Be Careful

“Do you know what your father will do to you if he finds out about this?” Shelley demanded.

Bob ducked his head, stared down at his shoes. Carolyn met Shelley’s gaze, then looked away. Shelley saw that Carolyn was looking at John, who loomed in the corner, arms crossed over his chest, wearing a very grim expression.

Finally, Bob lifted his head. “Dad doesn’t get to have a say on - on who we date. Or even if we date.”

“And when the fans ask --”

“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell,” Bob said.

John shook his head. “Don’t bother, Shelley. They’re teenagers - they’re not seeing reason.” His gaze bored into Carolyn, but she kept her head held high. “They’re too young to understand the consequences of their actions.”

Shelley flinched, surprised by the icy fury in John’s tone. He was looking at Carolyn steadily, and something passed between them, something Shelley didn’t understand. She had the feeling that John was talking about something more than the fans finding out that one of the brothers had a girlfriend.

“Did it not occur to you that we are capable of doing a cost-benefit analysis and that we found the odds, despite the risks, weigh in our favor?” Carolyn’s voice was cutting.

John shook his head. “You’re being an idiot and you know it. There are things in this world that are bigger than you two, or have you forgotten who are you? If you think you can take them on you’re more of an arrogant fool than I thought.”

Bob realized something else was going on and cast his step-mother a look. Then he stepped in front of Carolyn. “John, it’s not as bad as you think --”

John didn’t even look at him, hurling his words right at his daughter. “You have no idea what you’re risking. What we’re all risking. What I’m risking. What he is risking.”

Bob flinched. “John --”

“This is about him, Carolyn, not you,” John said, “and you’d better remember that.”

Shelley blinked when John spun on his heel and walked away. Then she turned back to Bob and Carolyn. “Just be careful, okay?”

“Dad hasn’t caught us yet,” Bob said, “and he won’t.”

“I know,” Shelley said. “But be careful.”

Bob caught on the second time and turned bright red. Carolyn was still staring after her foster-father, looking as if she’d just been hit.

(399 words)