Scott sighed, sitting down at an empty table at the cafe where he'd agreed to meet his Dad.

It was a nice little place called Piggy Back. Very comfortable, with quaint little cakes in quaint little displays near the quaint little windows. It had been here for years and years. Scott could remember coming here after school with his friends during primary school, and before that he could vaguely remember coming here with his Mom, when he was still so small he couldn't see over the counter.

His back pocket buzzed and he was shaken out of his thoughts. He pulled out his phone and smiled when he saw who it was.

Oliver: holaaaa, Scotty!! sorry, haven't be..

The rest of the message was cut off, so Scott swiped his lock-screen and opened his messages. The smile on his face faded slightly as he scanned over the words on the screen.

...en in contact much. its been long week for me here. i lost my job so im trying hard to find a new one, but nobody really wants to take me?? lot of the bastardos ask for ID and... well. im living off my savings but its really not that much and none of my friends want too contribute. had to sell some stuff so now ive got like... $200. so... no more living like a príncipe and partying every night, right? ;) how about you?

Scott couldn't help but instantly feel worried for Oliver. He was trying to live off $200?! That was how much Scott spent just in water bills! How had Scott never known this?!

Scott: Are you serious?! Oliver, that's awful! You live over north side of town, right? I'm at Piggy Back at the moment. You should come here, okay? I can lend you as much as you need until you get back on your feet, okay?

Oliver: ahh muchas gracias, Scott but youre to kind for your own good. id never pay you back for it, especially if something happened and i went back to mexico.

Scott: Don't be ridiculous, Oliver. Come on, even I only give you $500, that's enough, and you don't even have to pay me back.

There was silence for a long time before Oliver replied.

Oliver: this is why i didnt want to tell you anything, Scott. thank you. very much. but i dont need your charity. enough people have gotten hurt trying to help me.

Scott frowned. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Scott was just trying to help him out. Did Oliver not want to take money from him, or something?

Oliver seemed to sense something in the silence. He wrote again.

Oliver: ah, sorry, Scott. im not in the best of moods today. i really need some stress relief, you know? doesnt matter. sorry for putting up with my mal humor - my bad mood.

Scott read his message and relaxed a little. That made sense, he guessed. He sighed, upset he couldn't do anything to help his friend.

An idea formed in his mind. This might end up disastrous, but... Vincent would understand.

Scott: I have an idea. Tonight, Vincent and I were going clubbing. Seeing as you won't let me help you out, why don't you at least let me pay for you to come with us? It's only like $15, it's the least I can do.

He sent it and then paused, adding a last minute:

Scott: Also I'll be super offended if you say no.

Oliver's reply came almost instantly.

Oliver: Jajaja! i wouldnt want to offend you, mi amor~ alright, ill come with you tonight. happy?

Scott: Muy bien. Come to my place at eight, alright? 136 Emmerson Road.

Oliver: see you then, querido.

Scott put his phone back into his pocket - and perfect timing, too, because at that moment Andrew walked in to the cafe.

Scott stood up, smiling, and walked over to him, "Hey, Dad!"

"Hey, Scotter," Andrew smiled back at him, hugging him quickly. "How's it going?"

"Great!" Scott beamed at him, "I got us a table over here." He gestured to the table before walking over and sitting down.

His Dad sat opposite him, "Good, good. I'm glad everything's going well. How's... um, how's..." Andrew suddenly looked awkward, as if the word he was looking for was right on the tip of his tongue. "Your partner?"

Scott gave him a look, "You know, you really should remember my boyfriend's name, Dad. It's Vincent."

"Vincent, right. Right," Andrew grinned at him. "Sorry. How's Vincent doing?"

"He's doing fine, as usual. Texts me every morning without fail. Texts me every night without fail. You'd think we never see each other," Scott laughed.

"Oh? That's good. I did the same with your Mom, you know... just with calling, not texting," Andrew smiled. "She never ever called me back. Of course, then I realised I'd been calling the wrong number for over six months."

"No way," Scott laughed again, "That's great!"

"Hm, not for the person who thought I was stalking them for half a year," Andrew said. "You know what you're going to get to eat?"

"Well, I'm going out with Vin and my friend Ollie after this, so I'll just have a sandwich," Scott explained, "And a coffee. You?"

"You're going out straight after this?" Andrew asked, his brows raising. "Alright. I'll just have something small, too."

They both ordered their meals with one of the waiters that came around, a nice-looking, freckle-covered young man with copper-red hair. Scott somehow imagined that if Fritz lost a bit of weight and took off his glasses, they'd look very similar.

"So tell me," Andrew said as they waited for their meals, "How long have you and Vincent been dating?"

"Since just before Christmas," Scott said. "Before then, we really hated each other. Like, really hated each other. Funny how people change..."

"Is that so?" Andrew asked, his tone changing just slightly. Scott knew how this would go. His Dad would ask him questions, evaluate his opinion on Scott's relationship, and finish the afternoon with some well thought-out advice. He'd seen him go through it with Linda oh, so many times.

"Yeah," Scott affirmed, "But we're different now. He loves me, a lot. He's kind, he's caring, he's sweet. He always puts me first and he'd never not believe me about anything. He's not pressuring, or tries to change me. He just... lets me be myself, and encourages me." Scott smiled, "He's perfect, Dad. He's the best thing for me."

Andrew sighed,  "Every person has their flaws, Scott. And if you can't see any flaws in them, it means they're hiding them from you. Are you sure he's encouraging you to be yourself? Or encouraging you to be the person he wants you to be?"

"Dad-" Scott started, but he was cut off.

"All I'm saying, Scott, is you're in a very uncertain time in your life, a very influential and fragile time. A bad experience could completely change your view on the world. Are you sure you want to put all your trust in him straight away?"

Scott sighed. Somehow, he had just realised he was very similar to his Dad. He was right; Scott didn't trust Vincent.

"I'm not saying anything against your boyfriend when I say this, but... having someone who can sometimes seem a little bit forceful in control of your life when you're so fragile can end up really badly for you. You remember your first party where you smoked crack?"

"Dad!"

"That's what I mean, Scott! Those friends of yours were using your insecurity as a way to try to shape you into the person they wanted to be. A drug addict."

"This is different, Dad," Scott frowned, his blood beginning to boil despite himself.

"It's really not, Scott."

"Yes, it is. You don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't know what I'm talking about?" Andrew's brows knitted together, "Scott, I've had more experience with this than you will ever know. I'm trying to warn you, Scott, so listen to me. I'm just telling you you should be careful."

"Be careful? Be careful? What do you mean by that?! Not everyone in the whole world is out to get me, Dad. Not everyone is a murderer or a criminal!" Scott gritted his teeth together, his fists clenching. He wasn't sure why he was suddenly so protective over his way of living.

"No, but some people are, Scott," Andrew argued back. "You're being stubborn. I'm just saying, you shouldn't just expect that you're going to get a fairy-tale ending. Chances are, in two years you'll be broken up anyway!"

"That's not true!" Scott growled, "He loves me, and I love him, Dad. He would never break up with me. We haven't fought once since we got together!"

"That's unrealistic," Andrew said. "You two have only been together for a while. It's not like you can marry or anything and it's not likely that you're going to spend your entire life together with your first boyfriend. Things change, Scott. People change."

Something in Scott snapped, "Shut up! Alright?! You're making me feel like I can't even be happy and safe with my own boyfriend! Do you have no faith in your own son at all!?"

Andrew paused, recoiling. His expression softened a little.

Scott leaned back in his chair and glared out the window, absolutely seething.

There was a tense silence, Scott's anger radiating off of him like a hot-water bottle.

The waiter came back and dropped off their meals. Scott didn't even acknowledge his presence, just continued to scowl to himself.

"I didn't mean it like that," Andrew said finally, after the waiter had left again.

"Then what did you mean it like?" Scott snapped.

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

Scott paused, then looked back at his Dad. He remembered why they were here. Andrew was just trying to help. He was trying to make them closer as a family - as father and son - and here Scott was, trying to push him away. His Dad was right. He really was a different person. He looked down. "I'm sorry. I was just really excited about sharing my relationship with you... I couldn't handle heartbreak at the moment. I guess it's a touchy subject. But you're right. I'll be careful."

"Thank you," Andrew said, "That's all I wanted." 

The rest of the meal was quiet. Neither of the men talked to each other as they ate. Scott knew his Dad was just trying to set things right between them, and he was just as disappointed about their fight, but that didn't stop him from escaping out of that little cafe as fast as his excuses would allow.

He sighed, glancing back at the little shop. He fancied he saw a little brown-haired, brown-eyed boy staring back at him in the reflection. Scott may be older, but sometimes he felt as small and as fragile as that little toddler coming to Piggy Back all those years ago.

((Okay, now's as good a time as any to tell you. I'd love to say I can write non-stop, but this week I have some exams, the result of which will determine my future educational/career path. They're very important, and therefore, my priority. Sorry about that, but realistically I won't be able to write for this week. ))