It didn’t take long for Santino and Orsen to tidy up, and by the time they left, TJ was yawning and ready to relax. And Santino was ready for some alone time with Orsen.
Chapter Twenty-One
Orsen put his head on the table. “My head hurts,” he mumbled. He liked being back at school because he now had friends his own age, but he hated it as well, because homework made his head hurt. It didn’t help that Mrs. Park gave them the hardest homework.
“I think she hates us.” Dale rubbed his face, then shoved all his work in his bag. “Fuck me, that was hard.”
“At least we’ve done it.” Matty stretched his arms over his head. “Ugh. I need to give my brain a rest.”
“I hope she isn’t like this for the rest of the year,” Devon muttered. “I might start skipping her classes.”
“Finished, boys?” Alice, Devon’s mom, asked as she walked into the kitchen where they were all sitting around the table.
“Finally,” Devon groaned.
“Clear the table and I’ll bring the food over. I hope you boys are hungry.”
“I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week.”
“You ate an hour ago, Devon.” Alice went over to the stove and Orsen chuckled when Devon mimicked Alice. He quickly stopped when she came back over with hot dogs, burgers, and fries. “I love you, Mom.”
“Hmm. That’s changed from last night.”
“Mom!” Devon’s skin flushed, and he ducked his head. “I was in a mood then.”
“I have cake too,” Alice threw over her shoulder as she walked away.
“I love your mom.” Dale picked up a hotdog and stuffed it in his mouth. “Yours is the best.”
Alice came back with more food and spoke to Orsen. “I heard you knocked your old house down, Orsen. How are you feeling about that? Big change, isn’t it?”
Orsen licked his lips, then shrugged. “I don’t really know. I think I’m happy but sad at the same time.”
Alice patted his hand. “No matter what happened there, it was still your home, but you need a fresh start. A place that’s yours that you can make you own. A place not tainted by the past.”
“A place to hang out with no parents around—ouch! Mom!” Devon rubbed the back of his head where Alice had hit him. “What was that for?”
“I know perfectly well what you would get up to with no adults around. Condoms, Devon.”
Devon flushed bright red, his mouth hanging open. “Mom!” he screeched. “Just no! Not the whole sex thing in front of my friends!”
“Like I wasn’t your age once.” Alice put the chocolate cake on the table. “Have you any idea what you want to do, Orsen?”
Orsen shrugged. “So much has changed…” He trailed off, smiled and shrugged. “I’m back at school. I have friends, and a boyfriend, and sometimes…” Shaking his head, he stared at his plate.
“It can be overwhelming.” Alice squeezed his shoulder. “I remember Ambrose from when I was younger. His parents were no different from him. He followed in their footsteps. I even called social services when you stopped going to school, but nothing came of it. Not sure why, but Ambrose knew the right things to say, and I guess with the Tanner situation happening at the same time, you were lost in the system. I should have tried harder, but you put your trust in the people who are there to help children, not realizing they fail, too.” Alice disappeared, then came back a minute later with some cream. “How is Cody, do you know? Another one who had an awful home life.”
“He’s really happy now that he’s with TJ.”
“Didn’t I tell you he treated us all to cake from Tea for Two?”
“No, Devon. You must have forgotten, you know, with us living together and having daily conversations. Must have just slipped your mind.”
Devon glanced around the table. “Oh well, yeah. He met Orsen after school and we all had cake. He’s nice.” Devon smiled at Alice, then winced at the other three when she looked away.
Alice looked back at Devon, then sighed. “Boys. Shout at me if you need anything else.”
When she left the room, Matty grimaced and muttered, “You’re in the shit later.”
