The Bad Boy by Evan Kelsey

stepped forward offering me her hand. She smiled.
“I’m Linda, Jared’s mother.”
     
                    I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Jared’s
friend.” 
     
                    She placed a hand on her husband’s arm and said
warmly, “This is my husband Rob.” He smiled at me which I returned
and then excused himself to go and deal with Timmy who I’m guessing
was the ten year old gangster. Linda followed him, leaving two
other boys left for me to meet.
     
                    I was introduced to Willis who was thirteen and
seemed pretty normal and not as rude as Timmy. Last was who had to
only be a couple years younger than Jared, Austin. He was dressed
in a uniform for some private school and with a shy nod, he ran up
the stairs.
     
                    I looked at Jared for an answer but his jaw was
clenched as he stared up at the stairs. Did him and his brother not
get along? I dropped it because it wasn’t my right to ask since
Jared and I were barely friends.
     
                    Linda poked her head into the foyer catching my
attention. “Are you staying for dinner dear?”

    I went to Jared
for an answer because I had no idea if he wanted me too and I
didn’t want to upset him even more then he seemed if I said yes.
“Do you want too?” He asked.
     
                    I faced Linda again with a smile. “Love
too.”
     
                   
“ Good.” She clapped her hands and then pointed to
the stairs aiming for Jared’s attention with her eyes. “Your
brother had a rough day today.” The looks they were sharing had a
secret message and I adverted my eyes to the floor because I
felt like I was intruding.
     
                    Twenty minutes later we were sitting at the table
with a huge bowl of pasta and an equal sized bowl of sauce next to
it. Everyone started off eating in silence until words were said
and then a tiny argument broke out which turned into a bigger
one.
     
                   
“ Well I want to be like Jared when I’m older not
Austin!” Timmy said pointing his fork at Jared and then Austin. By
this time I was slouched in my seat trying to pretend I wasn’t
there.
     
                    Austin looked offended and didn’t say anything
just stirred his pasta around. In fact, he hadn’t eaten any since
dinner started. He must have had a really bad day today.
     
                    Jared slammed his fist down on the table. “Enough
Timmy! Stop being such an asshole.”
     
                    Obviously Timmy didn’t like that because the next
thing I knew pasta was being throw at Jared which hit him square in
the face.
     
                   
“ I’m going to freakin' kill you!” Jared
screamed before lunging across the table and knocking Timmy off his
chair. Jared’s foot kicked two glasses as he went across the table
spilling water all over and some of it dripping onto me.
     
                    I pushed my chair back and stood up shocked from
what was occurring. Willis was cheering on Jared while Austin
bolted out of the room looking extremely upset. Linda and Rob were
trying to stop the fight but it didn’t seem to be
working.
     
                    Jared was pulled up by his dad but he reacted
sending his dad to stumble back into the table. A dish fell off
landing on the side of the table I was on and feeling bad I bent
down to pick it up.
     
                    Nobody could have stopped what happened next
before it was too late. Everything went dead silent as I stood up
with the plate in my hand and pasta completely drenching me from
head to toe. The four of them had wide eyes but I could see the
guilt in Timmy’s.
     
                   
“ It slipped from my hands.” Was all he said before
dashing out of the room with Willis