Forever December[2011 Watty Awards]

Forever December: Chapter 16: For My Family

*Forever December*

*Chapter 16: For My Family*

"Shakespeare. Tell me what you know about his writing." My English teacher ran his tongue across his dried out lips, pacing across the room. He waited for a hand to go into the air, but found no one who would volunteer. With a sigh, he turned towards the class once again. "Must I repeat myself? I'm sure you all are familiar with one if not many of his pieces."

Chelsea's hand raised into the air. She spoke before being called on. "Romeo and Juliet, of course."

"Yes! Romeo and Juliet, the most famous of all of his pieces. Everyone knows it, and most love it. If you don't love it already, you'll learn to." He took out numerous copies of the novel and handed it out to everyone. "Because if you don't, you'll learn nothing."

I wasn't paying attention until the book slammed onto my desk. I jumped, gazing down at the cover. I'd read this almost a dozen times. Did I really have to read it again? I sighed and flipped through the pages, scanning them slowly.

**

*Parker's P.O.V.*

I ran my fingers through my black hair, glaring at the wall. I had to do this. I knew I had to. How else was I going to pay for my kids? Even if I didn't want them, I was going to have to pay child support.

I fingered the large lump in my pocket and wrenched the door open to the small house. The smell of smoke filled the air, surrounding me. Laughs bounced off of the walls, directing themselves towards myself. I guess I didn't exactly look like a person that belonged there.

My fingers grasped my pocket as I moved to a poker table, where five men sat. One stood out. He was bigger than the rest of the men. He wore a bolder hat and sunglasses. A cigar was plucked into his mouth, smoke floating from his nose.

The chatter at the poker table stopped, staring up at me. I stopped in front of the men, staring at the man with the bolder hat. "Nate Kinder?" I asked, nearly yelling so that the man could hear me. He nodded, tugging the cigar out of his mouth. Smoke draped out of his mouth as he spoke.

"Do I know ya, kid?" I shook my head, shoving my hands into the pockets of my hoody.

"I'm here to talk to you about something. Care to step out-"

"Not going outside. Come in here," he gestured towards the door in the back. The other men stared at us, but I ignored them. I walked out of the room, and through the open door.

"I wanted to talk to you about getting...some stuff," I mumbled as Nate closed the door. He walked over to the table and raised an eyebrow, setting his hat down on the table.

"You do, eh? What type 'o stuff? I have lots 'o stuff 'round here." Nate flopped into a large chair, looking at me. "Well?"

"Look, I need...stuff to sell. You know..."I hesitated, but I vowed not to go back on my choice. I was going to do what I had to, no matter what.

"Ah, good choice kid. Come o'er here, I'll get ya started on the 'ol stuff.

This time, I didn't hesitate to follow him. He led me back farther into the room. Smoke filled the air once again. People wore masks and walked around. It looked like a science lab, but I had a feeling that wasn't exactly what this was.

"Eh! Package!" Nate yelled, pursing his lips at the men and women in the room. Everyone stopped, only one moving. He struggled towards the wall and pulled a package into his arms, handing it to me. "All right." Nate said, taking a deep breath, breathing in the circulating fumes.

"You'll do me well, won't ya, ma'boy?" Nate led me into another room. I nodded, though I knew he couldn't see me.

I thought about about December, Rowan, and Rian. When I thought of them...I knew I was doing the right thing. I'd do anything for my family. They were my family. My children, my...my ex....

"Here," he nodded towards the package, "Have it back to me by next month."

"Will do," I mumbled, walking out.

*December's P.O.V.*

"Come on! Come on!" I yelled at April once again. We were going to see the twins - again. As eager as I was, April didn't seem very excited about seeing them. She wasn't exactly a baby person. Rian cried like crazy whenever April came in contact with her. She didn't dare touch Rowan, fearing the same reaction to her touch.

When we got into the room, I pulled Rowan into my arms. Rian was asleep, suckling gently on her small thumb. I held my son close to my chest, rocking him back and forth slowly. He cooed towards me, though his eyes were staring at April.

April fell into the chair in the corner of the room. "Why don't you hold him, Ape? Just this once?" I frowned, looking at her. She let out a small sigh, pushing away her brown hair.

"He's not going to-"

"I don't care if he likes you!" I whispered harshly, "He's your nephew! You at least have to hold him!"

April hesitated before holding out her arms. Lately, she hadn't been as mean as she usually was. Evyn hadn't been around either. He had some new girlfriend...who knew who that was. That boy went through chicks like straws.

I placed Rowan in April's arms. He nuzzled her chest before settling in, nipping at her chest. I giggled, pushing away my hair from my face. "I think he wants your milk, momma," I winked at April, who threw a curse towards me.

There was a knock at the door. I tilted my head with curiosity before opening it. My mother stood at the door, smiling at me. "Where are my grand-babies?" She pulled me to her side, giving me a gentle hug. I had nothing to worry about with my mom around.

I knew that my mother would take care of the twins when they came home, while I was at school. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I was too young to work. At barely sixteen, who would even want me to work for them? I'd never worked a day in my life.

"Rian's asleep. If she wakes up, she'll start screaming," I whispered. It was true. Out of both of my kids, Rian was the screamer. The only time she kept her mouth shut was when she was feeding.

"Oh well. I want to hold her," My mother picked Rian up, but surprisingly, she stayed asleep. Her eyes were droopy, her face pale as it usually was. My mother held her granddaughter close to her, smiling from ear to ear.

"You know, when you were born, I was young," she smiled lovingly at Rian, stroking her cheek continuously. "Your father and I, we'd been in love for so long...So very long." Her eyes seemed to grow distant. "I'd never met someone so handsome on the inside, but so wonderfully brutal on the outside. Have I ever told you the story of how we met?"

"No, momma." I whispered.

"When I met your father, he was a butler for my late fiance's family." And so she told the story of how she met my father. A story, I'm sure you already know. Of how love made up a family that had only just started living a new life, before their lives were once again ruined by tragic death.