Who We've Become

9| Traumatic Wound

Jolie sat cuddled close to her husband, a blanket draped over both of them as they watched a movie. It was a lazy Saturday, one where any outdoor plans had been derailed by rain. Neither Jolie or Rafael had minded though. The kids were quietly doing their own things and they were taking advantage of the downtime.

"Hey mom."

Rafael paused the film, both of their attention moving to their middle child. "Yes Cate."

"If I wanted to see a concert, could I?"

"As long as you don't mind your mom tagging along until you're a little older." Rafael eyed his wife, but she ignored him. "Who'd you want to see?"

"Taylor Swift."

Jolie elbowed her husband when he chuckled. "I'll see if Jack Maxwell has access to decent tickets." She'd spent the majority of her life paying at the door to see bands—pushing her way up to the front or letting loose in the pit—this would definitely be a new experience.

"Allison, Riley, and Emma want to go too."

"None of the boys?"

Jolie smirked when Cate rolled her eyes. "Logan called it a chick-fest and Mason and Cy went along with it. Eli might want to go though, he wouldn't say one way or the other with Logan there."

"Can you determine a headcount?"

"Yeah," Cate grinned, "thanks mom."

"No problem."

Rafael didn't lift the remote as their daughter scampered back up the stairs, he didn't move at all, just eyed her humorously from her peripheral.

"What?"

"You hate Taylor Swift." He'd bit back a chuckle and Jolie rolled her eyes.

"I don't hate Taylor Swift." Rafael smiled around the lip he'd bitten in an attempt to dampen the outward appearance of his amusement. "I'm mean, I wouldn't intentionally sit down and listen to her, but I wouldn't flip the station in disgust if she were to come on the radio either."

"You don't listen to the radio."

Jolie grinned at the truth behind that statement. She couldn't remember the last time she'd flipped through radio stations... sometime before iPods and smart phones she'd assume. Every song she could ever want was stored on her phone and with the convenience of modern technology she could play those songs wirelessly in the car she was driven around in or through speakers at work and at home. If anyone annoyed people with their music it was her. "I like to be in control of what I listen to."

"And what everyone else listens to..."

"I'm the cool mom who listens to punk music."

Rafael chuckled as he tugged her closer. "None of your kids see it that way."

"Eh," her shoulders shrugged as best they could against his side, "I like what I like."

"Are you going to see if Sarah wants to chaperone with you?"

"That's not a bad idea... I think she actually likes Taylor Swift."

Rafael eyed his wife as she flipped to the next page in the book she'd purchased for herself as an early birthday present. Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls. The title itself meant nothing to him, but it was written by one of her favorites authors and she kept giggling to herself so he assumed it was enjoyable.

"Can I help you?" She didn't lift her eyes from the book, but from her tone he knew he'd been caught staring at her.

"All those shows you used to go to... did you always feel safe?"