house to house

•9•

"I'm confused," mom says.

"How?" I ask. "How could you be confused? It's self explanatory."

"It's not," dad says. "You both just randomly said you're in love with each other."

"Because we are," I say.

"Then explain!" Mom yells.

"Miranda and I secretly dated for months. We didn't tell anyone because we knew what we were doing was wrong and illegal."

"If you knew it was wrong then why did you continue?" Preston asks.

I look at him like he's stupid, "Whoever said you got an opinion? I don't want to hear shit from you."

"Brandon," Miranda whispers.

"No," I yell. "He doesn't get to say shit. He has no room to talk." I look at Preston, "Maybe you should ask yourself the same question."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Preston asks.

"You knew what you were doing to those kids was wrong and illegal. Why didn't you stop?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

I roll my eyes, "Yea, whatever. That's what they all say."

"Brandon, what are you talking about?" Mom asks me.

"Nothing," I look at Miranda and I shoot her a reassuring smile. "It's not my story to tell. Just know that this man should rot in hell for the shit he has done."

"Miranda, what is he talking about?" Dad asks.

"Nothing," she shakes her head. "It's a conversation for a different time, but right now we need to worry about the papers."

"What about them?" Mom asks. "You just need to sign them."

"I don't want to sign them though," she says.

"Why the hell not?" Mom asks. "This is what you have been dreaming of ever since you were a little girl."

"I know it's what I've been dreaming of, but I need Brandon more than my dream. Brandon is now my new dream."

"I just don't understand," Preston says. "How are you going to throw everything away for a stupid boy that doesn't even care about you?"

"Shut the fuck up!" I yell. "This has absolutely nothing to do with you!"

Preston rolls his eyes at me, but I don't give a shit. He has no right to talk to her. He should get no opinion at all.

Miranda continues, "I appreciate your family more than anything. I will forever cherish everything you guys have done for me and Myra. You really have no idea how much everything means to me. I don't know how I can ever repay you guys. You have all showed me what real love is and what real family truly is." She takes a deep breath, "But I know that Brandon is what I need to make it. He has saved me and brought out the best in me. He's my best friend and I can't ever imagine a life without him."

"S-so you don't want us?" Mom asks with tears rolling down her face.

"Of course I want you guys, but I need to do what's best for me," Miranda says.

"And choosing to love my son is better than having a family?" Mom asks.

"Mom, don't be like that," I say. "You know damn well that we both love all of you."

"I'm sorry," Miranda picks up the papers and holds them in both of her hands. She then looks at the papers and then back to me. I lightly nod my head to her. She tears the papers in half and smiles lightly, "I hope you guys can forgive me, but I beg you guys to continue to watch over Myra. Don't let me ruin this for her."

"Miranda, we still want you too," mom cries.

"I can't," she says quietly.

"P-please, don't do this," mom says to her. "We can figure something out. We want you, Miranda."

"We don't always get what we want," I say.

"But you sure as hell got what you wanted," dad says. "That's easy for you to say."

"Dad," I say.

"Don't!" He snaps. "I can't believe you guys are doing this! How could you do this to us?"

"We are sorry," I say. "But you always told us to do what's right for us."

"This will never be right," dad says. "It's wrong on so many levels."

"Don't you think we know that!" I yell. "That's why it was always a secret! We knew it was wrong, but we didn't want to leave each other. I couldn't just leave her!"

"You left her for a little bit," dad says.

"Only for her to be happy."

"You ruin everything," he says to me.

"No, he doesn't," Miranda says. "He saved my life. You guys have no idea how amazing your son is. You'll never understand it."

"I think we know more about our son than you do," mom says.

"I doubt that," I say.

"Whatever," dad says. "If leaving is what you both want, then go."

"You know we don't want that," Miranda says.

"That's how you're acting," dad says. "Just go before you make everything so much worse."

"I'm sorry," Miranda cries.

"Go," dad whispers.

Miranda stands up from her chair and storms out of the court room. I immediately run after her.

"M!" I yell once we are completely outside. She stops but doesn't turn around to look at me, "M, look at me."

"What did we just do?" She whispers.

"We did what we thought was right."

"That was right?" She says a bit louder, "Leaving the family that loves me dearly to be with a man, that's right?"

"I can't tell you what is right. I know what I thought and I think it's right, but I can't answer that for you."

She turns around to look at me as the tears stream down her face, "Let's go?"

"Where?" I ask. "Are you sure you want this?"

She shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know, Brandon, but what I do know is we are meant for each other. I love you more than anyone on this earth. I always thought my home was a family or validation from a family, but I was so wrong about that. You're my home. I can't go on without you."

I smile and I step closer to her, "Then we leave. I need you. You're my home as well, so let's get out of here and never turn back."

"Okay," she whispers.

"I love you, M," I wrap her in my arms and she holds onto me so tightly.

"I love you more."

"Now let's go," I kiss the top of her head. "We can start our forever somewhere far from here."

She smiles, "Yea, our forever."

The end