Who's afraid of the big bad Uncle?

"Hey, hand me the box of noodles there." I silently picked up the box and handed it to Aiden's mom. She took out the noodles and deftly broke them in half and threw them into a pot of boiling water.

"Makin spaghetti, momma?" Aiden looked over the top of his mom's head as he walked by from the entryway.

"Yeah, and stop reminding me of how short I am, I will dump this pot of water on yo head n see if you shrink." Ms. Hale threatened him with the wooden spoon as he gave her a toothy smile. I snickered and watched Ms. Hale as she got on her tip toes to try and look him straight in the eye. He just grinned wider and stood on his toes.  I snickered again. I always liked seeing Aiden and his mom play like this, makes me wish-

“So Andre....you hungry?" I jumped at the sound of my name as Ms Hale turned away from the staring match, glanced at me, and then took out the bread to start cutting up some for dinner. I placed my elbows up on the counter and watched her carefully slice the bread. I shook my head in response, then added, "Not really, at least."She nodded her head at me.

"I call bullshit on that!" Ms Hale turned to the sound of Aiden's tenor voice and the ding of the TV being turned on.

I slapped down my hand and felt and twinge of annoyance.

"The only bullshit is yo lack of skill in Tekken, boy!" I yelled back and glared death-daggers at his general direction to prove my point. I turned back around to see Aiden's mom snickered at me.

"What?" I whined. She pressed her lips together, trying so hard to hold back another snicker, and picked up the forgotten knife. All of a sudden her expression turned wistful and she puffed out her cheeks,"Aw so does that mean you're not stayin for dinner?” She cursed loudly when the knife slipped and sliced her finger.

I quickly glanced over at the clock while she was swearing and felt a cold dread slip down my spine.

S**t. It was six.

F**k, f**k f**k f**k f**k.

I'm screwed.

I felt my breathing speed up, and my heartbeat quicken. I sighed, trying to cover up the hitch in my breath and climbed down from the island chair.

“No, sorry. I have to get home before my dad comes home. He'll be expecting dinner.” I tried to cover the rising tone of panic in my voice with a slight one sided smirk and quick wave at her. She furrowed her eyebrows as she suckled her thumb.

"Ehhh, he's old enough to make his own dinner." She smiled and looked over at me with her sky blue eyes like she knew I was hiding something.

I smiled weakly back at her. Shhiittt, she knew something was up.

Curse her motherly stare.

I smile at her half-heartedly.  "If I leave him to make something himself he'll burn down the house." Ms Hale laughed, and I turned to go, but stopped as she said,

"Maybe that's true...but I made too much." She looked at the pot wistfully, crossing her arms unconsciously around herself. "Are you sure you can't stay for a bit? It'll be ready in, like, a few minutes." She looked back at me with pleading eyes. I felt my stomach drop as guilt momentarily over rid the panic.

"I-I" I stopped and blushed a little in embarrassment as Aiden came jingling into the room.

"You're going?" He gave me a sad, puppy eye sniffle. I flicked my eyes from his to the counter.

"Yeah, I gotta get home. Else..." I stared down harder at the counter. I couldn't meet any of their eyes. Why was I feeling so guilty?

"Please?" Aiden's mom magically appeared beside Aiden and they both started giving me that damn puppy look. My eyes grew wide as they leaned in closer.

"I'm sorry I-" I waved my hands in front of me, trying to apologize and get the hell out of there.

"Well, fine leave me!" Aiden sniffed and turned his back on me. I rolled my head back and groaned. I HATED it when he does this...but damn, it works every time.

D****t d****t d****t Aiden! The things I do for you!

"Fine....I'll stay." I slumped my shoulders and sighed. "Let me go argue with my uncle....I'll be right back." I turned around and walked out of the room, hearing the two children high five each other as I walked out onto the porch. I just rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the growing sense of panic in the pit of my stomach. My heart nearly jumped out of my throat as I pulled out my phone and dialed my uncle's number, hoping to God, Allah, Kami, whoever was up there that he didn't answer.

Please don't answer.

I paced back and forth as I dialed his number, feeling as If I had signed my own death warrent.

Don't let him answer. Don't let him answer. Don't....answer.....

You have reached the mail box of... Andrew, Peirce... please leave a message at the beep.

Beep.

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Hello uncle, I'm just calling to tell you Aiden's mom invited me to stay for dinner, so I won't be able to make you dinner tonight, but I promise when I get back I'll make you something. I'll call you when I'm on the way home, bye." I shakily pressed the end key. F**k, I was gunna get it when I got home

"What he say?" I jumped slightly at the sound of Aiden's voice.

"U-um....I just got a voicemail, but I'm sure it's fine." I kept my voice steady as I walked passed him and back into the house.

"Cool" Was all I heard.

Author's Note

So....I really need critiques on this. I'm trying to start this story again and it's just...ugh. So yeah. :)