Chapter 14 - Reflection II

"Keily!... Boy if I have to call you again I-"

"I'm right here." Keily replied entering the room.

"Hmph. When day breaks I'm gonna need you to go to the bar for me."

"Sure dad yeah. Actually tomorrow I'm gonna go help out some friends with cleaning up the sand from the storm last night."

"I don't give a shit about your friends, you betters get my stuff first."

There was a brief moment of silence.

"Where even is the bar?" Keily asked.

"Down this same road we're on." His dad responds while sitting down. "When you go there use my name and they'll know what your there for."

"So you've already been there?"

"How 'bout you stay out my fucking business?! You see me asking questions 'bout your lil idiot friends?"

Keily ignored him and began to walk off to his room.

"You sucking ya teeth at me boy!?" His dad asked while rushing at him.

"I didn't even-" Keily started to say before getting struck by a forceful slap.

His dad wrapped his right hand around Keily's neck and pushed him against the wall.

"Just 'cause the setting changed that doesn't give you a reason to act out now, you hear me?" His dad asked while pointing his finger in Keily's face. "Your lil friends won't be there when your getting beat. Watch yourself."

He loosened his hand just enough for Keily to mutter out a "Yes sir."

"Get outta my sight boy I'm trying to rest." His dad said while letting him go but not before pushing his head against the wall.

His dad went to lay on the couch while Keily stood there for a minute trying to compose himself, before eventually retreating to his bedroom.

The Next Day

Keily is walking back to his apartment with the liquor his dad told him to pick up.

"Hey bro! Wait up." A voice called out from behind him.

He stops and turns around to find a short but muscular light skin kid. He recognized him.

"You were at the school the other night right?" The kid asked Keily.

"Yeah, I remember you was in that room. What's your name again though? Asked Keily.

"Victor. Yours was Akale or something like that right."

He grinned before replying "It's Akeil but you could just say Keily."

"Bet. How old are you though, 'cause I'm almost positive those drinks ain't for you." Said Victor.

"Um nah, these are for my old man." Keily responded.

"Ah that makes sense. That night you seemed a lot more hostile than right now." Victor Exclaimed.

"I just don't get along with new people all that well yanno. I try to show that I'm the alpha dog." Keily responded.

"Aight Mr. Poodle, later this evening some of the other students are gonna be having a truth or dare party. If you tryna come we gonna be on the third floor of that building." Victor said as he points down the road at the building.

"Um I'll see." Keily responded.

"Aight bro, check you later."

Five Minutes Later

Knock knock knock.

"Dad open up it's me."

"It's about time." His dad replied as he opened the door and took the bag from him.

"I ain't staying long I'm heading to help out with the cleaning."

"Yeah whatever." His dad responded.

Keily walks down the corridor of his apartment building towards the exit, but before he reaches it another door opens.

"Be safe Denny!"

"It's only cleaning sand mom, calm down."

A girl exits the room, short black hair that matches her dark complexion, glasses and is just barely shorter than Victor.

"You going to help out with the cleaning too?" Keily asked as she walks by.

"Yeah I'm helping out at the water distribution center." Denny Replied.

"Same actually, I just don't know how to get there." Keily added.

"You could walk with me I'll show you. Unless my memory is tripping I don't recognize who you are."

"Oh I'm new to the city, you could call me Keily."

"Alright Keily, I'm Denny." She replied as she smiled. "Since your new do you know about our small truth or dare party later?"

"Your going to that?" Keily replied.

"Yeah of course, what about you?"

"Um, definitely." He replied.

"After the clean up we could head there together then." Denny proposed.

"That's cool with me." Keily responded.

6 Hours Later

"We might be a little early but people should still be here." Denny stated.

"That's fine I don't really like a lot of people around." Replied Keily.

They opened the room door where the party was supposed to be taking place and they entered.

"Poodle boy, you made it." Said Victor acknowledging them entering.

"Poodle boy?"

"Yeah Nesha he said he was a dog so that's what imma call him." Victor responded.

"I remember your face from somewhere."

"Dameer, he was at the school during the sandstorm. He was sleeping in Angie those classroom." Nesha replied.

"Oh yeah I remember." Said Dameer.

"Seems like most of y'all already know Keily." Denny exclaimed.

"Where's everybody else?" Keily asked. "I was expecting a large group of people."

"To play truth or dare? Boy poodle, sorry to disappoint you but it's only gonna be like twenty of us."

"I ain't disappointed. That makes sense though."

Just then the door creaked open again as two boys entered.

"What the hell you doing here?"

Keily turned to see Cory and another guy standing there.

"Chill Cory, why you so hostile?" Denny asked stepping in front of him.

"You ain't even worth my breath bro." Keily replied moving to sit down.

"Y'all really be letting anybody close to y'all." Cory stated. "It's whatever though he just better watch himself."

"Tonight gonna be fun huh." Said Keily while smirking.

A few more people joined the group shortly after. Denny and Keily talked to each other in a corner waiting for the games to start.

"Oh Keily this is Johann, he's gonna be studying engineering with us." Denny stated.

"What's up newbie?" Johann asked in his deep voice.

"Everything cool old man. Your voice deeper than... wait. Damn I forgot to tell my old man I was coming here."

"He gonna be cool with you staying out?" Asked Denny.

"I don't know. I'm gonna touch base with him and come right back. Shouldn't take me more than fifteen minutes."

"Alright I guess, hurry back." Said Denny as Keily got up and left.

He jogged over to his apartment building which was just up the road. The sun had already rested below the horizon and daylight was nearly gone. He ran up to their room and entered through the unlocked door. His dad was sat there on the couch with a bottle in his hand.

"Hey dad, I'm chilling with some friends up the road I'll probably be home late." Said Keily.

"Where were you?" His dad muttered out.

"I-I told you I was down the road with some friends."

"What did I tell you about those friends? You don't need 'em now stay your ass inside."

Keily paused for a moment.

"Mom said-"

"Is your mom fucking here?! Or do you wanna go visit her?"

"Your drunk I ain't arguing with you right now."

"Argue?! It ain't any arguing boy, it's only my word!" He yelled while rising from the chair.

Keily visibly shaking and holding onto the door looks into the eyes of his old man and says.

"Nah, I ain't listening to any drunk old man anymore."

"Oh so you grew a pair now huh, you ready to stand to me." He replied as he begins stumbling over to him.

"Dad I swear to God I-"

"God! He ain't gonna save you!" He shouts while beginning to hysterically laugh. "He gave up on this world long ago you dumb piece of shit. Look around! God took your mom and left us to suffer in this hell. I know one thing though, while I'm down here I ain't getting disrespected by any worthless punk!" He exclaims while hurling the bottle at Keily.

The bottle smashes against the wall behind him and two of the shards cut Keily's arm.

"Since you think you is man now come! Hit fuckin' me! I dare you!" He shouts while walking over to him.

Keily stares at him in fear, speechless.

"I said, hit me boy!" He yells while swinging for Keily's head but missing.

He then pushes his dad back and walks toward him.

"I didn't say push me like you is some bitch. Hit me!" He shouts again while charging at him.

He swings for Keily's head again but he ducks to dodge it and catches his dad. Keily then lets off a loud yell as he uses all of his strength to push his dad back. He stumbles back a long way before tripping backwards and hitting the back of his head on the table's edge and crashing to the ground.

Keily freezes. Starring at his unconscious father as blood starts to leak out of his head. Tears begin to flood his eyes as the realization of what he just did hits him.

"Dad?" He whispers.

After no response Keily wipes his tears away and leaves the apartment. He runs out of the building and then the opposite way from the others. He sprints off, fading into the darkness.