sweet sin (the devil all the time)

4. family dinners

"Do you ever think about how we ended up as orphans living in the same house?" Leonora asked arvin squinting against the sun looking up at him

"No" arvin answered "besides you might not even be an orphan, as far as everyone around here is concerned your daddys probably still out there, fuck he might even come over that hill dancing a jig any day now" arvin stuffed his hands in his pockets

"Lord i hope so" she smiled "i pray everyday that he will"

"Really?" Arvin asked her "even if he did somethin'?"

"Ive already forgiven him" leonora looked back down at the bible in her lap "we could start over wouldnt that be somethin" she said in a hopeful tone

I smiled "happy people annoy me" i said sarcastically plucking a blade of grass

"Well your just going to have to deal with it" leonora smiled back sticking out her tongue

leonora read the bible quietly for a few minutes "Ready to go?" She asked looking up at arvin then to me

"Yeah" arvin nodded turning around starting to walk toward the car

arvin hadnt even looked in my direction, i hated feeling guilty because of my father i felt guilty because of him alot more then most people would think

---

"What if she doesn't like me? Maybe i shouldve brought something to apologize" i said putting my hands on the front seat as we pulled up to leonora and arvins house

"She liked you sony calm down" leonora said opening her car door

I opened mine and stepped out nervously "shes going to hate me" i rubbed my face

Arvin opened the front door going inside "how was school today?" She called from the kitchen

"Good, grandma you remember slone" leonora lead me into the kitchen "slone this is my uncle earskell"

I smiled at the man sitting at the kitchen table beside arvin, he nodded back

"Leonora can you help me grab the laundry from the line" emma wiped her hands off on the tea towel

"Ill be back" leonora followed her grandmothers lead, Earskell stood up walking out of the room too

My thoughts wandered back to gene "what happened to your knuckles?" I asked arvin seeing them slightly bruised

"Stupid fight" he shurgged

"Whats punching someone like?" I asked tilting my head

"Like your punching someone, i definitely wouldnt reccomend it" he said sarcastically rubbing his knuckles "have you never been in a fight?"

"No i do the plotting and hiding of the bodies, i leave the fighting to other people" i said sarcastically watching him light a cigarette "i kindve wanted to punch gene in the face" i confessed making a fist

"Thumb goes on the outside" he blew smoke out

"Like this?" I asked untucking my thumb, he nodded, i made the motion hitting the air infront of me, he scoffed, "I- never mind it was stupid" i felt embarrassed

"Its stupid to want to know how to defend yourself?" He asked sarcastically

I scoffed "well dont word it like then yes yes it is" i said sarcastically

He looked from me to the chair across from him, i took a seat across from him, "use here" he ran his thumb over my knuckles, i nodded focusing

"And-" he was cut off by his grandmother coming into the room

"I hope your being polite to my friend" leonora said teasingly coming to sit beside me

---

I wished family dinners were like this more often, everyone laughing, having a genuine good time

"Arvin please drive sony home, its gotten dark" emma said from the kitchen

"Yes grandma" arvin slid his chair out and pulled his keys from his jacket pocket that hung on his chair

I stacked plates ontop of mine "thank you for dinner emma it was amazing" i smiled placing the dishes on the counter

"You are welcome anytime honey, i hope youll come back soon" emma hugged me "get home safe" she smiled

I followed arvin out of the house "so any hobbies?" I asked getting in ghe front seat

He shook his head "you?"

"You know the usual, shopping, dancing, oh i also run an illegal drug ring every Saturday" i said sarcastically

He started driving leaning back in his seat "are you mad at me because of my dad?" I asked staring straight ahead

"No, which way?" I pointed to the right

"You seem angry" i looked at him

"Not angry"

"Then whats the problem?" I crossed my arms

He sighed "your not going to give up on this huh?"

I shook my head

---

"You can stop here, my dad will flip if he sees me in a car with you" i put my bag on my shoulder

He narrowed his eyes toward my house which was a bit of a walk away "ill walk you half way" he opened his door stepping out

We walked in silence for a bit, "can i ask you something?"

"Shoot" arvin said putting his hands in the pockets of his jean jacket

"Where do you stand on the whole God thing? Dont answer if you dont want too no pressure"

"I was raised with it, i guess i just out grew it, plus i think leonora does enough prayin' for the both of us, what about you?" He asked

I shrugged "i guess i out grew it too" i nodded in agreement "think theres enough for one more person in the leftover praying?"

He scoffed "Im sure leonora can make sure there is"

I yawned as we got to the halfway mark "see you tomorrow"

He nodded, i started walking and glanced back to see him still standing there making sure i got inside

"Slone how was your friends house?" Anna asked from the kitchen

"Good ma'am" i slipped off my flats

"You can stay and talk a while" anna joked

"Homework" i mumbled walking up the steps pulling my books out of my bag opening my door

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Sorry for the shorter chapter, i hope your enjoying the book so far!