Chapter Eight : Blood Line

"How's school?" My dad asked me as soon as I sat down at the table with my bowl of cereal.

He's rarely ever here but when he is our conversations somehow turn into arguments. His way of talking to me was to criticize me and tell me everything I was doing wrong in life. I'm thankful that's he's so busy most of the time that I barely see him, I relish in those times.

"Fine." I said sharply, not looking in his direction.

"Fine?" He asked me looking up from his phone for a moment.

"Fine isn't good enough son." I didn't say anything and continued to eat.

"Are you listening? You need to work hard, push yourself! And why didn't you try out for quarterback this year?"

"Didn't want to."

His face was getting red and I could sense that my simple answers were pissing him off. The doorbell rang just as he was getting ready to yell and I hurriedly stood up to answer it.

"Hey, I brought over some games." Dakota greeted me with a smile.

"Do you think we can head over to your place?" I asked already walking out the door.

"Um.. sure."

"Thanks, you just saved me from a blood bath." I chuckled.

My dad wasn't always that way, one day he just changed and we stopped talking. I guess he got so caught up in his job that he forgot how to talk to me without making it about my goals and future. That stuff is important to me but I miss the way it used to be. He was always on my team when mom would compare me to Dakota, always cheering me on, telling me no matter what mom says, I'm just as good. Now they're both the same.

Dakota slowly opened the front door of his house and let me in first. The house was just as I remembered. Clean, modern and quiet.

"My dad is at work and my mom is in her room." Dakota said, looking rather nervous.

"What's wrong?" I asked as we walked straight to his room.

"Nothing." He shook his head as he sat on the edge of his bed.

"So anyway, why did you want to come over? Won't your mom get mad?" He quickly changed the subject before I could ask more questions.

"My dad was about to go haywire and she will but I honestly don't care right now. I can't stand being around when my dad get's like that." I said as I sat down beside him.

"Only a few more years and we can be free." He chuckled. There was a knock at the door which made Dakota flinch.

"Dakota? Is that you?"

"Don't come in." The door opened anyway and Mrs.Moreau walked in. Her hair was all over the place and she had black and blue dark circles under her eyes. She looked awful, different from the usual well dressed person I've always seen her as.

"Luka, how wonderful to see you." She hiccuped with a smile.

"Hi Mrs.Moreau." I smiled timidly and waved.

"Mom, go lay down."

"I haven't talked to Luka in years hun, let us catch up." She staggered towards me and I could smell the alcohol on her.

"Mom, get lost!" He shoved her out of his room and slammed the door, turning the lock. I could hear her retreat back to her bedroom and it was silent for awhile. I was deciding if I should say something to comfort him or just keep quiet, wondering if he'd even want to talk about it.

"Want to play?" Dakota asked picking up one of his gaming controllers.

"Sure."

We sat for hours just playing without saying a word about what had happened. That's why mom didn't want me coming over, that's why mom and Mrs.Moreau stopping being so close. They were best friends in college and even though mom is, they way she is, she doesn't just stop talking to a person. I started thinking back to my childhood and the visits I would have here. I don't ever recall seeing alcohol in their house. I never pegged Mrs.Moreau as a drinker.

Dakota yawned and rested his back against his pillows, pausing our game.

"Tired of getting your ass kicked?" I asked.

"Sorry I didn't tell you about my mom." Dakota said without looking at me, the sentence caught me off guard so it took me a moment to figure out what to say.

I shrugged and laid down beside him.

"I was a little embarrassed." He said turning to face me.

"Why?"

"Everyone sees me, my family, as this perfect put together family. My dad didn't want anyone to know, the "golden child" had an alcoholic mother. Obviously your parents would know, they even tried to get her help but she refused." I nodded, to let him know I was listening but I was more unsure of what to say. Dakota was quiet for a moment.

I turned to face him and found tears rolling down his face. I took in a deep breath before wrapping an arm around him.

"It's okay." I patted his back, trying to give him some comfort.

"I'm just like her." He murmured.

"No way."

"I don't want to be but I can't stop myself. It's like it's in my blood." His breathing was sharp and his voice shaky.

"Dakota, you're not an alcoholic." I continued to pat his back. At least I don't think you are. He let out a long exasperated breath and rubbed his eyes trying to stop himself from crying. I haven't seen Dakota cry since we were kids; learning how to ride bicycles for the first time. Dakota moved his face to mine and looked me in the eyes. I studied his eyes and the way his breathing changed back to a calm demeanor as I leaned in closer to him. Time felt endless as we laid still gazing at each other, giving each comfort through silence.

I hesitated for a moment, letting our noses slightly touch before I pressed my lips against his with closed eyes. Dakota put his hand on my hip bringing me close, running it up to my chest and down to my thigh, his soft skin made my entire body quake.

"Luka!" I heard the front door open, immediately recognizing my moms voice. I jumped away from Dakota just in time before she swung the bedroom door open.

"Out of here, right now." She said harshly. Her eyes were red and she was practically foaming at the mouth.

"Jesus." I got up from the bed and started walking home, not bothering to wait for her.

"I told you, you were not allowed over there anymore." Mom said from behind me as we walked into the house. I turned around to face her and we nearly bumped into each other.

"Whatever problems you have with Mrs.Moreau, doesn't have anything to do with me or Dakota. So don't pretend that you're looking out for me." I walked away and slammed my bedroom door shut. I laid down in my bed with my face buried in my pillow I let out a muffled scream.

That was a close one, I don't know what would have happened if she caught us. Probably forbid me from being friends with Dakota.

I began thinking back to the moments of him and I before my mom interrupted. It filled my with adrenaline knowing we were doing something we weren't supposed to. But now what were we going to do? Pretend that we never kissed again, for what felt like the hundredth time?

I just don't want to lose what we've got.

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