Title: Motherly love
Fandom: The Faculty
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor, Mrs. Connor
Rating: PG13
Length: 737 words
Written for Challenge #205: glue
Summary: All Casey wants is to leave everything behind


Casey dropped down onto the wooden bench of the bleachers; with a loud huff, a put the backpack to his feet.
„Fuck!“

Half curious half amused Zeke looked up.
„Anything wrong?“

Casey glanced at him with wild sparkling eyes.
„Better care about your own shit.“

Zeke only smirked.
„Oh. That bad. What was it this time? Gabe? The coach?“

„My mom.“

„Huh?“

Casey shrugged.
„Mr. Brown plans to invite the photo course to an exhibition in Akron next Saturday. He has already organized the bus, and we will get an exclusive look behind the scenes. Maybe we will meet the one or the other artist.“

„Get it,“ Zeke murmured. Though he actually didn't.
„Sounds interesting.“

Casey pulled the face and sighed again.
„It is,“ he said.
„Or better, it could be. Problem is, that I can't go with them. Because my Mom already has other plans.“

Well, it was nothing new, that Casey's parents cared about their son; maybe sometimes a bit too much. Curfews and healthy lunch packets, handmade woolen scarfs for the cold days in winter and stupid checkered shirts for summer. Birthdays and other holidays; family dinner and game evenings every weekend. Casey had never complained before; he was a good son, and he loved his parents as his parents loved him.

„Maybe you should talk with her,“ Zeke suggested.

Casey shook his head.
„She won't even listen. We will go to the Mall this weekend, a long-planned trip. Big shopping tour for College. And she won't give in before she hasn't bought out half of the shops. That's so embarrassing. She still treats me like a toddler. And I don't want to imagine how it will look like when I show up in Boston with all this stuff.“

Zeke kept quiet for a moment, then he smirked.
„Casey, she loves you.“

„Wait! She sticks to me like glue, and you take her site?“
Flabbergasted the boy stared at him.
„Wasn't it you how always told me that it is about time for me to grow up?“

„Oh, you will, I'm sure of that. Artschool will be good for you, a college full of geeks. You will find your place.

I guess this is that what your Mom is afraid of. She wants only the best for you, Casey, and she's proud of you. But she also knows that she will lose her cute little baby boy when you move to Boston because when you come back, you will be a grown-up, young man, who is ready to go his own way.

She tries to make the most out of the last weeks. Maybe you should play along. It doesn't hurt, but it will make easier for her to let loose finally.

She always was a good mother for you, Casey, she always backed you up and she has made you strong enough to go your way. You shouldn't take all this for granted. Because it isn't.“

With these words, Zeke stood up, shrugged and left the bleachers without looking back.

:::

On his way home Casey couldn't stop thinking about Zeke's words. And about Zeke's life. His parents were only rarely around. Successful businesspeople, most time of the year they spend in Europe or Asia. At least they seemed to send generous checks because Zeke never ran out of money. He owned a cool car, a house for himself, no one who established stupid rules. A lot of students envied him for his freedom. Also Casey had done so sometimes.

He had never realized before that Zeke's freedom often enough was closely connected with loneliness. No one was waiting for him when he came home from school. No one cared for him when he was sick. No one to talk with about his sorrows, no one to share the good times with. No one who took him in his arms and hold him when he felt sad and alone. No one who loved him, no matter what he did.

„Hello, Honey,“ his mom greeted him when he opened the back door and stepped into the kitchen.

Without hesitation, he put his backpack down on the floor and hurried over to her. Threw his arms around her and murmured:“I love you, Mom, thank you for being the best mother I can imagine.“

„Oh.“
Mrs. Connor chuckled surprised.
„What's happened?“

„Nothing.“
Casey shook his head.
„It's just been a long time that I've told you.“