Betty

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*****

"Here James, bring some home for your father," Mrs. Lewis said as she gave James a tupperware of leftover lasagna.

"You're sure?"

"Of course, and just bring the tupperware back next weekend."

"Thank you."

"It's nice to see you again James," Mr. Lewis said.

"You too. Thanks everyone for dinner."

"Glad we could finally convince you to stay long enough for it," Mrs. Lewis added.

James gave a curt nod and headed to the door, Betty followed in tow.

"See you Monday I guess," Betty said.

"Bye James!" Olivia perked up.

"Bye Olive. See ya Betty." James picked up her skateboard and headed home in the deep blue of the early night.

It wasn't long till James got home. When she opened the door she noticed the living room lights on. That was odd, when her dad was drunk he was very sensitive to lights. James cautiously entered the house.

"Dad?"

He wasn't on the couch. James made her way to the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw what lay before her.

"Fucking hell," James swore.

Her dad was on the kitchen floor, leaned against the cabinets. His hand was bleeding and a cracked plate had its pieces scattered on the floor. James placed the tupperware on the counter and immediately rushed to the bathroom for the first aid kit.

Then she knelt in front of her dad and gently took his hand. The gash wasn't too bad, but it had clearly been bleeding out for a fair while. She began to clean the cut.

A hiss came from her father as he lazily opened his eyes. "Jamie?"

"Yeah, it's me dad."

She looked at her dad worriedly. She was home almost an hour later than normal and already her dad had gotten himself in an accident. Fear began to course through her veins like electricity. What would have happened if she was away longer? What if it wasn't just a plate he was getting.

James finished wrapping a bandage around his hand.

"Where were you Jamie? There was no dinner."

"I brought some from the Lewis'. They insisted I stay for dinner, I texted you dad." James cleaned up the broken plate then went to heat up the food. She then gave it to her dad with a fork to eat. "Here, dinner."

He looked up at her, eyes distant. His expression numb. "You always make dinner."

James' eyes teared up at that. "Dad..." Her voice broke. "God I'm so tired of this," James said as she stood up.

"What Jamie?"

She looked down at her dad.

"I'm tired, dad. I know I can't ask for life to be perfect or anything. I just want you to try dad. Please. We live in this shitty place because you have been drunk constantly since Chloe left and you can't keep a job. For that same damn reason I have had to work almost everyday after school to help pay bills and for groceries while also saving up for college, because I sure as hell am not going to be able to afford it with how much you spend on alcohol. After work I come home to you drunk on the couch and make you dinner around seven. It's like I do everything for you dad! But guess what! I'm the kid here, I'm the one who's in high school. Who has homework to finish and tests to study for. I have friends I want to spend time with. Shocker!