Living the Future

Chapter 5 - I hope you understand.

We sat on the steps of the pack house.

“Don’t you have to be up early for training?” Daisy asked as she played on her phone.

“Yeah, so?” I asked.

“I just figured you would want to go to bed.” She said putting her phone down.

“I have to be there at eight in the morning and I’m used to getting up at three. So I’ll be fine.” I looked at her. “What are you doing this fall? Doesn’t college start soon?” I asked.

“It does, but my marks in everything are so low that I basically don’t qualify for any of the training courses. Plus that’s not what I want to do with my life. Be a soldier? No thanks.” She looked alittle sad.

“Wait, is that why they didn’t pick you for Beta?” I started to think a little more. “Wait! Why are you calling me dumb all day when you basically flunked out of high school!” I said and she looked at me with the most hurt face I had seen her make all day.

“Wow Josh! Thanks for that! I didn’t flunk out!” She yelled at me and got up. I watched her walk off toward her house. I jumped up and started walking towards her.

“Daisy!” I called to her. She stopped and slowly turned. Anger still plastered on her face.

“You know, you’ve been mean since I saw you this afternoon!” She turned back and ran off. I sighed and walked back to the house. I could see standing at the bottom of the steps was Uncle Arnold.

“Hi.” I said going to walk past him.

“Having issues Josh?” Uncle Arnold asked and I turned.

“Not really.” I said and I went to walk away.

“According to Andy, you’ve been here a couple days and have been pretty bitter about it.” He said and I crossed my arms.

“And?” I asked.

“You know why we came.” He said and I signed.

“I know why we came. We came for Lydia.” I turned back to going up the steps.

“If you see my son, tell him I’m waiting for him.” Uncle Arnold yelled after me. I walked in and went to the stairs. Andy was coming down and I could see he had a lipstick print on his cheek.

“Did you see my dad?” Andy asked.

“Yep, he’s outside.” I smiled.

“What?” Andy looked suspicious.

“Nothing.” I said as I climbed more steps.

“Where did you disappear to anyways?” He asked.

“Daisy asked me to kill time with her.” I said as I passed him.

“Never did I imagine we would come home and you would be running off with Daisy Shore.” Andy continued down the stairs.

“Me either.” I said as I made my way to my room. I went in and closed the door. I pulled out my phone. I hovered over the message with Daisy.

“F*ck it.” I said and started typing. “Sorry I was rude today. I didn’t mean it.” I sighed and hit send. I put my phone down and pulled off my shirt. I went to my dresser pulling out pajama pants. I heard my phone buzz. I walked over and picked it up seeing a reply from Daisy. I looked at it and scoffed. Just a message with three kissy face emojis. I changed and settled into bed. I put my arms behind my head. Staring at the ceiling until I closed my eyes and hoped for sleep.

“Young master.” I heard and opened my eyes. I started to stretch. “I apologize, her majesty has sent me to wake you up.” I looked at Jensen as he bowed.

“I have a alarm set.” I whined sitting up. I grabbed my phone. “It’s six.” I said looking at him.

“I apologize young master, I’ve only done what was asked of me.” Jensen smiled walking over to my dresser.

“No don’t lay out my clothes please!” I said and Jensen ignored me. “I’m not wearing anything prim and proper.” I said and he continued to ignore me. I watched him lay out a button up and slacks.

“There you are.” Jensen smiled.

“Im not wearing that.” I said getting up.

“Dress for success! Your father wore stuff like this and the king before him.” Jensen said walking towards the door.

“Im not a king.” I walked over to my dresser.

“No, just a prince.” Jensen walked out. I shuffled my clothes and found a pair of jeans. I grabbed the button up as a compromise. I left and went down the stairs to the family dining room. I walked in to see my mom sitting with Hermia talking.

“Joshy!” My mom said enthusiastically.

“Good morning, don’t call me Joshy.” I sat down.

“Are you excited?” Aunt Hermia asked.

“I guess.” I said rubbing my face.

“He’s probably tired.” Mom said as a server came and placed food in front of me.

“Coffee please.” I asked and the server nodded. “Of course I’m tired, you got me up a hour earlier then I’m supposed to be up.” I said and my mom laughed.

“Because I wanted to ask you how you upset Daisy yesterday.” I looked up quickly.

“Oh my gosh, you’ve shocked him.” Aunt Hermia giggled.

“Uncle Arnold called last night. Said she yelled at you. Was that your, what was it?” My mom looked at Aunt Hermia.

“Prior engagement, I believe?” Aunt Hermia said as they both looked at me.

“She asked me to hang out.” I said and they both nodded.

“And?” My mom said.

“She told me she wasn’t going to college because her grades weren’t good enough. I made a comment about why she had been calling me dumb all day when she was the one flunking out. Uncle Arnold caught the ending of it when she called me a name.” I said not looking up.

“Josh! How could you!” My mom said.

“I hope you apologized.” Aunt Hermia added.

“I apologized.” I said and my mom sighed.

“I know you’re upset we came back home. I know you were comfortable in Eclipse, but we need to be in a place where more people can help Lydia with her magic.” My mom said and I nodded.

“Your uncle Arnold is a great teacher but there’s only so much he can do Joshy.” My aunt Hermia said.

“I understand.” I said starting to eat.

“I hope you do.” My mom said.