Our Fooling Game

029

His hands moved around me until they touched my bare skin and then I flinched, pulling apart.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." Percy apologized, shaking his head and looking at the ceiling as he tried to normalize his breathing. I didn't say anything. I had no idea why I flinched even, it just didn't feel right to do and my heart still felt like a stone in my chest.

"Maybe it's not such a good idea for boyfriends to share a room." I said biting my lip with a shy smile.

Percy hugged me. "No way are you going anywhere else."

"Okay."

He pulled apart, looked at me for seconds, used his finger to brush my hair away from my face, and then kissed my cheek. "I'll be right back."

As soon as he left the room, I sighed collapsing down on Percy's bed. When he was here, if didn't feel as bad. But when he's gone, it's like I'm sinking into sand that's going to cut off my air soon.

I've known she had cancer for a while now. I've known it was a cancer stage that one barely survived, like you don't survive it at all. She told me she's likely to die anytime soon. I didn't believe her, it didn't sink in. I didn't think she'd leave me before we actually got to live like a family. I didn't think life could be that cruel to me, not after everything. I really thought she'd make it, for me and for her. We didn't even get to know each other well. All our cherished moments happened in the hospital. We were going to go swimming in a beach. I was going to be the best son to and for her. I... my thoughts get cut off as I use my hands to cover my mouth holding in the sob that burst forth.

I guess I was not good enough to deserve something that good. What they said was true after all— "life is what happens when you're busy making plans". Who was going to stay with me in the house now? What was I going to do with myself now?

*

"Come down for dinner Spence." Percy yelled from downstairs. He's been preparing dinner with his dad in the kitchen for the past hour. They invited me to join in but I opted out, choosing to spend time in the room with Stormi.

"Can't I get my own up here?" I asked peeking out the door.

The last time I had a happy family table meal was when I was really little, back in Mexico and one time with my mum. My dad tried doing that during my first week in the Tracey household but it was really awkward and tense. He was fighting with his wife and Ryder was seeing me as the reason - which I was. I finally stopped going to the table with them and took my meals in the room. Nobody complained.

"Nonsense," Paxton said stopping by the door and waving at Stormi. He seemed cautious of the innocent puppy and that was weird. "Everybody eats at the table, else no meal and dad would whoop your ass if he cooks for you and you can't even humor him by eating."

"Yeesh, I'll be done in a second."

He nodded. "You better."

I dropped Stormi down. "Come on, off you go, I'll be down soon." She barks and runs off. I sighed and retreated back into the room.

There was no mirror in the room but I spotted one in the bathroom. I rushed there and stood in front of it, studying my face. It looked swollen and my eyes were rimmed a painful red. I should better learn to stop crying. After washing my face, I changed my clothes and came down. Everyone was busy, going in and out the kitchen, setting up the table. Percy paused when he saw me.

He smiled. "You know you don't have to get dressed up to come down for dinner right? You aren't visiting."

I looked down at my jeans and collared top. "I'm not dressed up."

"Uh huh."

I blushed; I guess he knew it was one of my favorite shirts. "It's my first meal with your family as a non-visitor."

"Hm, and that's why I'm letting you be." His eyes moved from my head to toe. "You look great."

"And I'm going to puke if you guys start." Paxton warned.

"Hi Spencer," A little voice said making me look down to the little pretty girl extending her hand to me.

I squatted down and took her hand in mine with a smile. "Hi, you must be Patricia."

She smiled widely, showing a missing tooth. "Yes, I am. My friends call me Patty."

"Should I too?"

She shook her head negatively. I'm not a friend yet then.

"Okay, I'll have to work for that then."

"Percy said you're family, so you can call me Tricia." I felt this swelling in my heart that I couldn't explain but it brought a smile to my face. I looked up at Percy and Paxton and they smiled too. I lifted her up.

"I like you Tricia."

"I like you too, bigger bro."

"Oh!" Percy exclaimed, hand over his mouth as he looked at Paxton.

"I'm the bigger bro here!" Paxton yelled and we burst out laughing.

"Technically we're both bigger bros. I'm even older, a bit." I said and Percy 'ohhed' again.

"Should I help you with some cream for that burn or you've got that covered?" Percy asked laughing and took off when Paxton went after him.

"What going on?" Mr. Flynn asked coming out the kitchen.

Tricia and I shared a look then shrugged.

This felt nice. For the first time in the puzzle called life, I felt like I had the right piece in.

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