The Publicity Stunt - Ryden

Chapter 18: meet the parents

"You knew about this didn't you!? I swear to God I'm about to lose my shit on camera." I'm screaming at Sarah now. I had stormed off set when news came that my mother, the one who left me when I was only 3, was here. Sarah kept talking in my ear, telling me this wasn't her fault, that they must have set it up to get a reaction from me. She was going to be here in 10 minutes. She would stop this.

But it was too late. Everytime someone turned the corner I jumped, fearing even the sight of that woman. Brendon is beside me, rubbing his hand up an down my back as I hang up the phone with Sarah. My body is shaking violently and I'm hyperventilating.

I could leave. I could storm out of the studio right now and jut run away from her, but I don't. I have no idea why I don't just head to the exit. Maybe it's because of Brendon. Maybe I'm trying to be strong for him. Or maybe it's purely selfish. Maybe I want to meet my mother, show her what a good man she have up, yell at her for leaving me with an abusive alcoholic of a father. She would see me and Brendon together, see how happy I am without her in my life. Repairing things with my mother was a nice thought, it just wasn't the truth. I could never forgive her for leaving me all those years ago.

Brendon kisses me on the cheek gently and I force a smile for him. "I'm okay..." I mumble. He shakes his head gently and tightens his grip on me. He knows I'm lying but he doesn't say anything. His arms pull me into a hug and I quickly find myself clinging to him, my face pressed against his neck as I let tears roll down my cheeks.

There's a voice behind him suddenly, and I could recognize it a mile away. I shut my eyes tightly and listen as the voice says my name, over and over. I mumble to Brendon gently "please get me away from her..."

Brendon starts leading me away towards the door and I sigh gently as the voice calls out "just talk to me! George Ryan Ross the third look at me!" She orders. I stop in my tracks, eyes popping open to look at the woman. She had long black hair that curls slightly just at her chest. Her face is soft and round, and her eye have the same golden flecks that mine do. I look just like her... That's undeniable.

"What the fuck do you want? Did you think you could just walk back into my life and I would come flying into your arms? Well fuck you. I've waited too long for you to come back. I used to stay up all night for you. Thinking, maybe tonight's the night." I start to cry, tears are streaming down my cheeks, I watch someone pick up a camera but I don't care. "Tonight might be the night. She's going to come back and take me away from this man. Save me. But you never came!" My mother tears up and i roll my eyes at her. "You're a selfish bitch. You could have taken me. I got my ass beat every fucking day by him. While you were where? Sitting on a beach in Florida sipping on mimosas?" She stays quiet and I feel Brendon take my hand, tangling our fingers together. I want him to whisk me away to safety, but he doesn't. He let's me have this. Closure.

"I was scared too Ryan. I was a bad mother. I didn't know how to take care of a kid when I was with your father, nonetheless by myself. You would have been fucked up with me too...." And maybe I would have, but she could have at least written me. She owed me that much.

"I don't care. I don't care why you did it. I got over that a long time ago. I just want you out of my life. For good. Don't ever come back and try more shit like this. And don't you ever let my name leave your mouth, because you're not my mother. You're just some bitch who left me."

And that's it. I'm storming out of the room with a speechless Brendon. Leaving my "mother" behind in the dust.