Bad Boy Playground (h.s)

fourteen

Obvious

The leaves are starting to change color.

The once vibrant green is now fading into reds, pinks, oranges, and browns. They haven't started to fall yet but you can tell by the drop in temperature it'll be any day now.

The wind lightly blows through the tree tops as we sit on a cold metal bench watching Lila on the playground. We've been sitting here in silence for no more than ten minutes but I know Harry's in his head about what just happened.

I slapped his mother.

I mean who does that? I physically assaulted her like I was the one off of my meds. I just couldn't help myself, the way she was talking to Harry made me so angry and I acted out. I shouldn't have done that, I feel horrible. I just want him to be okay but the way I handled it wasn't right.

I come from the most perfect family that's raised me right and treated me with love, so seeing that just struck a nerve.

It wasn't fair to him to have me acting psycho when I'm supposed to be the stable one holding him through his storm of a life.

I just want to hold him. Kiss away his problems and let him confide in me. It's selfish. I'm not willing to give all of me to him but I expect that he gives me all of him.

"I need to go home." The words come out barely above a whisper as his eyes stay locked on his sister.

"I'm afraid for y-"

"She needs me Hope." His voice turns stern and I know he's serious. "She's not well, she needs someone to take care of her and I'm the man here, it's my responsibility to just take the crap and deal with it."

"It shouldn't be on you." I turn to face him, bringing my knee up to fully be able to see him. "You're seventeen, you already do so much to provide for your family and it's not supposed to be that way."

"You don't understand" His eyes scream pain as he gently places his hand on my cold cheek. "Everyone has shit, mines just shitty than most but it's mine. She's my mother. As shitty as she is she is my mom. She's the reason why I'm here and she use to be so good. How can someone so good turn out so shitty?" He genuinely asks me, trying to search for answers in my face. When he realizes I can't give him the answer he's looking for he continues. "I know what you saw today was bad, and don't get me wrong I'm so grateful that you stepped in, but I need to take care of this, I need to get her better."

He is so unbelievably selfless. I find myself leaning into his touch and closing my eyes as a tear falls down my cheek, his thumb is quick to wipe it away and his lips replace the salty drop. Lips light as a feather press several kisses to my cheek and my forehead, him trying to comfort me when he's the one that needs to be comforted.

"It's not fair." I whisper knowing that nothing I can do will ever help him.

"Life's not fair Peach." He whispers back, lips still pressed to my skin as his little sister skips up to us with a huge smile on her face.

"Can I get ice cream?" She asks unaware of the emotional tension surrounding us at the moment.

"You just had waffles, you can wait till after dinner for ice cream." Harry's voice stern like he really is her dad, well more of her dad than their actual father.

She pouts and crosses her arms, Harry's not having any of it though as his brows raise and he's now in a starring contest with his sister.

"Please?" She tries one more time with puppy dog eyes.

"No, actually we should be heading out I have things I need to do." He states pushing himself up off of the bench and holding his hand out for me to take.