WHY ME?

[Chapter-XXIII]

                       C O N N O R

I inspected my outfit in the mirror, before grabbing my backpack and running down the stair to the kitchen island.

"Good Morning!" I said to my Dad, who was reading a newspaper with a frown plastered on his face.

"Morning!" He smiled.

I returned his smile with a small one, before I sat down on one of the stools.

"Thibbault!" Dad yelled, "are you up?"

"Yes!" he seemed to shout, but it came out more like a muffle. I listened carefully and was able to hear the slight sound of the shower running.

"Mornin, Dad." Maverick said sitting besides Dad on another stool. He let out an irritated sigh, "I want my phone back.”

"Next week."

"It's been two weeks. You gave Thibbault and Elliot their phones back, so why can’t I have mine?"

"You can have it back next week, Maverick and you know, very well, the reason why."

I was listening to them when dad turned around to face me. "Can you go and call Elliot for breakfast, please?" I nodded, getting up from my spot.

I slowly walked upstairs and I felt my breath hitch when I saw Elliot’s door. I’ve never been near his room before, nor knocked on his door.

I hesitantly knocked on his door, but there was no answer. I knocked again, a little louder, this time.

"What?" I gulped.

"I-I-" I didn’t even complete my sentence, when the door opened. Elliot stood there with a monogram necklace around his neck.

"What do you want?" He frowned.

"D-Dad's calling you d-downstairs for breakfast." I mumbled, fiddling with my fingers.

He let out a frustrated sigh before pulling me inside his room. He grabbed my arm and sat down on his bed.

"What did dad say?" He asked. I already know what that means.

"Dad's calling you d-downstairs for breakfast." I said, staring at the floor.

"I want you to speak fluently, without stuttering." He said softly, I took a breath and looked up to him.

"Dad's calling you downstairs for breakfast." I finally said without a stammer.

I felt embarrassed, I always get stammer when I'm scared.

"I want you to speak like that." I numbly nodded at his words. "You can go now; I’ll be down in a minute. " I quickly walked out of his room to see someone mopping the floor.

"Good morning, Master Connor!"

"Good morning!" I replied, before I made my way back to the kitchen island.

Soon, everyone came and we started eating.

"Your Grandpa's coming today." Dad told us.

"Yes! It's been so long since he last came." Thibbault said, in between a bite of food.

"Cool." Elliot replied, while I sat there in confusion.

I have a Grandfather?

After breakfast Maverick and Thibbault left the house and I began to tie my shoe strings, but I couldn't do them. This is the first time I'm wearing sneakers that have strings.

"Hurry up!" Elliot yelled from his car.

I tried to do them again, but couldn't.

"Come here." Dad softly said. I slowly walked towards him.