"So Roy- is he strict?" Ashton immediately asked after his statement.
"He has strict rules that he expects us to follow." Ben shrugged lightly, making us exchange a glance.
"And what happens if you or Briley breaks these rules?" He asked calmly, trying not to make him assume that we were flat out asking, 'does Roy abuse you?'.
He shrugged lightly.
"Depends on what rule we break." He spoke.
"What rule is the worst to break?" I asked.
"It's different for Briley and I." He informed us.
"Well which one is worst for you?" Ashton asked.
We watched him contemplate.
And then suddenly, it was like a flip switched.
"I don't think this conversation is necessary."
"Ben, we just want to talk-" "no, I'm here for an assessment." He was firmer with his speaking, almost like a completely different demeanor.
"And your mental health is part of the assessment-" "what my step father considers his rules has nothing to do with my mental health." He spoke to us.
"Actually, in some cases it has everything to do with your mental health." I told him, seeing him exhale.
"Would you prefer to talk about Briley?" Ashton asked, and I watched Ben shrug.
"I don't get what she has to do with my mental health either." He spoke.
He was suddenly like talking to a brick wall.
"Well, if you don't have anything else to say-" "I don't." He interrupted Ashton.
"Well then, you are dismissed, we will see you tomorrow with your sister." Ashton finished, making him stand and leave shortly after.
I looked to Ashton who stared to the doorway he just walked out of.
"That kid has a personality disorder." He spoke firmly.
"How are you so sure?" I asked, making him finally look to me.
"Because we just talked to two completely different people within a five minute chat."
Briley.
I spent the day cleaning and cooking, praying that he found tonight's food better than last nights.
I iced my eyes and lip, hoping to make the swelling go down.
Before I knew it, my alone time was ruined by Ben coming home, his cheerful mood immediately filling the room.
"It smells great." He spoke as he looking into the pit, giving an approving nod.
"Thank you" I responded to him.
He sat with me in the kitchen until I told him I was done cooking, where him and I moved into the dining room to talk.
"Your birthday is coming up, any ideas of what you want to do?" He asked me calmly.
"Probably won't be allowed to do anything" I told him, remembering that last year we planned an entire day for me and Dad waited until ten minutes before we were leaving to tell us that he didn't want us to do anything.
"Oh come on- it's your seventeenth birthday" he wiggled his shoulders with a smile.
"Yeah, but still" I shrugged lightly
"Well at least give me a gift suggestion" he smiled.
Everything I wanted, he couldn't give me.
"Maybe you could just give me the night off and cook something instead of me cooking, I think that would be nice"
