The Vampire's Apprentice

He shifted and fidgetted before reluctantly answering, "Because we had a big fight right before... all that... and I said stuff... and then he took the car. He never touches the car! He can't drive, and he's scared of driving. He doesn't even like riding in a car, so why would he do that?"
 
"That doesn't make it your fault." Well, no, it kinda does—but Kitty kept her thoughts to herself. "And even if it did, there's no reason to regret it. What's done is done; the choice now is whether you want to make up for it."
 
"There's no making up for some things," EJ said flatly. "There's just... living, I guess. I don't know. I don't even know if he's-" He stopped suddenly and swallowed hard.
 
"You're right." There is no making up for some things. "EJ, don't understand what you're going through, and I won't pretend like I get it, but I'm willing to help, or listen if that's all it takes. I can see you care for him, and actions speak louder than words, even if they don't always make up for things."
 
"What are you, my therapist?" EJ growled softly and rubbed the back of his neck. He fidgetted a minute longer. "He just... he didn't do something... and I hated him for it... but I think... I think he's been punishing himself... and I've been punishing him..."
 
She nodded softly. Kitty decided she didn't have to say anything this time, folding the cover of the book over her thumb to listen.
 
Kitty stood, moving to lean on the wall beside the window. "That's life for ya. Stupid as the day it started."
 
He was already moving to the door and opened it as his mother was paying the cabbie.

Her lips were pressed thin, a line of worry etched in her brow, and her eyes red with worry, but she softened a little when she saw her son waiting for her. "Hey. He's going to be okay, just needs to stay in for another day or two for observation," Mrs. Mooney told EJ. "They're a little worried about his head, but luckily, he has a thick skull."
EJ breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Good. That's good."
She pulled him into a quick hug and kissed his head even though he stood just as tall as she did. "Go on home. I'll be there in just a minute."
He nodded then waved to Kitty before heading off.
 
Kitty waved back, hopping off the steps and walking over to the Mrs.. "You doing alright?" She asked. "Norville OK?"
 
Mrs. Mooney sighed and rubbed a hand over her forehead. "He suffered a pretty nasty crash, and he wasn't wearing his seatbelt. The doctors say if he hadn't been so loose from weed, he'd be dead. As it is, he has a cracked neck vertebra, a fractured leg and arm, and he has some nasty gashes from broken glass, but unless something goes wrong... he'll be home day after tomorrow. They're watching to make certain he doesn't go septic and that nasty bump on his head isn't anything worse."
 
"No, no, thank you. You have done more than enough. Thank you for putting up the kids for the night." Mrs. Mooney opened her purse and started fumbling for some bills to pay Kitty.
 
Kitty stopped her. "I don't need that. If there's anything I can help with, don't be afraid to ask. As long as you're alright, that's enough." She gave a gentle smile.
 
"Thank you," Mrs. Mooney said, suddenly blinking very fast. "I'm... I'm fine for now. I just came back to check on EJ and make sure the twins got to school on time. I'm going to go back to the hospital with EJ once I get a few things."
 
Give it a couple hundred years and she might just be as good at this as he was.
"I can pick up the twins if you won't be back for a while." She offered.
 
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