Welcome To My Life [boyxboy]

Chapter Two

Charlie:

I'd always hated starting new schools, but we moved around so much it was inevitable, really. Still, at least I had Vanessa here.And, as much of a whore and a bitch, she was, she was still my cousin. She was more than happy to show me around the school and let me hang out with her and her friends at break and lunchtime.

I gathered quickly that they were socially classed as the 'populars' - which was a refreshing change from my last school, where I was the biggest geek in the place. Her friends too a liking to me and acted as if they'd known me for ages. Ness seemed pretty happy about that. My mum picked us both up at the end of the school day. We waited for her on the steps. Ness bounced on her toes excitedly. "So, how was your first day, cuz?" she said. "Enjoying it so far?"

"Yeah - your friends are nice," I said.

"I know, they're sweethearts, aren't they?" she smiled with her over-lipsticked lips. "Hey, we've got a party coming up. You should come."

"Oh, I don't know about that..." I said.

"Aw, come on," she said. "Come with me. It'll be fun. Free alcohol." she added the last part in a silly sing-song voice. I frowned.

"I dunno," I said. "I don't drink much." She surpised me by punching me fairly hard in the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Being a wimp," she shrugged. "I don't drink much... when did you turn into such a goody-goody?"

"It's not that I don't like drinking," I said, suddenly irrationally defensive. "I just don't like the taste of it much."

"You can't have tried much, then," she giggled. "Don't worry about it, cousin dearest, I'll make sure we find something that you like." I was about to protest, but she grabbed my arm. "C'mon, your mum's here!"

I let her drag me to the car, where she climbed into the front seat. Feeling resigned, I got into the back. Mum smiled at me in the rearview mirror. "Good first day, love?" she asked.

"Yeah. Ness let me hang out with her and her friends," I said, with a small, forced smile.

"Thanks, love," Mum smiled at Ness, who gave her that butter-wouldn't-melt smile back.

"Anything for my favourite cousin, Auntie Linda," she giggled. "It's actually my friend's birthday this weekend - he's having a little get together at his house, and he's invited Charlie to come along, if that's alright by you?"

"Of course it is!" Mum smiled brightly. "Party invites already - see, those are the kinds of friends you want, Charlie."

"Um... yes," It was all I could think to say. I didn't say anything else for the rest of the journey - I just let the two of them chat away to each other.

                                                                                       ***

I wanted to go right up to my room when I got home, but Dad started bombarding me with questions the second I walked through the door. I answered them all in a monotone, and made the mistake of yawning halfway through the interrogation. Dad frowned. "Charlie. Are you listening to me?" he asked.

"Yes, Dad," I said.

"Then what did I just say?" he raised one eyebrow.

"That I should be careful who I hang out with and not get involved with drugs," I said. He huffed.

"Just because you heard didn't mean you were listening," he said. I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. Mum said plenty.

"Leave him alone, would you, Darren?" she snapped. "He's just finished his first day at a new school. Let him unwind before you start giving him the third degree.

"I'm hardly giving him the third degree, Karen," Dad replied. "I'm just taking an interest in my son's social life and education. Is that a crime now?"

"Did I say that?" Mum asked. She obviously wasn't expecting an answer, because she turned to me. "D'you want a drink, love?"

"Um. No, thanks," I said.

"Well, I'll put dinner on. What d'you fancy?" she asked.

"Anything's good," I shrugged. "Um. I want to go up to my room, if that's okay? I have a book to catch up with for English..." that was a lie, but I just wanted to be by myself for a bit.

"Go on, then," Mum smiled. "See you later."

I went up without another word.

                                                                                     ***

"...don't know why I bother! Honestly, I work so hard for you, and you don't even appreciate it!"

I sighed and rolled over onto my stomach. I was sick of their fights. This one was no different. Right now, Dad was yelling at Mum because of money.

"Well, maybe if you'd actually spend the money on your family instead of strippers and whores, we wouldn't be having this argument!" Mum snapped.

"How dare you!" Dad yelled. "I've never even - you're unbelievable! You actually think I'd waste money away on things like that?"

"I don't know, Darren. Would you?" Mum demanded. "Because last I checked, you'd spent three grand on a necklace for some other woman!"

"Have you been reading my bank statements?! You nosey bitch!" Dad exploded.

"Well. I wanted to see if you'd really spent the money that you said you had on your son," she said."Or do you love this tart you're buying jewellery for more than him, eh?"

"Don't you dare bring Charlie into this! He hasn't done anything wrong!" Dad yelled.

"Whatever, Darren. What-fucking-ever," Mum said. I heard the door slam and the crunch of her tyres as she sped up the gravel driveway. Seconds later, Dad did the same. I sighed as I reached for the phone.

Looked like I was eating takeout alone again tonight.