"A Weekend of Refuge"

The slap still stung, both physically and emotionally. Jason rubbed his cheek, wincing as he walked down the sidewalk, trying to clear his head. His dad's words still echoed in his mind: "You're 21, Jason, but you still act like a child. That hair, those piercings... what's wrong with you?" Jason sighed, feeling like he was walking away from the same argument they had every few months. His dad just didn't get him. As he walked, the houses blurred together, but one familiar one caught his eye. Ron's house. His best friend Ron. Jason hadn't seen him in a while, but they always kept in touch through social media and phone calls. He hadn't planned on stopping by, but his feet seemed to have a mind of their own. Ron's house was just a block away from his own, and Jason found himself standing in front of it, staring at the familiar front door. Just as he was about to turn around and continue his aimless walk, the door opened, and Ron's face appeared. "Jason! What's up, dude?" Ron's eyes scanned his face, and his expression changed to concern. "What's wrong? You look like you've been crying." Jason forced a laugh. "Nah, I'm fine. Just had a disagreement with my dad." He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit self-conscious about his bleached hair and pierced ears. Ron's eyes narrowed. "Disagreement? That's code for 'you got in trouble,' right?" He stepped out of the house, closing the door behind him. Jason shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, something like that. He didn't like my new hair, and... well, it escalated." Ron nodded sympathetically. "Come on, I'll tell you about it inside." He gestured for Jason to follow him. As they walked into the house, Jason was hit with the familiar smell of gaming consoles and snacks. Ron led him to the living room, where a few people were lounging on the couch. Jason's eyes widened as he took in the unfamiliar faces. "Guys, this is Jason, my best friend," Ron said, gesturing to the group. "Jason, this is Adapt, my brother. And that's Lacy, his other brother." Adapt, a tall, lanky guy with buzzed brown hair, nodded at Jason, while Lacy, a bit heavier-set guy with short brown hair, gave him a friendly smile. There were two other people on the couch, a black guy with shaved dark brown hair and a tall, lanky guy with thin dreads. "And that's Max and Silky," Ron said, as if reading Jason's mind. Jason's eyes met Max's, and he felt a bit self-conscious about his appearance. But Max just nodded at him, and Jason relaxed. "So, what's going on with you and your dad?" Ron asked, sitting down next to Jason on the couch. Jason filled him in on the argument, and Ron listened attentively. When Jason finished, Ron put a hand on his shoulder. "You can stay here with us for the weekend, if you want. We can hang out, play some games... it'll be a good distraction." Jason hesitated, feeling a bit uncertain about crashing at Ron's place. But at the same time, he didn't want to go back home, not yet. "Okay, sure," he said finally, trying to sound casual. "Thanks, Ron. I appreciate it." Ron grinned. "No problem, dude. We'll make sure you're entertained."