𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 || joel miller ¹

[ 𝟎𝟒 ] 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞

─ ❝ I KILLED HIM ❞

──── ⋆◖◍◗⋆ ────

    RENEE AWOKE TO THE SOUND of Joel's phone ringing, groaning as she was pulled from a shallow slumber. Reminded of her landline that morning, she expected to see her bedroom walls when her eyes fluttered open. Instead, she was met with a Curtis and Viper 2 action scene playing lowly on the living room television, and Sarah's sleeping head resting in her lap.

Joel reached for his phone before it could wake Sarah, stealing a glance at the caller ID. He groaned, sending a displeased look over to Renee.

"What time is it?" The woman whispered groggily, startling when she felt Sarah stir in her sleep.

Joel checked his watch. "Ten past eleven." He answered the call, keeping his voice low as to not wake his daughter.

Immediately, Renee could hear commotion from the other end of the call before Tommy's voice cut through, loud and clear. "Joel? It's me. Uh, I'm okay." There was tension in his throat, thick at that.

"Yeah?" asked Joel, a nervous edge in his voice as he anticipated absolutely anything from his brother.

"But I'm in jail."

Joel's eyes closed as he let out a deep sigh, his head falling back into the couch cushion. Renee sat up, suddenly feeling her body wake up when Tommy's words set in. What? she mouthed, flailing for the remote to cut the volume on the TV.

"It wasn't my fault this time!" Tommy instantly started to argue. Although, Renee couldn't catch Tommy's garbled explanation when Joel rose to his feet and started to pace around the living room, his fingers raking through his hair.

Joel froze, face twisting with something resembling frustration and pure anger. "Now?" He hissed, sending Sarah a fleeting glance when his voice unintentionally rose with irritation.

Renee ran a soothing hand along the side of her head, envying the young girl's serene state.

"Well, which jail? Travis County?" Joel huffed, shaking his head. "God fuckin' damnit, Tommy."

The woman could see a million thoughts racing behind Joel's sleepy eyes as his brother pleaded with him over the phone, all eventually boiling down to one word: "Okay."

"Fuckin' idiot." Joel seethed as he hung up and stuffed his phone in his pocket. He froze when he caught sight of Renee replacing her lap with one of the throw pillows beside her, sliding it underneath Sarah's head with ease.

"I can go get him. You said Travis County, right?"

"No, no," Joel quickly shook his head. "It's alright, baby. You go on up to bed, I'll put Sarah in her room."

"I drive by it every day, it's okay." Renee rebutted, her eyes drifting back towards Sarah's sleeping form. "It's still your birthday, for crying out loud. Enjoy what you have left of it."

"I know, I know." Joel spoke with the same irritation as Renee had, though all of it was directed at Tommy. "But I need you here to watch Sarah, okay? I promise I'll be back soon."