Neighbors

Chapter 7

"Hey Ky...what's wrong?" Liza asked as Kyler stormed into the house a couple of hours later. She had brought Kiairi home about an hour before.

"That fucking asshole is what," Kyler seethed as he clenched his fists.

"Um, Ky..." she started to say but Kyler kept on ranting.

"He got me fired Momma!" Kyler shouted making Kiairi grab her ears. "Sorry Sissy," he sighed picking her up and hugging her tightly.

"Kyler—" she tried saying again but Kyler just kept on venting.

"He told my boss that I was in juvie for theft, Momma! The boss wouldn't even let me explain what actually happened! And when I went to confront him about it, he had tossed all my shit into the trash! Everything, Mom, everything! That fucking asshole!"

"Bubba no no," Kiairi pouted as she hugged him.

"I'm sorry Sissy," he sighed as he hugged her. "I won't say anymore bad words, I'm sorry." He sighed again, "I'll find something Momma, I promise."

"That won't be necessary," Axel said as he came in from the kitchen with Owen and North following.

"That's what I was trying to tell you," Liza shook her head.

"She had just been telling us that you were interested in marine biology, is that true?" Axel asked and Kyler nodded as he patted his sister's back. "Good, I need help at my aquarium, when are your classes?"

"9 to 3," he said quickly, "and I'm taking some college courses through the school."

"And the juvie statement?" Owen asked.

"His father had him committed under false charges," Liza quickly explained. "He accused him of stealing his prescription pills, but he tested negative on three different drug tests and a hair follicle. His father forgot how many he took and didn't want to admit that he was addicted to them."

"I'm willing to take random drug tests if you want," Kyler nodded.

"That's okay," Axel shook his head. "I trust you. You can start tomorrow. I'll have your paperwork ready when you show up, just ask for me when you get there and we can discuss everything."

"Seriously?" Kyler asked and Axel nodded. "Thank you so much!"

"Yes, thank you," Liza beamed as she hugged Kyler. She turned to Axel, "does he need to wear anything specific?"

"Just clean jeans," Axel shook his head, "I'll give him some work shirts when he arrives. Do you have your social security card?"

"I have it," Liza nodded, "and his birth certificate, I took those when I left."

"Good," Owen nodded. "We will leave you to talk. Please, think about what we discussed, Liza."

"I will," she nodded, "I promise."

The men left and Kyler turned to her, "think about what, Momma?"

"What really happened, Kyler?" She asked trying to deflect the question. "I know your father and I know you. More than that happened, so what really happened?"

"He destroyed all my things," Kyler admitted. "Clothes, DVDs, PlayStation and games, smashed the TV, everything. But it'll be okay, Momma, I'll be okay, we will be okay."

"We will," she nodded. "We have each other." She hugged him and sighed as her mind began to race with thoughts and ideas as she tried to come up with a plan. She cleared her throat, "first things first," she said as she pulled away, "do you still have your phone?" He nodded, "let's load up and see what we need to do to get you off his line and onto mine. Then we will go to the bank and talk to them about getting him off your account."

"Can't," he shook his head, "he already pulled it."

"What?" She asked shocked then shook her head, "that doesn't surprise me. I'm sorry, Kyler."

"I'm not," he chuckled. "He only got $25. I pulled my money right after you left because I knew he would try something once he found out I didn't want to stay with him."

"Kyler!" She gasped then smiled, "well then I guess since I have the day off, we need to go talk to a lawyer about getting you emancipated or what rights you have."

"Why don't we talk to Mr. Blackbourne since he's the attorney general?" Kyler asked as he sat Kiairi down to play. "He would know what to do."

"They are nice, but I still don't completely trust them," she admitted. "Besides, this is our situation. We don't need to tell them everything. They could just be friendly but they also could—"

"I trust them, Momma," Kyler shook his head.

"Well, I still have my guard up, besides, I'm still legally married to your father," she sighed, "it wouldn't look good in court if I started hanging out with them all the time. Knowing your father, he would try to say it's something more than just being neighborly. We both know that won't happen but still, your father would try and twist it to that."

"You never know, Momma," Kyler smirked, "they may be the ones for you."

"Polyamory?" She asked shocked, "don't be ridiculous, Kyler James. Men don't want premade families."

"They don't seem to mind," He chuckled as he pushed his dark brown hair out of his eyes, "they've offered to watch Sis whenever we need to, and Mr. Blackbourne did stand up to the prick and your job. Neighbors wouldn't do that. Besides, I've seen the looks, they like you."

She rolled her eyes, "Don't be daft, Kyler. Now come on, let's go see what we can find out."