It's only us. (ON HOLD)

8

we pulled into the diner and exited our cars before we found a booth and sat down.

"it was like we just did this." i said.

"it's kinda funny." he responded, looking down at his hands," really funny.."

i looked at him with worry as i softly reached over to him and touched his arm," what, happened." i asked.

he looked at me and laughed softly," my mom kicked my sister out, she's living with me.." he said " she told her to leave and take everything she could need in a backpack, and dropped her off at my house."

"no way.." i said," why, why did she do that?"

"it's for the dumbest reason." he said," it's so stupid, and it makes me furious to even think about it." he said.

i could see his face visibly tense up, so i quickly decided to not speak on it further.

"understandable.. are you feeling better." i asked.

he smiled faintly," as good as it can get.." he said," as good as it could possibly get."

"i'm glad to hear you're feeling a bit better.."

he smiled, before the waiter came over to take our orders. i ordered a smoothie, as i wasn't concerned about eating much.

he did the same.

i chuckled as i pulled my hand back, to grab the clipboard from my bag.

"charlotte drew something for me that i never really expected to see." i said, placing it on the table.

"ah yea.. i remember." he said," she wouldn't stop drawing you two.."

"so it was true you spent a lot of time in there." i asker.

"yea. it is true, you got me.." he said, hiding the smile that was curling at his lips. i took note of that, as i asked him," were you there when they cut her hair.." i asked.

he hesitated to answer. which gave me the idea that he knew.

"i was."

"i see.."

"and i asked her parents multiple times to not cut it off." he stated,"i watched her cry, and ask to keep her hair, but her parents just pushed it down and cut it regardless.."

"you asked them to not cut it?"

"i did everything i could. but at the end of the day it's the parents choice.." a solemn look filled his face," and i didn't know how to tell you.. so i couldn't bring myself to tell you last night."

it was like, something has changed when he spoke to me about this. as if it was like really hurting him too..

"and my mom, kicked my sister out, because she refuses to believe that sickness killed my dad." he whispered," she thinks it was him overworking himself with art. and she found art supplies in my sisters room and that was the breaking point for my mother."

"you're kidding me.." i asked," over art supplies.."

"over art supplies.." he said," and i just can't wrap my head around it. why does it matter so much? was the medical bills not enough proof for her.. what more did she need.."

"don't. wrap your head up around this. i need you to look at this in a different way diego.. please. your sister is with you, where she can express herself.."

"but i'm not a mom.. i'm not a parent.. i don't know how to truly take care of someone her age."

"she's older though.. she knows what she needs and doesn't need.. but at times i know that there's confusion. and if you need help, ask me or grace."