TR interlude
Authors: Marina and Casey
Story: Taking Root
Challenge: Coconut 3 (where’s the beef?), Milk Chocolate 25 (worry) [Marina]; Blueberry Yogurt 9 (better off), Pomegranate 29 (false hope) [Casey]
Toppings/Extras: Caramel, Chopped Nuts, Sprinkles, Smoothie
Word Count: 1,068
Rating: PG
Summary: [October] Sorin and Peter express fatherly concerns.
Notes: This was supposed to go between 11 and 12 ( the party and the bullying, respectively). Sorin’s section coincides with the beginning of the party; Peter’s takes place right after.
Sorin watched his son bounce up the path to Carrie’s house and briefly debated how to spend his evening before digging out his cell phone. He scrolled through his contacts for Russell Darcy, the chemistry teacher-already someone he considered a friend.
Russ answered promptly. “Hello?”
“Hi, Russ, it’s Sorin. I’m free for a few hours. Game for some drinks on me or are you busy?”
“Well, I was planning on blowing shit up tonight, but I think I can make time,” Russ said lightly. “Where are we headed?”
“I’m not very familiar with the local bars. Suggestions?”
“Tommy’s is fairly cheap but clean.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.” Russ hung up and Sorin pulled the car into traffic. He found the bar in question without issue, parked, and headed inside, searching out Russ. When his friend didn’t appear to be there, he sat down at the bar, ordering a draft beer.
Russ slid in next to him just as the bartender set the glass down. “Want to stay here or get a booth?” he asked.
“Booth,” said Sorin.
Russ ordered a beer of his own and the two made their way over to a free booth. “So where’s Dean tonight?”
“At Carrie Michaels’ for her birthday.”
Russ smiled. “Your son certainly has good taste. That’s a great group of kids.”
“That’s the impression I’ve been getting too,” said Sorin, glad all the same to have Russ’ agreement on that subject. “I only have Chase in class, but I couldn’t ask for a better TA for the beginner class. He’s got more patience than Dean would.”
“So how are you liking teaching?” Russ asked.
“It’s wonderful. I’ve really missed it, but safely raising Dean has been so much more important for so long.”
Russ raised an eyebrow and for a moment, Sorin couldn’t figure out why until he realized that ‘safely’ had snuck in there. “I just worry about him,” he said quickly, to cover it up.
“Makes sense. Shannon feels that way about the kids she works with too and they’re not even hers.” Shannon, whom Sorin had guessed was Russ’s significant other, had come up in conversation a few times before. He had yet to exactly figure out what their relationship was, since he was fairly certain Shannon didn’t even live in Madison. “I wouldn’t worry too much, Sorin. Dean seems to be adjusting from homeschooling to high school with shocking ease.”
Sorin nodded. “I know, but it just…I feel like he’s hiding something from me and that’s never happened before.”
Russ burst into laughter and reached over, patting him on the shoulder. He laughed still harder at Sorin’s confused expression. “Sorin, my friend,” he managed, “if your son is sixteen and only just now hiding something from you the first time, I would say you’ve done very, very well. I know you’ve been out of the loop, but that’s what teens do.”
Sorin wanted to protest that his son was not any teenager before it abruptly occurred to him that Dean was, so far this school year, exactly that. “Could it be?” he murmured, then reddened slightly at Russ’s look. “I just…assumed that it had to be serious.”
He appreciated the visible effort Russ made not to laugh again. “Oh, Sorin, the rest of the teen years are going to be such a learning experience for you, aren’t they?”
“You’re not helping,” he muttered.
Russ only grinned. “I don’t have to help. I spend all day helping teens. I don’t have to do the same with my friends.”
“Dean’s never been…”
“Normal? Sorin,” he said, more seriously, “maybe it’s time that he can be. Let Madison be the new beginning you’ve said you wanted.”
Sorin could only hope he was right.
***
Peter lowered his paper at the touch of fingers on his shoulders. “Going to bed?” he asked, glancing up with a smile.
“Yes, I’m exhausted.” Anna planted a kiss along his receding hairline and stepped back. “Are you coming?” she asked.
“No.” He glanced at the door. “I’ll join you when Laura and Chase get in. They shouldn’t be long.”
Her features wrinkled. “Pete, they’ve both got a key. If they’re locked out, they can call.”
“I know, I know.” He leaned his head into his hand. “I’ll just feel better once I see them and know they’re inside.” It had been a tradition of his ever since their still unexplained disappearance. He could not sleep until he knew both of his children were safely indoors for the night. Four years and Laura moving out to go to college had helped ease his anxiety somewhat, and Chase rarely stayed out late by choice, but their absence on nights like this still unsettled him deeply. He did not have to imagine what could happen-he already knew. Madison was quiet, but not really safe; there had been a burglary and a murder not two blocks from them the month before.
Peter always tried not to bring his work home with him, but lately he had found that difficult. The situation with the Dakamars weighed increasingly on his mind, especially since his son had befriended Dean. Praying about it never completely erased his fears. He felt as though he ought to be doing something more, but he had few options without proof that Edward was in the area.
Anna lightly combed her fingers through his hair, and he relaxed somewhat. “Do you want me to wait with you?” she asked.
“No, no. They’ll be here soon, I’m sure. Chase is probably wiped out already-and that’ll be them,” he said, relief running through him at the sound of footsteps on the porch stairs.
Laura and Chase barged in a moment later, bearing a plate wrapped in tinfoil. “Hey, parents,” Laura said, as Chase yawned loudly. “We brought cake!”
Peter grinned and rose from his seat. “Outstanding.”
“Tomorrow, dear,” Anna said firmly, giving him a significant look. “Remember what you said just a minute ago?”
He groaned, making his children giggle. “Very well, then, if you insist.”
“I’ll put it in the fridge for you, Dad,” Laura assured him, heading that way.
“Thank you, Laura,” he called after her. Taking his wife’s hand, he kissed Chase on the crown of his head and turned toward the stairs. Comforted by the assurance of cake in the refrigerator and family in the house, he felt ready to sleep.
Story: Taking Root
Challenge: Coconut 3 (where’s the beef?), Milk Chocolate 25 (worry) [Marina]; Blueberry Yogurt 9 (better off), Pomegranate 29 (false hope) [Casey]
Toppings/Extras: Caramel, Chopped Nuts, Sprinkles, Smoothie
Word Count: 1,068
Rating: PG
Summary: [October] Sorin and Peter express fatherly concerns.
Notes: This was supposed to go between 11 and 12 ( the party and the bullying, respectively). Sorin’s section coincides with the beginning of the party; Peter’s takes place right after.
Sorin watched his son bounce up the path to Carrie’s house and briefly debated how to spend his evening before digging out his cell phone. He scrolled through his contacts for Russell Darcy, the chemistry teacher-already someone he considered a friend.
Russ answered promptly. “Hello?”
“Hi, Russ, it’s Sorin. I’m free for a few hours. Game for some drinks on me or are you busy?”
“Well, I was planning on blowing shit up tonight, but I think I can make time,” Russ said lightly. “Where are we headed?”
“I’m not very familiar with the local bars. Suggestions?”
“Tommy’s is fairly cheap but clean.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.” Russ hung up and Sorin pulled the car into traffic. He found the bar in question without issue, parked, and headed inside, searching out Russ. When his friend didn’t appear to be there, he sat down at the bar, ordering a draft beer.
Russ slid in next to him just as the bartender set the glass down. “Want to stay here or get a booth?” he asked.
“Booth,” said Sorin.
Russ ordered a beer of his own and the two made their way over to a free booth. “So where’s Dean tonight?”
“At Carrie Michaels’ for her birthday.”
Russ smiled. “Your son certainly has good taste. That’s a great group of kids.”
“That’s the impression I’ve been getting too,” said Sorin, glad all the same to have Russ’ agreement on that subject. “I only have Chase in class, but I couldn’t ask for a better TA for the beginner class. He’s got more patience than Dean would.”
“So how are you liking teaching?” Russ asked.
“It’s wonderful. I’ve really missed it, but safely raising Dean has been so much more important for so long.”
Russ raised an eyebrow and for a moment, Sorin couldn’t figure out why until he realized that ‘safely’ had snuck in there. “I just worry about him,” he said quickly, to cover it up.
“Makes sense. Shannon feels that way about the kids she works with too and they’re not even hers.” Shannon, whom Sorin had guessed was Russ’s significant other, had come up in conversation a few times before. He had yet to exactly figure out what their relationship was, since he was fairly certain Shannon didn’t even live in Madison. “I wouldn’t worry too much, Sorin. Dean seems to be adjusting from homeschooling to high school with shocking ease.”
Sorin nodded. “I know, but it just…I feel like he’s hiding something from me and that’s never happened before.”
Russ burst into laughter and reached over, patting him on the shoulder. He laughed still harder at Sorin’s confused expression. “Sorin, my friend,” he managed, “if your son is sixteen and only just now hiding something from you the first time, I would say you’ve done very, very well. I know you’ve been out of the loop, but that’s what teens do.”
Sorin wanted to protest that his son was not any teenager before it abruptly occurred to him that Dean was, so far this school year, exactly that. “Could it be?” he murmured, then reddened slightly at Russ’s look. “I just…assumed that it had to be serious.”
He appreciated the visible effort Russ made not to laugh again. “Oh, Sorin, the rest of the teen years are going to be such a learning experience for you, aren’t they?”
“You’re not helping,” he muttered.
Russ only grinned. “I don’t have to help. I spend all day helping teens. I don’t have to do the same with my friends.”
“Dean’s never been…”
“Normal? Sorin,” he said, more seriously, “maybe it’s time that he can be. Let Madison be the new beginning you’ve said you wanted.”
Sorin could only hope he was right.
***
Peter lowered his paper at the touch of fingers on his shoulders. “Going to bed?” he asked, glancing up with a smile.
“Yes, I’m exhausted.” Anna planted a kiss along his receding hairline and stepped back. “Are you coming?” she asked.
“No.” He glanced at the door. “I’ll join you when Laura and Chase get in. They shouldn’t be long.”
Her features wrinkled. “Pete, they’ve both got a key. If they’re locked out, they can call.”
“I know, I know.” He leaned his head into his hand. “I’ll just feel better once I see them and know they’re inside.” It had been a tradition of his ever since their still unexplained disappearance. He could not sleep until he knew both of his children were safely indoors for the night. Four years and Laura moving out to go to college had helped ease his anxiety somewhat, and Chase rarely stayed out late by choice, but their absence on nights like this still unsettled him deeply. He did not have to imagine what could happen-he already knew. Madison was quiet, but not really safe; there had been a burglary and a murder not two blocks from them the month before.
Peter always tried not to bring his work home with him, but lately he had found that difficult. The situation with the Dakamars weighed increasingly on his mind, especially since his son had befriended Dean. Praying about it never completely erased his fears. He felt as though he ought to be doing something more, but he had few options without proof that Edward was in the area.
Anna lightly combed her fingers through his hair, and he relaxed somewhat. “Do you want me to wait with you?” she asked.
“No, no. They’ll be here soon, I’m sure. Chase is probably wiped out already-and that’ll be them,” he said, relief running through him at the sound of footsteps on the porch stairs.
Laura and Chase barged in a moment later, bearing a plate wrapped in tinfoil. “Hey, parents,” Laura said, as Chase yawned loudly. “We brought cake!”
Peter grinned and rose from his seat. “Outstanding.”
“Tomorrow, dear,” Anna said firmly, giving him a significant look. “Remember what you said just a minute ago?”
He groaned, making his children giggle. “Very well, then, if you insist.”
“I’ll put it in the fridge for you, Dad,” Laura assured him, heading that way.
“Thank you, Laura,” he called after her. Taking his wife’s hand, he kissed Chase on the crown of his head and turned toward the stairs. Comforted by the assurance of cake in the refrigerator and family in the house, he felt ready to sleep.