The Boy Next Door

Chapter Thirteen (E)

When Tia walked back to Alex’s temporary bedroom, she had found that Scarlet had left for her own home, and Chris and Alex were sitting on the ground playing a game involving cards. The deck was worn, having been used hundreds of times over the years as they grew up. The most amazing thing about was not a single card was missing from the deck, which was a good thing since they wouldn’t be able to replace the space themed back of the cards.

“Is Lily okay?” Alex asked, the moment he saw the dark haired girl, his usually playful tone was one of worry.

“She’s fine.” Tia told him, a tight smile on her face, guilt knotting in her stomach as she remembered what she had told her parents “What are you guys playing?”

“Chris had been trying to teach be how to play poker.” Alex announced a goofy smile on his face as he showed Tia his hand, in a very unprofessional way “I’m horrible at it.”

“I can tell. Your hand is awful; we used to have a poker game every week with a bunch of our friends.” Tia said taking a seat between her brother and friend, while eyeing Alex’s cards sceptically.

“That’s what Chris told me. He wants to do so that again with; Amber, Jasmine, Scarlet and me, but he also told me that I had to learn to play or I won’t be able to partake in the game.”

“That sounds like Chris, picky as usual.”

“Is dinner ready?” Chris asked… well after he poked his tongue childishly ay his sister for calling him picky… but food was on his mind, as it always was.

“Let’s go see if Lily wants any help.” Alex said instantly abandoning the horrible game of cards; for something he could actual do, pulling the two behind him as went.

Lily and Robert were still on the couch deep in discussion about what they thought was going on next, their heads were close together when Alex knocked on the wood of the door frame. Not only did it announce that he was there, it always pulled the two out of their conversation and Alex didn’t know if they wanted him to hear what they were talking about.

“Alex!” Lily gushed, unable to help herself as she walked over and pulled the young boy into a warm and motherly hug.

Alex’s emotions were greatly conflicted by the hug. He wanted Lily to hug him because it made him feel loved and cared for, but at the same time he wanted to get as far away from her as he could get, because only bad things came from parents. He didn’t want to become attached to anyone, but that battle was already lost before it even had a change to begin.

“I was wondering if you needed any help with dinner?” Alex asked, trying to forget his conflicting emotions.

“Actually dear, we wanted to take you out for dinner, if that’s alright with you three.” Robert said rising up from the couth, walking over to them.

“Sure.” Alex said and as soon as Lily let him go he took a step back to stand between Tia and Chris, without knowing that he was instinctually doing it for protection.

“I’m in.” Chris said, giving his dad a thumps up, but Chris didn’t care where he are as long as there was food.

“Sure.” Tia said looking at Alex as he stood back, putting her arm over his shoulder in a way to tell him that she was there and wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.

“Excellent!”

In the end they ended up agreeing to go to a local Italian restraint that was only a short drive from the house, Alex had shown them where it was in the first week they moved in. Alex had spent many years walking the surrounding area and he had found some interesting places and hide outs off the beaten path, even some places that people didn’t even know existed.

Lily and Robert made a huge deal about it being Alex’s seventeenth birthday; embarrassing the poor teen to no end when they insisted that the waitress sing to him, but secretly he enjoyed it. When they got home, Lily had made him a cake… well Tia and Chris had distracted him with video games in the upstairs television room. After Robert got the three teens into the formal dining room, they sang him happy birthday –the first one to be sang to him in his memory.

“Happy birthday to you!” The Peterson’s sang, who surprisingly enough had very pleasant sing voices “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Alex! Happy birthday to you!”

With that Alex blew out the seventeen baby blue candles on his white frosted, red velvet cake and ate a large piece of it with a giant smile on his face. Alex enjoyed his birthday, the first one he did in many year with the four people of the household. Later that night when he went into the spare bed, tears filled his eyes against his will when thought about the day.

“Alex?” Tia’s soft voice came from the door “Are you still awake?”

“Yes.” Alex sniffled, he was trying to hide the fact his was crying, not wanting to be caught by Tia crying like a baby, but the keyword of the sentence was trying.

“What’s wrong Alex?” Tia asked walking into the room leaving the door creaked open. She sat on Alex’s bed, her former reason for coming into the smaller boy’s room so late was forgotten, looking at the boy trying to find out what had upset him.

“Nothing.” Alex told her swiping his eyes for tears as he sat up “Why are you here?”

“Chris was super tired, so he went to sleep, but he wanted someone to tell you that your birthday present should be here tomorrow. Now I know something’s wrong, so please tell me why your crying.”

“It’s your family.” Alex hiccupped; he knew full well that Tia was stubborn as him, sometimes more so, when it came to getting or giving information, his attempts at holding back his tears were vain as more came from his eyes.

In response Tia did a very un-Tia gesture –something she seemed to only be willing to do for this flighty boy alone- and put her arms around Alex’s thin shoulders, pulling him in to lean against her shoulders like one would do for a loved one or someone they cared deeply about. Alex didn’t hesitate like he did the last two times; he just merely turned his face into the shoulder of Tia’s soft shirt falling into one of the only form of comfort he had received for many years.

“Everyone’s so nice.” Alex explained through his hiccupping and tears “Your mum, dad, brother and you, just everyone. You have such an amazing family: I don’t remember the last time my dad even mentioned my birthday and yet you guys are taking me out for dinner. It made me realize how abnormal my life must be…… and what it must feel like to have parents that actually care. I want that, Tia, I want to have that. I don’t want to worry about my dad; I don’t want to put up with the abuse anymore. I just want… someone to like me enough to want to know what I’m doing, to care about my grades and to just want to spend time with me. I want someone to yell at me when I get in trouble at school; not yell at me when I don’t do the dished or make dinner. I just want someone who cares enough to stay.”

Tia just pulled Alex closer; humming softly as she ribbed his back with long soothing and loving strokes, smoothing his soft, yet messy white hair until he settled, eventually falling asleep. When Tia was sure that Alex was down for the count, dead to the world, she eased him back into his bed, tacking him in, creping out of the room, making sure that she quietly closed the door behind her.

Then she sneak down the stairs and found her parents on the couch, they were clearly talking about Alex and how they thought the day went for him.

“Hey mum, dad.” Tia said shifting her feet as stood awkwardly next to the doorframe wearing oversized grey t-shirt and baggy black pants.

“Yes sweetie.” Lily replied.

“Is something wrong Tia?” Robert asked concern for his daughter clear on his face.

“I’m ready to talk about Alex.” Tia said her eyes meeting theirs “For real this time.”