[It's not intentional, the way he flinches a little at the feeling of her lips on his cheek, but he knows she'll notice, and there's every chance she'll say something, and what's he supposed to tell her? That he not only doesn't want to see his friends -- his "friends," because truly, how many of them really qualify? -- but that he doesn't want to see her, either? That right now, he's having a hard time even knowing how he's going to look Tommy in the face, when all he'll see reflected back at him is Angela?]
I don't wanna stay with you.
[It comes out almost petulant, and a little slurred, and he winces at the sound of his own voice. Has it always been quite so pathetic, or is it just that way around his mother? She's always told him that he'll be a king someday, that he'll have his rightful place, and he believes that she loves him, he does, but...
But. She always acts as though she knows him, more than he knows himself, and in this state -- maybe in any state, maybe he'd just been too blind to see it before -- it makes anger rise within him, quick and hot as always.
He chokes it back with some effort. He strikes a tone that almost approaches confidence, that he hopes might do something towards reassuring her that he doesn't need to be watched after, that he doesn't need anyone to pry.]
You're right. [She'll like to hear that, won't she? She always does.] I've gotta figure it out on my own.
no subject
I don't wanna stay with you.
[It comes out almost petulant, and a little slurred, and he winces at the sound of his own voice. Has it always been quite so pathetic, or is it just that way around his mother? She's always told him that he'll be a king someday, that he'll have his rightful place, and he believes that she loves him, he does, but...
But. She always acts as though she knows him, more than he knows himself, and in this state -- maybe in any state, maybe he'd just been too blind to see it before -- it makes anger rise within him, quick and hot as always.
He chokes it back with some effort. He strikes a tone that almost approaches confidence, that he hopes might do something towards reassuring her that he doesn't need to be watched after, that he doesn't need anyone to pry.]
You're right. [She'll like to hear that, won't she? She always does.] I've gotta figure it out on my own.