Unforeseen Resolutions (Complete)

Chapter Two

"Savannah, hurry up!" Someone shouts from the living room.

As I wash my hands I look at myself in the mirror. I smile. With all of the stress and drama over the summer I lost a lot of weight. No Alex, school board hearings, court hearings, new house, new job, summer classes...it was a lot. Dorian giving me a place to live while the dorms were closed was a saving grace. At first he refused to take the rent money from me but he finally accepted it. He even helped me get my job.

Now that the fall semester is almost half over I am feeling more normal. I look at my face and see color coming back. I look down and see I'm looking less like just skin and bones. I'm looking like myself again. I dry my hands and leave the bathroom.

Every weekend we have a game/movie night. Dorian can't go out most weekends because of Makena. Most of us girls are still under age. So we do this instead. Tonight is a kid game and an adult movie. Next week will be a kid movie and an adult game. That way Makena can join in before bed. I walk in the living room where everyone is getting snuggled up for the movie except Sadie and Makena, who are arguing over the game still on the floor.

"For the love of God! Sadie stop fighting with the four year old and clean up!" Dorian shouts.

"Yes, Sir." Sadie salutes him.

Dorian scowls and walks off. I grab a bowl of popcorn and sit down. Once the game is cleaned up we all tell Makena goodnight and Dorian puts her to bed. When he returns and takes his usual spot next to me someone presses play.

Later, I look over at Dorian.

"What's the matter with you?" I whisper.

"Your friend is going to be the death of me." He scowls.

I look over and see Sadie giggling and throwing popcorn at Lily. I shush them. Then smile at Dorian.

"Better?" I ask, he just shrugs and goes back to the movie.

Once everyone leaves for the night I do my nightly routine of writing in my journal. I am almost done with my entry when my cell phone goes off. My heart flutters in excitement and surprise at the thought that Alex is calling. But those thoughts are dashed when I see it's actually James calling. My emotions suddenly jump to fear, is something wrong with Alex? I quickly answer it.

"Hello?"

"What have you done to my brother?" James slurs and I instantly know he's been drinking.

"What do you mean? What happened to Alex?" I ask, fear and confusion gripping my chest.

"You! You happened. He's no fun. You sucked all the fun..."

"Who are you talking to?" I hear Alex ask in the background, cutting James off.

My heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice. I knew I missed him but hearing his voice...it almost breaks my heart. I hear some sounds and I can only assume Alex is taking the phone away from James or he's dropped somehow. Muffled murmurs of being no fun come from a distance.

"Hello?...Anna?" Alex speaks on the phone.

"Hi." I don't know what to say.

"Hi...sorry James has been drinking. I've taken this damn phone away from him twice now."

I laugh picturing the two fighting over a phone, one drunk and acting like a little child told he can't play with his favorite toy anymore.

"I hope he didn't wake you."

"No, we had a late movie night and I was writing in my journal before bed."

"How are you?" he asks, I can hear the uncertainty in his voice.

"Good. Classes are going well. Work is great. You?" I ask.

"Good. Work is the same. James is still a handful as you can tell. I heard Reign is coming into town next week to visit Hunter for fall break. Will you be flying in with her?"

Guilt pulls at my chest hearing he wants me to go back and visit. But I can't afford it and need the hours at work. Talking to him only makes me want to see him more.

"No. I am staying here for the break."

Silence. After so long apart we struggle with things to talk about. At some point it just becomes the same simple questions. The quiet starts to become overbearing when Alex clears his throat.

"I won't keep you any longer. Sorry again for James. He's an idiot, what can I say?" he laughs.

"It was really not a problem. It was nice hearing from both of you."

"Well have a good night, Anna."

"Good night Alex."

We hang up. I put my phone and journal away before burying myself in my covers. I am able to hold back the sobs but silent tears stream down my cheeks as I fall asleep.