Once Again

chapter 9

Emory

When Jessica walked in the house I was a bit shocked. I had honestly thought she was upstairs. She also looked very well put together today, Which threw me off even more. Last night she had promised things would change but I didn't think it would be that fast. If she was seemingly back to normal, where had she been all day? I didn't think it was fair that I had to be here, getting thrown up on, while she was out just doing whatever. I waited till Bentley left the room to express this though. "Where have you been?" My tone comes across a bit more hostile than I was wanting too. "We had no idea you weren't even here, you can't just leave like that!" I was definitely more angry than I had originally thought.

She looks startled at first, and then serious. "I am an adult, and I am still the parent here, do not talk to me that way." Georgie frowns, and starts to squirm in her arms so she sets him down.

I cross my arms as I look at her, "then why am I the one who's been acting like the parent this last week. Everytime Anthony's mother leaves, I'm the one who makes sure Georgie gets to bed on time, and that he ate dinner."

I half expected her to get mad again, but instead she frowns. "I know, I'm sorry."  Georgie holds onto her leg, watching us with a worried brow. He's not sure which side to take. "I went to see a therapist today, and then I spent the rest of the day at your father's work, trying to talk to him."

I look down, feeling bad now. This was her trying her best to make things normal again. How could I be mad at her for that? "Were you able to talk to him." I wouldn't really admit it, but I did miss her and Anthony.

She nods but still frowns, "yes, he's going to take two weeks off starting Sunday." She tells me and I'm not sure why that's a bad thing. He'll be here more, at least that's a start. She looks over to the pot Bentley had on the counter. "I thought your grandmother made dinner before she left?"

I look away, "I may have burnt it." The atmosphere felt awkward now, and I didn't know what to do to get it to return to normal.

She smiles a bit, "I used to be a horrible cook too when I was your age. I could burn water even." She says and I can tell she's trying really hard to make things feel like they did before.

"I'm not that bad, I think," I tell her, wondering how a person could burn water.

"How about Georgie and I help finish dinner, and you and Bentley can go hang out with Aria until her parents get here to pick her up." She suggests.

"Bentley and Aria aren't really friends at the moment." I say without thinking before wondering if maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

"Really? Is it because you and Bentley are friends now?" She says surprised by my statement.

I don't know what I should and shouldn't tell her. "Kind of, but not really. Aria did something and now Bentley doesn't want to talk to her."

Georgie walks over to me, wanting help to get on the counter. So I pick him up setting him down on the island. "What did Aria do?"

I look down, this doesn't feel like it's any of mine to share. "I think maybe Aria should tell you." I say, hoping she takes that as an answer.

"Your right, I'm sorry." She says and I'm relieved. "Where is your sister, is she upstairs doing homework? I wanted to talk to her about doing something for her birthday Sunday."