Go Pack

“Noah… Noah..- Noah!” I jolted up, glancing up at the voice. My cheeks burn as I come face-to-face with Lucio. Yet it fades as soon as the memories from last night come storming in. Once again my breathing becomes irregular and my thoughts fall into shambles. “For Christ’s sake..-” I barely register the sound of his retreating footsteps before a handful of water is dumped on my head. 

I quickly jump out of my sleeping position breathing hard as I glare at the man leaning over the side of the couch. My eyebrows furrow in question looking around at my living room in bewilderment. Realizing my confusion the man says, “I had to drag your lard ass in here last night. Then when I finally arrived at the building expecting your constantly pissed-off face to greet me only to be greeted by an empty void of nothing.” I turn away from his obnoxiously casual sarcasm. Something’s different about him today, he never acts like this. “I have this week off.” I watch the man to the side of me still, pulling away from the back of the couch. “We have to go see your father.” His voice remains monotone, his whole entire character changing in mere seconds.  

What happened when you were younger to resent your father so much the mention of any cause you such discomfort? My thoughts beckon with concern, "Relax, alright? I'll get everything ready for us to depart." My mouth contorts into a firm line, "Are the rest alright, did anyone at the gala get hurt?" Our eyes meet again. "They did no harm to anyone Noah, it was only a mere warning. Warning us that there's more to come. Don't get so bent out of shape." I bristle in offense with a sharp glare. "I expected things like this to not scare you, Hell was I wrong." The man grumbled, turning away with an annoyed expression. 

My teenage self wanted to throw a punch, offended by his insults but I held the boy back. A loud ringtone cuts through the air causing both of us to jump; recognizing it I feel around for my phone. Finding it in the back pocket of my dress pants I come face-to-face with an incoming video call from my ma. 

Running a hand through my hair and ruffling it a little my eyes meet with Lucio’s. His mouth slightly agape before moving to look at my phone and stepping out of the camera’s line of sight. With a sigh, I finally answered the phone meeting my mom's pale face, her usual abundant smile was replaced with a shaky one. Her eyes looked dull, lifeless, and even scared. “Hi sweetheart, how did you sleep?” She beckoned softly. I couldn’t help the soft blush covering my face, knowing that Lucio was definitely listening in. “I slept alright mom, got a little tipsy.” I avoid spilling the details of last night and continue on, “The real question is how have you been sleeping recently?” 

Her eyes shift away and her smile fades, “I–… I’ve slept better.” Ma’s voice is soft- weighed down by the reality of the position she’s in. Knowing her husband won’t will most likely not live. The only thing we could do is wait for it to kill him. The woman’s eyes gloss over with tears, “The doctors keep telling me he doesn’t have much time. It-It’s scaring me, Noah..!” She begins to hiccup as fat tears fall down her cheeks and run along her jaw. 

I myself could feel the familiar stinging sensation in my eyes. I tried not to blink knowing if I did they would fall. Yet as a human I couldn’t just not blink and so eventually the tears fell. Unknowingly I felt a hand come to rest on my shoulder, I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. His arm was stiff as if he wanted to help but didn’t truly know how to. 

The rough hand made me smile, reaching across my chest and covering it with my own. The amount of comfort his small initial decision made brings me is unreal. It made me realize how touch-starved I probably truly am. She slowly reigns in her quiet sobs and I patiently wait for the next incoming question; making sure to keep Lucio out of frame. 

"Have you been eating, s-staying hydrated as well?" Flinching, I look away from the screen, feeling Lucio lean closer lying in wait of my response. "Noah you're human, you have to make sure you drink some water and eat food." 

I open my mouth to suck in a deep breath, pushing the air back out through my nose. Calloused hands rub my shoulder and my body sinks into the warm feeling it provides. "I'm eating whenever I can Mama, and when I have enough money." I can feel the burn of Lucio's confused gaze fixed on me. Her frown deepens in worry, her eyes shuffling to the side as hushed talk comes from the phone speaker. 

"I'll call you later Sweetheart, I have to go for now. I love you." "I love you too, Mama." We whisper our goodbyes and her face disappears as the screen grows black. "Am I not paying you enough?" Lucio's hushed voice beckons from behind, his hand retracting. My body physically stiffens as his distant tone as I turn to face him. He keeps a monotone expression, his emotions locked away behind his eyes. Setting my phone down I reach up to scratch at my stubble, my gaze nervously shifting. "You pay me enough, I just have a lot of payments." A sharp inhale cuts through the tense silence, "So many payments that you're cutting out on fucking eating?" 

Lucio's tone bites at me in vulgar aggression. "You don't understand…" "I don't understand what? Your health comes first. If need be I can pay off whatever these 'payments' are." My whole body freezes as I meet his gaze, "You don't mean that…" 

"I really do." He's harsh but purposeful in his words. A shy smile graces my face and I turn away. He cares, whether he admits it or not. The thought causes a soft blush to cover my cheeks, forcing me to look away, “Thank you, Lucio.” We fall into a tense silence both lost in our own minds. 

“You should start packing your bags, I already have a flight booked down to Florida." With a soft nod and an appreciative smile, I rise from my position on the couch and make my way up the ladder.