Geo watched as Nox, the shadow spirit he saved, playing around with one of his pencils. "Humf, if I didn't know better I would say you were trying to distract me from writing," he said, petting the dark mist lightly with a finger. "You cute little nuisance, always getting in my way. You have been here a week, yet it feels like it has been longer..."
Knuk! Knuk! Knuk!
The sound started both Geo and Nox. "Umm, u, come in?" He tuned in his rolling chair as his mother walked in. "Oh mom, did you need something?"
"Um, I just wanted to see what you are up to. We all have been so overworked lately...if you ever want to do something you're interested in...wait, you have your own spirit now?"
Geo shook his head, "He isn't really mine, some thugs tried to force him into a contract, I just intervened." A cool energy rested on his head, "I am just taking care of him until he has full control of his powers in this world.
"Oh...OK, well like I said, if there is any place you might want to visit..."
"I will tell you, don't worry."
"Ok, see you later," she said before closing the door. Something in his tone made Lea's heart ache. Even though she knew what she had done wrong, there was no way of fixing it easily.
"Well...that was weird, she probably has some free time and is bored. I know everyone else is as busy as always." He looked at his computer screen. "Maybe I can ask to go to the park, she can relax while I get inspiration."
Nox looked almost disopointed in him.
"What, you have been urging me to go outside more this week. The mental picture of trees in my head is making it hard to concentrate. I go outside, mom gets company, and you get to do whatever you want, it's a win-win situation." Geo smiled and got up. "I am sure we will be back in time for me to make dinner."
—
This is not what Lea had in mind when she thought of spending time with Geo. It just felt off, like he was more doing this for her than himself. He was smiling, but his eyes were glazed, as if in another world entirely. She had seen a similar look on Ava when she was acting, as if she was fully a part of the story world. She, like everyone else, only seemed happy when they were doing what they did best, not like how they all seemed to walk on eggshells while at home. She couldn't remember the last time they sat down for a family meal.
"It's nice to take a break from work and going to everyone's recitals and games, isn't it. If you ever need someone to walk with, my door is always open. You have been very stressed lately it seems." Geo smiled, "You don't have to worry about anything important happening around me, I am just the normal kid."
His smile was so fragile and forced at the same time, like he was as unsure as she was, then the words clicked in her head. He thought she only brought him along so she wouldn't be lonely. That she needed this to help her relax, and she hated to admit he wasn't wrong. Not completely like she wished. She thought that this would stop the guiltiness she was feeling.
"It might not seem important to you, but I would like to be part of moments you cherish like I am with your older siblings, no matter how normal they might be."
Then he chucked, a small genius chuckle before looking away with sad eyes. "There is too much on your plate already, mom. You need time for yourself too. There is no need to worry about me or feel guilty for not spending time with me. I understand all your plates are full." The 'I'm fine,' went unsaid, but it hung in the air. Geo smiled when his mother finally relaxed.
Geo...
Nox called his name and he turned to look at the spirit that was now hugging his leg, looking pained at how genuine his smile was.
You're not fine, so why do you lie?
'Of course I'm fine, why wouldn't I be. My family is happy, so I am happy.' Geo told Nox in his head as they continued their walk. Luckily they made it back in time for Geo to make dinner, unfortunately Lea received a call from her work. "Go ahead mom, dinner will be in the fridge when you get home." She nodded and left.
Simon, the brother that takes after mom, comes in once she is gone. "Hey, G, I was wondering if you could show me a little bit about cooking so I can impress my girlfriend?"
"Sure, though most of what I have learned is from youtube, so I might not be the best teacher." Geo threw him an apron, "If you know her favorite food I can teach you how to make it next time, what is it?"
"Mexican chicken, we got it at one of the restaurants on a date. She has been going on and on about how it always tastes better when it is personally made for someone you care about."
"You really must love her," Geo said as he got stuff out. In the back of his mind he put watching a youtube video on how to make it on his todo list. For now he focused on tonight's dinner, which was a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese. "First we bake the tomatoes with garlic oil and seasoning...set the oven first and wait for it to beep...be careful with that knife, you don't want to cut your hand...Hey don't touch that its hot...now we make the grilled cheese... butter on both slices...melting cheese in the middle...if you don't flip it fast enough it will burn, see...carefuly get the tomatoes out of the oven...thats it, now add everything from the oven pan to the blender...no you don't add grilled cheese into the blinder...yes I know the blender is lowed, no there is no way to turn the sound down...and now we pour the soup into a warm waiting bowl and let it simmer...simmer not boil...and done!"
"How on earth do you find enough time in the afternoon after school to cook? You're like the only one in the entire house that knows how too..." Simon tried to think back to the last time a meal wasn't made by Geo. "If I didn't know better I would say you have been cooking for the family since you were 10, but that's impossible."
Is it?
Simon's spirit asked, but he just shook it off, he was sure mom and dad had cooked, especially during holidays. There was no way Geo cooked all those feast alone, even if he didn't have a hobby, it was just too much for a kid his age to handle alone. Mom had always made time for him and the others, surely she made time to help Geo with dinner too, It was only logical. The smell of food distracted him and he quickly got a bowl and sat at the seat across from Geo. It almost felt weird, how long had it been since any of them had eaten together.
As they ate he watched as sibling after sibling, their dad, and mom returned, but none sat down to eat. They all took their food upstairs to eat in their rooms. Geo looked unfazed by this, though his new spirit seemed to be ripping itself apart in frustration.
"Calm down already Nox, you should be used to it by now." Geo pet the darkness's head, returning it to how it looked before. "Everyone is tired, I understand that they cant come in sit. You act like it is the end of the world, it's not like they are skipping meals." Geo seemed almost...proud of himself...and it struck Simon hard. He had missed lunch three times this week, even with his persistent spirit reminding him. Even when he did have lunch, it was a simple sandwich at most, if not a protein muffin. Simon promised himself that he would start packing real lunches, that way he could practice his cooking skills.