Page 82 of Chasing Infinity

My mother always makes an effort when things with my father get tough, though it doesn’t always work out in my favor. I will tell my mother how I’m feeling, and while she’ll always listen, I know she’ll never be on my side completely at the end of the day. Catherine McCoy is the perfect politician’s wife, though sometimes I wonder if she’s forgotten how to be a mother in the process.

I inhale a few deep breaths, taking a second to splash cold water on my face in an attempt to get a grip of myself. When I feel like I’m finally put together enough to face my father, I straighten my tie, square my shoulders, and go downstairs to where I know my parents are waiting.

“That’s better,” my father says when he walks into the room. His eyes appraise my appearance with a satisfactory gleam. “Now you look the part.” He turns to my mother and takes her hand, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss against the back. “Shall we, my love? The car is waiting for us outside.”

My mother provides her husband with a smile that barely reaches her eyes and then looks at me, giving me a slight nod of her head, her eyes flashing at me in question. I dip my chin back at her, telling her I’m okay even though I’m not. I’m really not.

The evening progresses flawlessly; at least, I hope it does. My father practically ignores me all night in favor of schmoozing everyone who shows up for him. I stand dutifully by my parents’ side and remain quiet unless I’m spoken to directly. I don’t want to riskembarrassingmy father again.

Dinner is served, and then the band starts playing as people mingle. I take the opportunity to slip away. Jordan and Caleb are in attendance this evening, and so is my girlfriend, Rose. Still, I try my best to avoid them, knowing that they’ll expect me to be the person my father has prohibited me from being tonight. I head over to the bar and ask for beer, but I settle on a Coke when the tender refuses me.

Fine, whatever.

I stand off on the sidelines for a while. My friends spot me and come to stand next to me. Jordan and Caleb start right away with the jokes about the suits they’re in and how the group of us look like we’re mafia bosses.

“Not tonight, guys,” I mutter to them. “My father is on red alert, and I don’t feel like getting an ass-beating later for appearing to have too much fun.”

My friends sober up, knowing that my father doesn’t mess around when he says he means business. So, we stand together quietly in solidarity, watching the night unfold.

“Hey, baby,” Rose says as she joins our little group. Her eyes are trained on my parents making their rounds. “Maybe that will be us one day,” she whispers in my ear as she sidles closer to me. She laces her arm through mine and presses her body close.

My father is the picture of power, smiling widely and shaking the hands of everyone in attendance. If someone had a baby around here, I’m sure he would kiss the hell out of it just for the photo-op. Of course, my mother’s standing next to him, playing her part and looking so proud and honored to be by his side.

I swirl the ice in my soda as I watch them, thinking over Rose’s statement. I can see it all playing out like that. Me, ten, twenty years in the future, walking around an elegant ballroom with a fake smile plastered on my face while Rose takes compliments left and right. The image makes me sick to my stomach.

Finally, I turn to her and frown. “I really, really hope not.”

Surprise colors her face, but I don’t wait to hear her response. I have my eyes on the door, and nothing will stop me now. Pushing Rose off of me I stride away without looking back. I need to get the hell out of here. I can hear Rose calling my name behind me, but I don’t stop.

As soon as I’m outside, I take a big deep gulp of air, reaching to loosen the tie around my neck.

The thought of becoming a man like my father and having Rose by my side as a complacent wife like my mother? No. I don’t want that. I don’t want my life to be anything like that.

I make the resolve right then and there. I will do anything and everything tonotbe like him. Not now. Not ever.

Chapter 22

Addison

Addison - Age 15

As I exit the classroom, I exclaim to my classmates, “I’ll see you all at the game tonight!” They sound off a round of responses as I leave. Still smiling, I head towards the library to return some books I borrowed last week. My footsteps echo down the lonely hallways. By this time of day, the school has emptied for the day. Students have headed home or are busy taking part in extracurricular activities.

Students will flood the campus again in a few hours despite the hallways being empty right now. Tonight is the annual football game against one of our biggest rival schools. No one wants to miss out on the biggest game of the fall. My plan until then? I have to study and finish my homework for the week.

I run through the checklist in my head of things that I’d like to accomplish before the game as I walk down the empty halls. When something catches my eye, I stop mid-stride.

A student is sitting all alone down the hall from me. His back is against the wall, and his knees are bent. I take a step closer and nearly stumble when I realize who it is.

“Noah?” I ask in a whisper, though my voice travels down the empty hall.

He turns his head towards me and grimaces before looking back out the window. “Go away, Parks. I don’t have the energy to fight with you right now.”

I hesitantly walk up to him as if I would a wounded animal. At this moment, I was unsure if there was a vast difference between the two. Noah looks defeated. I’ve never seen him this way before, and I’d be lying if I said it isn’t a bit disconcerting. I know Noah for his playful arrogance and the confidence he exudes in everything he does.

But now? It’s not there. Not at all. In fact, that confidence hasn’t been there for a few weeks.

Things between him and me have been…weird, too. I was pretty harsh on him that night in the science lab when we were trying to finish our chemistry project. I felt terrible about it for the rest of the evening. I intended to apologize the next Saturday when he came in, but I never got the chance.

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