the rest is silence - Drabble spam #2

As soon as the plate leaves his hand he knows he has made a mistake.

It hits the wall with too much force, splintering into a thousand jagged pieces which fly across the room.

And that kid, that delinquent is staring at him now – half in fear, half in confusion – as if he never expected physical violence from Caleb Nichol of all people. There is blood trickling down the boy's elbow and the side of his face, but he hasn't moved since Caleb started shouting.

It was a mistake. He just ruined a perfectly good bone china dinner set.

Julie is going to be upset.

“I want you to stay away from my family.” He points a finger for good measure and the boy swallows thickly, backing up a step into the wall.

There's really nowhere else for him to go.

Caleb doesn't know what possessed him to come here again, still begging like a dog to be allowed Lindsay's company.

As if he would ever let this little con artist worm his way into another daughter's life.

He sweeps another plate onto the floor – watches the boy watching him as it flips across the room and hits the tile. The boy flinches hard at the noise, shoulders hunching inwards. He's beginning to sweat now, little beads at the top of his forehead.

Caleb wonders what makes him so afraid this time. It's not as if he hasn't yelled at the boy before. It's not as if the boy can't take a few punches – he's proven that in his time here.

Maybe it's because he's Kirsten's father. Maybe because they're alone. Maybe he's afraid that he'll finally have to give up on his con.

Caleb smirks, sends another plate soaring.

He's already ruined the set – he might as well finish making his point.

“You know I have a lot of friends, boy. Many people who would do anything I ask just because I asked it.” He pauses before repeating, “anything I ask.”

The boy may be uneducated but apparently he's smart, because it's only moments before his eyes widen in shock and he swallows again, blinking.

“Then why haven't you asked already?” he says.

Caleb's impressed he can get the words out, actually, and he raises his eyebrows in surprise. He's had grown men cowering and pleading with threats like that before. “I don't wish to alienate my daughter that badly. Yet.”

The boy eyes him warily.

Caleb huffs, bored of the boy's fear. “Clean up this mess and get out. I have more important things to deal with than delinquent brats.”

And, for once, the boy does what he's told.