What Does not Kill you....

2

The room was dead silent. Nick spoke up first. “A kid? Mom, what are you talking about?”

Of course, the three would be confused by what she said. How else do you drop on your family that you are inviting a 17-year-old young man into their home? With a 17-year-old daughter, none the less? This was their Mom's job to explain. "Yes, I know you are thinking, your Mom and Dad are messing with you, but seriously at 5 pm tomorrow, Maverick Jennings will be arriving. Everyone is to be here. Leave practice early if you must, but you will be here. I will come to get you if I have to!" Probably not the best way to start this conversation with her kids, but she was determined to have them meet Maverick and see the kind and honest young man he was. She thinks back to their meetings over the last few months. Here was this amazing young man that had fallen through the cracks having lost his parents. The time they had together was always special. She thought back to the day when in her mind she made up her mind about him. Maverick spoke of a friend he was concerned about. “He did something stupid and now he had to go away.” The three of them spoke for over on hour about how Maverick was handling the situation and how he was doing. After finding out how involved. After finding out how involved he was she knew her three children needed someone like this in their life.

This was not going over very well with her eldest son, who was ready to get up and walk as she spoke. She knew if she got Nick on side even in the slightest, this might have a shot of going off with out a hitch. Her oldest son has become very rebellious in the last year. To think she is not aware that even parents at one point were teenagers, her son will have to be adult himself to figure that out.

“Mom, I don't understand. We are adopting a baby?" Taylor says, looking excited. “No! No! He’s 17. Your age.” Mom shuts her down.

“What?” Taylor exclaims.

“Okay, I think what you mom is trying to explain is this." Dad starts. "Maverick is a young man, your Mom, and I met while visiting at the youth center we go to each Saturday. For the last few months, we mostly went to visit him because for some reason he just felt like he belonged here. A time came when we were asked to foster him. Your Mom and I agreed. The paperwork come through earlier this week."

“You didn't ask our opinions," Nick asks angrily.

“No, Nick, because this guy will fit well here. I just know it. Don’t ask me how I know. I just do.” Their mom says quietly.

“Dad, he's a guy," Taylor says. Her mind went immediately to the movies and TV shows she has seen about teenage delinquents. There was no helping it. She had to voice her concerns.

“Yes, he knows all about you. He knows any hint of problems, and he's back to the youth center. What is most important is this guy is a good person. I hope you start to see him as part of the family. Not as a stranger."

Taylor’s brain seems to be churning. “Okay, what’s his story?”

“To be fair to him. I will let Maverick tell you all when he wants you to know. Just know he’s been in the system for a long time.” Dad tells them.

With that, news of Maverick Jennings entering their lives was announced. Nick walks off, pissed, and Taylor walks away, cautiously optimistic after knowing this guy was aware of her and has been warned.

This left Blake, who said nothing. Mostly he was stunned. His first fear was this guy would buddy up with Nick and cause havoc. Another fear, was what does he have to offer a guy like this? He was just a geeky guy that likes to play video games, and Nick and Taylor at least are the jocks at school that can get him in with the right people. Does he truly have anything left to give after he invests so much keeping Patrick from self-destructing?

Blake feels his Mom’s hands on his shoulders. “Tell me what you are thinking, Blake?”

“Scared.”

“Scared? Why?" His Mom asks.

“Because I know what will happen. This Maverick will buddy up with Nick and then lived in this house will become even more unbearable." Blake sighs.

“Nick never seems to be home anymore, Blake. How can he make life so hard?”

“Because of who he is. I have to live up to him." Blake sighs. "Trust me, between the two of us, why would this Maverick ever choose me over a guy like Nick?"

“Because you are a very caring and a good soul. I know Maverick remember, and you don't." "Mom, you make it sound as if we are being set up. That's not what I mean. I mean, Nick has the power at school to make or break Maverick. He knows all the right people. I know no one."

“As if Nick as that kind of power.” Mom scuffs.

"Ask Taylor if you don't believe me," Blake says.

"Taylor would -" Mom stops. This was not a conversation for her son but for her daughter. She pats Blake's leg and gets up. Was bringing Maverick here really a good idea after all?

Blake was in his room, not thirty minutes later. He heard Nick quickly exit out to god knows where. Taylor was in her room, working on homework. He decides to call Patrick and feel him in on all this craziness going on.

The phone rang twice, and Patrick picked up. "Hey. What happened this spaghetti dinner night?" He asks.

"We are getting a new brother," Blake tells Patrick like he was told.

"What?" Patrick says, almost stunned.

"I know, right? My folks have lost their minds and decided to foster this guy from the youth center. He's like seventeen and needs mentoring or something, I guess."

“Your sister-”

"That has been covered, we are told," Blake says.

"Huh, wild. So what do you think?" Patrick asks, intrigued.

"No idea. I know for me it's bad if he and Nick get along because well, you know I don't trust Nick."

“True, but Dylan is Nick’s best friend and if this guy starts hanging around Dylan. Dylan will start telling me all about it. I will know what’s what.”

“This is true, as well. As long as you don’t start shutting me out.” Blake states.

“You know that is never my intention. It just happens.” Patrick says.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s not get into that tonight. With all the stress this night caused, I am about ready to hit the bed.” Blake tells his friend. “Tomorrow is going to be a big day.”

"Sounds like it. Text me tonight. If you need to vent, okay? Sleep well." The two hang up. For tonight Blake did not think any more about what could be.

Taylor could not sleep. She was concerned about her brother. Nick showed up most nights before it gets too late, and the two have new things to discuss. She listens for the creaking of the front door as if anyone would not realize he's sneaking in late. This evening it was almost gone already, but he was not home yet. He appeared very thrown by the fact that Maverick was coming into their lives. She was going to try to let him know if she is okay with it all he should be. Taylor had a lot more reason to be stressed over all this than him. The only possible reason he would not be okay with this would this guy knows the drug scene and can spot if Nick was using and call him out. He could tell their parents what’s what!

Not fifteen minutes later, there was the creaking at the front door. She hears the door shut and soft footsteps on the stairs. Taylor gets up and goes to the hall. She sees Nick looking strung out. She waves him into her room. He follows.

“You okay?” She asks him, his eyes stained blood red.

The den in the back part of the upstairs sat outside of Taylor's room. Nick crashes down on the love seat, and his sister sits across from him. Even though the love seat is small and only half of Nick's frame would fit on it, but there is a strong likelihood that this is where he would sleep the next few hours remaining until morning. "What were Mom and Dad thinking?" Nick says.

“I am sure they thought things through. They have spent many weekends with him. If there was a problem with him, he would not be coming here.”

"Maybe so. Just throwing that on us like that. He is probably some dork like Blake, and I will just not be able to stomach him." Nick says without thinking.

"Nick, where have you been tonight? You can't keep these late hours and try to play football.." Taylor says. "You sound like my mom, Sis," Nick says. "I am okay. Hey, before we heard the news, Blake and I put a smile on my face. He got some lip on him, but it was alright."

“I am glad. He’s not all that bad. He just like you and me. He’s into tech stuff and all. You know as well as I we have to go into him for any of that stuff.” Taylor smiles.

"Very true. Got to sleep, Sis. I am at home." Nick curls up and would be asleep shortly. Taylor stands up and goes to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day.

Blake comes right home from school with Taylor. She did not go to her practice. Nick told her he promises to be home by 5 pm. His practice seldom runs long on Thursday. Arriving at home, both their Mom and Dad were already there, or least their cars were. The two get out and go inside. Blake puts his things away. Taylor went to the kitchen to ask their Mom what she could do and to pass on Nick's message. It was an hour and 41 minutes and counting to five pm.

Mom didn't have anything for either of them to do. She brought them both to sit down in the family room. "You both have had time to think about this. What are your thoughts?"

“Mom, I am fine. You wouldn’t bring him here if you didn’t trust him.” Taylor stuck to what she said last night.

Blake thought it was obvious he was nervous, reflects on their talk driving home. “Blake, you ready for today?” Taylor asks him as she pulls away from the school.

"Not at all," Blake says.

“What? Why?” She asks.

"You know as well as I do that if this guy hits it off with Nick life will be hell at home. So yes, I am nervous because I am not looking forward to having to watch my back. I heard the two of you talking around 1:30 last night. Not sure about what, but if Nick accepts this guy, he will have no problems at school. This is just the facts."

"Very true. I am hoping for all our sakes that these two like each other and hit it off. I don't understand how all this will be harder on you. Nick pretty much stays out of your way anyway."

“Another person to ignore me at home. I am not naive to the facts Nick would love for me not to be around most days.” Blake says with a sigh.

“Your focus is always on your best friend, Patrick. Nick told me last night something you said to him made him laugh a little. He was happy about that. Nick just has no clue how to relate to you, Babe. I think if you showed him a little of the concern you show Patrick..."

"He will just throw it back in my face. We both know that." There was little convincing Blake today, and Taylor could not argue against his logic.

Hearing Blake now voice his concerns to Mom, Taylor was not surprised. Mom's reply was to worry about Maverick. He will surprise them. Maverick could see past people's flaws and see them for what they were. For this reason, their parents felt he had something special to offer this family. Maybe it was something that might just be needed. Both were not sure about that but promised to give this new arrival the benefit of the doubt.

For the next hour, time ticks slowly. The arrival of Maverick begins to make Taylor a bit nervous. What will he be like? Will he be handsome like her brother? Have a rebellious streak to him? Or will seem more mellow like Blake? Neither would be a bad thing. For her, she will see him as a new member of their family as their father had asked.

Blake and Patrick have been texting back and forth as they wait. Patrick seemed to be in a mood today. Whatever was his deal, he just was not going to talk about it today. He had no idea what might be causing this. It is always frustrating when Patrick suddenly starts acting quietly. Nothing can be done about it today.

Nick walks through the door with 15 minutes to spare. Which was a surprise to them all? Between them, none of the family thought he would be here today. Yet again, Nick is full of surprises. With his arrival he announces, he is going to take a 5-minute shower before this Maverick arrives.

The house held this weird silence over it as the minutes slowly counted down. Within minutes a new member of their family would be joining them. Nothing would be the same as it was. At this moment, would it be a good or bad thing, none of them could tell.

Right at 5 pm, Nick comes down the stairs showered. "He here yet?"

There was a shake of heads

The seconds ticked by as they waited for the knock on the door to say he was here.

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

Time slowly goes by. Finally, there appears to be the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway. It seems the mysterious Maverick Jennings has arrived.