Chain Reaction 3.1.12: Inferno

Alex

     My grandson Valentino ages up. Ever since I got back, he's been like a ghost in this house. We only see him at meals, and even then he's silent. Emily never says a word to him. Alaric speaks to him occasionally, and I try to include him in conversation.

     He's very thin, and he never bothers to go get a haircut. I don't force the issue, either. Who am I to tell someone to get a haircut? Mine hasn't been short since I was a kid.

     "Yo, Pops."

     I hate that nickname. Drake taught him that. It always reminds me of Drake after Laura and I divorced. And he has Drake's eyes... Laura's eyes.

     "Yes, what do you need, Valentino?" I don't bother to correct him.

     "It's not that I don't appreciate your hospitality and all, but let's face it. I don't belong here." He also, at times, reminds me of the Francos. Never more so than when I catch a calculating gleam in his eyes. Then again, Laura was quite the calculating person herself--to my benefit, but still. I suppose he gets it from everywhere, myself included.

     "Why do you say that? You're my grandson." I want to love him like a grandson, but the truth of it is that I'm wary of him. I wish I could stop being that way and just be a grandfather, but he's a product of too many of my enemies.

     He almost smirks, seeing right through me. "I'm the son of the man who tried to frame you for murder."

     "What is it that you want?" I don't like the way he's beating around the bush, like he's building to something.

     "Think about it: your wife despises me. Wouldn't it be easier if I were out of your hair?" He keeps going with his buildup.

     "Grammie has been through a hard time."

     He snorts. "She's not my grammie. And all I do is remind her of a painful chapter in her life."

     "Again: what is it that you want?"

     "I want to move back into my old house. Dad's house."

     "Valentino, you're just a teenager. You can't. You have to have an adult with you."

     "C'mon, Pops. We're loaded, right? Hire a caretaker for me. I'll bet my old nanny Morgan can be tracked down. Surely that wouldn't be too hard for someone like you."

     We've finally reached what he wants most, but it doesn't sit well with me.

     "I'm sorry, Valentino, but I don't think that's the right thing to do. You need to stay with family. At least until you're eighteen."

     He goes from calm to a raging inferno in seconds.

     "YOU CAN'T KEEP ME HERE IN THE SEVEN LEVELS OF HELL! I did nothing wrong! I don't see why I have to be punished! I just want some semblance of a loving family! With the only person I wanted to be my mom! I never wanted to live here! I hate it here!"

     I take a step back, but he keeps going, having kept this inside for a long time.

     "I feel like a prisoner! And an outsider! This isn't home. The only home I have ever had was with Morgan! Haven't I suffered enough? You OWE me this. You have to try! I want to go," he starts to break down, "home."

     I don't owe him anything. My son does, but I can see how he switched the burden onto me. What do I do? Put my own grandson in the guardianship of his former nanny?

     What do I do? It feels strange to me to consider doing what he wants. I'd pictured in my mind how he'd just live out his teen years here. Maybe I could raise him better than I did his father.

      "Everything you touch rots," Graham's voice echos in my mind, and my mouth drops.

      "I'll..." I swallow. "I'll see what I can do."

      He visibly tries to calm down. "Thank you." Then he passes me on the way back to his room--where he spends the majority of his time.

Valentino Goth

      That didn't go as planned. I'd had it all worked out in my head, my whole persuasive speech, just like we were taught in public speaking class. I had my three points: this was never really my home, I only bring pain to Emily with my presence, and my solution is to find Morgan and her be my guardian. My sub-points, to me anyway, were solid: we're loaded, I could be out of everyone's hair, and they owe me. 

     But I lost my cool. How, after all my solid arguments, could Pops still say no? It's unreasonable!

     I've never stopped missing Morgan. I've not felt at home since the day Dad forced me to leave our house and live in this hellhole. 

     Sure, it's a nice building, and I have a pretty good room...

     ...that just got better. Why is Alaric's girlfriend in my room? 

     "Well, hello there." I'd thought about just coming in, sitting on my bed, and staring at her, but I thought that might be rude. Of course, her using my desk without permission is also rude. I'm not mad about it, though. I'm curious.

     She looks surprised. "Um, hi, Valentino." She almost goes back to her work but notices I'm just standing here staring at her. "Did you need something?"

     I sigh. I need a lot of things. "No."

     "Okay." She attempts to go back to her work again. I guess I don't mind. If she really wants to be in my room, she can be in my room. I have a very comfortable chair at my desk. I suppose I don't blame her. My stare starts to irk her. "Then why are you in here?"

     "Because it's my room."

     Her pen slaps down on her notebook, and she facepalms. "Oh no. I am so sorry."

      She stands up, looking so guilty that it almost makes me laugh. "I thought this was one of the unused bedrooms. I thought your room was the one next to this one."

      "No." I smile. "It's this one."

      "I'll just get my things then."

      "Why?"

      "Be...cause it's your room." She looks confused. Maybe a bit embarrassed too.

     I want to make her feel better. Alaric is the one person who has never been rude or mean to me, and she's his girlfriend. "It's really not a big deal. Feel free to stay as long as you need. It's a good desk; I can see why you'd choose to use it." I walk up to her and hold her shoulders while looking into her eyes to make sure she gets the message. "You're welcome to come in my room any time you want, day or night." I smile.

     But she doesn't look happy. I don't understand her expression, and she bats my hands off her shoulders like they bother her. So I drop them to my sides and watch as she mumbles something, grabs her notebook, and pushes past me to leave.

     "Don't forget what I said!" I call out to her as she closes the door. I sigh. She's nice. It was an honest mistake. This room doesn't look very lived-in. It looks like a showcase display of what a boy's room might be in a catalogue. I sit on my bed and stare at the movie poster that I don't care about in front of me. Yeah. This room has no feeling in it at all. No wonder she thought no one used it. I've only been existing in it.

     My door opens, and Alaric quickly enters the room.

     "Hi, Alaric." I guess Kate told him she accidentally used my desk. Maybe he feels like he has to explain it, but I understand.

     "What the plum." He has a kind of quiet anger in his stance. I'll have to let him know it's okay.

     "Hey. It's not a problem. It's fine."

     Apparently, it's not fine.

       "I wouldn't call coming on to my girlfriend 'fine'!"

       "Huh? What?" What the plum indeed.

       "'Anytime day or night'?! Just what are you trying to pull here?!"

       My heart beats quickly, and I work at catching my breath.

     "I don't understand! She was using my desk." Alaric is huge. And scary. He could pound me into dust without breaking a sweat. And he looks like he wants to.

     "So that's your excuse for making a pass at her?" He balls up his fists.

     "Huh? What do you mean? I was just letting her know it's okay to use it. Honestly, Alaric," I think I finally get it, "I wasn't even flirting. I was just trying to be nice!" How can this be happening? And after I'd just thought that he was the only one who's treated me with any kind of sympathy, treated me like a person. "I didn't mean anything by it, not anything like that." Holy plumbob, I'm in hell.

     His expression looks suspicious, but at least he stops yelling. And his fists relax.

     I'm still cautious, however. At any moment, I'm prepared to duck out of the way if I can. I'm not interested in Kate. Sure, I thought it was neat to have a girl in my room, but that's where it ended.

     He looks down at me while I cower. "Dude, you have seriously got to consider how you word things."

     "I'll try. I had no idea it sounded like that to her." At least I don't think he's going to pound me anymore.

     "I think you'd better apologize."

     "Sure. Of course!"

     He takes me to where Kate sits in the dining room. The whole thing is awkward. I hate it. It's embarrassing. It's heartbreaking to think that my one hero is suspicious of me. I guess it's unanimous now. Everyone hates me.

     Hours later, after everyone has gone to bed, I sneak out. I'm hoping to find an adequate distraction for the hell of my life.

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