{ #5 } Eclipse Of The Moon (MxM || 18+)

Chapter 2 - I'm Fuckin' 16, Dad!!!

Eclipse Of The Moon ~ Book 1 of Aaron
Chapter 2
I'm Fuckin' 16, Dad!!!

Wednesday 10 October 2001

"Aaron Matthew Cox! Come here!" my mother screams as I try to bypass and sneak toward the staircase.

Uh oh... Full name means troubles. Screaming only adds to the level of troubles because she never screams. Neither does my father by the way. With him, it's all about that cold anger that leaves you frozen and speechless, though when he gets really furious, he can scream too, and then, all you want to do is disappear.

No need to make my case worse, though, so with a discreet sigh, I turn around and head back to her.

"It's almost 6:15pm, where have you been?" she asks, squinting at me.

Shit! Is it that late? My father will soon be home!

"I... I was with Mark. We were doing our homework," I reply with the strongest self-assurance I can muster, hoping that my friend's name will help.

Mark is clearly my mother's darling boy. Okay, maybe not that much because she'd prefer I hang out with other catholic teenagers, but among all my friends, he is the one she likes the most. The Murrays sometimes go to church – even if a different one from ours – and they're a respected family for their hard work and successful small restaurant. As for Mark, being the smart kid he has always been, he never fails to use his natural charms to entice people, and my parents have always appreciated his politeness.

Joshua and Camden are a different story and my parents have often blamed them for my less docile personality over the past years. They may only see respectable people affiliated with their church, it doesn't mean that Collingswood's gossips don't reach their ears. So they have obviously heard of Joshua's mother and her few extra-marital – and utterly sinful – digressions. As for Cam, it's even worse. What with a father being in jail! What with a mother renowned to be a lazy drunkard! As if it was his fault!

About a year ago, we happened to stay a little longer than we should have at the Murrays' restaurant and as I was walking home, sharing part of the way with Josh and Cam, I was unlucky enough to cross my father's path as he was driving from work. Once he ordered me inside the car, I tried to explain that we had been working on math exercises, but he still had to lecture me, grumbling how a bad influence these two were on me and that he'd prevent me from seeing them. This was too much for my already-rebellious mind, so I angrily accused him – and my mother – for being so judgmental, which was against their religion.

This earned me a sharp slap in the face, but it was enough to make them ponder on their own attitude and they gave up on their decision to forbid me to hang out with Josh and Cam. Not that I would have complied in any case. So, they do tolerate them, but in tricky situations, I know better than to name them and usually resort to Mark instead.

"You were with Mark?" she comments in a sarcastic tone that unsettles me. "Your bag!" she then orders and before I have time to breed more excuses, she snatches my backpack and opens it.

"Mom, I'm sorry I'm late, but it really took us a lot of time to..." I begin to say and that's when I realize what she is doing.

She has retrieved my diary and as she opens it to tomorrow's page before taking out the rest of my stuff, I understand that I'm in for more troubles. Of course, my essay in lit is still incomplete and there are no math exercises in my notebook, so her disapproval expression is the logical consequence as she turns to face me. I am so fucking screwed!

"I'm not trying to disrespect you, Mom..." I argue pointlessly.

"How dare you persist, Aaron? Lying is a sin and you will have to go confess on Saturday, but meanwhile, you will have to deal with your father," she says sternly.