Asher Snippet

 “You’re too close to this girl.”

            Asher rolled his eyes. He hadn’t seen his dad in months and now here he was trying to act like his father again.

            “Ya know,” Asher replied with a smirk. “You haven’t used that tone on me since I was a kid.”

            “You still are a kid,” his father said sternly. “Stop slouching, we’re in public.”

            Asher pushed himself up so he sat straighter in the restaurant booth. He put his elbow on the table and set his chin on his hand. He continued to smirk back at his father, knowing very well how many buttons he was pushing.

            “So tell me, pops. You just schedule this dinner date to tell me what I can and cannot do? Why can’t we ever have a regular meeting?”

            “This is an important thing to talk about, Asher.” He nodded at a waiter as they switched out his water with a fresh one. “When she was just an acquaintance of yours, a school friend that was different. But now you want to date her?”

            “I like her, dad!”

            “If she finds out what you are, then what?”

            Asher sighed deeply. “She won’t find out.”

            “No? And how easy has it been to contain your… special condition lately?”

            Asher looked away. All of a sudden he found the pictures and knick-knacks on the wall very interesting. It looked like the state of Oregon had thrown up all over it. Unique and colorful history was horrendously displayed all over the place. It was supposed to look good. But it made his head hurt. He’d never been over to Portland, and if it looked anything like this, he never wanted to go.

            “That’s what I thought,” Asher’s father said quietly.

            “I’ve made it a whole year at this school, dad.” Asher looked back over at his father’s face. “Don’t make me go to another one.”

            “You’re not giving me much of a choice here!” His father’s hand hit against the table, making their forks clang against their plates. “This is dangerous, Asher!” He brought his voice down to an angry whisper. “The more people who know your secret, the harder it gets for you to control it!”

            “I know. You’ve told me a billion times-“  

            “Then why isn’t it sticking in that head of yours? I know you’re a really smart kid. Why can’t you listen to me? Listen to reason.”

            Asher pushed at the table and stood up. His dad didn’t understand. He couldn’t possibly understand. His dad was a regular human, with regular problems. Oh, what Asher would give to be in his place instead…

            “I’m going back to school.”

            “Asher!” His dad stood as well and followed after him. He made it as far as the vestibule, before his dad grabbed a hold of his arm. “Get back in here and talk to me!”

            “I told you, I’m going back to school.”

            “In this rain?” His father’s anger faded for a moment. He looked back at Asher with worry and compassion, an expression Asher rarely saw anymore. “Come on. If we finish dinner, than I can drive you back to your dorm.”

            Asher almost agreed. His father talked gently to him like a dad should to a child, not like his usual tone. But when Asher shook his head and tried tugging away, his kind father was gone. A harshness returned to his eyes and he became the master again. A master, to his monster pet of a son.

            Smack!

Asher’s vision went fuzzy. His cheek stung. He almost lost his balance when his dad let go of his arm.

            Without another word, his father left him, and went back into the restaurant. Asher sighed and rubbed at his cheek. “Nice talk, dad.”

Asher lowered his head, pushed open the door, and walked out into the chilly downpour.