Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Part Two

Posted on 31 May 2024 @ 4:30am by Lieutenant JG Serran
Edited on 31 May 2024 @ 3:49pm

1,602 words; about a 8 minute read

(Eleven years ago)

Previously in Part One

T’janikrel jumped as the door opened and she found the boys standing there. She hadn't realized anyone was home. She held her hand over her eyes for a long moment before stepping out, a towel wrapped around her, her clothes bundled up in hand. The bundled-up outfit wasn't one of her usual dresses, but something fancier, black, and short. "Hi Anjar, hi Ser," she said in a monotone, oblivious or uncaring about their state of undress. She walked past the boys stiffly, like someone had run her over with a car. "How was your thing in Canada?" she asked when she was halfway down the hallway to her room.

Anjar was worried for a moment that she had been attacked again, but there were no cuts or bruises. "We came in ninth place," Anjar reported proudly.

Thoughts of making out with Anjar left Serran instantly and he followed her down the hallway, “T’janikrel are you okay?” he asked, “I mean really, you better not be BSing me okay?”

Previously in part one

Now, the continuation

I'm for reals okay. Nothing's wrong that won't feel better after some rest," she assured her brother. "Didn't think you would be home today. Mother texted. Our parents trip was extended another day so we have the house to ourselves, or rather you and Anjar can have the run of it. I'll leave you two to gross up the bathroom your darling sister has to clean in the morning while cursing your names and houses. I'm going to go curl up in a ball and die for a little bit."

Serran relieved, knew better than to try to push. He went back to the bathroom where Anjar was waiting and they closed the door behind them. They did gross-up the bathroom just as T'Janikel had predicted, but afterward, they cleaned it up themselves, at least as well as teenage boys could do and they did actually manage to get themselves cleaned up in the process.

Afterward, they went downstairs. “What do you want on your half?” Serran asked as they stood in front of the replicator.

"Jalapenos, pineapple, and olives. And some water to go with it," Anjar said. He was prone to going off the beaten path when it came to pizza toppings. It wasn't clear if that was due to his Bajoran heritage or was just Anjar. His mind dwelled on a lot of things, their recent time together, how hungry he was, recapping the day's debate, thinking about the future. That was much too painful an option so he settled on directing their attention to someone else's problem. "You don't think someone attacked her again, do you?" After the attack on the track field two years ago there had been only one other incident with Penny and company, which resulted in a broken arm and a broken nose....for Penny.

Serran substituted pepperoni for olives on his half; otherwise, both sides looked the same. “I don’t know. She says she’s just fine, but I don’t like that look in her eyes.” The pizza appeared, perfectly cooked just as it usually did. “Why don’t you start eating? I’m going to go check on her just to make sure.”

He replicated a glass of lemonade. “I’ll be right back, “ he said. He set the pizza on the table and climbed the stairs. He listened quietly at the door and then knocked on it. “I’ve got lemonade,” he said.

Before he knocked, Serran heard shuffling inside and a groan of pain. When he knocked she shouted through the door. "I'm naked! You can leave your offering by the door and go!"

“T'Janikel sister of mine, don’t you think you can hide something from your big brother, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what the Hell is going on.”

"Wow, Mother, I thought you weren't supposed to get back until tomorrow," T'Janikel shot back dryly. "I'm fine, I promised no BS. I'll pinky swear to it if you make me."

“Fine,” he said in a huff, “if you’re going to insult me and call me mother, I’ll just leave.” He sat the glass down and made his way downstairs.

“She’s okay,” he said, “at least I think so. Something is going on, but she isn’t saying what.” He eased into the kitchen, his hand lazily scratching his chest. “You left some pizza for me right?”

“Of course.” Anjar smiled up at him as Serran sat down beside him. The Bajoran only had a piece while Serran’s was gone. He passed a slice of pepperoni over to his boyfriend. “That attitude and temper of hers aren’t going to get her very far at the academy. And you can’t be there to solve every problem for her.”

“I know, I can't, it's a big station,” he said taking the piece of pizza from the Bajoran. After eating half the slice in two bites he said, “But there is a certain someone who could go with me. You know help me keep an eye on her.”

Anjar sighed and pinched the bridge of his wrinkled nose. "Or you can stay here and let her stand on her own for once. According to you, you got through to your parents, they've been understanding, and are going to stay out of your way. There's no reason you have to go light-years away to attend the academy when you could attend here," he placed a hand on top of Serran's, looking at him pleadingly, "with me."

“I have thought about that, a lot. I really have. You have no idea how much I’ve gone back and forth with this,” Serran replied as he took hold of Anjar’s hand that rested on top of his. “You’re my boyfriend, and it’s not because you’re the hottest guy in school, though you are the hottest guy in school. You’re my boyfriend because you’re so much more than that. You’re smart, you’re funny, you’re going to make a hell of a diplomat someday, you’re everything I’ve ever hoped for in another person.”

“But you don’t understand. I can’t stay. Yeah, T'Janikel is going to need to stand on her own two feet. I get that. But that’s not why I’m going. Not really. And I know that we supposedly got through to them, but nothing is ever one hundred percent with them.I mean, we’ve been going together for almost three years and it was only a couple of months ago, that mom quit reminding me to make sure we used protection. If she thought we weren’t, it would be lecture time all over again. But that’s not the real reason either.”

“Don’t you get it? Whether or not they actually interfere or not other kids are going to think they did. As long as I’m here in San Francisco, so close to them and their influence, everyone is going to think that they’re pulling strings, that they’re the only reason I’m successful. I don’t see why you can’t go to the Academy at Obsidian Command. With me.”

"Just because I'm not willing to leave everything behind, to leave my family behind, doesn't put me in the wrong here. What does it matter what people think as long as you know the truth?” Anjar argued, raising his voice. "No matter where you go, people are going to recognize the name Forrest and they're going to judge you, good or bad, for it. You're trying to run from something that you can't escape. All going to that space station will do for you is take you away from me."

Serran’s brow furrowed in exasperation. “I know people are going to recognize the name. I’m not stupid. But it’s not just about what other people will think. That’s what I will think. Being here, so close to home, under their wing I’m always going to wonder whose achievement it really is. Mine or theirs. I, uh, I need to be out there, where I don’t have a safety net if things get tough. I want to know I’m doing it on my own.”

“And, I’m not saying you’re in the wrong babe, but my wanting to go there doesn’t make me in the wrong either. I just want us to be together. Please come with me, we can be a family together. You and me. I’ve even thought about asking you to….” his voice trailed off. “I want us to be together.”

Anjar recoiled, glad that Serran hadn't said what he had thought about. Anjar had too and knew deep down it would happen, what had to happen instead. The Bajoran boy stood up, pacing around the table. "I do, too. But you have to go, and I have to stay. My family needs me, the best political programs are here, not out there. If I went with you....it would be to be with you, not for me, and the same is true here. We can keep having the same argument round and around." He took a deep breath, knowing what he had to do, but wondering if he could. "We need to put our career goals, and our needs separate from one another first. I think we have to break up."

TBC

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