The Devil You Know

Chapter 7: Stand Up, Get Pushed Down

Jade and Naomi went upstairs. Pop gave both me and Brendan angry glares. "Who told your sister it was okay to have any company over?" He asked both of us, slurring his words. Me and Brendan looked at each other and stayed silent. I don't even think she asked. I knew ma wouldn't have cared. Pop wouldn't even remember.

He started walking upstairs, dropping his bottle of whiskey. Me and Brendan followed behind him. He tried to open the door, it was locked. Jade must of locked it behind her. "Jade, open the fucking door!" Pop yelled. She did as she was told. "Who said you could have anyone over?!" He asked, yelling in her face. "No one, pop" She spoke quietly. "You think you can do whatever the fuck you want? Huh?!" He asked again, yelling in her face.

I decided to step in. "Jade, get your shit and go to Naomi's." I said walking in between her and pop. She hurried and grabbed a few things and grabbed Naomi's arm and ran out the door. "You think you run the house, Tommy?! You don't run anything" He said angrily. I clenched my fists and kept my composure. I didn't say a word. He went down stairs and I heard him opening a beer.

Ma came in and set her stuff down. Pop immediately was angry and yelled at her. I couldn't even tell what he was saying, he was so drunk. He pushed her to the ground, I stepped in front of her. I wasn't gonna let him hit her again. He punched me in the face and pushed me out of the way.

Brendan grabbed me and made me leave the house. I heard Ma screaming at Pop and Brendan yelling at Pop. I waited for everything to calm down before I went back inside. I walked in and Pop was passed out, drunk, Ma was in her room. I went upstairs to me and Brendan's room, sitting on my bed. "Is Ma okay?" I asked, my voice cold. He nodded and sighed. "We can go check on Jade later, okay?" Brendan spoke quietly. I nodded and rubbed my face stressfully. My face is already swelling up.