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I'm going to be frank: this is basically filler. I didn't intend for it to be, but it sort of turned out that way. I'm sorry ]: enjoy anyway, plz? at least attempt to?
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Jesse couldn’t have imagined, after that dramatic implosion that could have been felt in foreign countries, that he would still be sitting here in Indiana River’s house, pretending to eat dinner, but here he was. Here he was, stabbing at wrinkled green peas that Indiana’s grandmother seemed insistent on piling on his plate despite his subdued protests.
“Beth, darling,” Jesse’s mother said, as she uncomfortably swallowed a spoonful of thick chicken broth that had long grown cold, “I think he’s had enough for the moment.”
“Don’t be silly,” She replied in an oddly cheerful tone, ladling the last of the peas onto Jesse’ plate, “A growing boy needs his nutrients– isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
Jesse sighed and looked across the table at Indiana. He was pretty sure he wasn’t the only growing boy in the room, and yet the amount of food on the redhead’s china looked pathetically sparse.
“Hey, Indy, don’t you want anything?”
Indiana tilted his head upward for a moment with an air of total defeat. His lips attempted to form words, but eventually the struggle subsided and he simply shrugged, glancing for the tenth time at his grandmother, who continued to blissfully ignore him.
“We have some nice ripe peaches as well,” The silver-haired woman said as she looked upon the tense little trio huddled around the table. “Let me just bring those out,” She said as she headed off into the kitchen.
“Indiana,” The brunette whispered the second she was out of earshot, “You should at least eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” He replied in a morose monotone.
“Just have something, please.”
“No.”
“Just--”
Suddenly, Mrs. Worth interrupted. “Jesse, let’s go,” She said quietly, pushing aside her mostly-full plate of mostly-cold food and rising from her seat. At this, Indiana’s grandmother peeked her head into the homely dining room. “Leaving so soon, dear?”
Mrs. Worth half-smiled and nodded. “I’m sorry, dear, but, uh, Jesse and I have some things at home to do...” She waved her hands around to emphasize their busy schedule. “Perhaps some other time.” Her arms slipped around Jesse’s and she half-dragged him to the door.
“All right,” said Indiana’s grandmother. “If you must.” Her continuous smiling was beginning to anger Jesse.
He mustered up an ounce of courage and looked the elderly woman in the eye.
“Ignoring your grandson isn’t going to make anything better,” He said slowly even as his heart quickened its beat.
Instantly, the friendly grin that had perched upon that wrinkled face turned over.
“Really,” She seethed, staring at him, “You think you can tell this old lady how to do things? I think I know what’s best for the boy, sugar. Not you.”
Jesse faltered, racking his mind for a witty, biting comeback, but already his mother was pulling him through the door and to her car as fast as she possibly could. As he sat in the car waiting for his mother to start the engine, he noticed he could see his redheaded half-boyfriend through the window, still sitting slumped at the dining table. Faintly, he waved farewell at the boy while the car slid out of the driveway and onto the shadowed street.
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The car ride should have not taken more than a few minutes or so but it felt like an eternity with the uncomfortable silence that permeated the atmosphere.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jesse finally said as he allowed his brooding thoughts to escape into the air.
His mother kept her eyes on the road. “Done what?”
“You know very well what,” He answered with a hint of disgust.
“It was my duty to inform that poor woman.”
“You didn’t have to do it like that.”
“Well, I suppose I could have just shown a picture of you two being sinful together...”
Jesse opened his mouth to reply but had nothing to say. He supposed he should be thankful that his mother had not gone that low.
“Now he’s probably going to be imprisoned in that place until he turns 18.”
“Yes, well, he’s not going to be the only one.”
He swivelled his head towards hers. “What do you mean?”
“I would’ve told you this earlier but your father’s coming home today and--”
“Dad’s coming home?!” Jesse repeated, shocked. “Wait, did you talk to him?”
“No, but the second he comes home you are going to tell him every goddamn thing you dared say to me- and then we’re going to talk about what the hell we’re going to do with you.”
The pair lapsed into quietude once again as they reached their own cozy off-white house, its driveway currently occupied by a dark-red convertible. Jesse caught sight of the car and moaned to himself.
“He’s home,” Mrs. Worth said, her vicious smile stretching from ear to ear.
Copyright 2008 Sneh =]
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