#summer1996

And after that scene that left me emotionally exhausted as a writer, and then ever more while trying to pose it (what the fuck is wrong with me that I kept looking for poses to make it worse? who does that?), that’s the end of Chapter 12.

It also so happens that writing of chapter 13 has gone so well that it won’t take very long for another update. Two weeks maybe?

Read this update from the start

Read chapter 12 from the start

“Tank, I wanted to say thank you. It shouldn’t have been your job, but I’m glad you were there. He seemed so angry, I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t intervened.”

I do.

“It was nothing. I wasn’t even really aware I was doing it.”

“Just reflex.”

He nodded.

“I don’t know why Beau hid behind me like that,” he confessed. He’d been wondering about it. “He’s much closer to Buck. He could’ve run upstairs too.”

“Beau is an excellent judge of character. He knows you.”

He stared at her in wonder. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a good person, Tank. Beau knew you wouldn’t let someone hurt him. And you didn’t. You weren’t even aware, you said so yourself.”

“I’m not a good person,” he admitted. “I’m mean to Ripp, and to Buck. I’m not nice. I’m not good.”

She rose. “You’re wrong about that. You could stand to be a little kinder to people perhaps, but you are a good person. I think so, and so does Beau. You’re his hero now, you know.”

“But...”

Ripp was torn between picking the seat furthest away from his dad, or leaving that one for Beau, but Buck tugging on his shirt to join him next to Tank solved his problem. Like expected, Beau and Bobby sat down as far away from Buzz as they could, making sure not to look at him.

“We’re having breakfast in a little bit,” Brandi said, “but first, Buzz has something to say.”

Ripp looked surprised at his dad who cleared his throat. The man looked nervous, which was such a strange emotion to see in that face.

“Beau,” Buzz began. “I am very sorry if I-”

A disapproving sound from Brandi interrupted him and he started again “I am very sorry that I hurt you. It was not your fault, it was entirely my own, and I shouldn’t have done that. I was wrong. I apologize.”

Buck’s mouth was open in shock and Ripp exchanged a look with Tank. When had their father ever said he was sorry, to anyone?

“It won’t happen again, I promise. Can you forgive me?”