Dray IV

Night. Dray creeping down the stairs, trying not to let them creak. He looks a little pale, angry, reckless, almost self-destructive. At the road, he meets a waiting car, and slips in. Once inside, he's crowded in with other jocks, laughing girls, and loud music, and the car roars away.

Inside the house, Aron is woken by the noisy car, but turns over and goes back to sleep, pulling his Lou closer to him unconsciously as he falls asleep.

Dray. Party. Music. Someone brings out beer, and before he knows it, Dray is completely shit-faced wasted.

---

The Next Morning. Saturday. 10 o'clock in the morning.

 Lou is making scrambled eggs and bacon on a pan on the stove top, Aron is cooking pancakes on a nearby griddle.

Enter Lily, in her pajamas. Drops a kiss on Lou's cheek and grabs a stack of plates. "Do we have any syrup left, Mom?"

Lou. "Downstairs, I think. Is Abby up?"

Abby, entering carrying Annalise. "Here."

Aron. "That's everyone but Dray, then. Lucan, can you go upstairs and just see if he's awake. If he is, tell him breakfast's ready."

Lucan. "If he's not, can me and Jacob fill out water guns and"--

Aron. "It's 'Jacob and I,' and no, you most definitely are not going to do that."

Lucan exits, reappears a few minutes later as Aron begins to serve pancakes. "Dad, Dray's coming. His room smells funny. "He comments more to himself, but Aron looks up sharply, as if he's already putting the pieces together.

Enter Dray, slips into a spot at the table, groans under his breath. "Did anyone make coffee?"

Lou. "Yea, hon, the coffee pot's on the counter. Were you up late last night?"

Dray looks up quickly, then shrugs. "No. Why would you say that?"

Aron raises his eyebrows, Lou looks surprised at Dray's defensive tone. "No reason, you just look more tired than usual."

Marlaina. Curiously. "You smell funny, Dray."

"Laina," Aron reproves gently. "That's not very kind."

Marlaina. "Not like bad icky boy smell," she tries to explain. "Just funny." She crinkles her nose, and Dray shifts away from her irritably. 

Aron looks suddenly angry, but says nothing. 

As soon as breakfast is finished, Dray moves quickly upstairs in the direction of the shower, but Aron corners him. "We need to talk."

Dray. "I don't have anything to say to you."

Aron. Bluntly. "You went out last night and got completely wasted."

Dray turns pale, opens his mouth to argue.

Aron shakes his head. "Don't bother denying it. I heard a car last night, I just didn't know it was coming for you. And you reek of beer, son."

Dray. "I'm not your son."

Aron. "Okay, Dray, but regardless, we have to talk about this. Lou"--

Dray blanches. "No, she'll kill me"--

Lou. "What is it, hon?"

Aron looks at Dray. "Do you want to tell her or should I?"

Dray looks obstinately at the floor, away from both parents.

Aron sighs, looks at Lou. "He was out last night getting wasted."