Cousins in Arms

[Raven]

"Do you think we should tell Willow first?"

[Gifted]

"I don't think it matters too much." Isobel answered.

[Raven]

Adam nodded. "I'll let them both know after dinner," he decided.

[Gifted]

"Are you going to talk to Kailen now, then?"

[Raven]

"Yeah, he'll probably be angry, but he won't be happy for dinner either way," Adam agreed. He kissed Isobel on the cheek. "I love you."

[Gifted]

"I love you too." Isobel kissed him. "Go talk to your son."

[Raven]

Adam smiled and headed up the stairs, knocking on Kailen's door, getting a moody response. He stepped inside. "I understand wanting to spend some time with Willow, Kailen, but you can't go off on your own. It's dangerous, and I'm very disappointed in you. I wish you would talk to me instead. I'd have been happy to let you have your fun even if I wasn't too nearby, but we have to be able to know where you are." Kailen didn't say anything, just rolling his eyes. Adam sighed. "Your mother and I have agreed that you're grounded. I'll be hearing from your teachers if you skip any more classes."
"Thats not fair!" Kailen objected.
"When you break the rules, you lose privileges. That is fair. If you go anywhere besides school and home, we'll know about it and approve it first, and you won't be allowed to hang out with your friends or go anywhere fun for a while. I'll come get you when it's time for dinner."
"I hate you," Kailen spat, glaring at him.
Adam sighed again. "It's not my job to be your friend." He turned and went back downstairs.

[Gifted]

Willow stayed in her room - if not called, she would stay in there the rest of the night without ever coming down to dinner.

[Raven]

Adam got them both for dinner and afterwards sent Kailen back to his room. Kailen shot Willow a confused look and headed up the stairs.

[Gifted]

Willow glanced at him as he was leaving and shrugged. She assumed Kailen was being sent away because she was wanted down there for some reason, but she had nothing to say. She just sat silently and wrote in her planner.

[Raven]

"Willow," Adam said. "From here on out, I will be getting your teachers to tell me any time you miss class. You're grounded, and if you go anywhere aside from school and home, we're going to approve it first."

[Gifted]

"Okay." Willow wasn't happy about it, but she was too scared of confrontation to get mad or bitter like Kailen did.

[Raven]

"If something had happened and we didn't know where you were, you and Kailen could have been seriously hurt," Adam said. "Or kidnapped."

Meanwhile, Kailen had been stewing for hours already and he'd finally come up with a plan. He texted Liam, 'Hey, I'll take you up on that cigarette deal. Just don't tell Willow.'

[Gifted]

Willow said nothing.

Liam texted back fairly quickly. 'Alright! Your friends have a brand preference? Where should I meet you with the pack?'

[Raven]

"Would you like to watch a movie?" Adam asked.

'Camels would be fine. I can't get out of town, but there's a bus stop that goes between cities not too far from my school, we can meet there.'