Joy

Part 5

Dylan's P.O.V.

Zach: You do know that I went upstairs cause there are rooms up, right?
Dylan: I know... I know. It's just... I don't know.

Silence. Zach and I are in front of my house. He sighs. 

Zach: Wow. Is this the first time that famous Dylan Clark can't win someone?

I smile. Of course not. I'm Dylan Clark- I can win anyone. 

Dylan: Of course not. She'll be mine. This was only foreplay. 
Zach: If you say so. 

He breaths in another smoke and steps on the cigarette. 

Zach: I think this is the first time you came home sobber. 
Dylan: Yeah, I think so too. 
Zach: And? Will you keep it that way?
Dylan: Definitely not. It's depressing, I remember everything. 

He rolls his eyes and starts leaving.

Dylan: Zach...

I'm thinking about thanking him, he was always by my side, but I don't say anything, 

Dylan: See you. 
Zach: Take care. 

I enter my house. 

Denise: Wow, is it possible that you came home after a party?
Dylan: Really funny. 
Denise: How was it?
Dylan: Okay... 
Denise: Wanna eat w...
Dylan: I'm not hungry. 

I walk upstairs to my room. My mom and I are not in a good relationship. She left my dad and remarried- remarried! For the worst man alive. Actually, he's not that bad- his 6 years old daughter is. Her name is Celia and she's annoying as hell. 

Just after a few minutes, she comes to my room- without knocking, without any kind of warning.  

Celia: Dylan!

I'm scrolling through my phone- annoyed even by her appearance. 

Dylan: What!?
Celia: Come play with me. 
Dylan: I can't, I'm busy. 
Celia: With what? You're lying in the bed. 
Dylan: I'm not going to play now!

She walks into the room. 

Celia: You never wanna play with me. 
Dylan: Well, maybe cause you're...

Then my mom walks into the room,

Denise: Common, I'll play with you little one. 

Celia starts walking toward her room. 

Denise: You could be more careful with Celia. She's just a kid Dylan! And your sister.
Dylan: She's not my sister!

She enters the room and closes the doors.

Denise: Regardless of your thinking, she is your sister so start acting like her brother. 

Her voice is quiet and sharp. She's serious about this. 

Dylan: She's not my sister and I'm not her brother. Maybe if you stayed with...
Denise: I couldn't stay with him. And you know that. 
Dylan: He loved you...
Denise: Oh really? If he loved me then he wouldn't...

She was trying to stop her tears from coming. 

Denise: You're just like him!

She spat those words at me like poison. 

Dylan: Well thank God! Better at him than you!

She left. I can hear she hadn't left. She's in front of my room, probably wiping her tears, so Celia wouldn't see her like that. I'm glad I'm like my father cause she's weak... and she always will be. 

Joyce's P.O.V.

Martha and I are sitting in the cafe shop. She's eating her salad slowly while I'm eating my sandwich. 

Martha: I really get along with Austin now. 
Joyce: Austin? You haven't talked about him at all. 
Martha: You didn't ask. 
Joyce: Common! Talk!
Martha: A miracle- Theresa doesn't know him. He's Justin's friend. 
Joyce: Who's Justin?
Martha: I have no idea.  One of the guys from the party. They all looked the same to me. 

Joyce: And you're telling me you weren't drunk. 
Martha: I wasn't! Just... maybe a little bit. But I remember everything. 
Joyce: And? Who's Austin?
Martha: We met... weird. I spilled vodka on his shoes. 
Joyce: Wow. No comment on that one. 
Martha: Yeah... I embarrassed myself a bit.
Joyce: Yeah... "A bit".

She rolls her eyes. 

Martha: Anyways... he's celebrating his 18th birthday next week.
Joyce: And?
Martha: He kinda invited me. 
Joyce: Kinda?
Martha: He invited me. 
Joyce: That's great!
Martha: My parents can't find out. 
Joyce: Okay...
Martha: Can we tell them I'm at your place?
Joyce: If you want to... but I'm not going. 

Martha: But you said you want to repeat...
Joyce: And I do, but you'll be with him and his friends and I'll just... exist there. 
Martha: You can be with Dylan.

I look at her seriously. 

Joyce: You're kidding.
Martha: Not at all. You two get along. 

She grins. 

Joyce: Absolutely not. He probably doesn't even remember what happened. 
Martha: I'm sure he does. 
Joyce: He doesn't and even if he does... what should I do? Come to him and say "I know we're not friends or anything, but do you wanna go to a party cause I don't wanna be alone there."
Martha: I mean... Not in those exact words... but yeah, something like that. 

Joyce: Not a chance. If I ever do something like that, I'm probably dying. 
Martha: Whatever... but you have to be there. Maybe we can ask Theresa. 
Joyce: You really think I would ask Theresa?
Martha: Yeah, she's fun and...
Joyce: She would leave me alone right when we come. 
Martha: You did the same. 

Joyce: No I didn't! 
Martha: You went with Theresa and a stranger! And I was alone with Theresa's company. 
Joyce: It was just for a few seconds. 
Martha: Minutes. But my point is proven. You're going and I don't wanna hear anything about it. 

Suddenly, a picture of Dylan flashes in front of my eyes. 

Joyce: Okay... I'll go. 
Martha: I knew it!
Joyce: What?
Martha: You remembered Dylan. 

She smirks at me. 

Joyce: No I didn't!
Martha: You're blushing. Don't embarrass yourself cause I read you like an open book, honey. 
Joyce: Don't get ahead of yourself, Miss Martha. 
Martha: Me? Never. 

After that we pay and I walk home. It's cold outside and the clouds are dark and heavy. It might rain- which means it's the perfect day for reading. 

I walk into the empty house, then into my empty room. It feels so lonely to be in such a big house by myself. The moment I open the book, my phone rings, and black letters appear- video call, Dad.

Joyce: Hello. 
Leroy: Hello. 
Sue: Hi!

I turn on the light so they can see me too. They are walking down the street with their suitcases. 

Sue: How are you!?
Joyce: Great, you?
Sue: We're fine. 
Leroy: We have some exciting news. We're coming home next weekend!
Joyce: O... Oh. That's great. I can't wait to see you. 

Leroy: You don't seem too happy about it, is everything okay?
Joyce: Yeah... It's just, I'm tired- that's all. 
Sue: We'll call you tomorrow morning, we have some free time. 
Joyce: Okay, enjoy wherever you are. 
Leroy: Bye!
Sue: See you soon, sweety. 

They hang up. My parents, or Martha's party?