CHAPTER 24: Awkward Conversations

By the time Adam got downstairs to the kitchen it was almost 10pm. He had put on a hoodie to try and cover the scar that was still there from his neck wound. There was no need to pull up the hood as the neck rode a bit higher than usual. As weird as it was to regenerate his skin and body parts, it felt even weirder that his scars stayed. Shouldn’t regrowing your skin destroy the scars too?

“Adam, we need to talk,” his mother’s voice surprised him as he entered the kitchen. His dad was sitting at the small table waiting for him, while his mother stood nearby looking severe with her arms crossed.

“I know mom, but I’m going to need to eat while you lecture me. Otherwise, I’m not sure I will be conscious by the end.”

“Were you playing paintball again? Out late on a school night,” his mother chided, though it was obvious this was not the focus of the lecture that was to come.

“Um, yeah. Paintball. How did you know?”

“There is some blue still in your hair. Plus, we heard the hose and you cleaning after your shower. Thanks for not tracking it in, but please don’t climb to the second floor to come inside.”

“Damn, I’m going to have to shower again after eating. I washed my hair like five times already. Sorry, mom.”

Adam went to the fridge and took out two leftover pizzas from the previous day, a container with a pasta dish, an apple, and a banana. His mom’s eyes bulged as she watched him bring it all to his seat at the table while his dad’s jaw dropped. Adam tried to be as mannerly as possible while shoving slices of pizza into his mouth and chewing as fast as possible.

“Are you ok, Adam? That is a lot of food. And you never called to say you would miss dinner,” his mom’s scolding face fell away to concern for a moment before returning.

“Yeah, I burned a lot of calories with the gang and didn’t really eat enough. Plus, I’m feeling dead tired. Please don’t take the eating as a sign I’m not paying attention to your lecture, so you can go ahead.”

“Adam! Don’t be flippant,” his mother snapped.

“I’m not meaning to be. I was honest. Need food desperately. I will listen to what I did wrong. I probably already know what it is and will honestly apologize and agree to not do it again,” Adam said through a mouth full of food.

“So now we are skipping me talking?” his mother said.

“No, no,” Adam said almost choking while trying to swallow and get another few bites into his mouth. “I said to go ahead with the lecture. Tell me what you are angry about and I will listen.”

“It doesn’t sound like you are taking this seriously.”

Adam finished chewing and swallowed. Then he sat up tall and looked him mom straight in the eyes, with a focus that his mother hadn’t seen in him before. “Mom, I love you. I have always tried to do right by you two. I’m also a dumb teenager, prone to making excitable mistakes. This is about last night, right? I didn’t know Abbey was going to sneak into my room. It was disrespectful to you two. I promise not to have sex in your house again, and I’m sorry for putting you through this.”

“Sorry for doing it in our house, but not for doing it at all?” his mother asked flabbergasted.

Adam’s father silently stood from the table and walked out of the kitchen.

“Yes. I’m not sorry I did it. Abbey is a wonderful girl and she is determined to build a relationship with me. You will like her. She is courageous and strong.”

“Then you are dating her?” his mom asked. Adam knew there was a catch here but was not sure what it was.

“Um, I think so?”

“Why was that a question?!? You don’t even know if you are dating her?”

“Well, we’ve been pretty busy with the group activities and haven’t explicitly said so. I’ll clear it up tomorrow, but I assume we are dating though I don’t want to speak for her.”

His mom sighed. “So you slept with this girl you aren’t even sure you are dating?”

“Er, yeah? Guess that makes it sound bad,” Adam said hesitantly.

Adam’s dad then walked back into the room and sat down.

“Adam,” his mom continued, “You shouldn’t have sex until you are sure you love the person. Otherwise, you are just being irresponsible. What happens if she gets pregnant or is just using you?”

“I’m sorry mom, but I will probably be having sex with her again. I won’t do it in the house, and I will be more considered and safe next time. I am planning on dating her and I think we have a connection that is special and will last,” stated Adam.

At that his dad leaned forward and put a box of condoms on the table, sliding it over to Adam. Adam would have facepalmed if he wasn’t holding pizza in both hands. His mom glared at his dad.

“What about those other girl?” his mom demanded. “You seemed awfully physical to them too.”

“Andrea and Alissa? They are inseparable friends of Abbey’s. I think they were just flirting for fun.”

“Just flirting? In front of your presumed to be girlfriend? I saw one of them strenuously kissing you while the other was rubbing your legs. Abbey didn’t even seem to care! I don’t even know what that says about them. What is going on with you, Adam?”

“Huh. Got me there. I thought they were just playing a game to make Abbey feel better. Or teasing me.” Adam thought about it for a few seconds, reflecting on his cluelessness. “Maybe there is more from them.”

“How are you going to manage all three?” his mom snapped.

“Um…” Adam concentrated on it but being inexperienced he ended up just shrugging. “I guess we’ll figure something out.”

His father reached out and slid a second box of condoms across the table. Adam eyed him and tried not to think of why his parents had two boxes available in their bedroom. His mom reached down and slapped the back of his dad’s head.

“Totally irresponsible!” she huffed and stormed out of the kitchen. Adam watched her go while absent mindedly shoving another slice of pizza into his mouth.

“Listen, son. You’ve always been a good and honest kid, though unfortunately unmotivated. Its fine to play around while young if you do it safely. Just please think of your own, and their, wellbeing before you do anything that someone might regret. I’ll trust you for now, and will be there if you need some help, so feel free to talk to me in private if you need to.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Um, thanks dad. I appreciate it and really will be as safe as I can be.”

“I know, son. It’s hard to make good decisions at your age,” his dad said and then left.

Adam stared at the boxes on the table, with food all around and a drooping pizza slice in each hand. Then he heard a click and saw a flash come from his sister’s phone, who was standing in the doorway.

“Emily,” he growled as she giggled and ran away.

“I wonder what your girlfriends will think of this,” she said mockingly, as she retreated up the stairs.

Adam huffed out, then put it from his mind as he continued devouring all the food he could find.

***

“Man, that scared the hell out of me when the boss nearly went down,” Tom exclaimed. He had already dropped a few people off and was now driving Brittney and Brandon home, since they lived next to each other.

“Yeah, it was shocking seeing him almost die,” Brandon agreed. “I thought he was invincible, it seemed too much that a single bullet almost killed him.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Tom. “If he is that strong and can get dropped so easily then we have no chance in the future.”

“Not quite,” disagreed Brittney. “The way he was squeezing the cop would have ripped open his carotid artery and bathed Adam in blood. Even unconscious Adam was protecting himself and going to regenerate. Its more accurate to say we almost killed him by stopping him. He would have drunk that guy’s blood, regenerated, and then killed the other cops.”

“Do you think he can be killed then?” Tom asked her. “Would a head shot have ended him?”

“Well, yeah. I would think if the bullet had hit the right place of his brain then he would have died, but really I don’t think a single head shot would do it. He was already unconscious. He didn’t need thoughts to lead him to survive. Would he really have needed his brain? It all happened faster than his body would have shut down. A heart shot probably wouldn’t have killed him either, considering how much blood he lost while still moving,” Brittney answered thoughtfully.

“A leg shot wouldn’t have stopped him. The way he stepped through space didn’t really require both legs,” added Brandon. “I hope I can learn to do that.”

“Definitely,” agreed Tom. “The boss is just too awesome. We’re only level 14. What level do you think he is?”

“If he has levels, it must be really high,” said Brandon.

“I disagree. I’m not sure if there is a max level, but I think he would only be equivalent to a level 50 to 75. However, I think whatever that soul corruption he has is preventing him from using his full stats and abilities. How else could he have pulled out that teleport step? That must be some advanced ability that he pulled out to survive, something his body already knew how to do. Yet still no red flash to show it was a skill,” Brittney said thoughtfully.

“What do you think the boss’s class is? What a weird assortment of abilities. Strength, speed, regeneration from blood, and mind control. Sounds like a vampire to me. Think we are all his thralls?” Tom chuckled.

Brittney’s cheeks turned red and she looked away. Tom just snickered harder.

“Oh ho ho. Looked like Abbey has competition. Sorry there, Brandy-boy.”

Brittney covered her face completely, but Brandon only sighed.

“I know Brittney and I have been together for a long time, but she feels more like an older sister to me. I love her, just not romantically. If she wants to be with the boss, then I wish them well,” Brandon stated.

“How mature,” said Tom, disappointed no one was taking his bait.

“Since the boss helped me with my memories and emotions, I feel a lot calmer and clearer headed. Before there was a layer of fear over everything, making me sit like a huddled child. Now I feel like I can finally grow up. I think the fear took up all the space I had for emotions before,” Brandon said. “As for being a thrall, I don’t think so. I respect him a lot, but if he asked me to do something I didn’t agree with, I could say no.”

“Maybe it only works on the ladies,” said Tom with an eyebrow waggle.

“Maybe,” muttered Brittney.

A few minutes later they arrived in front of Brittney’s house. It was dark out but the lights inside were on and she jumped out and ran to the door. Tom wondered how her parents would react to her ripped and filthy clothes. Then he shrugged. Not his concern.

Once Brittney was in her house he pulled forward and stopped in front of Brandon’s.

“Brandy-boy, your house is a p.o.s.” said Tom. Brittney’s house looked like a similar model to Brandon’s, with the lawn clear of leaves, the neatly trimmed bushes. Brandon’s house looked terrible by comparison. Leaves were scattered everywhere, unraked. Dead plants and weeds grew in all the flower beds. Two outside shutters were missing. Even the outer walls had mildew and ivy growing up them. Tom could image it becoming a Halloween story house in a few years. That, or a meth lab in the basement.

Brandon sighed. “I know. My dad has never used his time or money to maintain it. My mom did what she could until a few years ago but gave up after he complained about her wasting money on tools and chemicals.”

Tom pulled to the curb and watched Brandon walk to the door. The door opened as he approached and there was a pudgy and short, though still taller than Brandon, man standing in the light from the entrance. His face was unshaven and sloppy, and his clothes were clearly old and crinkly.

“What do you think you are doing getting home so late,” Brandon’s dad shouted at him, slightly slurred and inappropriately loud for the neighbors. “I have work and you have school tomorrow! Do you think it’s ok to get home this late?”

“No sir,” Brandon muttered, turning his head down.

“And what is with your clothing? They are torn and filthy. I paid for those clothes. You would be living on the street if it weren’t for me. You are nothing without me,” his dad shouted at him.

Brandon was quite tired from the day. He just wanted to get some food and go to sleep, not even sure if there would be food waiting for him. Only a few hours earlier he had been fighting for his life and watching his friends nearly losing their lives. That gave him the courage to do something he had never done before. He raised his head and looked into his dad’s glassy eyes.

“Challenging me, you little nothing? Don’t think you matter without me!” His dad screamed as he swung his fist at Brandon’s face.

From Brandon’s view, the fist came in slowly. He was so weary. Tired of being attacked. Tired of being demeaned. Adam had accepted him and defended him. Adam had said that Brandon would be able to save lives in the future. To Adam and the group, and even to Tom the bully, Brandon was someone who would matter. Someone who could and should matter.

A feeling of importance and acceptance bloomed in Brandon at that moment. His fake memory of his dad being the goblin who stabbed him flittered through his thoughts. The fist was coming at him so slowly compared to a goblin’s knife.

Before he knew what he was doing, Brandon shoved forward with both his hands on his dad’s chest. A few days before that shove would have barely staggered his dad. With 14 levels of stat increases, the shove was at the level of a pro athlete. His dad was forced through the air and into the back of a sofa in the front room. Brandon was mildly shocked as his dad flipped over the sofa and somersaulted onto his back.

A scream broke out as his mom ran from the corner of the room to his father. She grabbed him and helped him sit up. Tear started falling as she touched and patted his father to make sure he was fine. Brandon already knew his dad would be fine since flipping over the sofa had softened the impact and only dropped him two feet onto the ground.

His dad’s face was red and bulging as he was trying to figure out what happened. When his mom was sure the man was fine she turned to Brandon.

“How could you?!” she screamed. “How could you do that to your father?! We don’t use violent in this house! He has taken care of you and brought you up better than that!” Her hysterical screeching was interrupted by uproarious laughing. Brandon turned to see Tom bending over laughing so hard he almost fell over.

“Oh! Oh man! This is too much!” Tom said while trying to gasp for air.

“Who are you and what is so funny?” Brandon’s mom shrieked.

“Who am I?” Tom repeated, getting serious. “I’m Brandon’s bully. I’ve been treating him like garbage for years. And here I am seeing that what I did was nothing compared to his own parents. No wonder Brandon never fought back. He probably thought my gang was being affectionate if this is what he got at home.”

“Who are you to judge us?” demanded his father, finally steady enough to talk. “We have always done right by Brandon! I’m allowed to treat my own son however I think is best! I will come knock some sense into you, right now.”

“No, I don’t think you will,” said Tom putting his arm around Brandon. “If you raise your fists at us we will knock you on your ass and you won’t be getting up for some time.” His serious stare stopped Brandon’s father from even trying to stand, while the man’s eyes bulged, and face get redder. “C’mon Brandy-boy. You can stay at my house.”

Brandon nodded at him and then quietly addressed his mom. “Mom, I love you. I’ll come back when you are thinking clearer.”

His mother glared at him while continuing to cry. “Don’t even think of coming back until you are willing to show your dear father some respect. Don’t even think of it!”

Brandon sighed, head down, and then allow Tom to lead him out of the house. “Why would she treat me that way? She has taken care of me my whole life.”

“No, Brandon. She outsourced that to the neighbor girl,” Tom responded quietly and waved towards Brittney’s door, where Brandon saw Brittney and her mom standing in the outside shadows watching. Brittney’s mom looked sad and concerned, like she wanted to rush over. Brittney just stood there stoically; her arms folded across her chest.