Playing With Fire

Chapter 8: Family Drama (and Pax gets to narrate!!)

"Speaking of school," my father interrupted. "Why aren't you at it? School doesn't end for another hour."

"You're not ditching are you?" my mom questioned, crossing her arms.

"No, not at all," I said. "That would be crazy. I wasn't feeling well this morning, so I took the day off."

"So you are ditching," my father said, narrowing his eyes.

"No, no, no. I called my teachers before I didn't go, and they said that it was okay because I am way ahead in all my classes anyways."

"Alright," he said, buying my lie.

"So," I continued. "I was about to make some mac 'n cheese, would you guys like some?"

"Of course," my mom said. "It's been a long day for both of us. Oh, and I hope you don't mind us going to bed right after. We had a surgery that was really long and didn't get the chance to sleep last night."

"Oh yeah, that's fine." Surgery, suuuuuuuure.

As I grabbed the pot to make the macaroni in, my parents engaged in small talk with each other in our living room, but quiet enough that I was not able to hear.

"So, work must have been busy, huh? You guys haven't been home in two weeks," I mentioned, trying to engage in small talk with them, see if they might let something slip up.

"Yeah, it sure is. It must be the accident time of the year," my mom replied and went back to talking with my dad. So much for that.

As the macaroni boiled, I glanced at the table to see Bri peeking out from under the tablecloth, asking with her eyes if it was okay to go. I glanced into the living room to see my dad had gotten up and was walking over into the kitchen. I quickly signaled for her to get back under the table. She hid back under the tablecloth right as my father walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, Dad, what do you need," I asked him, trying to hide the crack in my voice from the fear that he almost saw Bri.

"Just pouring myself a glass of wine," he replied, taking a glance at me before taking a glass out of the cabinet.

"I could've gotten it for you."

My dad glanced back at me, looking a little suspicious. "It's fine, son."

He poured his glass of wine and went back into the family room. Bri poked her head from underneath the table as soon as he left the room, and I signaled her over as soon as I saw my dad sit down.

She crawled from under the table all the way to behind the island with me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad get up from the couch again.

"Go back!" I whispered at her and she started crawling back, but I knew she would never make it in time.

"No, no, no, come back to me!" I whisper shouted at her, and she made her way back to me just in time.

"Hey, son, your mom wants a drink too," he said and walked over to my side of the island, where Bri was. I started backing up, hoping she would get the message to crawl, and she did. We both moved over to the other side of the counter, away from my dad, trying not to act suspicious, but failing. "Why you walking away from me?"

"Oh, I'm not, just trying to keep my calves my calves strong," I said, trying to play it off.

"Okay..." he dad replied and went into the cabinet for a glass.

"Hey, honey?" my mom called form the family room.

"Yes, dear?" my dad replied, turning to look at her. There was a counter separating our living room and dining, so thankfully she couldn't see Bri.