Serving Lies

Thane slowly nods before saying "I hope me being here isn't causing you any distress." My Mom quickly shakes her head before saying "No, not at all. I'm actually really happy I get the chance to meet you. You and Valen will be with each other a lot... it makes me happy to know you're so kind and thoughtful."

Suddenly, we all hear a crash coming from the kitchen. I quickly get up and walk into the kitchen to find my Dad struggling to cook dinner. Usually, my Mom handles dinner but with her feeling unwell, my father is trying to help.

I give him a helpless smile and roll up my sleeves as I walk in and say "Here, let me help." He gives me a grateful smile as I take over cutting the veggies. My Mother and Thane walk in to find my Dad struggling to turn the stove on.

My Mom quickly walks over and says "Shoo, you'll burn down our whole house at this rate." My Dad makes a face and says "I'm not that bad! Just show me how to turn it on." My mother gives him a dry look before saying "Fine, you have to press here and hold it down for a few seconds before it turns on. I'll go wash the peppers. Valen, can you and Thane set the table?"

I set the finished veggies on the counter next to my Dad and say "Sure" I pull out the plates and walk over to the table. Thane grabs a few plates and helps me place the plates but when I was cutting the onions, it caused my eyes to burn and water. I stop to wipe at my eyes a little but when Thane sees it, he looks at me in concern and asks "Are your contacts bothering you?" I give him a look of confusion before I suddenly remember.

My parents both turn as my Dad says "Contacts?" My mother awkwardly coughs before saying "Oh... Yeah... are they bothering you?" While cutting my Dad a look. My Dad awkwardly laughs before saying "Hehe... I'm such a scatterbrain."

I shake my head and say "No no, they're fine." Thane looks over to me before saying "If they're bothering you, you need to let your parents know so they can help you get them fixed. The last time this happened was in the showers. It could be dangerous."

Both my parents slowly turn to look at me with wide, shock filled eyes as my Dad asks "Showers?" I try to act calm as I shake my head and go back to setting up the table when Thane says "Yeah when he came out of the showers last time, he suddenly lost one." My Dad nods his head in silence before turning around and pouring himself a large cup of calming tea but when I look to my Mom, I do a double-take.

She lifts a pepper and points to it before nodding her head towards Thane. At first, I'm completely confused but when she starts smirking, my eyes widen in horror. When she sees my look, she frowns and picks up a larger pepper, wiggling her eyebrows with a growing smirk.

When my Dad turns back around and sees my Mom, he chokes on his tea and starts coughing, causing Thane to look up and turn towards them in concern. My Mom acts like she wasn't just trying to figure out how big Thane is and walks over to my Dad with a towel and sweet smile.

My Dad glares at her and tries to clean up his mess as my mother quickly takes over making dinner. I sigh and say "It was just the onions... my contacts are completely fine." Thane nods and goes back to setting the table with me but Thane can't help but feel like something's off.

After dinner, my father starts cleaning off the table and says "Why don't you go take a shower? I'll go set up... your room." He must mean Valen's room... I nod my head and stand up but when Thane stands up and says "I'll take one too."

Both my parents scream "NO!" while looking at Thane with wide eyes. Thane freezes and frowns at them before my parents awkwardly smile and say "In... in our family, showers are a very sacred thing that we do, alone. Nudity of any kind is... wrong."

Thane looks at them with confusion but he still slowly nods his head and says "I see... I guess that would explain a lot." He then slowly sits back down and clears his throat as I send both my parents a look. My mother quickly smiles and places a slice of cake in front of Thane as she says "It's odd... but it's just something that's been passed down in our family."

Thane silently takes the cake with a small smile as I run off to the shower. This whole thing has been a disaster! After my shower, I help my Dad set up Valen's room while Thane takes his shower. "You know... you could sleep in your room and let Thane have your brother's." My Dad says with a look of distress.

I nod my head in agreement but it could come off as weird as well... I run my hand down my face as Thane comes into the room with wet hair. I plaster a smile on my face and say "Why don't you take my room and I'll sleep in my sister's room. That way we can both have a bed."

Thane slowly nods his head and says "Whatever makes everyone more comfortable. I don't mind either way."

After getting Thane settled in for the night, my parents pull me into their room to ask me a million and one questions. It's going to be a long night...

~~~~~~~

Thane looks around the room and at all posters hanging on the wall with a slight frown. This whole thing has been odd. Not a single picture of them together and no one seems to like the daughter. What could she have possibly done?

He also can't help but feel like the room isn't... right. It just doesn't seem like Valen. Maybe he's overthinking it. He's only known the kid for a little while now... And the whole nudity thing... it's just odd! I guess everyone has their things... it would definitely explain a lot about the kid.

Something shoved in the very corner of the desk catches his eye. He walks over and pulls out a crumpled up picture.