Friends and Family- Chapter 2
Title: Family and Friends -Decisions
Rating: G (for now)
Character: Warren, the rest
Genre: Friends, Family
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Word Count: 1098 (my longest piece yet)
Decisions
Later on, after Principal Power’s kicked them out of her office after Warren almost torched the place (his friends, still ignore his I am annoyed shut up vibe), they are at Stronghold’s place. He has brought food, as he worked that night, to the study session.
“Have you decided what you are going to do?” Layla tentatively asked him, she knows how his temper is and at times is more considerate than the others, and other times she will just keep going without a care, because she is the one person besides his mother, that Warren cannot even accidently hurt.
“What” he grounds out. Not because he is angry, but frustrated as he cannot figure out this problem and is not in the mood to have a mini lecture from Ethan.
“Do you? You can’t ignore this Warren and it’s probably better to meet them before Monday, that way you’re more prepared”. Will says.
“Yeah man,” Zack agrees. “I don’t even know what I’d do, if I was you, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want to meet the parents at Open House-especially at school.”
Warren sighs, he won’t be getting any more work done until he talks to them, but honestly he hadn’t thought about it. He really does not care-he won’t see his cousins at school, as they were sophomores, and he knows his friends-with the exception of Layla will not try to talk to them until he gives the okay. But his ‘aunt and uncle’ are something else-he knows that while the kids will ignore him, they won’t.
“I honestly don’t care”, Layla scoffs. “I don’t Hippie, they chose to stay out of contact and as far as I am concerned that means they are not family, my family is my mom, that’s it.
Will looks at Warren, he understands his friend in a way the others don’t because of their shared past. He and Warren have stayed up nights talking about things no one else knows, nor will they ever mention anywhere else. He knows that while Warren says he does not care, and he probably doesn’t, there is part of him, deep down, that is at least curious more about his supposed aunt and uncle, than his cousins. He locks eyes with his friend and knows that they will be talking again that night-this time with Layla who will no doubt sneak in through the window like she always does.
“Leave him alone guys, it’s his choice” Will interrupts everyone else who are giving their opinions on what they would do and what Warren should do.
“Fine” Magenta says, “but don’t come crying to us, if things go south,” and she smirks at Warren, who smiles back, he knows she cares, and does it to make him feel better than to keep up her image.
As they go back to studying, and still can’t figure out this problem he is distracted by Zack and what apparently was his geography homework.
“Glow Stick you are never allowed to give directions or try to take us anywhere, okay” Warren says, meaning it after looking at the complete disarray Zack’s map is.
“God Zack” Magenta laughs, “What are you doing?” as the others break out laughing as well.
“What” he says incredulously. Looks down and groans. “Why do we have to do this again?”
“Because it’s important to know where major battles have taken place, it helps Hero’s figure out who the villain might be”. “I can help if you want?”
That night, after the others have gone home, Layla assuring Will and Warren she would see them later. The two boys are in Will’s room, Warren knows Stronghold will start asking questions, and but he is grateful for the silence, he needs time to think.
“What do you think you think I should do?” Warren asks, honestly curious.
“I don’t know man.” “I mean I would be more concerned with the aunt and uncle, wouldn’t you be?”
“I-Warren is cut off from answering as Layla, climbs through the window. “Hey” she cheerily calls, before going over and giving Will a kiss before sitting down next to him.
She looks at Warren, who shifts uncomfortably. Hippie has an eerie habit of making him feel as if she is looking inside him, and knowing things when she really is being observant.
“So have you decided yet?”
“You know I haven’t” he gruffly responds, then sighs.
“I don’t care that they are family, I really don’t. I would rather take my chances at Open House then meet with them in person. I can defend myself if I have to.”
“You shouldn’t have to” Will states, “though it probably would be easy to avoid them”, then promptly flinches when Layla glares at him.
Warren smirks at that. Will is so whipped. Though considering Layla has that annoying habit of making him become thoughtful in public-he should not be the one talking.
“When is your mom coming home?” Warren stares at Layla thrown off by the abrupt change in topic.
“Next week sometime, she is in the middle of some peace treaty thing and can’t get away.” “Why?”
“I was just thinking, if you do want to meet with your relatives, which would be great, it would have to be here, and that means Josie and Steve will be here, which may make things worse.”
Will stares at her in disbelief, “Aren’t you the one who wants him to meet with them?” “Yes, I am, and I do, I think it would help, but I also think it would be uncomfortable”-
“Gee you think?” Warren interrupts.
Layla ignores him and continues “and with the Open House, I agree with you, Will, not on the avoiding thing, but it would be easier to interrupt if Warren gets into a conversation with them.”
The boys look at her both surprised by what she has said, yet Warren is thankful, he may not care about meeting his relatives, but he is not exactly ready to talk to them either. Warren nods, and Will and Layla know there won’t be a meeting.
“Okay”, Layla says, as she claps and stands up, “then one of us will stay with you-keep you insight” she changes her statement at his glare, “throughout the night in case you need to be rescued” she says teasingly.
“I don’t get rescued” Warren starts toward Layla intent to make her pay for that, when Will stops him.
“It’s so not worth it man, trust me”.
In the end, Warren is glad that the decision was taken out of his hands.