I hate myself when I'm hungry sometimes. Mainly because the growl is so loud. It's embarrassing to no end. But at least, it does notify the others. Alder continued looking at me. I sat down at the table and waited for my mother to start breakfast. She walked out of her room and into the kitchen. She was smiling. "I guess someone's hungry," she said, glancing at me. I blushed at looked at the ground.

"Mom!" I groaned, placing my head on the table. I heard Alder suppress a giggle. My mother didn't reply. Soon, the smell of eggs passed my nostrils. "Shut up," I whispered fiercely at my stomach, though I knew it wouldn't obey. My mother let out a snort.

"It smells nice I'm assuming?" She commented. I didn't answer, feeling my face burn. She looked back at the plate. Not soon enough did she finish. She placed the food down, smiling.

"Thank you," I murmured, placing a piece of the fried egg in my mouth. My mother then gave Alder a plate.

"Thank you, Sully's mom," he said, proceeding to pick up a fork. My mother took her seat as well. I continued eating, and they talked about me. I hoped my mother wouldn't share my embarrassing stories with him.

"Oh he loved his father," she said suddenly, causing me to nearly choke. "I did too. But that was never meant to be, I'm afraid," she said. My eyes narrowed and I left the table. It was too soon. I'd only told Alder what I had a few days ago, and I still wasn't over it. Alder glanced at me.

"I'm going to my room," I said curtly, leaving the dining area. I walked back into my room and then into the bathroom. Why did I have to share so many features with my father? I walked back out of the bathroom and walked over to a box. It was one of those boxes you closed with a key. I dug around for the key and found it. I opened the box. In it were pictures, that I'd drawn when my family was three instead of two. I started to tear up, I'd bottled up my emotions for a long time. My reveal to Alder, lifted a lot of things off my chest. I'd barely noticed Alder had followed me into my room.

"Sullivan? Are you good?"

"I'm fine," I assured him. I stuffed the pictures back in the box and locked it. "Really, I'm fine!" Alder narrowed his eyes but didn't pry. Then his eyes filled with a different emotion, fear.

"Uh Sullivan... I know I said I wanted to come over for the holidays but..." His tropical water coloured eyes were darkening. "Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.." I understood.

"Oh God," I said. "It was a terrible idea wasn't it?" I glanced around. "But would it be safer for you to stay here or go to him?" Alder looked at the floor.

"If he's drunk... he'd probably kill me..." he murmured, fear present on his face. I didn't know what to do. "If I stayed.... that would just let the flame grow larger wouldn't it?"

"I'm... not sure what to do..." But we both were, it showed in our faces.

Alder had to leave.