Don't Call me That -SEQUEL TO SCMT

15- Finally Getting Answers

"That's all you need to know."

"It's not all I want to know, and it's not the full story. I just went on an 18 mile flight for a stranger, and I've been in this cafe for an hour now, I want the truth," he spoke as clearly and politely as he could, while still making it very evident he wasn't there for chitchat.

"Alright, you're right, you're right," Jared laughed lightly to himself. "Sorry, it's just how little you've changed."

Wilbur held his tongue.

"Where should I start?" he asked, completely genuine. "When we met? When I got to the UK? When my parents divorced?"

"Your parents are divorced?" Wilbur asked, surprised.

"Yeah, when I was 15. My dad's dead," he said. He stopped before Wilbur could speak, clearly seeing his concern. "Don't. We weren't close, and it was while the two of us were together that it happened. I never even came out to him. He was a prick anyway around that stuff."

Wilbur nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"I'd been helping my mom around the house. She had to pick up extra work after the divorce. Child support wasn't enough. We moved to the UK after they had a big fight and she was scared for her safety," his gaze fell to the table, fingers lacing together.

Wilbur could tell it was bringing up bad memories, but he didn't stop him. He couldn't. He was owed this much.

"My dad was in the military for most of my childhood. I don't ever remember him not being. As far as I know, he died in service. My mom didn't tell me much, and I haven't looked into it myself. I'm sure I could find him, but honestly I don't want to know."

"Ok, but that still doesn't explain why you left," Wilbur said.

"My mom disowned me that night," Jared admitted.

"We were going to run away together," Wilbur reminded him. "You could've just come over. You'd come to my window plenty of times. I would've left that night, would've left with nothing. You knew that."

"I did," he nodded. "And I tried."

((Flashback. Eight years ago. The beach night in chapter 35.5 SCMT))

((Jared's POV))

He tugged on his coat, unsure of what to take with him. He checked all of his pockets for his phone, nearly turning back all the way to his room. He caught a glimpse of his mother, angrily moving around, seemingly throwing things out.

He knew he probably shouldn't, but he spoke out anyway.

"Have you seen my phone? That's all I need. I'll leave after."

"I paid for that. You have a coat, you can keep your stupid van, the key is outside," she snapped back.

He took a shuddering breath, opened the door, and stepped out, finding the key on the matt. At least she'd had the curtesy not to throw it into the yard, where it'd take ages to find in the unkempt grass.

He picked it up and walked to the van, hearing the door lock behind him. So that was that, truly. He'd been wondering if she'd change her mind as soon as she got him outside, on his phone, or on making him leave at all.

He got in, turning the key, struggling to start it with shaking hands. Who the hell was going to help her now? Who was going to make sure she was safe and kept herself safe?

He slammed his head on the steering wheel, narrowly missing the horn as tears came to his eyes.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," he whispered. "No one, there's no one. She's fucked."

He knew that changed nothing. He successfully started the car, looked into the rearview, and pulled out of the driveway. It wasn't crowded at this hour, dark outside.

He checked the time. Just past three in the morning. They'd really been arguing for hours, then.

He set out driving to Wilbur's house immediately. He pulled in a couple driveways off and stopped the car, putting the key in one of his jacket's pockets and getting out. It was starting to rain but he didn't care. Besides, the petrichor was comforting.

He slowly made his way up to the house he knew Wilbur lived in, ignoring the lights turned on in the windows. He knew it was too late for anyone to be awake, and besides, if it was him, he wouldn't open the door to some strange person at that hour. He got near to his window, looking in, and saw no one. He tried to open it: locked.

He swallowed roughly. The rain was getting harder, which would cover up a lot of noise he made. He knocked on the window and waited, still watching. He saw the doorknob moving and ducked out view.

Near to the ground, he picked at the grass as he waited, more afraid than he'd ever been. He didn't know much about Wilbur's family, beyond bits and pieces. He knew they were unlikely to let him in, especially if they knew who he was, what he'd done, his intentions-

He heard steps in the room and brought himself to stand up, meeting eyes with a man who wasn't Wilbur. He considered running, but he couldn't bring himself to move, even as the man turned and left the room. Even as he heard the front door to the house open.

He heard shouting.

"Hey!" the man from inside shouted at him, hardly audible over the rain. He could see him now, on the same side of the house. He was still walking towards him. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm looking for Wilbur," he decided to be as honest as he could.

"Why in the bloody hell would you be looking for him at four in the morning?"

The gears spun in Jared's head. The man was likely Wilbur's father, from what he could gather. He was careful with his next words, knowing how much they'd matter.

I was kicked out of home. We're friends. He's my best friend? Why would I be kicked out?

"He's my best friend from school. He told me I could come by any time, so here I am."

The man's expression hardened. "Alright, alright, calm yourself. We can talk about this like adults."

"I'm not leaving until I find him," Jared said. He realized he'd made a mistake, but it was too late.

"Never speak to my son again," Wilbur's dad said. "Get out of my yard. If you come back here, I'll call the police or kill you myself."

He nodded, unable to bring himself to do anything else, and left back for his van.

((Flashback over))

((Wilbur's POV))

"I came to your house, I couldn't get in or find you," Jared said quietly.

It was possible. Wilbur knew that it was possible, and that was what he hated so much.

"Did my parents see you?" he asked cautiously.

"Your dad," Jared confirmed.

Wilbur picked up his coffee and downed it. "I need to use the bathroom. Can you order me another?"

Jared looked at the other cup on the table, and at the one Wil had just set down, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you need another?"

Wilbur just stared at him.

"Yep," Jared chuckled. "I will."

((No guarantee how soon this will continue, am pretty writing passion rn, this has taken a few hrs, likely within 24hrs of posting this but no promises))

((It will continue where left off))