Who: Brianna, Theo and Bash Where: Home in Overlook When: Evening, Friday July 13th Status: Complete
Bash hadn’t really been gone from the house that long, but it felt long to Brianna. He was living on his boyfriend’s houseboat now and with James busy with work and Phee spending so much of her free time with Jen or Greg… Brianna felt like she was suffering from empty nest syndrome way too soon. She couldn’t exactly text Kane on a Friday night to keep her company, as he was most likely out with his preferred person, so she asks Bash to come home for dinner… and to bring Theo. It would be easier to navigate the night without James there, silently, or not so silently, disapproving of Bash’s relationship. Thankfully Bash agreed to come around and Brianna spent most of the evening preparing roasted chicken with vegetables.
With a salad and dessert, it was probably too much for only three people, but she missed cooking for her family. She missed having her family around. Bash and Ophelia were still so young, but they had lives of their own and people they wanted to be around. Brianna missed those carefree days herself. As humiliating as it was to admit to herself, she was lonely. She was forty-three years old, married with three children… and she was lonely. It was pathetic, really.
As the chicken finished up in the oven, Brianna set the table and checked her phone, to make sure Bash was on his way. This would be a good thing for them. They could catch up and she could get to know Theo a bit better.
It was weird to pull up in front of his parent’s house and park as if he was a guest, but Bash supposed that was the norm for now. Maybe he’d live at home again next summer, after he came back from college, but that felt like a world away. If he’d been uncomfortable under his parent’s roof before, he imagined it would only get worse after being away for a while. Or maybe this would be a good thing. It was the unknown that gave him such high levels of anxiety, the feeling that he was going to fuck this up no matter what he did. Putting the car in park, he reached across to take Theo’s hand. He knew his boyfriend would be good at this; they’d grown up in similar households and Theo was well-versed in how to behave, but he was still nervous. “Ready?”
Theo had been having dinner with his mom for years and if he could survive that, then he could handle a couple of hours with Brianna McCarthy. He could sense that Bash was nervous though, so Theo grinned and brought Bash's hand up to kiss his fingers in encouragement. "I'm so ready. Mostly because I'm starving and you told me your mom was a good cook, so... I mean, when's the last time we had a home-cooked meal?" He wasn't much of a cook so he and Bash ordered in or went out to eat more often than not. "Are you ready?"
Bash would have an easier time having dinner with Theo’s mother than his own. He wanted her to like him, but it wasn’t quite so painful if she didn’t. With his own mother, that need to please kicked in worse than ever. “One of us should learn to cook,” Bash said with a little smile. Maybe someday, if they had a bigger kitchen, he’d give it a shot, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to start in the time they had left. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” he sighed, then gave Theo’s hand a squeeze before he released it and opened his door. “At least it’s just my mom. If my dad were here, I’d need a drink or something first.”
Theo chuckled. "I mean, I can make spaghetti. I'll learn. Might be kind of fun." He didn't really want to think about the fact that it was July and Bash would likely be heading off to college in two months, maybe sooner. He was determined to live fully in the moment instead of letting those thoughts surface. Climbing out of the car, Theo ran his hands through his hair and straightened his shirt, just to make sure he looked presentable. He had met Mrs. McCarthy before, but this was a sit down and talk kind of dinner and he wanted it to go well. "If your dad was here, I'd need a drink too, believe me." James McCarthy was an intimidating figure and Theo could admit he was glad Bash's dad was working. "Shit," he muttered, looking at Bash as they approached the front door. "We should've brought her flowers or something."
It could be fun learning to cook with Theo, but Bash tried not to let himself get caught up in the fantasy. Leaving was already going to be painful enough without thinking of all the things he’d be missing that hadn’t even gotten a chance to start. He had to live in the moment; it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart. “I may still want a drink after,” Bash told him as he met Theo on the sidewalk and began to lead the way up towards the front door. “We don’t need flowers,” he said with a little laugh, then quirked a brow. “You typically take flowers when you meet the parents?” He thought he’d always done well meeting his girlfriend’s parents, but he’d never really cared if they liked him or not. Flowers always seemed over the top. When he brought them, it was usually for the girl he’d been dating, not the host, but as he rang the bell he wondered if they should have brought something. He knew his mother probably would have liked a bottle of wine, but they couldn’t exactly gift her something they technically were too young to buy.
Theo laughed and rubbed the nape of his neck. "Well, I just thought it'd be a nice gesture. But maybe it would seem like I'm trying too hard to make sure she likes me. It's fine." He watched Bash ring the doorbell and cocked a brow. "You really have to ring the doorbell for your own home?" He always just walked into his house when he was visiting his mom. But maybe Bash's relationship with his parents was different somehow. Or maybe Bash felt like a guest now that he wasn't living there anymore.
Brianna didn't think Bash would ring the bell so for a brief moment she wondered if maybe someone else had come by. But when she opened the front door, she huffed with a small smile. "You don't have to knock or ring the doorbell, honey. Just come in." She stepped back for them both to enter. "You still have your key, don't you?" Just in case he needed to get into the house sometime and no one was home. It was always good to be prepared for whatever might happen.
“I do,” Bash said with a cringe. “I’m just not thinking. Sorry.” If Theo hadn’t been with him, he’d have let himself in without a second thought, but this whole setup felt weird to him. If Brianna had asked to meet Theo when Bash had still been living at home, he’d have been on the other side of the door, answering it. It was rare that he entered through the front door himself. “Mom, this is Theo,” he said, trying to get back on track despite being flustered over nothing. “I think you’ve met before.”
"We have, yes," Brianna said, smiling as she shut the door behind them. "Hello again, Theo. I'm glad you both could make it tonight." It felt too formal, talking to her son and his boyfriend. She sort of wished Phee was there to act like some kind of buffer. "I made roasted chicken," she announced with a smile, gesturing for them to follow her back toward the kitchen. "It's one of your father's favorites, so I supposed I should feel bad that I made it when he's not even here. Bash, help yourself if you want something to drink. I have to get the chicken out of the oven, but it should be ready. I invited Phee to have dinner with us, but she's off with... well, someone. I'm not sure who."
Theo squeezed Bash's arm briefly on their way to the kitchen. It was a nice house, but every house in Overlook was nice. It felt like a goddamn mansion compared to his tiny houseboat and he hoped Bash didn't have any lingering regret about moving out of a place like this into a more cramped space with Theo.
It did feel formal, but Bash wasn’t sure how to change that. He hadn’t been comfortable at home for long time and, while that wasn’t all his mother’s fault, having her disappear for six months hadn’t helped. Not that that was her fault either. It was what it was. On the plus side, she was smiling, it seemed sincere, and dinner smelled amazing. “It smells great, mom,” Bash smiled as they moved back to the kitchen. “We were just saying one of us needs to learn how to cook. I wouldn’t even know how to begin making something like this.” Walking over to the cabinet, he retrieved a couple of glasses, then went to fill them with ice before glancing at Theo. “Water? Soda?” he asked. “I’m having a Coke.” Sadly without rum. “Phee’s probably with Greg. Maybe Jen,” Bash offered, figuring that it was most likely one or the other. “I had dinner with her the other night. She said Victor’s living in Point Pleasant now.”
"Water's fine," Theo told Bash with a small smile. He stood off to the side, not wanting to get in anyone's way. The food did smell really good and it sort of reminded him of when his mom made them dinner when he was still living at home. He realized he probably ought to stop by at some point and check in with her. She was a busy woman, but he knew she would appreciate the visit.
Brianna lifted the pan out of the oven to carry it to the table. "Yes, he's just across the way, by the D'Onofrio's. I haven't seen much of him, to be honest. I'm sure he'll come around for dinner whenever your father is home next. I would ask why he needs such a large home for one person but... here I am myself." She chuckled and tugged off the oven mitts to put them away. "I suppose you could technically say Phee lives here, but I think I see her less than your father."
It felt like a dig, pointing out how children had abandoned her, but Bash refused to take the bait. All he’d done was move up the timeline a few months and, on Phee’s part, he knew she’d gotten used to living without any parental supervision. They both had. That was what happened when one parent went missing and the other just gave up. “Yeah, but you’ve got stuff going on too, don’t you?” It was said lightly, conversationally, but Bash knew Phee had stumbled across their mother and her lover in their own damn house. It wasn’t like Brianna was sitting around, twiddling her thumbs. “You could invite her and Greg over for dinner,” he grinned, well aware that they’d both kill him for the suggestion. He handed Theo his water, cozying up beside him, their hips almost touching as he leaned against the counter. This was definitely easier without his father here. “Or you could have us all over to enjoy the pool.”
She didn't have that much going on but for work. Brianna didn't quite understand that he knew about Kane, which was probably for the best. "You can come by anytime you want to use the pool," she reminded him with a small smile. "Like I said, this is still your house. Unless you're getting tired of water, living on it." It was so weird to think about her son living on a houseboat, but if it made him happy, then she was okay with it. Thinking about it reminded her of a conversation a long time ago, with someone else who wanted to buy a boat. Though that was the last thing she needed to be thinking about right now. "How are you enjoying that, by the way? The houseboat?"
“I don’t ever get tired of the water,” Bash said with a small smile. He wondered if his mother ever felt that same sense of comfort being around a live fire, but maybe not. If she had, they’d probably light the fireplace more often, or she’d find reasons to light candles. For Sebastian, being surrounded by water was like Phee being in a greenhouse. It was peaceful, and the rocking of the boat put him at ease. “The houseboat’s fun,” he said, flashing a smile in Theo’s direction. “I think long term it would be a little cramped, but it’s nice for now. Plus, it’s rent free.” If Theo had been paying rent, Bash would’ve needed a real job, not just the extra cash he picked up from doing yard work for people in Point Pleasant. Sometimes he wondered how that would pan out, if he were to stay, but he tried not to spend too much time on it. He didn’t want to get any more attached to a dream that wouldn’t happen than he already was.
Brianna hadn't embraced her magic as wholly as her children had, but she could understand where Bash was coming from. She loved summer, because of the warmth, but she also loved it when it snowed in Point Pleasant because it meant using the fireplace. It spoke to her in a way that was difficult to explain to others. "Well, enjoy rent free while you can," Brianna said with a small smile. "In a few years you'll be out of college and all the fun adulting things will hit you all at once. Come and eat." She gestured at them to join her at the table. "How's work coming along at the police station?" Brianna spoke to Theo directly now, not wanting Bash to think she purposely excluded him.
Theo sat, deliberately ignoring the idea of Bash going to college. It was something they liked to avoid talking about but it seemed to come up an awful lot. "It's been fascinating," he said, opening the napkin to place it on his lap. "I'm hoping to start the academy this fall. I think Sheriff Barrett would deputize me now if he could, with how short-staffed they are. But it's pretty fulfilling work."
Brianna was glad that Bash's boyfriend had some ambition, even if it was to work as a police officer in this town. It was a dangerous job to be sure. She smiled at Bash. "Have you given any more thought to school? I know your father has been wondering."
Sebastian tried not to outright beam as Theo spoke about joining the police force in the fall. He knew it wasn’t what most people aspired to, but he was proud of him for going into such a noble line of work, especially in their town. Cops in Point Pleasant were different than the rest, in his opinion. They had so much more shit to deal with. He should probably be worried about Theo in that regard, but he felt like he was a touch more prepared than the rest, knowing what was out there. And maybe, if he could learn a bit more magic, he could do something like ward his patrol car for him. A little extra protection couldn’t hurt. His smile faltered when the conversation turned back to him. “I’m scheduled to go to orientation next Thursday,” he said. “Once that’s done, I’ll be able to register for classes.” Everything was done that needed to be done—he’d paid his enrollment deposit and applied for housing earlier that summer—but it would feel truly real once he had a class schedule. He knew he should be excited about it, but he just wasn’t.
That was good news and Brianna smiled as she placed some food on her plate and then handed the vegetables to Bash. "That's wonderful. You just tell me what you're going to need and we'll go pick it all up. Of course, you've got plenty of summer left to enjoy, but this is exciting." She just hoped Bash came home to visit because the only time she got Trip home was when she laid on a pretty thick guilt trip. "The nice thing is, you'll be close enough to visit whenever you want." Brianna glanced between Bash and Theo. Sure, the closeness benefited her as his mother, but she wanted to drive home the point that Bash could visit Theo and vice versa whenever he wanted. She didn't want Bash to have any thoughts in his head that he didn't want to go to college just to stick around Point Pleasant because of his boyfriend. She already knew she would have that issue with Phee if she and Greg didn't break up before Phee graduated.
Maybe going to orientation would make Bash excited about going off to college. Maybe he’d meet some people that wouldn’t make it feel like he was taking a giant leap out into the world alone. Bash knew he needed to do this, that it was his chance to make more of himself than Point Pleasant could offer, but he continued to struggle with what he was leaving behind—mainly, Theo. Would he even want to try something long distance? They hadn’t talked about it. He didn’t know if he was even being realistic considering it. He just knew that giving Theo up entirely hurt him to his core. “I plan on visiting often,” he told his mom, his hand seeking out Theo’s below the table. “I mean, not too often, not every weekend, but—I’ll figure it out.” There had to be a happy medium, where he was able to create a life at college, but maintain the relationships he had back home. It sounded like a lot of juggling, but he’d rather try than just give up.
Theo knew they hadn't really talked about what was going to happen after Bash left for college, but he figured they would eventually. Long distance seemed doable, mostly because it wasn't going to be a long long distance type of thing. If Bash were moving across the country, that might be different, but Theo felt fairly confident that they could work it out. Maybe it was something they would need to talk about sooner than later, especially since Bash's mom had brought it up tonight. Theo squeezed Bash's hand under the table. He nearly said his schedule would allow him to visit Bash more than the other way around, but he had no idea what training to become a police officer would entail, or how much of his time it would take up.
Brianna was fine with Bash visiting sporadically as long as it meant that he actually went to school. She knew Theo had dropped out fairly early and she didn't want that happening to Bash. He had so much potential. Relaxed now, Brianna sipped from her glass, happy to have the confirmation of Bash's plans for the fall. James would be pleased, at least. "And what are your plans for the rest of the summer?" she asked. "This seems like an ideal time to do something fun before diving back into school."
The conversation about college was the one thing Bash had been dreading, so he was glad to come out of it with his mother seemingly pleased. He knew she’d be happy so long as he went, but he didn’t know if she’d want to argue about him coming home to see Theo. People seemed to have a lot of opinions about trying to make high school relationships work after high school was over, but he’d let other’s opinions control him for far too long as it was. If Theo still wanted to be with him, if they still wanted to be together, then he didn’t care what anyone else said. He wanted to give it a shot. “I don’t know. We haven’t really planned anything,” Bash said, looking over at Theo. “We could go to the beach maybe. One within driving distance.” Without a real job of his own, Bash didn’t see them doing anything that would cost a lot, but there was still plenty that they could afford if they planned for it.
Brianna wouldn't deter Bash from trying a long-distance relationship with Theo if that was what he wanted to do. If Bash had pushed off college to stay in town for his boyfriend? Well, that was a different matter. Bash had a real chance to make something of himself outside of Point Pleasant. Brianna didn't want Theo holding her son back. She picked up her drink and thought briefly of her situation back in high school. Her kids needed to understand that young love was powerful but, more often than not, fleeting. Life rarely worked out the way one hoped.
Theo smiled at Bash. "A beach, or a nice road trip to... Coney Island or something that. We'll figure something out before the summer is over. And there's always something going on in town during the summer too. We've been having fun so far." At least, he thought so. Even when they were hanging out on the boat at night, it was something Theo thoroughly enjoyed.
Bash knew that the probability of him and Theo lasting was low, but at the moment being together was easy and they were happy. There was absolutely no reason to give it up, so long as they could still see each other. He imagined it would get harder in the fall, that their busy schedules might put a strain on their relationship, but they’d cross that bridge when they got there. For now, it was still smooth sailing. “Coney Island would be fun,” Bash agreed. “But yeah, I’m good with hanging around here as well. There’s a bonfire on the beach next week that we’re going to. Stuff like that.” He really didn’t need much. Most nights he was happy just hanging out on the boat, just him and Theo.
Brianna smiled as she reached for more vegetables to put on her plate. "A bonfire at the beach? Well, that sounds like a good time. We used to have those all the time when I was in high school." There hadn't always been a lot to do in this small town as a teenager, so they always had to make their own fun. For the most part, the PPPD left them all alone as long as they weren't acting like complete idiots. She had no idea if that was true for teenagers today, but Brianna knew the police in Point Pleasant had more important things to worry about. "That's definitely preferable to having a party in someone's house," she added with a knowing look. Bash and Phee had been pretty good at not going crazy when she and James would be out of town together, but Brianna knew the same couldn't be said for some other kids in Overlook.
“What? We’ve never partied here,” Bash said with a snort of amusement. He knew he and Phee didn’t follow all of their parent’s rules, but that was one they’d never dared to break. It felt too risky, the sort of thing that could become a disaster in seconds. He also had zero interest in cleaning up the mess afterwards. “I think people just want a reason to get together. It’s kind of weird knowing we won’t have something like school to bring us back together again.” Maybe when they were older they’d have local events and shit, if they stuck around, but for now they’d have to create their own events, made specifically for them. Events where the whole town was in attendance weren’t the same.
Brianna didn't believe for a second that her kids were always honest with her, but she did believe that Bash and Phee had never had a party in the house. She was home more often than not, and she knew that teenagers were not thorough when it came to cleaning up big messes. If they had, she would have noticed something out of place. She took another bite of dinner, thinking about her graduation and all the emotions that came with it. Even in a small town, staying connected with high school friends could be difficult, especially when so many were eager to leave town for good. College hadn't been any different. "You've always got your high school reunions," she pointed out with a small smile. "In fact, my twentieth-fifth is this summer, if you can believe that."
“Our first high school reunion is, like, ten years away,” Bash pointed out with a small laugh. At his age, that felt like forever. They’d all be out of college by then, if they went, and be established in their careers. Half his graduating class would probably be married with kids. It was hard to even imagine. He glanced over at Theo, wondering to himself how long they’d actually last. At the moment it felt like they’d be good forever, but he knew that could all change in a matter of days. It made him sick to his stomach to think about. “Does it feel like twenty-five years?” he asked his mom. “How many of the people you graduated with are still around?” He knew there were some in town, probably more than he even realized, but he hadn’t paid much attention to his parent’s friends before. It was hard to imagine them as teenagers.
Brianna laughed because Sebastian was right. Ten years was a long time, but those years would probably go by quicker than he expected. It felt bittersweet, in a way. She wanted her son to start his life and find himself, but in no time at all, she would be ten years older and all of her children would be off living their own lives. If James continued to work at this pace, Brianna would often be left home alone. It was a bit depressing to think about. "Some days it feels like twenty-five years and other days it feels like yesterday. I'd say a little more than half of the people I graduated with are still in town. A lot of them went off to college and never came back." Not that she could blame them. Small-town living wasn't for everyone, especially in a small town like Point Pleasant. "It's a bit easier to stay in touch with people now with social media though, right? I'm sure you'll talk to your friends more than you think."
Half seemed like a lot to Bash, considering the size of the town. Most everyone he knew talked about getting out, but he wasn’t sure how realistic that was. Some didn’t seem up to making the effort, while others seemed trapped. The ones that left for college had the best chance—Bash was in that group, yet he still felt the ties to the town, something more than family and friends. He wondered if that was because he was a witch, but had no way of knowing for sure. “I’m sure we’ll all text and keep in touch online. Between TikTok, Facebook, and Insta, I’ll know what most people are up to,” he agreed, though he knew it wouldn’t be the same. They’d all have different social circles once they were gone, so he expected the number of people he’d actually keep up with would drop to only those closest to him.
Nodding, Brianna reached for her drink again, wishing she had poured herself wine. It seemed Bash was just as bad at small talk as she was and it triggered a pain in her chest. Would her relationship with her kids be better if they knew anything about her beyond the typical mom stuff? Although Brianna wasn't sure what they would be, because she was currently experiencing a crisis of self and she had no idea who she was at the moment. To James, she was his wife, the perfect woman to help uphold his image in the town, to care for the house and his kids. To her kids, she was just... a disinterested mother and based on her conversations with Phee, they doubted her love for them. There was Kane and yes, he cared about her and made her feel desirable but even he had fallen in love with someone else. Brianna felt disjointed, like she had something to offer everyone in her life, but somehow couldn't supply the everything that one person needed. For a moment, she thought she might crack, burst into tears in front of her son and his boyfriend. But she swallowed it with her iced tea and tried to focus on what was being said, not that there was much. "And whatever new app comes along," she said with another strained smile. "I remember when you and Phee talked about... Snapchat?"
Theo could feel some of the tension at the table, so he tried to eat as much as he could, just so Bash's mom would at least know the food was good. Which is was. His mom never cooked, except on rare occasions. "I think some people still use... Snapchat," he said between bites and a sip of water. "I still keep up with a lot of the friends I had when I graduated. More than a few have actually moved back home. So I guess Point Pleasant isn't all that bad."
Bash had lost interest in Snapchat when Hunter broke up with him, but that wasn’t where he wanted to take the conversation and was relieved Theo chimed in, breaking up some of the tension. Had it always been this hard to talk to his mom? Or was it only since she got back from the other place? It felt like there was an ocean of unsaid things separating them—secrets, resentments, and a severe lack of trust. The only thing tying them together was his mother’s support of him and his relationship with Theo. It wasn’t much, but it was also everything, enough that Bash continued to try. “It’s not that bad,” Bash agreed. “I actually kind of like it, and not just because of the people,” he smiled, nudging Theo’s foot with his own. “I could see myself coming back here after college, assuming I can get a job here.”
“I’m sure there will be something here for you, but don’t restrict yourself,” Brianna said. “Then again you could live here and commute to work like your father does. You’ll have options.” She wondered what James would be saying if he were at the table with them now. Maybe there would be arguing, or uncomfortable silences. Maybe he and Sebastian would actually have a nice conversation. Brianna knew the family ought to spend more time together but even she felt slightly queasy at the thought of forcing it.
Theo flashed Bash a grin and nudged him back with his foot. “Hey if I can find a job here, you can. College’ll be over before you know it, so enjoy it while you can.” He probably shouldn’t be giving Bash advice on college, considering he’d dropped out, but he knew Bash was stressed about it and Theo wanted to be as supportive as he could be. Yes, fall was looming and Theo selfishly wished Bash was sticking around, but he also wanted what was best for him… and that was probably college.
“I’m not restricting myself,” Bash said, turning his attention towards his mom. “I know things could change. Last fall, I was looking at Florida. Now I’m staying in Maine. I want to do something I could do almost anywhere. Something that’s reliable and pays decently. I’m not willing to commit to what that is right now, but I’ve got options.” He’d been thinking about this for almost a year now and even though he was starting to settle on what he wanted, he didn’t really want to discuss it with family again. He knew his father’s opinion on it and it was bullshit. His mother might find it admirable, but she might also try to talk him into something more. Bash wanted to get a year of college in first because, for all he knew, he might go off and find it wasn’t for him at all. If that was the case, he was still coming up with back up plans. “If none of it pans out, maybe I’ll come back and become a fireman like Greg,” he said, though he was mostly teasing Theo. The idea of both of them in opposing uniforms amused him.
Brianna knew, based on Sebastian's element, that being a firefighter wouldn't happen. It was hard enough thinking about Greg being a firefighter, let alone her own son. "Well, it's good to hear you've been thinking things through," Brianna said finally, simply because she was getting tired of having the same conversation repeatedly. Ultimately it was Sebastian's life and his decision. She just hoped he wouldn't waste time or his parents' money by waffling about college. That would be something James would deal with, at least. "I probably made too much food," she continued, gesturing to the table. "Do you want to take some leftovers home with you?"
Bash could tell that was the end of that conversation topic and that was fine with him. It seemed all anyone ever wanted to talk about was his future and he was just about done with it. He wanted to live for now, today, and stop worrying about what was going to happen in a few weeks, at least for a little while longer. He had the rest of his life to worry about his potential career prospects. Of course, with that off the table, he wasn’t sure what else to talk about, so out of touch with his mother that he didn’t even know what she was watching on tv these days. Next time he’d make sure Phee was there. Maybe even Greg. “Sure,” Bash smiled, glancing over at Theo as he nodded his head. “We don’t cook much. We’d love to have it. Thanks for cooking, Mom.”
Of course they didn't cook much. They lived on a boat, how much cooking could there really be? But Brianna didn't want to sound down on Bash's living situation so she merely smiled and nodded. "You're welcome. I'll pack some up when we're finished." Until then, maybe they would have to make small talk. Smaller talk, anyway. Avoid touchy subjects. And then Bash and Theo would leave and Brianna would break out the wine and try not to feel too sorry for herself.