Chapter Thirty: Griffin's Uncle
GRIFFIN'S POV
There are two ways of seeing prom planning. The first is the most common, which is seeing it as planning the most important day of your high school career. Everything about it should be perfect and spectacular. The dresses and suits must be perfect. Everything about the event has to be perfect and absolutely magical.
Then there's seeing it as a waste of time and money. No one cares about themes if it doesn't directly correspond with their plans. No one cares enough about the small details the committee spends months intricately planning. The entire thing, including the dresses and tuxes, cost entirely too much for one night.
Considering I've dozed off about three times during this meeting, I obviously fall on the logical side. It may seem stereotypical, but it's all true. The amount of work that can be accomplished in the time it takes to plan this overly ambitious event is insane. Especially since prom is one night and nothing from the previous year is reused. It all seems like a total waste. With all the time it takes to plan it all out, it should last a week.
The only reason I was helping at all was because Mackenzie dragged me here. Something about spending too much time alone. I believed it was because Kira dragged her here and she didn't want to be the only one suffering. I was proven correct when I caught her dozing off beside me.
Besides this meeting being boring, I had also stayed up all night. My uncle would be staying with us for the next week or so and I was anxious. He was my mom's only sibling and the last person on her side of the family left. I had never met him before, so I didn't know what to expect. More than that, I was nervous to meet him because he's the last living memory of my mom. The thought itself was terrifying.
Of course, I didn't tell Mackenzie any of this. I didn't want her worrying. Though nothing about us is normal, I still like to try to follow the rules and keep her free of my problems. It didn't seem fair to me that she was always taking in my problems as her own. I tried not to show if I was struggling or not anymore.
"...the rest looks like it can be saved for next week. Meeting adjourned," Kira set down her notebook.
This sent a jolt of energy through me, "Sounds great! Mackenzie, let's go!"
She frowned, "But-"
I grabbed her hand and led us out of the room. I was happy to finally be getting out of there. I was usually fine with meetings. Meetings usually meant work was being done and tasks were being completed. Ideas were usually being shared and progress was being made. However, the only ideas being shared were the color of the streamers and the flavors of punch.
Once we got outside, I let go of Mackenzie's hand and took a deep breath. It hit me that I was about to meet my uncle for the first time. Before today, I've only seen pictures of him and he looks a lot like my mom. It was pretty strange to me that she had very few pictures of him and she didn't bother having me meet him.
"Griffin, are you okay? You look a little pale," Mackenzie frowned.
I nodded, "Yeah, fine. Just a little tired. Prom planning is exhausting."
"Griffin, I know you're lying. Just last week, you talked for an hour about how boring and useless prom planning is."
I sighed, "Fine. I spent all night preparing a room for my uncle. He's visiting."
She shook her head, "That's not it either. You've planned plenty things and you've never been this weird. What's wrong?"
Why is she so good at this?
No idea.
"He's the last family member from my mom's side and this is the first time I'm meeting him," I confessed.
Her expression immediately changed into something of sorrow, "Griffin, why didn't you tell me?"
I chose to stay silent. Silence was the best answer I could offer. Telling her the truth would only upset her and lying to her was worse. At least this way, I couldn't give the wrong answer. That's one thing I've learned from Mackenzie. Sometimes no answer is the best answer.
"It'll be okay! He'll be great-"
"That's the problem. What if he isn't? I've met a lot of my mom's family while they were still around. Just about everyone... except for her brother. What if there was a reason behind that? When she was still alive, my mom's main concern was protecting me. What if she was protecting me from her brother?"
Nice going! Anything else? I don't think you quite told her your entire life story.
"Well, if he turns out to be an ass, my door's always open," She smiled up at me. "But keep an open mind, Griffin. People can surprise you."
Or not.
Shut up.
I nodded, "I'll try. For now, I have just enough time to walk you home, so let's get moving."
"Are you just trying to get away from the committee-"
"I can't hear you! I'm too busy walking!"
-*-
The minute my uncle walked through the door, I pushed down my nerves and forced a smile. He had a firm handshake, something I was taught shows respect. Not only for the person accepting the handshake but for the person shaking the hand themselves. I found myself observing him, rather than truly welcoming him. It wasn't a problem since my dad had no problem doing that himself.
"Zeke! It's been so long!" Dad's voice boomed. "How have you been?!"
"Busy, as always. How have you been, old friend?" He replied equally as energetic. "Gram Ryder, the councilman. Quite the title!"
My uncle was slim and tall. His skin was surprisingly pale. Mom's side of the family had naturally tan skin, which is where I got it from. He, however, had skin that had a remarkable resemblance to snow. His eyes were brown, another difference from his family. In every picture I've seen, mom's side had green eyes.
Maybe that was why mom never wanted me to meet him. Maybe he was the black sheep. Something about that didn't sound right to me. Mom cared a lot about people. Snubbing her own brother didn't seem right.
"Look who's talking! Zeke Raven, celebrating twenty years on the council!"
He brushed him off and turned to me, "So, you're the famous Griffin Ryder. Who knew my nephew would grow up to be such a leader. It's an honor."
I shook my head, "It's an honor to meet you. Twenty years of unwavering leadership. You truly are remarkable. I just wish I could've met you before now."
Dad was beaming, "I'll leave you too to get acquainted. I hate to run, but duty calls."
Once Dad left, Zeke made himself comfortable on the couch. I couldn't help but feel a bit disrespected. He may have been family, but he was a guest. However, I took a deep breath and took a seat on the chair beside the couch. He grabbed the remote and switched on the TV. For a while, I waited for him to talk more about being in the council or what he thought of me, but he didn't even acknowledge my presence once my father left.
I cleared my throat, "So, Zeke-"
"I've heard stories about you and your current client. Is there something going on behind the scenes that I should know about?"
I shook my head, "Absolutely not, sir. She's nothing but a client to me."
"As a member of the council, I forbid it. As your uncle, I say it's a pretty smart choice. Practice your skills on those humans and have it perfected by the time you're ready for a relationship. Besides that, it's a nice source of, ehem, pleasure," He smirked.
I had never been so disgusted with someone in my life. Not even Micah reached that level. I could tell what kind of person he was and it made sense why Mom didn't want him around me. She was always right. Even after death, she continues to be right. I couldn't believe I was related to someone like him.
I waited for him to say he was joking. It was a crappy joke, but it was better than actually thinking that way. After a few seconds, I realized he wasn't joking. In fact, he was shameless. Proud even.
"Not only is that disrespectful, it's disgusting. What's even more disgusting is the fact that you have no shame," I stood up. "Because you are family, I will refrain from kicking you out. However, I don't think I can tolerate staying in the same room as you."
"What's the problem? They're just humans. Mortals. They live, they die, the end. They literally have no purpose," He rolled his eyes.
I took a deep breath, calming myself, "Without their uselessness, there would be no need for Reapers and we'd cease to exist."
"That's the problem! You and that girl have been spending too much time together!" He growled, standing up. "She has you believing that she's actually significant."
"I've been spending too much time... with my case?"
He nodded, "She's no good for you. I don't know why you still waste your time on dumb little girls like her anyway! You can do so much better than these stationary cases!"
"First of all, Mackenzie isn't dumb. Secondly, it's my job to spend time with my cases," I rolled my eyes. "And the cause of their death makes no difference. They all die in the end."
"I can't believe this," He scoffed. "You're too close to her! She's blinded you!"
"I'm too close to- she's my client! What am I supposed to do? Leave her alone to contemplate ending her life?!"
"Reapers aren't supposed to get this involved with their clients," He spat.
By now, the distance between us was small. I wasn't the type to sit around and argue all day, but he didn't make sense. How could he be so hateful when the rest of his family is so open and loving? Not even Reapers centuries believed what he did. Humans weren't to be used, they were to be protected. How didn't he get that?
"That's rich coming from you! Especially since you haven't had a single case in eleven years! All you do is sit on your ass all day while the rest of us actually work!" I roared. "You're pathetic, you know that? You know what? You don't even have to know that. Everyone already does! Even my mother knew what a jackass you are! Why do you think she kept her distance?!"
"You little-" His fist landed square in my jaw.
I tasted blood, but that didn't stop me, "Why are you so afraid of the truth?! Beating me up won't make it any less true! You're a sack of crap!"
He punched me in the gut this time. It knocked the wind out of me. I wasn't quite done yet. Reapers like him shouldn't be allowed on the council and I was going to make sure his position was taken away.
"Hopefully that'll teach you to show respect!" He barked.
"What? Assault?" I laughed. "Is that all you have in you? Why not finish me off? Finally, silence the last person who knows just how shitty you really are!"
He launched at me and threw me against the wall. The second my ear picked up on a crack, I finally decided enough was enough as my anger was starting to bubble up. I stood up and shoved him aside. He wasn't as strong as he thought. He was slow, which I could've used to my advantage if I was defending myself.
"It's all so laughable. Even after all that, you're still worthless. Isn't that sad?" With that, I left.
-*-
MACKENZIE'S POV
"Tanner so owes me," I grumbled, shoveling the last of the snow.
"I bet he does," Griffin chuckled from behind me.
I rolled my eyes. I turned to make a snarky comment, but the words died on my lips when I saw his face. My heart sunk. I was both scared and angry. His jaw was red with a slight shade of purple. The smile on his face was definitely forced.
"Griffin, so help me if you got in a fight-"
"Fighting is an exchange of violence. This was more of an assault," I noticed he was holding his stomach.
"Who did this?!"
"Oddly enough, my uncle," He chuckled, but quickly stopped and grimaced instead.
"Shit," I dropped the shovel and rushed to Griffin's side.
I helped him inside and got him an ice pack from the freezer and joined him on the couch. When he denied the ice pack, I took it upon myself to hold it to his face. He winced at first, but relaxed and held the pack to his jaw.
He was right about his uncle. There was a reason they had never met before. I couldn't help but wonder what was said for this to happen. I had a feeling Griffin didn't start it. Griffin was a calm person. He didn't start arguments purposefully.
"What did he do to your stomach?"
"What?" Griffin froze.
"Griffin, I'm not an idiot. You showed up clutching your stomach and laughing hurts. What did he do?" He could tell how serious I was because he straightened up a bit.
"The same thing he did to my jaw. He wanted me to shut up," He shook his head. "Coward."
"May I?" I reached for his shirt. He hesitated but nodded. Before I lifted his shirt, his cracked watch didn't go unnoticed. "Your watch-"
"It's fine-"
"No, it's not!" I grabbed his wrist. "He broke your watch!"
He sighed, "It's not a problem. Really."
I undid his watch and let it fall into my hand. He tensed up and I quickly shot him a reassuring smile, "I promise you'll get this back soon. Just trust me, okay?" He nodded and I reached for his shirt. "Back to the matter at hand."
I lifted it and saw that his stomach was starting to turn purple as well. I hurried and got him another ice pack. His uncle must be really strong for Griffin to be this bruised up. I knew how much this meant to Griffin just for it to go this badly. I could only imagine what Griffin was thinking.
"You'd better be lucky we carry four," I joked, handing him the pack.
"Thank you," He said genuinely.
"Yeah, yeah," I waved him off and took a seat on the side of him the ice pack wasn't on. "Now! We're gonna watch Up. Before you ask, it's a movie."
He shrugged and let me put the movie on.
LINDSAY'S POV
I strolled down the stairs, ready to torment Tanner. He would be getting home soon and I had the perfect way to welcome him back. I found baby pictures of him that would earn me at least three weeks of blackmail. He'd be working for me. I was getting pretty tired of doing my laundry anyway.
I stopped in the living room when I saw Griffin and Mackenzie on the couch together, both asleep. She was curled up next to him and his arm was lazily draped over her shoulder. There was a melting ice pack on his stomach and under his cheek, like a sort of pillow.
I quickly snapped a picture of them. Even though Mackenzie would deny it, they'd be cute together. He watched over her and kept her safe. I could tell she did the same for him in a way. After all, someone had to grab the ice packs. And Griffin certainly didn't put on Up. Despite how cute they were, I'd be able to blackmail Mackenzie too.
Being the oldest definitely had its perks.
//
Woo! Chapter 30 done! I finally had time to sit down and finish this chapter and I couldn't be happier. It's really late and I have 4 tests to take tomorrow, but I don't care. None of that is as satisfying than finishing a chapter. Also, can we talk about that last part? Dawww! Anywho, thanks for reading!
Tatty bye <3
EDIT: So I checked and this book has 90,000+ words and 300+ pages in Word. I feel accomplished *SNIFF* okay I'm done being weird now. Sorry for not uploading. I've been kinda stressed lately but I'm back now.