Logan POV
"You know I might start to think you're into me now." I whisper to pony's ear as I reach the cafeteria queue. She steps hard on my toe and I wince.
"I just happen to be in a cafeteria and have the bad luck of a douche arriving at the same time as me." She whispers back and picks a bottle of water, looking back and smiling before walking away.
Damg that smile is irritating. I follow her to her table immediately I get my share and sit on the opposite of her. She doesn't look up when she eats, so I cut out some stake and place it below her head where it's hard to miss.
"It's romantic." I say and she looks up. " Don't you want to be fed?" She wears a slight fake smile before she turns all serious.
"You wish." She says flatly.
Charity joins us and suddenly I'm hoping Blake and Rick or at least one of them shows up.
"You okay babe?" He says on his way down to the chair and pecks her cheek.
My left hand involuntarily forms into a fist. He notices and smiles at me.
"Is everything okay?" He asks just to spite me obviously or laugh at me.
F**ng douche.
"This cafeteria has the best beef. Mmmmmmh." I say, and shove the fork that was full of stake just a while ago ignoring his attempt to piss me off.
He watches me for a while and fills his mouth full of ugali and stake then adds some soup to it. This guy eats like an animal! I sit there not able.to touch my food. I don't know why the thought of them happy together gets to me. Their giggles... I hear a skateboard rolling and sigh in relief.
"See you then lovebirds." I get up without another word and clear the table taking my food with me. I hold Rick's arm with my left arm and pull him off the queue.
"Jenny, baby... I'm sure Rick here would appreciate that sweet meal. Be a darling now?" I help her tuck a stray hair behind her ear as I let my words sink in and she lets out a wide smile and gives up the meal she was holding. I feel bad for it but, I asked her nicely, she could have said no. Right?
"Thankyou baby, the cafeteria is still generous." I point back to where the buffet lay waiting to be served. She gets it and moves back to queue.
I look at pony who is staring in dismay and wink at her. I can see her cheek flush in embarrassment and she turns away almost immediately. I move back to sit opposite Rick.
"Dude, seriously, you need to chill." Rick nibbles at the hot noodles and puts them down. " I didn't want noodles though." He protests but i ignore his whine.
"She keeps looking at me." He knows I mean pony by the way I avoid looking her way when I comment.
"I don't know man. From where I am it looks like they are having fun. Maybe you should stop with all this." I hate when he's right which is usually most of the times.
Nothing I was doing was working. How would I know? I don't try to impress girls, they usually try to impress me and do things to make me notice them. Being ran out of my game by Mason is becoming a norm for him and I don't like it.
"Mom." I yell from the stairs. "Mom, I need to find Claire. I need clothes for a party. Mom, are you there?" I keep talking on my way to the kitchen.
"She's upstairs and yelling is not allowed in here boy." She says softly when I find her beside the oven. She places a pan on the already burning fire and throws in some onions.
"Sorry." I mutter and rush back upstairs to find her.
That is the problem with this house. The walls are soundproof. I don't get it.
"Claire, please be where I can find you." I talk out loud as I find my way to Lary's room.
A disturbed Mason hurries from his room and rubs shoulders with me as he walks towards the staircase.
"What's your problem?" He doesn't respond.
I shrug and move to Lary's room to find Claire dusting surfaces.
"Lary went off to school last week. No one has used this room." She knows what I mean why is she cleaning an unused room?
"My Morsey asked me to dust this one before moving to the guest room." She answers, her eyes not leaving her work.
"He is not here though." At least I didn't think he is. Dad is almost never home.
"He came in this morning." I hear footsteps moving down the stairs just as she completes her statement and turn to see my dad hurrying down and lining his sleeves.
"Dad." I call out but he doesn't stop so I follow him down stairs.
He notices me follow him so he stops and turns.. His suit looks messy and his zipper is down.
"Your zipper." I swallow and look down, embarrassed to say more.
He does his zipper quite fast because when I look back it's all good.
"I'm hurrying to catch a plane. Leaving for Mombasa in a few." His words are fast, doesn't look back and I don't pressure him at all.
I want to help him run 'Morsey's textiles' one day but watching how he's never home makes me rethink that choice. He kisses mom's lips and walks out the front door. Mom looks defeated.
"Oookay.." I drop my shoulders and move back upstairs.
Claire already dropped the clean clothes in my room so it's just a shower and dinner then I'm out. Mom doesn't appreciate skipping dinner.
I pick out a plain black hoodie, ragged black jeans and a white denim jacket to go with it. White yeezys complete my outfit. I'm usually a go neat and casually official guy. I want dad to take me seriously and let me run the business some day and that will not happen when I'm always in tracksuits and sweatpants.
I also love it when I am well dressed and even if girls are not saying it, their eyes speak for them. Tonight is a party and I also know how to show up for it.
This hoodie will not show off my features but that's not the goal right now. I'm all dressed and smiling at my reflection on the mirror. I run my hand through my hair, smooth it a bit then stop. Deciding that would never work for this kind of party, I ruffle it back up and smile again, this time more satisfied.
A sharp beep breaks my moment and my phone lights up.
Blake: Pick me up.
"Mom?" I call out to her as I take my seat on the dinner table. She joins me.
"Where's Mason?" She asks grabbing a plate to serve from the dishes already laid out on the table.
"I don't know. I'm not his girlfriend." I pull my chair closer to the table where mom lay my plate.
White rice, pork chops and spinach.
"You don't talk to me like that young man!" She points a serving spoon at me and I hang my head.
"Sorry. I don't know." I say properly this time. I don't like to disrespect her. Hell I'd fight anyone that does that. I love her. She's always here. I tell her things- real things. Personal stuff. Sometimes I wrap it up like it's about a friend, but she sees through that. She gives real answers anyway.
She doesn't suck at being a parent and I appreciate that. More than I ever admit.
We eat quietly after that. She takes time between her bites to throw glances at the door. She cares about Mason, just like she cared for those before him. I know she still holds on to the hope that one day it will be a girl dad brings home instead of the endless string of boys. I hear when she curses about how we cannot clean up after ourselves.
As I am.about to wind up, the outer door creaks open and Mason steps in.
"Where have you been." Mom's voice is concerned and she stands when he tries to brush us off and head upstairs.
He looks calmer than he was two hours ago. His eyes look angry, maybe scared. We are not the best friends, at least I've made sure of that but, I can't help but feel bad for him. I'm sure it's not easy to share stuff like that with people you not really used to.
"I asked you something young man. Where have you been?" Mom's voice sharpens when she repeats herself.
"The skating grounds." He mutters, eyes fixed on the floor. He starts walking again.
"No you don't, Mason!" Her voice cracks like a whip and he stops in his tracks.
"You don't miss dinner in my house nor walk out on me, boy. You better sit your ass here before you curse the day you learnt to skate."
That's another thing I love about mom. She cares so much she yells to bring a point home even when it doesn't concern her directly.
Mason does not argue. He walks over to the table and sits quietly. Mom serves him and he mumbles a quiet thank you and picks up some spinach on his fork.
"Gotta go maa." I say getting up. I carry my plate to the kitchen sink. I'm not risking another lecture.
"You better be back before eleven." She calls after me calmly after I peck her cheek.
"Wait." She stops me halfway to the door. "Take Mason with you."
"Absolutely not." I protest turning so as my eyes are glaring at Charity.
"Why.. He could use..." Mason cut's her short.
"It's okay, I don't want to go anyway." Ithank him from inside and hurry to the door before she'd come up with an excuse to make me tag him along.