Flipped Again

Chapter 14: Upset in The Loski House

Bryce's POV:

I poked and prodded my food with my fork, hopelessly uninterested at the family dinner.

My parents and Shelly were engaged in boring conversation, my dad had gotten up to grab some alcohol, which we found him doing often nowadays.

Slowly, I could feel Shelly's presence from beside me edging sideways closer to me. Her lips close to my ear.

"I know what you did." She whispered, a glint in her eye.

I jumped in shock. "What are you talking about Shelly?"

She laughed mechanically, covering her mouth, then she turned her hand at an angle, shielding it and leaned in to whisper again.

I could feel my heart pulsating in every corner of my body, ringing like a fire alarm.

"The rum" She said simply.

I took a sharp intake of breath and sighed deeply. "Oh. Yeah. That." My laugh was awkward and blunt. "Our little secret?"

She nodded slightly, smiling happily, then reached over to hold my hand under the table. I didn't think anything of it and decided to not fight it.

After dinner had finished my parents set me to tidying and washing the dishes. I had no choice but to comply.

I stood at the sink scrubbing, passing the dishes to my mother who stood beside me drying them.

"Mom. I was thinking, could I go out tomorrow? I want to connect with some old friends. You remember Garrett?" I asked airily.

Of course, I knew myself that was a lie and I had not connected with Garrett in years, let alone set up to meet him. The person I was actually intending to spend time with I considered the polar opposite of him.

"Of course I remember Garrett. But you know what your father said. You're not going out until you deliver him an apology." She replied solemnly.

"Seriously mother? I'm 18 and grounded for wanting to speak to Juli Bakers." I complained.

"Come on now Bryce, you know that's not why your father's angry with you. You threw false accusations at him insultingly" She swallowed.

"Oh but it is so why he's mad at me. If it was Shelly Stalls out there my father would have practically dug a path for me to get to her...What's the prejudice against Juli Baker?"

"I haven't an ounce of prejudice for Juli Baker." My mother said defiantly.

"Oh so you'd be okay with me marrying her?" I asked, not really realising what I'd said.

"Are you telling me you intend on marrying Juli Baker?" She replied.

I hesitated. "Of course not." I winced. "Just...putting it into perspective"

At that moment Shelly bounded into the kitchen, all smiles.

"Hello Ms Loski." She paused and looked to me, pronouncing ever- so-slightly slower. "Hello Bryce."

"Evening Shelly. What brings you to the kitchen?" Asked my mom.

She produced a glass. "Just come to get some water." She explained

As she refilled her drink, the room fell silent other than the running of water from the faucet and the squeaks as my mother dried the dishes.

Shelly stopped expectantly after she'd finished, but then simply turned around and left the room. I could hear the soft shuffle of her satin slippers making their way up the stairs.

"In answer to your question" My mother began. "Marry for love."

I smiled fondly but then anger washed over me and I couldn't help the words that tumbled out of my mouth.

"So why couldn't Lynetta?"

"Bryce" My mother whispered, suddenly pale and afraid. The woman I was looking up to for answers now seemed so small, weak and vulnerable beside me. "How did you find out about-" She cupped her hand around her mouth containing her sobs.

"I have my ways. I went to visit her the other day." I said unremorsefully.

"Bryce; you must understand. I still love Lynetta. I will always love Lynetta. I have never been ashamed of her. Infact, I give her money monthly. I attach a note too, but Lynetta has never responded to them. All in due time, I'm working to restore our relationship. I truly am."

"Giving her money is all well and good mom, but you're doing it in secret. And it doesn't take away from the fact that you kicked her out" I responded.

She wept into her handkerchief she had produced. "Your right Bryce, your right. I'm a terrible mother. I would have never kicked her out, I swear I wouldn't. But it's your father." She looked up at me with teary eyes.  "You know he is. How he gets. What he says goes"

"Do you love him." I asked, my voice close to a whisper.

She sighed. "Once, yes. But now, it's not about loving him. We couldn't get by without him. You should be more appreciative of your father."

"There you go again mom. Defending him. Why? We could get jobs, we don't need him."

She scoffed, as if her getting a job was ludicrously out of the question . " I'm not arguing with you Bryce. I'll finish the dishes, you clear off" And she budged me out of my position infront of the sink.

I huffed, dragging myself up the stairs. When I reached the top I could make out faint sniffling noises, coming from Shelly's room.

I hovered at her door, wondering whether I should talk to her.

I decided against it not wanting to deal with Shelly Stalls in that state. As I reached my hand up to turn my door knob Shelly's door behind me was thrust open.

I whipped around to see her in her nightdress, her hair filled with rollers. She was teary eyed and red in the face.

After a moments staring her face crumpled and she exploded into tears again, rushing into the bathroom and slamming it shut behind her.

I could hear her crying from outside. I knocked timidly on the door.

"Shelly? Shelly...are you quite all right?" I said nervously.

The wailing stopped.

Then started up again.

I gulped. There was to be no stopping Shelly's display of waterworks. Hesitantly, I traipsed back to my room, closing the door behind me, wondering why on earth Shelly Stalls was so upset.

And why on earth she hadn't taken the chance to let me console her.

I didn't think for a moment that I could possibly be the reason for her despair.

That's the trouble with not thinking.

You get things wrong.