Getting caught under the sheets

A/N: 11.04.19

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10.06.2021:

Hey, loves! I just started a new story called "Indian Summer Of My Heart" on Webnovel. If you like my writing style don't forget to check it and add it to your reading list.

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My mom called me for dinner and I closed my notebook, quickly scurrying downstairs. I sat down and served myself some heeping hot potatoes.

"Don't you want any chicken with that?" Frowned Dad.

I let out a stiff chuckle. "No, um, I'm good, thanks."

"So how was school?" asked Mom. "Did you get your English test back?"

I nodded, biting into my potato before internally screaming as it burnt my tongue. I quickly grabbed the cup of water with both hands and started to drink, cooling down my tongue.

"Carter, you know that the potatoes just got out of the oven," sighed Dad. "And yet you still burn yourself."

I let out a sheepish chuckle. "Well, um, we got our tests back."

"Did you get a good grade?"

"Aren't we so lucky to have such a brilliant child?" Gushed Mom. "He reminds me of us when we were kids."

I smiled awkwardly, staring at my plate. It felt good to be praised by my parents but also kind of empty. It was always the same thing. They'd ask me how school was, about my grades, then they'd tell me that I was just like them when they were students, and then they'd remind me to study for my next test, right about...

"Don't forget to study for you Science test," noted mom.

The same words, the same routine, the same thing every single day.

"So something really crazy happened at the cafeteria-"

But before I could finish, she cut me off.

"Honey, could you pass me the salt please?"

I frowned, handing it to her and attempted to try again. "There was this girl named Desiree who-"

"Um, no, not really," I grumbled.

"Steven!" Snapped Mom, throwing him a glare before looking back towards me. "Girls who waste their time on anything other than their studies aren't a good influence. Besides, if you're looking for a girlfriend, why don't you try asking Eshe out?"

"Mom," I groaned miserably, my cheeks flushing slightly red. "I told you that I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now. Besides, Eshe and I are only friends."

"Yes, yes, you've said that already," she sighed. "I just think that it's a shame since she's so smart and pretty."

Before I could even have a say in anything, my parents changed the subject and started talking about work, making me sink in my seat.

My parents only cared about my grades, anything else was pointless to them. The only way I could get even a pinch of their attention was by keeping my grades up. It was also what kept a roof over my head and food on my plate.

"I'm going to go upstairs," I murmured, pushing my chair back.

"Aren't you hungry sweety? You've barely touched your food," frowned Mom.

"No, I'm… I'm not hungry," I lied. Before they could try and convince me to stay, I quickly said, "I have to go study."

I went upstairs and closed the door behind me, letting out a long sigh. I stared at the floor, my bangs drooping over my eyes as I just stood there. I know that my parents were doing this for my own good but it was just so

I climbed onto my bed, wrapping my arms around Panda (yes, I named my teddy bear Panda) and checked my phone. My eyes brightened as I saw a message.

Alix: Hey Carter, are you free?

I quickly started to text back.

Me: Yeah, I just finished eating dinner.

A few seconds later, my phone started to ring. I quickly pulled the blankets over my head to muffle out any noise since I wasn't allowed to call anyone on school days unless it was for emergencies, but I could never turn down a call from Alix.

"Hey Carter," said Alix, his husky, but soft voice immediately putting a smile on my face.

Alix was a childhood friend. We used to live in the same neighborhood and were as close as family, but he had to move after middle school because of his mom's new job. It was pretty hard for us since we used to be inseparable, and I still wasn't used to him being so far away.

We still saw each other during the holidays and he sometimes came down on the weekends when he wasn't too busy, but it just wasn't the same.

"Are you okay? You sound a bit sad," he said. He knows me too well.

"It's my parents," I chuckled half-heartedly.

"Did you skip dinner again?"

He may know me a bit too well.

Before I could answer, he interrupted. "Carter, the reason why you're so skinny is because you don't eat enough at home. You have to eat something."

"Anything besides chocolate bars and candy," he snorted.

"I-" I paused, fiddling with my sleeves. "Hush, I'm trying my best." But before he could argue, I quickly changed the subject. "So why did you call?"

"I just wanted to check up on you," he said. "Eshe texted me and told me what happened today. Did you really get detention?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I did. But it wasn't as bad as I thought," I admitted, tracing my finger in circular motions over the sheets.

"Eshe mentioned a guy named Kill something?"

"Killian," I smiled, trying not to laugh.

"Uh-huh," he mumbled. "Isn't he that popular guy who's always ditching class?"

"He didn't mess with you, did he?"

I shook my head as if Alix was in front of me. "No, he didn't do me any harm."

There was a small pause. "And... It's just the two of you in detention?" He asked slowly.

Alix was always overprotective when it came to me and always got into fights when I was bullied. It was thanks to him that I was still alive and in one piece, I owed this boy everything.

I tried go reassure him. "There's also Mr. Yon, our P.E teacher."

"You should be careful around people like Killian."

"People like Killian?" I asked in confusion.

"Yeah, the popular guys who do things for their own amusement, not really caring if they hurt others as long as they get a good laugh. Who knows what evil things he'll try to do to you."

I let a stiff laugh. I guess this wasn't the best time to tell him about the bet.

"Don't worry Alix, I can take care of myself."

"That's what you said when Luke beat you up in front of the arcade," he said sternly. I bit my lower lip as the vivid memory flashed through my mind, tightly squeezing Panda against my chest.

"Don't worry Alix," I murmured. "I'll be careful around Killian, I promise. Besides, we only have two weeks of detention together. After that, he and I will no longer have a reason to see each other."

He let out a small sigh and I could just imagine him raking his hand through his blond hair like he always did.

"I just worry about you Carter, you know that, right?"

I felt a small smile grow on my face as the suffocating feeling from earlier faded away.

"Yeah, I know," I murmured. "When are you coming back?"

"High school's a pain and the teachers are drowning us with home work, so I guess not for the time being."

I frowned, my voice falling to a whisper. "Oh."

"But hey, I promise that I'll drive down to your house whenever I can. We'll watch a movie together, just like the good old days," he chuckled, something nostalgic lingering in his voice.

His voice then suddenly turned more stern and serious. "I miss you Carter."

But before I could reply, I could hear footsteps and quickly hung up. The door opened and I got out of the blankets, my face bright red from the heat. My dad looked at me with raised brows and I discreetly shoved my phone under my thigh.

"What are you doing?" He asked slowly.

"I uh..." I could feel my face turn even brighter as my mind started to spin in panic, trying to find a lie to tell.

His eyes suddenly widened and I stiffened. Did he hear me talk to Alix? Was he going to confiscate my phone and ground me?

"I see," he contemplated sternly.

"D-D-Dad, please don't tell Mom, I-"

But the hardened expression softened as he let out a chuckle. "Don't worry son," he said, the sudden change of attitude making my brows slowly draw together in confusion. "It's only part of human nature."

"Don't worry, I won't tell Mom," he chuckled. "Oh, and you might want to use those."

He nodded towards the box of tissues beside my bed and my eyes widened in horror as I finally understood. My face turned as red as a tomato as I snapped my head back towards him.

"W-W-Wait, dad, it's not what you think-"

"Now, now, there's no need to get all flustered. It'll be a man-to-man secret. I didn't see a thing," he winked, closing the door before I could say anything else.

I sat there in utter shock before slumping onto my back, pushing Panda against my face and letting out a loud groan of embarrassment.

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And idk why but I find Carter pretty cute in this chapter, such a smol lil bean.

Please leave a vote and comment if you liked the chapter, more will be coming soon ♡