Chapter 14: A Comfort

\[Rue’s POV\]

To my surprise, Mykel and I actually seem to meet quite often once we both return to school. Whether it is in the cafeteria, on the quad, or in class, we seem to pass each other, and because of that, we decided to not be strangers.

Honestly, when I got rejected by Mr. Owens and decided to give up on my years of love for him, I thought I would have to silently and single-handedly deal with it on my own, but in the end I don’t.

After a few meetings with Mykel, I found myself telling him about what happened, and to my surprise, he was quite the confidant and comfort through the whole thing.

Maybe it was because of this that we grew close, or maybe it was another force at work, but by the time summer break rolls around, we decide to visit my mother and Mr. Owens together so that things won’t be so awkward.

Of course, I was a bit hesitant because my feelings weren’t completely gone by any means, but I didn’t feel like they were as strong as they used to be. There was also the possibility of there being awkwardness due to the way Mr. Owens and I parted ways, but since my mother’s health hadn’t been the greatest recently, I decided to swallow my fear and go there anyway.

When I told Mykel about this, he insisted on coming along as moral support, and that was why we both pulled up in front of my childhood home in preparation to spend the entirety of summer vacation there.

“You ready?” Mykel asks me now as I stare at the house. “Or do you want me to throw this car into drive and say fuck this whole thing?”

“No,” I tell him, smiling. “I can’t just run away forever, and I promised Mom that I would come and help with her business.”

Honestly, I was a bit worried about meeting Mr. Owens again, but I was more worried about what was going on with my mother. Although she told me that her illness wasn’t anything serious, I couldn’t stop myself from worrying.

“Come on,” I announce, shaking off my unease. “Let’s head in before they wonder what is happening.”

Nodding, Mykel climbs out of the car and then comes around to my side and opens the door, where he waits for me to step out. Once I’m out, he heads to the trunk and grabs our luggage despite my insisting that I take my own.

“Allow me,” he chuckles as we move toward the house. “It is the least I can do for my niece.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “I told you many times to not call me that.”

“But you’re so cute when you’re annoyed.”

Frowning, I shoot the man beside me a look just as the door in front of us opens, and when Mr. Owens comes into view, I feel the bandages I placed around my heart starting to unravel.

“Welcome,” he says, smiling as though everything is okay. “Please, come on in.”

For a moment, I don’t move as I stare at him while he acts like the host of the house that once belonged only to my mom and me. I find myself wondering if we had worked out, would this be how things would be?

No, Rue. I hiss inwardly, pushing aside my unneeded thought. Don’t think such a thing.

“You heard the man.” Mykel says, nudging me. “Let’s get in so you can show me to the guest room.”

“Sure,” I smile, regaining composure. “Follow me.”

As I speak, I begin to move forward while Mr. Owens’ gaze stays on me, and I can’t help but wonder what he is thinking.

I knew that he wasn’t thrilled with my relationship with Mykel from what Mykel had told me, but honestly, so far he was nothing but good to me, and because of that, I wanted to believe that he was actually a good guy.

“Where’s Mom?” I ask once I reach Mr. Owens. “Is she in her room?”

“She is,” he confirms, and I notice dark circles under his eyes. “She’s feeling a bit unwell today, so I told her to stay in bed while I took care of things.”

“I see,” I murmur, my panic growing. “Then I will just drop my things in my room and then go see her.”

Nodding, he steps aside, allowing Mykel and me access, and after depositing my things, I head straight to my mom's room, where she is sitting up reading.

“Mom,” I call, trying to ignore how much skinnier she looked and how pale her skin was. “How are you feeling?”

“Like a million bucks,” she tells me, lifting an arm and flexing. “I told you that I would be fine. It’s just a bit of ick.”

“A bit of ick,” I repeat.

What kind of ick lasted for over a month and made her look like that? I was certain that there was something she and Mr. Owens weren’t telling me, but if I pushed, I knew they wouldn’t tell me.

“When is your next doctor’s appointment?” I ask instead, moving toward her and then taking a seat on the side of her bed. “If it is while I’m here, I’d like to go with you.”

“It won’t be for a bit,” she responds, and I know she is lying. “I told you not to worry.”

“How can I not?” I sigh, leaning forward and kissing her cheek. “You’re my mother, and as your daughter, it is my responsibility to care for you.”

“That’s my line,” she laughs, but I see something flash in her eyes. “How was the trip?” She asks as it disappears. “It wasn’t too much trouble with Mykel, right?”

“Not at all,” I smile. “If anything, Mykel is a great travel companion.”

“Is that so?” She asks, and I wonder what Mr. Owens told her about him. “Does that mean that you two are growing pretty close?”

“I’d like to think so,” I respond. “He has become one of my closest friends in school.”

“That’s good,” she sighs. “I always hated that you were alone.”

Frowning, I consider her words while once again feeling like there was something she was hiding, but before I can even ask anything, Mr. Owens appears.

“Are you ready for lunch?” He asks, and I notice the tray of food that he is carrying. “I made your favorite.”

“You shouldn’t have,” my mother sighs. “But I’m not all that hungry.”

“You should try to eat a little.” He counters, and I immediately feel like I shouldn’t be here to witness this.

Even if I was beginning to move on from my crush, it didn’t mean that I was mature enough to watch my first love and my mother being loving toward one another.

“I’ll get going.” I announce, standing. “I need to go and check out the checkpoints for the business anyway.”

“So soon?” My mother pouts as I give her a final kiss. “Please, stay, and…”

“No,” I say quickly. “I don’t want to waste any time, and I don’t want to get in the way of your time together either.”

Not giving either her or Mr. Owens a chance to respond, I’m moving, heading out of the room, and when I reach the stairs and prepare to head up to my room, I feel all the unpleasant emotions that I didn’t want to deal with surfacing. I see Mykel appear.

“You good?” He asks, moving toward me. “You don’t look so good.”

“I’m fine,” I lie, but from the look he gives me, I can tell that he doesn’t believe it. “Okay, maybe I’m not. But I’m going to be okay.”

“Hmmm.”

I wait while Mykel grows quiet, and when a slow smile starts to spread across his lips, I wait for whatever it is that he is going to say.

“How about we go out for a bit?” He asks, and I know he is trying to cheer me up. “Maybe we can grab a few drinks and find something to get into. What do you say?”

"Okay," I say before I can think twice about it. "I could go for a drink."