Pretty Boy

Chapter XXII: Two can play that game

Ollie rested his head on the frosted window the entire way home. They had left the mall empty handed. His mother was reprimanding him and trying to get him to fess up. She had gotten the call from Scarlett's mother, making Ollie a target for endless  questions.

"But you were with her right?"

"Yes mother..."

"Don't yes mother me-"

She lit a cigarette and rolled down the window just a crack.

"You see I don't think you're telling the truth," She said as she took a drag of her cigarette. "Mom- Why can't you just believe me?!" Ollie asked demandingly. He took a deep breath and sighed. "Just want to understand you-" She said as she exhaled through the crack. "So do I-" He said, crossing his arms in defeat. There was nothing but silence between them for the rest of the ride.

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Scarlett hung her head over her bed like she always  did when something bad happened. Letting the blood rush to her head. Her mother didn't even knock before she bursted through the door. Scarlett jolted upright, her hair swinging into her face.

"Guess who I just called-"

"Ollie's mom?" Scarlett said in annoyance, rolling her eyes towards her mother. "You are grounded young lady!" Her mother screamed at her, pointing her index finger promptly at her. Scarlett fell back down, letting her head fall once more. "You are not to leave this house unless I say so-" her mother yelled with pride. She felt in control, just how she liked it. "Fine," Scarlett said, as if nothing had happened. She knew the game her mother played. It was a two player game, the goal of the game was to argue as much as possible until one person gets tired of it and storms off.

Scarlett had learned how to deescalate situations by paying her mother no mind. She was just trying to get a rise out of her, it wasn't going to work, not this time.

Her mother was great at yelling and degrading, but not punishment. She didn't take her phone away or keep her daughter from leaving her room. She just wasn't allowed to leave the house. Which was barely a punishment in Scarlett's mind... it just showed how her mother was barely a parent. Her mother stormed out of the room, and that was that.

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His father was home, he didn't expect it and neither did his mother. He was reclined in his recliner. Ollie tried to sneak past his mother and go to his room. Things were always bound to go South when his father and his mother were in the same room.

"I don't think so-"

Ollie's mother said sternly. Ollie stopped in his tracks and turned slightly to face his mother.

"We have nothing to talk about..." He said in annoyance. 

"Don't give me that shit- don't make me wake up your father-"

"Mom- please-"

His mother walked over to his sleeping father and slapped his leg.

"I'm up-" He said, defiance in his voice. "What the hell is going on here?" He asked. "Why don't you ask your son-" She said with her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Ollie get in here"-" His father said followed by the boom of the recliner coming down.

"Yes?" Ollie said with a flare of attitude. "What did you do now?" His father asked.

"I didn't do anything-"

"Your mother says otherwise..."

"Scarlett's mother called me at the mall...  Saying that she suspects you two have been running around..."

"Mom- you don't know anything" Ollie said, closing his eyes. He wanted it all to just disappear.

"Where were you Dean? You're supposed to watch him while I'm at work" His mother said.

"What do you expect me to do? He stays in his room all the fuckin' time"

"Evidently not!"

It was apparent the argument was becoming less about Ollie and more about his parents. Ollie faded into the background as the argument got more heated.  He started backing up out of the living room area. "Ollie- get back here!" His mother shouted. Ollie stopped again. "What for? I mean you guys obviously don't give a fuck about me-"

"That is unfair- and you know it" his mother said in response. 

"I can't do this right now- I gotta get a drink." His father said as he rose from his chair.

"Oh no you are not leaving me here-" His mother said. Ollie swallowed hard as he watched his father shove his mother out of the way and start for the front door. He grabbed his keys from the peg board and left, making sure to slam the door extra hard behind him.

"Oh yeah just run away! Run away like you always fucking do!" His mother yelled at him. It was nothing new, they always did this shit and it always ended the same way. He would disappear saying he was going to get a drink. He wouldn't show back up until two days later.

His mother collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face. Ollie began to back away down the hall. He knew he was supposed to feel something, but he couldn't, he was numb to everything happening around him. He crept down the hall hearing his mothers cries. Once in his room he couldn't do anything but throw himself onto his bed and stare up at the ceiling. He didn't know what to do next. He had royally fucked up his relationship with almost everybody around him.

"Fuck me-" He whispered tohimself as he covered his head with his arm. Suddenly his mothers voice boomed from down the hallway.

"Ollie!"

She bursted through the door full of anger and cruel intent. "Where is your phone?!" She demanded. Ollie sat up in surprise. "Mom- calm down..." He said ancily. "Don't tell me to calm down! Where is your phone?!" He reached into his pocket and reluctantly handed it to her.

"You are not to leave this house- do you hear me?" 

Ollie nodded. After a few moments she left his room in silence. Now Ollie had no idea what to do. His anger towards those around him and himself was building profusely. 

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He rolled over towards his green electric clock. 11:30. He couldn't sleep. His entire sleep schedule had been messed up the past few days. It was impossible for him to try and relax at such an early hour. 

He sat up and stretched. He hadn't left his room since his mother came in for his punishment. They really truly didn't know what he was doing. They were only punishing him because it fit their narrative, nice and neat.

He bent over and pulled out his cosmetic stash. It represented something to him. The beginning of everything. He had to find something to blame for everything falling apart. It all began with the makeup. Things just spiraled after that.  He grabbed the stash. Admiring each dusty compact and brush. He shook his head slightly and began to cry. How do things fall apart so quickly?

That was the million dollar question.

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Thank you so much to anybody who has stuck around to see this story profess. Thanks for all the reads and the votes! I really hope you've enjoyed the story.

It has really been a journey for me trying to write this. So I thank you 🙏
Love y'all! 💖