𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜... | ᴍᴀᴛᴛʜᴇᴏ ʀɪᴅᴅʟᴇ |

35.

35. custody
• • •

We sat with silence between us as I sipped my tea, waiting for Mattheo to say something, or at least look at me. After my drink was finished, I had no excuse to stay silent. "Wanna watch a musical?"

"God, no." I frowned in disappointment but grabbed my laptop, sitting against my headboard.

"Well, I do." I furiously typed away and put on West Side Story. I wasn't usually the one to read or watch a Romeo and Juliet adaption, but this was my one exception. The start was just dancing, no dialogue or singing or anything, that's why I loved it. I didn't know what was happening until I watched the rest. I saw out of the corner of my eye, Mattheo kept glancing at my screen. I paused the musical fifteen minutes in, looking at him silently, inviting him to sit next to me. If there was one thing I hated more than theatre haters were people who loomed over my laptop, trying to be sneaky.

"Why do they hate Puerto Ricans?" He asked, disrupting the movie. "And why do the Puerto Ricans hate the Caucasians?" I rolled my eyes, thinking it was pretty obvious. I braced myself for more questions but Mattheo was silent for a few minutes. Only a few."Why did he just say 'sperm the worm'? That's some weird shit."

"Oh my god," I groaned, pausing West Side Story, "either shut up or get out." I shoved him as if I was pushing him to make a decision. He shut his mouth and I relaxed again, playing it, hoping there would be no more disruptions.

Until there was. I shot up, back rigid as I whipped my head around to see who just slammed my door open. My hard gaze quickly melted into confusion and fear as I saw Pandora standing there, holding back tears.

"Edith," she choked, not even acknowledging that there was a boy in my bed. I turned to that boy, silently pleading for him to leave. Thankfully, without a word, Mattheo scurried out, leaving me with my sister. "Um," she sniffed, sitting on the edge of my bed as I closed my laptop. "Mom and dad are getting a divorce."

"Isn't that good? Leslie was a bitch." The words rolled off my tongue before I could stop them.

"I guess." I watched Pandora crumble. Just how she crumbled with Trent. I wanted to push for an answer, but I knew that if I was her, I wouldn't want that. So, I waited. "It was- it was your dad's decision, mom agreed though, but under one condition." I scooted to sit next to her, grabbing her hand, trying to comfort her.

"What is it?" I whispered, not bearing the uncertainty any longer.

"She wants custody of you. Full custody." I sat stunned, absolutely inarticulate, my mind was drawn to a blank. "She wanted me to, but since I'm eighteen it can't happen anymore." I shot up, pacing around my bedroom. "Listen, there's going to be a lawsuit-"

"Lawsuit? As in we're going to court for this bullshit?" Pandora slightly nodded. "This isn't right!" I burst. "That lame ass excuse of a mother - much less a woman - doesn't have the right to fucking take me into her full custody!" Pandora stood, taking me in her arms, trying to calm me down.

"It's not right, I know. It's messed up, and it shouldn't happen. But it is. But if all goes well, she would leave with only a divorce."

"And everything goes to shit? She leaves with me and a divorce?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "That's fucked!"

"Edith, stop, please. We're going to go through this together. I'm never leaving your side, and I am never letting you go."

"But what if I have to?" I asked, voice quivering, tears telling in my eyes, threatening to spill. "I don't want to let go."

"You won't. I promise." I was all too familiar with the anxiety, but having it for this reason was different. Why did Leslie want me anyways? For her benefit? To put Dad into endless misery? Or was she saving him? Was I that bad of a daughter? I tried to slow my racing thoughts, falling onto my bed, head in my hands.