Things Only Go Downhill

Chapter 24

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"Sometimes I wish I could go back in life. Not to change shit, just to feel a couple of things twice"
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Shouting. Of course, that would be one of his earliest memory. Glass shattering on the floor as someone waved their hands around a little too hard in frustration. Doors slamming then reopening. Occasionally, he'd watch his dad pace into the living room to get away from his mother only for her to follow close behind shrieking. Eventually, there would be the screech of tires as his father angrily drove away.

He'd come back... He always did.

Dorian sat staring at another bright pink slip from school. He was always in trouble. Whether it was stealing, fighting, or snapping at teachers when they humiliated him for not keeping up. Why? Well, it was hard to focus on homework when all you could hear was screaming from outside the room.

This time, however, it had been a bit more serious. He had stolen a watch from his teacher's desk. He had almost gotten away with it too if it wasn't for him being a known trouble maker. Instantly his bag and coat were searched.

Now, his parents were angrier than usual. At first, it had been at him, then it had grown into passive-aggressive remarks toward one another for raising such a delinquent. Now they were fighting over anything and everything under the sun.

"He would have been fine if you just kept walking. We never needed you back, Nickolas" His mother snapped.

"You expect me to leave my son with you?" His father asked in disbelief. "I leave for three days. I come back and he's saying he's been at the neighbors. Three fucking days and you didn't even notice he was gone"

"You're the one who said he should spend more time with people like him. You said that the Darwin's were good for Dorian" She blurted out. "I don't need you bad-mouthing my parenting when you're the one who left him alone at a hotel for five hours"

The little boy on the couch pulled his legs up to his chest and plugged his ears with his fingers. He shut his eyes tight and loudly hummed to himself. He tried to be back at Shawn's house, watching the boy's dad play the guitar for them and listening to the sweet melodies. He wished he smelt hot food steaming from the kitchen and heard Shawn's mother loudly call for dinner. He wished he could be Shawn's brother. He wished his house was happy.

His eyes were snapped open as the loud slam of his parent's bedroom door shook the house. It was a few minutes later when it opened again and his father was carrying an all-to-familiar duffle bag. Only this time he had a backpack too. And they were both stuffed to the rim.

His father was about to leave and did a double take at Dorian. He swallowed his guilt and quickly moved to his son's rescue.

"Hey, bud" He grabbed onto his shoulders firmly. Tears were glazed in his eyes and he was forcing a smile. Dorian knew that... He also knew something was different. Something was wrong. But he was young and didn't understand adult problems all the way yet. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah" Dorian forced a smile. He just wanted to see his dad smile. He just wanted everyone to be happy. His mind raced, begging for his dad's smile to turn genuine and less sad. But it didn't falter.

"Good... I've got to go for a while" He sighed. "But I promise I'll be back. Alright? I promise I'll come back for you with a lawyer so you can come live with me" he paused and glanced up in the direction of the kitchen where Dorian's mother was loudly sobbing. "And get you away from this narcissistic bitch!" He shouted, making Dorian wince a little.