next to me as my dad pulled my chair up closer.
"Lucien, you should wear your hair like that again."
My dad, wearing his hair curly? That's unheard of.
"Okay."
Welp, I guess no better time than the present.
I squinted my eyes.
Why are y'all even in here?
"Anyone hit on you today?"
I spit out my root beer float.
Oh, sorry, Dad.
"I take that as a yes? Was it a girl? Boy? Nonbinary person? Big horn? Small horn? Who was it?" Theo asked as he continued to pry.
"Whoever it is is not relevant because you are not allowed to date."
"I'm not allowed to date a demon, or I am not allowed to date at all?" I asked, smirking as my dad started screaming.
I had that coming. "No one! You fucking…" I watched as he took a deep breath.
"Like indefinitely or?"
"Indefinitely, now stop asking me so many damn questions."
Hey, I was asked the questions first, but okay.
"Theo asked me the question; it's not like I am going to date the first person to give me attention."
My dad raised his eyebrow.
Freak, put that shit down.
"Well, we just want you to be safe, okay," Theo said, side-hugging me with his root beer float in hand.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." And for once, I do…I really fucking do.
My first day of school and it felt like I was in danger the WHOLE TIME I was there.
I mean, of course I won't tell them that, but it's okay…I'll be okay.
After a while of sitting there and finishing root beers, the two of them got up to leave.
So what even was the point of their visit?
Whatever.
Goals tomorrow: one, avoid Nate, two, learn more about demons.