[center][h2][color=1E90FF]Theodore James Lincoln[/color][/h2]
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d6/ff/05/d6ff05d091112608569fceeddcae2703.jpg[/img]
[sub][i]A long winded solo post between me, myself and I.[/i][/sub][/center]
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"This is a bad idea." complained Tommy as he shoved his glasses further up his nose.
Theo tossed another bag into the back seat of his car and replied "It's a great idea."
Tommy sighed before saying "He's not going to like it."
"He's fine with it." replied Theo, sounding exasperated as he slammed the car's door and came around the other side towards his older brother. "We already talked about it and it's happening."
"Yeah, see he says he's ok with it but did he say it in that passive aggressive way where he says something's ok but secretly he's judging you for it?"
Theo thought about that for a moment before replying "It's....whatever!" He threw his hands up and and quickly back down in annoyance, knowing full well that Tommy was right. Their dad probably wasn't ok with Theo going on this trip. A thought in his head that was echoed by Tommy.
"If I took time off from my studies to go travelling around the country with my friends, dad would disown me."
"Well I guess it pays to be the favorite." Theo joked, playfully punching his brother on the arm.
"Oh ha ha." groaned Tommy.
"Look," Theo began "I'm going whether dad's ok with it or not. I need some time to..." He trailed off, rubbing the back of his head and looking to the ground as he thought of how to explain.
"To what?" asked Tommy, not giving him any time to think.
Theo kicked at the ground with the toe of his shoe before answering "I've just got a lot of things to think about, ok? Got a lot of things going on."
Tommy snorted derisively and smiled. "What do you have to think about? What to do with this nappy hair?" He stuck his fingers into his little brothers hair and tugged gently. Not enough to actually hurt but more than enough to annoy. Theo swatted Tommy's hand away and made a 'Tsk' sound in complaint.
"Leave your brother alone, Thomas." came a third voice. Both Theo and Tommy turned to see their mother emerge from the house, carrying two plastic wrapped bundles of something. "If Theo needs time then he can have it. It's his life after all."
"Yeah." agreed Theo, pinching Tommy's arm for good measure.
Tommy recoiled his arm in pain and said "Ow! Stop that!"
"[i]Both[/i] of you stop it!" sighed mom. "Honestly, I thought when the two of you got old enough, you'd stop bickering."
Both Tommy and Theo hung their heads and said "Sorry mama." but as Theo dropped his head, his eyes landed on what his mom carried. "Is that for me?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes. Sliced banana bread. Your favorite."
Theo's smile only grew as she handed them to him. She was always trying to feed him, which he was totally ok with.
"Psshhht." said Tommy from the corner of his mouth as he crossed his arms. "Mama's boy." He stood for a moment before asking his mom "...You got one of those for me?"
"In the kitchen." his mother confirmed. Tommy smiled just as much as Theo. "Don't forget to share some with your friends." she said as she turned her attention back to Theo.
Theo grasped the banana bread close to his chest and looked positively offended by that idea. "Those animals? Nuh-uh!"
Mom chuckled gently, knowing he was joking, before reaching out and locking him in a tight hug. Theo did his best to reciprocate while holding onto the banana bread. "Be careful, ok?" said mom. "And I mean actual careful, not your own unique brand of sort of careful." She released him from the hug and gave him a look that meant she was deadly serious.
"Yes mom." he said quietly. He looked back at the house for a moment and noticed his dad standing in the doorway. The old man didn't bother to come out but gave him a small wave and at least tried to smile. Theo half-heartedly smiled back at him.
His mom looked between both of them, clearly sensing the tension. "Now go on and have fun." she said, spinning him around towards the car. "And call me...Every day."
"I will." he said, rolling his eyes as he walked away from her.
"I saw that." she called after him.
Theo half spun around and complained "How!?" His mother only giggled as she waved. Theo gave them all one last wave before getting into the car, dropping the banana bread onto the passenger seat and driving off.

[hr]
It didn't take very long to drive to Ariel's place. Not the way Theo drove anyway. He pulled up outside with a sudden stop that caused one of the neighbors watering his lawn to shoot him a look. Seeing this, Theo jumped out of the car and did his best to look like a ghetto thug just to mess with him but there was only so much he could do while carrying banana bread. Theo was a lot of things but thug was not one of them. He sauntered into Ariel's house, not bothering to knock, and immediately adopted a much more casual walk. He made his way into the kitchen, led entirely by the smell of cookies, where he found Ariel and Liz eating cookie dough. This caused Theo to scrunch his nose up in disgust. It was almost like blasphemy around here but Theo didn't like cookie dough. He much preferred the end result and there was much of that around. He barely acknowledged the girls and only gave them a head jutt by way of greeting before he handed Liz the banana bread and headed for the cookies. He shoved a full one in his mouth before turning his head and mumbling something completely unintelligible through the delicious goodness.