Chain Reaction 2.8: Swagger

     "Hey, Kelsie, wait up!" I call out from my back porch. She's probably on her way home, but since I was standing on the porch, I didn't want to make it look like I was ignoring my friend.
     She giggles. "Ethan... you do realize..." She giggles again. "...that you're still in your sleepwear, right?"
     I look down, and my bedroom slippers wink up at me. "Oh yeah."

     She giggles... again.
     "Well, they ARE just a tank top and pants. Big deal," I mention, trying to keep from being too embarrassed.
     "It's the principal of the thing, and something tells me your fluffy bedroom slippers aren't something you'd wear just anywhere."

     "True, but my house is RIGHT there," I say and gesture to the house behind me. "So, where ya going?"
     "Uh... home?" she questions like I should've known that.

     Her house makes me think of parties. "Oh yeah! Did anybody tell you we're all going to Halvsies Friday night?"
     "No," she replies, shaking her head and looking confused.
     "Oh, well, I'll bet everyone thought someone else did. So now, I did! Can you come?" I ask, trying to remain upbeat. Claire always acts like she doesn't trust her; Branden hates just about everybody; and she gets on Raina's nerves. Luckily, I doubt Kelsie notices all that.
     "Yeah!" she answers, sounding excited. Then, she looks more serious. "So, how are you and Claire doing? I hardly talk to her anymore."

     "Me and Claire?" I ask, feeling my face brighten. "We're great! Why do you ask?"
     "No reason. Just chatting. I'm gonna go now so you can, um, go change." She walks away waving and giggling again.
     I shrug and go inside to get something to eat, still staying in my sleepwear.

     I come home from school a few days later to find this in the living room.

     "Uh, Dad?" I ask, recognizing him as his head appears above the dust cloud.
     "Well, you're never home!" I hear Uncle Alex arguing before he makes a choking sound.

     "You leave too much for her to do by herself!" he adds, his voice sounding raspy.
     This is crazy! I knew Dad and Uncle Alex didn't like each other, but I never imagined either of them getting into an actual fight.
      Dad argues back. "Some of us have to WORK for a living!"
      Uncle Alex breaks free, and I go stand in the dining room while they circle each other like jungle cats.
      "And speaking of 'work,'" Dad continues, "you need to tell your son that he has to do his own homework from now on." He glares.
      Uncle Alex looks confused. "What?"

     "If you'd spend ONE minute paying attention instead of always coming around here, you'd see that Drake is USING Emily!" Dad yells.
     Ever come in on the last part of a conversation and try to figure out what the other two are talking about? That's me. So, Dad knew and Uncle Alex didn't? I'VE told Emily over and over to stop doing the little dweeb's homework.
     "Graham, I had no idea!" Uncle Alex says defensively.
     Dad says something about Drake, using words I don't understand, but it looks like Uncle Alex doesn't think much of it because he punches my dad in the jaw.

     I'm glad Mom has left for work already and that Emily is at Kelsie's working on a project. Knowing better than to get in the middle of this, I go get an apple out of the fridge and come back to lean against the wall, eating it while watching the show. In a break in the fighting, I loudly clear my throat.
     Both men snap their faces towards me, and I take the last bite of my apple, eating the core.
     "Ethan!" Dad says in surprise. "When did you get home?"
     "Dunno how long. Twenty minutes?" I ask, wanting to get out my phone and take a picture of both their faces but deciding against it. "I was going to complain about missing my favorite show, but I think the two of you made up for it." I scratch the back of my head. Any minute now, I'm going to get sent to my room for being a smart-alec. Still, I can't help but feel like I might for once be the most mature person in the room.
     "Go do your homework," Dad says, looking like he wants to hide.
     "Sure thing," I reply and walk to the stairs with a swagger. Whatever. I knew that was coming.
     On my way there, I hear Uncle Alex say in a calmer voice, "I'll talk to Drake. I can't BELIEVE he'd do that to Emily."

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Bleh. Filler chapter. Sorry. I'm setting the stage for future events, though, and I decided to put it in instead of refer back to all this in a flashback way.

No, Graham! No! No more babies! Two is plenty enough! LOL!

(Well, with the way you behaved in this chapter, there are at least three in that house.)

Graham and Alex are now officially enemies.

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