Chapter Five:

I doze off during my movie marathon. In my dream, I was being chased by a shadow through the city. I jolted awake when I got cornered, and it launched at me. I decided to head downstairs to get something to eat, but I stopped on the stairs, hearing Lea and Mom talking.

"That woman won't let this go." Lea sighed

"She doesn't have a choice; he has both elements. On top of that, Bretton isn't the type of person to force him to live with him." Mom assured.

"Oh, you sweet summer child." Lea sighed.

"You're a summer child, too. "Mom snapped.

"No, I'm saying you're naive. He is a rare element and seems powerful; she will stop at nothing to make him live with them and write us out of his life. Thankfully, he is stubborn like me, not as naive as you." Lea stated. I imagined Mom gave Lea a dirty look when she said that. I figured they were talking about my grandma or the other aunts, they are both obsessed with making the William family as strong as possible. I don't have anything to do with that side, and they never reached out.

I listened for a little longer, wondering what brought this on, until I heard them talking about Bretton wanting to see me. I did my best not to make a sound or do anything as I sneaked back upstairs. Dad hasn't had anything to do with me for the past fifteen years, but wants to talk to me all of a sudden. What does he want?

Lea is right. I'm not as naïve as Mom, he wants me to take over the family, or run the company. Having someone like me in the family would make them even more powerful.

I went back to my room and just stared at the ceiling until sleep overtook me.

"I'm hungry." I moaned, walking into the kitchen. Lea set a plate of eggs and sausage on the table, which I appreciated. She then sat down, handing Mom a cup of coffee. Mom started telling us about a beach trip we were taking. Lea and I didn't really listen, just nodding when we were supposed to.

 "I asked Cassandra to push your start date back. You don't seem to be resting well." Mom stated, looking at the bags under my eyes.

"Also, your dad is coming later today, so we can talk about what happens next," Lea added, taking a huge bite of eggs.

"Why?" That was all i could ask. Mom went into a story about how he was a good man who just worked too much. This was the same story I heard over and over. I just rolled my eyes, not listening to her. I wanted to argue back, as I always did, but it wouldn't have done any good.

"Why?" I snapped again after she finished her usual lecture.

"We need to discuss your next steps."

"Why can't you two just tell me. Why does he need to be here?"

"He doesn't," Lea muttered a little too loudly.

"He needs to be here. He's the father." Mom retorted, glaring at Lea.

"Lea more of a father than he ever has been." I snapped, looking mom in the eye while Lea giggled.

"Bret, he is your father whether you like it or not," Mom replied.

"So I get my elements, and all of a sudden he needs to be in my life?" I snapped.

"Bret, it's not like that," Mom assured as Lea shook her head.

"It looks like that." I snapped, standing up, making my way up to my room.

I decided to get into the shower, feeling like my skin was burning. Was this what elements felt like?

"Don't be mad at your mom. She will always do what's best for you, even if you hate it." Lea explained. I sighed, telling her I know. Lea called me a good boy and then walked away. 

I sat on the shower floor, letting the water fall on me like rain while reading a book on my phone, which i didn't forget this time, which was in a waterproof bag. I stayed like that until the water started to get cold..

I dried off, then went and grabbed some shorts, heading to the kitchen where Lea and Mom were at the table. I asked for some sleep medicine, just wanting to sleep without any nightmares. Lea got up, giving me some from the medicine cabinet.

I took it by the sink, then hugged Mom, who hadn't looked at me the entire time and was doing her best not to talk to me. She hugged me back, kissing my cheek goodnight.

In the morning, a note was left by my bed, saying that they loved me and hoped I had a wonderful day. I made my way down to the kitchen, where I was sure Lea had made me some food for the day. 

As I opened the door from the hallway to the kitchen, I froze and slammed it shut.

"Honey, come out," Mom begged, trying to open the door with no luck cause I locked it. After a few minutes of Mom begging, I finally came out, glaring at the man in a suit with his black hair combed over neatly, with green eyes same green eyes I have staring at me.

"So Judy sent you?" I snapped, sitting across from him

"You mean your grandmother? No, she didn't," he responded calmly.

"Linda probably."

"You mean your Great Aunt Linda and ago no."

"Probably both of them," I replied coldly.

"Bret, they both love you very much."

"Williams must fine define love as not having any contact with people."

"We had our reason, but I don't blame you for how you feel," Bretton explained, but I just rolled my eyes with a huff. If he did, then why is he here?

"Oh, anyway, dear, are you hungry?" Mom asked with a wide smile.

"I lost my appetite," I replied, but she smiled, went to the fridge, grabbed a plate, and then popped it in the microwave. As it was heating up, she grabbed three drinks, giving one to Bretton and me, then setting hers at her seat. She then grabbed my plate, setting it in front of me with a fork. Spaghetti wasn't my favorite, but I knew not to waste food, so I ate.

Dear, thank you so much for coming." Mom smiled, sipping her tea.

"No trouble at all." Bretton smiled, which made my glare sharpen.

"Let's get this started. Bret, you will be starting school on Monday. Nancy will meet you outside the house around 7, and she will help you through your first day." Mom explained.

"Who's Nancy?" Bretton asked.

"Nancy River." 

"I don't know if I like that." Bretton frown

"You're one to judge by the family reputation," Mom said flirtatiously with a wink, which made Bretton smile.

"You're right." He smiled, and for a moment, they gazed at each other, lost in a different place. I just rolled my eyes and looked at my plate.

"Anyway, Bret, hold out your hand," Mom stated, holding a glowing orb in her gloved hand. I didn't know when she put that glove on. I did as she said, holding out my left hand, where she flipped my hand over, where it was palm up, setting it on my wrist. It got smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely into my wrist.

"What was that?" I wondered, rubbing my wrist where it disappeared. It didn't hurt, it just felt weird.

"That's your spirit to communicate with others. It's kind of like our phones without all the extras. You can also use it like a notebook and copy books and other similar materials. The best part no one else can see your spirit unless you let them." Bretton explained.

"How do I use it?" I asked, not caring who answered at this point.

"You know how you see me writing when I have no notepad or pencil. I'm using my spirit so you can use it however you imagine." Mom explained, showing me her notebook that she pulled out of thin air. It looked like any other notebook, but I had never seen it before. She let me hold it, and it felt like a notebook, which I was surprised about.

"I use mine like a phone or a laptop. Sometimes I even use it over my phone or laptop so people don't think I'm losing my mind." Bretton explained. He even pulled out his phone, showing me how he did it.

"That will be useful," I admitted, not looking at him, staring at the phone in my hand that just appeared. It honestly looked just like any other phone that couldn't connect to the internet.

"Hold out your left wrist." Mom ordered. I did what she asked, and she waved her hand over mine. I watched as Sarah Wiggin popped up on the screen. Then, Bretton, without asking, quickly did the same thing, and Bretton William popped up.

"Now you can call both of us." Dad smiled, looking down at his phone, sending me a quick message of Hey. I guess the spirit is controlled by the mind, which makes sense.

"Is there anything else I need to know?" I asked, prying my eyes away from my spirit and looking at Mom.

"No, but you can have more than one spirit out at once, which you can use for studying and taking notes. Which is what it is mainly used for." Mom explained, summoning a book and a notebook.

"If you take after me, you most likely will be using a laptop to type while reading the book. All you have to do is write the title of the book and the name of the author correctly, and the words of the book will appear." Bretton explained. I didn't make any movements, I just stared down at my spirit, thinking it sounded exactly like a phone, except I couldn't watch videos or take pictures.

"Oh, I forgot you can actually call people on the spirit, it's like a mind link." Mom said as if reading my mind. She showed me how to do it, but there wasn't anything to show since Lea's voice appeared in her head. She just looked like she was talking on earbuds if you weren't looking closely.

"If that's it, I think I want to lie back down," I said, looking at Mom, whose calm expression turned to worry.

"Are you ok?" Mom asked, putting her hand against my forehead, then my cheek, "You're not warm at least."

"I'm just tired," I assured. She rubbed my head like I was still a kid, then said she would wake me up later.

"Before you go, I have something for you," Bretton said, and I turned my gaze to him, not showing emotion.

"I have sent this to your mom and aunt, but neither one would use this." He explained, sliding a debit card across the table toward me.

"What is this for?" I asked.

"This is child support. This debit card is linked to your bank account, which currently holds approximately $2 million and is growing. You can do whatever you'd like with this, but I hope you'll use it. Starting today, all bank statements and checkbooks will be sent to you. Also, my lawyer will be contacting you and from here on out will be representing you for anything you need, no questions asked." Bretton explained.

"Um, thanks," I replied, grabbing the debit card to show an olive branch, or mainly because mom would lecture me until my ears bled, and I don't want to deal with that.

"If you need anything, just contact me and I will do anything I can," Bretton stated. I muttered a thanks then headed upstairs.