VISITOR
805 Words
" First of all... " I began with a perplexed stare, " I let Curl... " I cleared my throat, " I let GUSTAVO into this house ONCE. "
I made sure to clarify things.
" You don't know how many times I've watched him climb past that window and into that house. Talk to Tess. "
His seriousness baffled me. I was still yet to understand this boy's aim.
" Why dont you talk to her yourself? " I asked him, " I don't know you, and I certainly don't care. "
" Ouch, that second part was not necessary. "
The boy licked his lips and twirled his weirdly awesome hair.
" I'm Parish and I'm Gustavo's brother. "
My gaze tightened as I heard him identify himself for the second time and things began to slowly fall into place.
He didn't look anything like Gustavo, and I wasn't concerned about their obviously different names. Gustavo was a Mexican name and Parish was an American name. Their looks verified their odd names. Then there was the fact that both Gustavo and Parish appeared to be the same age. The possibility of being twins didn't occur to me, they were far from having a resemblance.
" Your brother? " I felt the need to repeat that statement.
" I just said that. "
I wanted to argue, but then I realized that it was none of my concern and that if I wanted to get this conversation over with, which I did, I mustn't engage in anything that might prolong things.
" As I said, I only let him in once. But I took what you've said into consideration__
" Don't consider it. No, it is not an option. "
" Well, you should be talking to Tess and not me, " I stated again.
" I tried in the past, but she's stubborn. You, on the other hand, seem reasonable. "
I squinted hard. I was somewhere in between loosing my temper " I said I wouldn't let him in again. I can't speak for her. "
" Then speak TO HER. "
Parish prepped to stand, I didn't realize that he was seating since. " Perhaps she would listen to family. "
I felt the need to dispute the fact,
" She's not family__
" You live in the same house. "
" It doesn't make us family, " I shot back.
" Well, talk to her, or I'll talk to your mother. "
" She's not my mother__
" What the f**k is going on here? You guys are a bunch of strangers living together? "
I could see that Parish was genuinely pissed, and that irked me the more.
I shrugged and waited for what he'd say next.
" I'll be forced to tell the ADULTS in this house that you two have been letting a BOY into the house through that window. "
I was more f****d because 'that window' is my room. If the ADULTS do find out, which I knew for certain my mother in Nigeria would be notified, I would be embarrassed and may have to take the fall for Tess.
" I let him in only once. It's not fair. "
" Talk to Tess. "
" She won't listen to me. "
" Make her. "
It came to me as an order,
" Why do you care? I get that he's your brother, but he isn't your kid. Why don't you talk to Gustavo yourself? "
" I don't have to answer you. "
I pressed on, " Why does he keep running away from home? " Maybe I asked Parish that question because deep down, I wanted to know.
" That is none of your business! "
Parish was both unsettled and angry.
" This is also none of my business but... if you really want to stop him from climbing through that window, you may have to solve whatever the reasons are behind it. Try a different approach. "
Parish got to his feet,
" That is exactly what I'm trying to do. If he doesn't stop running away, we won't solve the PROBLEM. "
I watched him briskly walk toward the door, he had a nice ass.
" Don't make me turn into a snitch. "
He turned to me.
I faked a smile but inside I was disturbed. One way or another, I had managed to attract trouble without doing anything.
" Believe me, I don't care about any of this. I literally just got here. "
I didn't expect him to understand my plight. I wasn't sure that Parish knew my situation.
" And I, too, don't care about that. " He slammed the door shut.
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- Writer
