William watched as his mother stared at him from the doorway leading to the house's entrance. During these two years away William had ample time to come to terms with why he felt so alienated from his family.
One of the big reasons was the looks, not only his mom but also his father and sister were Absolute Specimens as the internet would put it. Their family gatherings were always marked by at least one comment or two, in which they “Politely” compared him to his family...
His musings on the unfairness of the gene lottery were abruptly stopped when another woman walked into the living room, someone he remembered well, Amanda Willhelm. William felt that anger rise in him, but he kept it reigned in, still as a lake after finishing the job on his PC.
"Hello William, your mother didn't tell us you would be coming back today, otherwise I would've prepared a homecoming gift." The woman said in a clipped tone, she was barely hiding her annoyance with a facade of politeness.
William didn't respond, slightly moving to the left of the table he looked at her, her pale skin slightly flushed from the morning walk, no gun on her person which made the boy relax if only a little.
Amanda was visibly uncomfortable now, two years ago, the boy looked scrawnier, thinner, but now, he had some muscle on him, looked taller, more masculine, but she could see he was angry.
Thankfully for both, Carmen called Amanda to the kitchen so they could eat. Picking up his stuff, William moved towards his room, only to find his sister just about kicking two other girls out of it.
"Sorry Will, we have been using your room to bunk whenever we go out, I swear on mom I've not skipped on cleaning it, god knows you have an obsession with tidy rooms..." The girls didn't even notice him while being hurried off to her room, and opening the door William found himself staring at his room from the corridor.
A plain room, all of his shelves and closets just the way he left them two years ago, a new set of curtains by the windows, placed there by his sister no doubt.
It felt like a stranger’s room, this whole house felt like that, and it was starting to annoy him. William decided to be proactive and quickly moved to make this place feel like it belonged to him, starting first with a quick broom sweep, followed by setting his stuff up, hanging his clothes, and finally turning on his PC.
"One step at the time William, One step at the time..." a whisper of encouragement, talking with himself was a bad habit he knew but the reality of it all was coming down hard on him, there would be no more running away, not from his actions, his family and worse, his ex-girlfriend.
Taking deep breaths to calm down, William started another of his methods of meditation, He focused, slowly turning his attention inwards, thump...thump the sound of his own heart filling his mind, slowly he calmed down, after centering himself he turned the PC on, it was time to relax a little, hard times were coming but right now? Right now it was time for some good old gaming.
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Playing games was more than a hobby for William, as his only means of meaningful social connections, the boy was obsessed with games, all the stress that wasn't properly vented with meditation was no longer weighing on him, minutes turned into hours as he played and chatted with his friends.
When he heard a knock, William knew it was time to face the music.
"Mom and Dad wanna talk Wills, they look kinda mad, but no fights, ok? We have guests in the house." Juliet tried to hide the sadness in her voice but William managed to notice. He knew that while she loved him, her love for mom and dad was also just as strong.
"It's ok sister, I promise there won't be any fights." A hug to seal the deal, William hoped for no fights but who knew with his dad, the man was more than likely still seething about the events from two years ago.
Going to the living room was strange, it felt like his room, William thought, new furniture where there wasn't any back two years ago, old furniture in places he remembered.
Crossing the archway that leads to the living room, William watched as his parents talked in hushed whispers, worry plastered over their faces. They had already made the guests go home early, it seemed.
Pulling a chair, the boy cleared his throat, getting the attention of both adults.
William cleared his head, let this be a new start he thought to himself, no more running away, it won't be a totally clean slate but it was the next best thing.
“Mom, Dad, we gotta talk,” William said
“Yes, we do, son... Why did you decide to come back home? Couldn’t you have gone on the trip with your grandparents?!” Dad was mad “Come now Alex, that’s not fair both to your parents and William here, they already looked after him for two years…” Mom was fast to speak over him
“Did you really think they would’ve taken me? stop being an unreasonable dad” William took the in and ganged up on him, His father quieted down for the moment.
Mother wanted to push for more, but not seeking more confrontation, William just shook his head at her
"Look son, your father and I wanted to talk about how things will play now that you are... back home... we wanted to make sure there won't be any... complications," dragging the word, Carmen felt scared, scared that her son would burn all the work they had put in these two years. She locked eyes with him, looking for any of that madness but all she found was stony eyes looking at her, or past her, she couldn't know.
"There won't be any of those, you have my word on that." Putting his hands up William tried his best to disarm his parents, he was intent on keeping his promise to Juliet.
"I'll hold you to that William, you better be sure of that" Resignation and defeat oozed out of his mother, had it been in the past, William would’ve been hurt by this naked lack of confidence in him, but now? He didn't mind.
"Now, your father here has school news."
A small cough from his dad had him focus on the man. He could see it clear as day in his eyes, the seething rage and indignation, daring William to give him a slight excuse. Not today old man, today we speak in peace.
Relatively of course.
"You have been kicked to 9th grade, something about the paperwork I was told." Alex could barely contain his vicious glee, a perfect setup to make him angry, William was meant to be in 11th grade by now, after all.
Suppressing his urge to sigh, all William could think was how petty his dad was.
A small and petty man
"Fine by me." No emotions at all, it was as if his dad had commented on the Weather.
The man became visibly perturbed, having anticipated a different reaction.
"WHAAAAT?! No way you are ok with this B.S. Wills! You legit gonna do 3 more years of High School?!! Are you nuts brother?!" Juliet went ballistic, sheer outrage pouring out of her, so much for playing the cool older sister.
"It's okay sist, I don't mind," and he meant it. If this was his second chance at mending bridges, he wouldn't waste it with petty drama.
Juliet stared him down, searching for something, anything that would hint at being mad with this situation, but she found nothing.
"Wow, you don't mind it, do you? Wild.”
Juliet vacated the living room, leaving her brother alone with their parents once again, both were looking nonplussed about the small exchange.
"Is there anything else I should know?" He was starting to get tired, this constant effort of trying to remain calm was taxing William by this point
"No son, I believe we are done here. If anything else comes up I’ll tell you about it ok?, if you would excuse me, I have work to do." Mom was quick to escape, Dad didn't bother with a goodbye, getting up and moving to the kitchen without a word.
William thought to himself alone at the table, could he fix this? Carmen was wary of him like he was a caged animal, and Alex was dead set on getting back at him like a petulant child.
Did he even want to fix his relationship with his parents? Was there any point in tackling what would be without a doubt a herculean task? William wished he could stay neutral about it but he knew that wasn't gonna happen, he had to make things right.
It was his last chance, as he would find out later.
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"I'm going to the All Saints Shelter," Called out William, his mom was cooking lunch, but not for the family, apparently now if one wanted to eat, they had to make their own food, a strange rule he thought, but one that he didn't mind, he knew how to cook after all.
"Hold up bro, Sister Hernandez doesn't run the All Saints no more, Hannah took her place ever since the old lady left for Italy," Juliet said as she was marching down from the stairs, ready to go out as well.
"That Hannah? Hannah O'Brien? She was a goddamn menace!" William was shocked, he knew the girl from his time at the shelter as a helper, she hated any sort of authority and more than once hid there, Her friendship with then Sister Hernandez helpíng the angry girl through her numerous relationship and family problems.
"She's barely nineteen, you’re telling me she's running the shelter with no supervision?"
"After the offshore project started, the shelter lost almost ninety percent of its residents, Wills, last I heard there's like eight people there who refused job offers on the island." Juliet was ready to go out when she stopped right beside him.
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"Smellin’ nice little brother, you off on a date or something?" she said with a tease, he didn't know if he’d missed that or not, "You know Hannah got her act together mighty quickly after you left, maybe there's something there?"
"I didn't know you were also a gossip sis, these two years were quite something weren't they? But enough about me, what about you? Did you finally get a boyfriend or do I need to tell mom to start buying cat supplies?"
"Don't you dare! I am not turning into a crazy cat lady! Ugh, you are no fun." She quickly left the house, William was pleased with the little banter, it was good to know his sister was still laughing at his bad jokes.
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Walking to the shelter was a unique experience, the town had changed in major and minor ways, but it was the lack of homeless that nagged at him so much. What was the government doing on that island that managed to empty the entire state of its homeless population? He knew the jobs paid well, plus all housing and bills were free but he felt something was up, and rumors about them shipping people from the rust belt by truckloads gave much-needed fire for his conspiracy-fueled mind.
It was at this moment while William was lost in thought that he heard someone call out to him, an older woman, pale as snow approached him.
"My oh my, if it isn't William! Darling, it's been almost two years since I last saw you! Are you busy? We can have a cup of coffee and catch up"
Like a bucket of ice-cold water was thrown in his face, William immediately broke free from his stupor, after all, the one who had just ambushed him was Jenifer Winters, his ex-mother-in-law.
"Miss Winters" William was doing his best to keep it cool but he was treading a razor-thin line already, his relationship with Jennifer's daughter very much a wound he had no plans on opening again, especially so given one of the reasons they broke up was talking with him right now.
"No need to be so formal darling, we’re old friends, aren't we? Oh but I must tell Isabell you are back, she's going to be positively delighted!" He caught the flash of sadistic glee in her eyes, and William knew it was time for a tactical withdrawal.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline your invitation, Miss Winters, I have an appointment to keep at the shelter."
William didn’t know why the woman now hounded him like a dog after a bone, and was scared to find out;
"Look at you all right and proper again. Oh, I’d forgotten how much of a busybody you were, always helping the needy. No wonder that daughter of mine was so infatuated with you... Well, do call me later William, you can drop by anytime, I'll make you those hashbrowns you used to love," Winking goodbye, the woman left. William didn't return any goodbyes, instead, he kept walking, faster this time.
There was no bigger regret for him than the disaster that was his break up with Isabell, the worst part of it was that it’d come barely a week before his ordeal with the bullies and his father...
There was no build-up to it, he had consulted the girls they knew and they’d all vouched for his behavior as a boyfriend, one crying, even.
The only response he’d had when he asked Isabell what he had done wrong was a cold "Nothing."
"You did nothing wrong, Will,"
"There's simply no more spark between us, It's best we part ways as friends than to drag this on."
And part ways they did, William was gutted, he felt hollow for days. There was no anger, no outrage, only the hollow feelings. It was at this lowest of times where he found enough push to punish the bullies. After all, he was at the bottom of the barrel already, what's a few inches deeper?
"Fuck me, what a day," a whisper came out of his mouth. What a day indeed, and he hadn't even talked with Hannah yet.
Arriving at the shelter William was once again taken aback. Apparently, someone decided to renovate the entire building, which was very odd, as Sister Hernandez was very honest on how city hall was cheap with the budget for the place.
One more thing to talk with Hannah, he thought.
The inside of the shelter was also fully renovated, and to his growing shock, with tech straight from the island, including those temperature regulators which ran off some sort of near-infinite battery that lasted a month. Freed from the horrible heat from outside, William Walked up to the receptionist desk
"Excuse me, I would like to talk with Sister Hannah."
"Name please,"
"William Luther, I used to work here two years ago as a volunteer."
The woman looked up, she had a look of sudden realization on her face.
"Oh, I know you! You are the boy who broke those bullies' legs, aren't you? Holy shit, Hannah told us a few days after it happened, couldn't believe it myself... but where are my manners! My name's Tris, I was hired about a month after you left," she got up to shake his hand, rough hands gripping his with a strength that he wasn't expecting.
"I'll let Hannah know you are here to see her"
It didn't take too long before a familiar face was staring William down, and he was surprised to find that the woman in front of him did not match the one from his memory.
Gone were the wild look in her eyes, the intensity that dared anyone to contain her, or heavens forbid, order her around. Now she was serene, at peace, like she had found her life's calling.
Seconds felt like hours, the staredown starting to make him uncomfortable., it didn't help Hannah was even prettier than what he’d remembered
Damn Juliet for saying those stupid things at home, he thought, quickly focusing his attention elsewhere
"The William I know was a testy ball of pent-up anger masquerading as a human," she said, tapping her table with her index finger.
"I could say the same Hannah, what happened to that hazard sign that was your old hair? The deep magenta suits you, by the way." He missed these barbs, Hannah always preferred being direct, even to the point of crudeness.
Resting in her chair, Hannah sighed in silent contemplation
"So what you want little hawk, you disappear up north like an outlaw only to show up outta nowhere—"
"I wanna join back as a volunteer Hannah, things aren't so good back at home, being here would help, you should know." William decided to interrupt her. he wasn't here to play catch up, which could happen later.
"We barely have people in nowadays, really, virtually all the homeless went to the island. Only old Jackson, Mama Crystal, and Agatha stayed." Hannah wasn't annoyed at his question, she just was keeping it real with him, there wasn't much to do at the shelter now after all.
"For old time’s sake? Remember that one time I let you sleep at my house when your stepfather was after you ‘cause you drank his expensive malt?"
That broke her out of the cool and composed character she had, as she gave him a snarl followed by a string of curses a sailor would be proud of. William smiled, for the first time in this horrible day, it felt good to be back.
"You motherfucker, never gonna live that one down, will I? Fine, you can "work" here. And hey, it's nice to have you back William, we should get wasted one of these days, put some hair in your chest." A horrible laugh erupted from the woman-child in front of him, Yep, that was Hannah he knew, alright.
"Thanks but no thanks, wouldn't want you to lose your job sister Hannah." He said, tongue-in-cheek
"Don't you start, someone had to do it after Hernandez left, and your sorry ass was moping in New York so it fell to me… Anyway, you can come whatever day you have free, there's not much to do around here bar cleaning and answering emails"
"It's alright, as long I stay outta home,"
"Shit, that bad? Your old man’s giving you a hard time, eh?" A nod came from William, "Well, lemme tell you this boy—"
"You are barely 22 Hannah, drop the sage old lady bit."
"Don't interrupt me jackass! Like I was saying, what you did was right William, even if your slime of a father says otherwise." She hugged him tightly, almost squeezing the air out of him.
"You best talk to Aver, after your friends moved to Canada she has been basically all alone, still living over the store you remember?"
"I'll do just that, thanks Hannah, I mean it." He hugged her tight as well, felt good knowing there were a few who still cared for him.
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William wondered how he felt about Hannah on the way to Avers home, that blasted comment Juliet made haunting his every step. Hannah was pretty in that wild sorta way, but if he was being honest with himself, he didn't know if he’d be ready to commit to another would-be relationship, the phantom pains of his last one were but a few minutes walk away from him now.
Once again lost in thought, William walked at a brisk pace towards his goal. This next meeting would likely last the entire day well into the night, but he didn't mind it.
"She told me the store was closed down, not that it was converted into an apartment building." William was lucky to find someone that told him Avers was home, he knocked on the oh-so-familiar door, somewhat nervous this time.
His relationship with the girl was...complicated, for the lack of a better word.
"Coming!” A came from behind the door as it opened, “Oh! William, is that you? Goodness gracious, look at you!” She said, inspecting him from head to toe, “Put on some muscle while away in the north haven't you?... Oh! where are my manners, please enter, I'll grab something for you to drink." The girl was lively, and he saw her silky dark hair now had white streaks running through it, William was mesmerized by it, her caramel skin, the way she moved—
Snapping out of his daze, William followed her into the home he had become so accustomed to during those last two months before moving away.
"Felicia and Ulysses left for Canada, huh? I'm sorry Avers, I know you didn't want to be left alone like that, given how close we were" William said in a low voice as he took a seat at the table overlooking the living room.
"Ahh... I miss them, William, I really do, but it was for the best, God knows it would be hard for them to stay here after what happened." she sighed softly, moving her hands to hold his, sitting by his side.
" We all agreed you did the right thing that day, but you know how Felicia is, she didn't want anyone bullying her brother."
"She always defended him, even though he's the older of the two, didn't she? She was so happy when he got into the team," he could feel her head nestled on his shoulder now, God I’d missed her, he thought with a sigh, those two months he’d spent with Avers were bliss in days of hell
"I missed you, William... I told you not to go, to stay with me..." he could hear her crying, soft and small, she didn't want to meet his eyes.
They stayed together like that for the rest of the day, William called his mom saying he was going to stay at the shelter and she didn't mind.
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Coming home was easier than he expected, William was startled when he found his father waiting for him in the living room. With a nod, the man pointed to the couch.
"Father?" A simple question, William had promised to no more fights and by god, he would keep it, even if his dad was gonna be an ass.
"Look son, your mother and sister pestered me to say this; let's not get into any fights, okay? it took hard work to unfuck the mess you left and no one wants a bad vibe in the house."
"Plus I uh, watched some of your competitions... so, ceasefire?" It was hard for William to hide his displeasure at this mockery of a talk, his dad was rotten, but if it only took a smile and nod for peace in the household, then so be it, he thought.
"Sure." He made his way to the kitchen, grabbed some chips, and went to his room. William's father was looking perplexed, he had come ready for a fight, or at the very least a loud argument, yet nothing but a quiet word was spoken by his son.
As for William, he had to get ready for school on Monday, setting aside his school supplies and backpack, clothes, and footwear. He still felt angry at the fact he got kicked back to freshman high. Maybe Avers was right, his parents didn't really care for him at all, he mused darkly.
Dispelling these dark thoughts, he resumed prepping for school, and once that was done he decided to take a shower and play his favorite game, Waves of Anger.
In the middle of one of his innumerous replays, William got a ping from one of his friends; a VR version was just announced for the game.
"Can't wait to use this dumb headset, although what a strange prize to give for a martial arts tournament... but still, I can't help but get hyped for the game..." he was muttering to himself amid chuckles and swears as he played. This particular section of the game was set in the Dukedom of the first Vilianness of the game, a snow-themed zone, one prettier than the rest of the game in his opinion.
All the stress from the day melted away as he got into the rhythm, his knowledge of the game from hours of playing, surfing the wiki, talking with the devs on Twitter and other players in forums helped him relax.
Soon it would be time for school.