Black & White

29: To us, you are perfect.

TW!

***

I sat at the dining room table, wrapped in a big fluffy blanket to hide my body from the eyes of my family. I had an actual bird's nest on my head and my face hadn't seen the sun in a week. My mother must be appalled by my appearance.

''Dear, would you like some breadsticks with your soup? You used to like those'' She asked while pouring me a bowl of her tomato soup. I watched her back, my eyes drooping shut every so often. God, I'm just so frickin' tired...

''No, thanks'' I sighed finally. Not having any carbs, no thanks, Mother.

''Are you sure?'' She asked, still not turning to look at me.

''I am very sure'' I managed to roll my eyes. Why was she being so kind to me all of a sudden? Could it be...? Was she worried about me? That would be a shocker to the world, right?

''You need the energy'' She said simply, before turning around. Her eyes fell to my appearance, frowning. ''Are you cold?'' She asked.

I nodded, tired of speaking.

''Well, that's strange, it's quite warm in here'' She frowned.

I rolled my eyes, ''What's going on, Elizabeth?''

She seemed surprised I had used her first name. ''What do you mean?'' She frowned again.

''What are you doing?'' I sat back, relaxed in the big dining room chair. ''Why are you acting like I'm an exceptional piece of Fine China all of a sudden? I mean, I've been nothing but a paper plate to you, all my life'' I chuckled at the last part, my eyes staying emotionless nevertheless.

''That's not true, Tina Jade'' She shook her head, placing the bowl of soup in front of me.

''Just tell me'' I scoffed, tired of her lies. ''Just say it! Richard's son has gone bonkers and wants to skin me alive. Just say that'' I shrugged, not a single ounce of care in the world.

She gaped at me, taken by surprise.

''I heard you two, you know'' I rolled my eyes.

''Tina Jade, there is no reason to be scared. He is being monitored and will soon be placed in a facility. I promise you, you will be fine'' She assured me as if it was what I wanted.

''So you and Richard are just going to put a teenage boy into a nuthouse?'' I snorted.

''It's for the best, Tina Jade'' Richard walked in, Gina following close behind him. ''Trust me, I know it is''

I shook my head, appalled by them. How could they just abandon a sick kid? How could they do that to him? Perhaps, if they didn't, he wouldn't have been the way he is. ''You two are sick'' I muttered, slowly lifting a spoonful of soup to my lips. I could smell it, it made my senses go crazy. I was overwhelmed, to say the least.

''Tina, there are many things you don't understand-''

''Except, I do'' I dropped the spoon into the bowl, scowling at him as he tried to make me feel like I hadn't been through anything. ''I was once, too, a Tom'' I spat back at him.

''He bullied you, Tina Jade. He beat you, simply for being jealous that you lived here'' My mother was shocked I would be defending him.

''Maybe if you two didn't ditch a sick kid with his dying mother, he would've turned out completely different'' I argued.

''No, Tina'' Richard shook his head. ''I tried to take him with me. He didn't want me to, at the time. His mother was sick, extremely sick. The last few years of life with her were unbearable. I had to sleep in the garage most nights because she would attack me every night. Tom was, from his early childhood, a lot like her. He would hurt Gina, from the very first day she was born. I was always scared for her''