Page 92 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Please, don’t call me that,” Oscar requested in a low voice.

Will chuckled. He took off his shoes and jacket, and a moment later Oscar’s mom appeared in the hallway.

“Welcome, Will,” she said with a warm smile. She looked a lot like Oscar. Petite, blonde, with beautiful green eyes. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hello. Thank you,” Will replied, feeling awkward.

“Come in, come in. I’ll be serving dinner in just a moment.”

They went into the small living room, where a wooden table was the centerpiece. They sat down at it. Will looked around shyly. The house was small, but neat and nicely decorated.

A few minutes later, Oscar’s mom brought them their dinner. Will offered to help, but he wasn’t allowed. Oscar took care of the drinks, and soon the three of them were eating.

“I hope you won’t be disappointed,” Oscar’s mom said. “I’m not the best cook.”

“You’re too modest, Mom,” Oscar stated.

“I agree,” Will backed him up. “It’s really delicious.”

“You’re not a vegetarian, are you?” she asked with concern, because although Will’s plate held a well-done steak, he had so far only touched the cheese-covered broccoli. “I should have asked. It didn’t even cross my mind.”

“It’s fine,” Will said with a smile. While it was true he’d been trying to avoid meat for a while now, he didn’t want to make her feel bad. “I’m not.”

“Thank goodness. In that case, enjoy. If you need anything, just say the word.”

It was a little stiff, which Will had expected, but he was probably the one contributing most to the tense atmosphere. Oscar’s mom was incredibly nice; she didn’t pry, but she guided the conversation in a way that made it easy for him to join in. They talked a bit about school, grades, and plans for the future.

“I’ll be honest with you, Will, I’m so glad you came,” she said at one point. “That Oscar has finally found someone, because the last few years haven’t been easy for us,” she added, glancing at her son with a sad smile. “And that you’re so… normal.”

“Normal?” Will repeated, shocked, because he had definitely gotten out of the habit of thinking about himself that way.

“Well-mannered and pleasant,” she explained cheerfully. “You know how boys your age can be, especially the ones who get the most attention. But I’m not surprised you caught his eye. You’re very handsome.”

“Mom,” Oscar said pointedly.

Will gave a weak smile. He should have been happy about the compliment, but he couldn’t quite accept it. Oscar was the handsome one; Will, at best, could be considered average. That’s why Oscar was totally out of his league.

He remembered Dan’s words and felt a pang of unease.

Fortunately, the conversation quickly moved on, and his good mood eventually returned.

“Oh, Wade,” Oscar’s mom said at one point. Will looked at her, surprised, for a moment thinking she’d mixed up his name, but then he saw she was looking toward the doorway. “I didn’t know you were up. I’ll get you some dinner, okay?”

A young boy had appeared in the room. He had short, black hair and dark eyes. He was short, gaunt, and extremely pale. As he approached the table, Oscar immediately stood up to help his brother sit down.

“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly.

“Good,” Wade replied, then fixed his gaze on their guest. “Who’s that?”

“My boyfriend, Will,” Oscar announced. “I told you about him.”

“Oh. Hi, Will.”

Will gave an uncertain smile.

“Hi, Wade.”

Mrs. Summers brought Wade his dinner.