One: The Forgotten One

The Forgotten One

One: Elijah

            It’s finally summer break. I exit the high school with a big smile on my face. “Hey Eli, you coming to the water hole tonight?” I look over and see Evert coming up to my side. He is my best friend and sidekick. “If my parents aren’t home, then yeah.” I say as he looks down and nods his head. Evert knows it is a sore subject for me. My parents are rarely home since my sister disappeared on her sixteenth birthday. I rarely get to see them. Then it is all about “how is school, you need to get better grades. Quit being so rude to your nanny and house maid.” Always reprimands instead of them actually being parents. And who the hell needs a nanny at sixteen! Well at least I will be sixteen in exactly seven days.

            “Hey Eli!” I hear Trixie scream as both me and Evert stop and turn our heads. “Sh*t, it’s the she-devil.” Evert says as I laugh. “Come on man, she isn’t that bad.” I say as I glance at him, and he shivers. “Dude, she tried to kiss me in the cafeteria yesterday during lunch.” I smile at him as I turn my head as Trix catches up to us. “Hey Trix, what’s up?” She stops breathing hard as she looks between the two of us. “Party this weekend at my house. Mom and dad are going out and said I could have my friends over for a pool party. You guys in?” I nod my head. “Yeah, but can I bring they guys from Black Claw Pack?” I ask as she looks at me. “The gang, hells yeah. Epic….” I hear someone calling her name. “Oh, gotta go, see ya Eli.” She looks over to Evert. “Bye future mate.” I hear him coughing and spurting as she laughs and runs away. “Dude, sure she isn’t your Fated Mate?” I laugh as he turns bright red.

            “You know you could do a lot worse than Trix.” I say as he looks at me. “I don’t want a girlfriend. I have to much studying to do.” I shake my head as he looks at me. “I could say the same thing about you and your crush. Is she going to be here with the gang this summer?” I feel my face turn bright red as he is looking at me. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I say looking away from him as we start walking towards my house that my mom had built because she got tired of living in a palace and wanted something smaller, a place to call home as she puts it. I don’t know why she wanted it when her and dad are always gone. It’s just me, the housekeeper, and nanny living here. Mom and dad only visit every now and then. Maybe once a month if I’m lucky. They have been gone for six months now.

            “So, when’s the gang supposed to get here?” Evert asks as we take our shoes off at the front door or Miss Tills will chase us with the broom again. Not saying she is mean but dang that broom hurts when she catches us for marking up her shinny wooden floors. “They should be here in the morning.” I say as I hear the booming laughter coming from the kitchen. I drop my bookbag and go running into the kitchen to see my mom pulling something out of the oven as my dad is trying to help but just ends up being in the way. “Mom, dad.” I say hesitantly as both of them freeze. I feel the tears pooling in my eyes as I try to blink them away. It has just been so long since I have seen them little lone heard my dad’s laughter.

            “Elijah.” My dad finally turns and smiles at me. He looks at me as if he hasn’t seen me in forever. I put my head down as he comes closer to me. I stare from under my bangs that hang in front of my eyes. I feel it when my father’s heavy hands land on my shoulders. “Look at me son.” I hear him say as I slowly raise my head and meet his eyes. “D*mn you have grown.” I so want to say that if they have bothered to be home in the last six months, they could have seen it happen. But I will keep my comments to myself. I don’t want to ruin the atmosphere in the house.

            “Alpha King.” I hear my best friend say as my dad looks over to him. I can see the question in his eyes as he looks at my best friend. “Evert, sir.” I hear him say when I look over to my mom and she has the same look of confusion on her face. I sigh out as I look at him. “Maybe you should go home. I’ll catch up with you in the morning when the gang gets here.” I say as he nods his head turning to leave. I wait until I hear the front door close and look at my dad as I shake my head. I leave the room going to pick up my bookbag from the floor and dashing upstairs to my room. I can’t believe that they forgot who my best friend is. I mean really!!!!

***

            “Come in.” I say as I hear the light tap on my bedroom door. I know it could only be my mother as my dad pounds on the door. I look up as I hear the door close. “I’m so sorry.” I hear her whisper, that does nothing but piss me off. I feel so hurt and don’t understand that they just left me. It seems that they have spent twelve years looking for my sister and forgot that they still have a son at home. “Sorry for what Savvy?” I ask looking at her with a blank face. One that I have mastered when the kids at school tease me about my parents not wanting me. That they hate me so much that they would rather stay away than be around me. Yes, I have friends. Yes, I am a prince but also the laughingstock of the whole school. All because I get straight A’s and I don’t know how to fight. I should have started training four years ago, being a prince and all. Kind of hard to do when your own father is never around to train you.

            I see her stunned expression as she stares at me. This just really gets under my skin. “What’s wrong? Don’t like your name or is it because I called you by it?” I see her shoulders raise as she takes a deep breath. I can tell I have pissed her off. “I am your mother, and you will respect me as such.” I cannot control the laughter. I don’t know why I’m acting like this. I understand that they are looking for Trish. That she is a part of our family. I’m just starting to feel anger and resentment at how they just forget about me. Do I mean nothing to them?

            “My mother? Really? Wait, I might be wrong here. Let’s put this to the test, shall we?” I ask as she is now staring at me, hands on her hips as she taps her finger there. She is pissed, well guess what, so am I. “Let’s see. How easy can I make this.” I ask out loud as I tap my finger on my chin. “I know I say looking at her. “What is my favorite color?” I ask as she spits out. “Red.” I shake my head at her. “No.” I say looking at her. “What sport do I play in school?” I ask as her finger is no longer tapping away on her hip. “Soccer.” I feel my eyes start to tear up as I look at her. “No.” I say once more. “What is my favorite food?” I feel a tear roll down my face. This should be the easiest question of all. “Pancakes.” Now here I am at the age of fifteen sixteen in one week, crying like a little girl.

            “You want to know what is horrible?” I ask her as now she just looks at me defeated as I cry. She tries to come closer to me, but I hold out my hand to keep her away from me as I shake my head “no” to her. “When your own mother doesn’t even know what your favorite food is. Everything you have answered is Trish’s favorites not mine. But you claim to be my mother and demand respect from me. I’m just a nobody to you. I’m just the forgotten one.” I say as I see the tears rolling down her face. “THAT’S ENOUGH!” I hear my father’s roar.