Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:21:13 -0400 From: Lilli Nell Subject: Mr. Matthews - Chapter 5 BMW is owned and copyrighted by Michael Jacobs Productions and Touchstone Television. Awkward was the only word that came to mind. Alan Matthews stood in his son's apartment feeling like a hypocrite. He had come to retrieve the store keys from Jack after their tryst had been interrupted the night before. His eldest son was banged up a little from the accident but was otherwise okay. Jack had managed to slip him the keys before Eric made it down the hall to the living room. "How are you feeling son?" Alan asked. "Like grandpa Matthews on a good day," Eric winced easing onto the couch. Jack gave a faint smile finding it hard to face the man he had been making out with just hours ago. "You should take it easy like the doctor said. Rest for a day or two. You don't have any exams coming up do you?" "No dad and I can keep up with what I miss by going over the syllabus. A day or two and I'll be good as new." Alan clapped his son on the shoulder lightly. "Your mother and I will probably stop by later after we check on Corey." Eric nodded and slowly stretched out on the sofa. "Jack, why don't you walk me out," Alan suggested. Jack hesitated for just a second and followed the older man towards the door. "Don't go anywhere," he joked as he pulled the door behind him. Once in the hall Alan pulled the teen to him. "I'm so sorry about last night." "Which part," Jack asked flatly, pulling away from the older man. "Jack...look... maybe you could stop by the store this evening before closing. We can talk?" "I don't think that's such a good idea. Look, last night was like an omen. Maybe we should just cool it. Forget the whole thing ever happened." Alan tried to hide his disappointment at Jack's change of heart. It hurt even more because deep down, he had been thinking the same thing. He could never have forgiven himself if he had been out cheating on his wife while his children were lying hurt or worst in a hospital. "Is that what you really want?" Alan watched a myriad of expressions travel across the young man's face as he struggled for an answer. In the end Jack just nodded and proceeded to head back inside. "Jack...if you change your mind, I'll be at the store late." Alan stabbed at the elevator button as he heard the sound of the door shutting firmly. He rode down the elevator and walked out of the building to his car feeling crushed. He was thankful that today would be busy and with Eric not able to work, he would have more than enough to do to keep his mind occupied. Jack entered the apartment to find his friend dozing off. He sat at the edge of the couch watching him nod. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "So what'd you two talk about?" The voice startled Jack. "I thought you were asleep." "No. Just drifting in and out. It's the Tylenol 3 the doc gave me." "Why don't you go back to bed? I'll bring you breakfast." "That would mean standing and walking. Does the offer stand if I stay right here?" "Of course," Jack laughed. "Let me check on Shawn and see how he's feeling. You guys were lucky. It could have been worst." Jack walked down the hall and peeped in the room that he shared with his half-brother. He was still sound asleep. He moved towards the kitchen and gathered everything he needed to make bacon, eggs and toast. He decided he'd wake Shawn when he was through and get him to eat something as well. "You didn't answer my question," Eric said groggily from the couch. "What question?" Jack asked. "What did you and my dad talk about?" Jack opened the fridge to fish out a container of orange juice and to keep Eric from seeing how flushed he was at the mention of the senior Matthews. "Just about keeping you in this weekend." "I thought so. Listen if you have plans, you don't have to play nursemaid to me and Shawn. We're big boys now. We can take care of ourselves." "Speak for your self." Shawn stood in the doorway leading back towards the bedrooms. "Hey you're up," Jack exclaimed. "Barely, move over Eric. Stop hogging the couch." Shawn lifted Eric's feet and sat, placing them back in his lap. "So where were you last night? I called to tell you what happened and there was no answer" Shawn asked. Jack nearly spilt the juice he was pouring. "Oh...I um got bored and decided to go to the video store to rent a flick." Shawn hadn't known his half-brother very long, but he did know him well enough to know when he was lying. His reluctance to look him in the eye was a dead give away. "Mmm hmm. So what did you rent?" "Nothing. I couldn't find anything I wanted so I grabbed a slice of pizza and came back home." Jack glanced up at Shawn nervously but quickly looked away when he saw his younger brother eyeing him with suspicion. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," he muttered, feeling guiltier by the minute. "It's not a big deal. I just knew you had stayed home last night and wondered..." "Breakfast is ready," Jack announced, cutting his brother off in the process. He brought two TV tables over to where they sat and then brought over the plates. He hoped the conversation would focus on anything but his whereabouts last night. The rest of the day was uneventful, outside of Shawn and Eric taking full advantage of Jack's good nature and having him wait on them hand and foot. Jack didn't mind. He still felt guilty about last night and would have done anything to make it up to them. Jack knew that Mr. and Mrs. Matthews would stop by later in the evening to check on them, so he planned on making himself scarce by hanging out in the student union building until closing and maybe taking in a late movie. Seeing Alan this morning had been awkward enough. He did not intend on complicating the matter further by adding Alan's wife into the mix.