Sweaters & Cigarettes by Fox Mika

Author:Fox, Mika [Fox, Mika]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-09-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Resolve

"You sure you're okay?"

It's way past noon, by now, and Max and Theo have finally managed to make their way outside, leaving the motel. It's Saturday, and surprisingly, the snow that fell last night did stick around, which means that there are several children outside, playing. Theo barely notices them, though. He's too focused on the fact that he will have to go back home.

"I think so," he says. They've walked all the way from the motel, and now, they're standing at the edge of Theo's street. He can see his house in the distance, not too far off. He swallows.

"Do I have to?" he practically whines, and Max gives him a small, sympathetic smile. "Can't we just go somewhere else?"

"Well," Max says, "you know I'm all for breaking the rules and fucking shit up."

He sighs, moving one hand up to tidy Theo's scarf.

"But believe it, or not," he says, "I don't like getting you into trouble."

He looks up at Theo, blue eyes sincere in a way that Theo still somehow isn't used to seeing them. Theo sighs.

"I know," he says. "And I appreciate it. Not that it stops it from happening, but still."

Max narrows his eyes at Theo's attempt at humor, but doesn't reply.

"I just," Theo says, looking down the street, toward his house. "I've got a bad feeling."

Max follows his line of sight.

"Yeah," he agrees quietly. "But what's the worst that could happen, right?"

Theo raises his eyebrows at him pointedly, and Max cocks his head.

"Fair enough," he relents, remembering how bad it has gotten, so far. Theo is pretty sure he wouldn't be able deal with that for much longer, and especially not if it gets worse.

Theo looks at his house for a few seconds, in silence, before taking a deep, steadying breath.

"Okay," he says, nodding. "I'm going."

Max squeezes his hand, entwined with his own, before reaching up to cradle Theo's face with the other. He kisses him softly.

"Good luck," he says, a hint of his usual cockiness, that Theo knows is there simply to ease the tension. But he appreciates it, nonetheless.

"Thanks."

And with that, they part ways, Max staying put while Theo makes his way along the street. He looks over his shoulder once, twice, and a third time, before reaching his house, and every time, Max is still there. Theo wishes he could have stayed, but somehow, he feels like that would have made the impending confrontation with his parents worse, and he throws Max one last glance, before walking up to his front door. And just like that, Max is out of sight.

Theo lingers for a moment, hesitates, before he takes a deep breath, and opens the door.

It's unlocked, and Theo steps inside and closes it behind him. He can't help but feel like he wants to keep quiet, like he can somehow avoid this whole thing, if he doesn't make too much noise. Which is a stupid, completely ridiculous idea, of course. And if nothing else, he's not as quiet as he thinks; within seconds of closing the front door behind him, he hears footsteps coming from the kitchen.

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