My Mother, The Counselor

Chapter Twelve

"Do you want me to go with you?" Stephen asked as I pulled into a parking spot in the small park I brought Blake to on his birthday. Stephen sad nervously in the car. His fists were clenched and he looked straight ahead and nowhere else. "He's my best friend. Why would he do this? Why would he run away?"

"I know it's hard to comprehend Stephen, but because you're finding it hard to understand, I don't think you should come with me, okay?" I said, calmly. "I think I need to deal with him right now."

"So do I." Stephen agreed. "Listen, I'm sorry about that kiss -"

"We have bigger things to worry about right now, Stephen." I chuckled. "But don't be sorry."

I kissed Stephen on the cheek as icy rain began to pour over the park. Sunny days 365 days of the year in LA right? I hadn't brought a jacket with me, but I didn't care. I had to find Blake, hail rain or sunshine.

I hopped out of the car and ran as fast as I could into the park. I could barely see through the rain covering my eyelashes. Within seconds, my hair and clothes were soaked to the skin. I kept running despite my drenched state, until I reached our tyre swing.

There, sitting underneath the swing, were three bottles of whiskey, one of vodka, and Blake Woods.

"Blake!" I squealed, running to his aid.

Blake's muscular body looked so lean while it was curled up in a ball on the muddy ground. His face was in a pile of leaves and his whole body was drenched not from the rain, but from the nearby small pond. I raised his face from the wet, soggy leaves and revealed his dirty face, with cuts and scars all over it. Blake's bright eyes had never looked so lifeless as he looked up at me, helplessly. A quiet tear fell down his face as I held him close to my chest.

"He's dead!" Blake shouted into my arms. I could barely understand what he was saying, as the alcohol he had consumed had taken over his mouth. "He's gone! All I have - gone!"

"I'm so sorry, Blake." I whispered in response, stroking his wet hair. "I know this is awful. Nobody deserves this."

Blake sluggishly wrapped his arms around my body and held me tight. I could feel his body shaking against mine, and I could hear his hyper crying.

"Come on, Blake. Let's go home." I began, tranquilly. "We need you home."

"I don't want to go home!" Blake shouted aggressively, as he pulled his body away from mine. "I can't go home!"

"Blake, calm down." I reassured him. "You don't have to go home. Come to my house. I'll get you cleaned up and you can relax there, okay? Come on, Blake. Stephen's waiting for you in the car. He's really worried."

Blake sniffled for a while, and wiped his warm tears away. "Okay." He mumbled.

I helped Blake off the ground and supported him over to the car. The moment Stephen saw us hobbling to the car, he leapt out of the mini and helped me carry him into the car.

We laid Blake down across the back seats of the car and drove home in silence. The only thing heard was the sniffles of Blake in the back of the car.

*

"He's like a baby, he's finally asleep." Mum whispered while I pulled a blanket over myself and Blake.

Stephen left once Blake had calmed down. He was called home to mind his brothers and sisters. Once we brought him into the house, Stephen brought him into the spare bedroom to clean him up. James and Mark were staying the night, so James gave Blake a loan of a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms. I decided to shower while Blake was being cleaned up, and I changed out of my tracksuit and into my pyjamas. Lucy made us cups of hot chocolate, but Blake didn't have any. All he did was lie in my arms on my bed, lifeless.

He would lie there, saying nothing at all, looking straight ahead. Occasionally, a tear would fall down his face and I would wipe it away for him. After an hour of no movement, he produced a waterfall of tears, and cried into my arms for another hour. Finally, he fell into a tranquil sleep, and he had been asleep for a half an hour now, while I watched Clueless on a low volume.

"I'll leave you be." Mum added. She crept out of my bedroom and closed the door quietly behind her.

Soon afterwards, James peered into the bedroom. "Is everything okay?" He asked, concerned.

"Yeah everything's fine, thanks." I replied. "Thanks for the lend of clothes."

"Oh hey, it's no problem. It's the least I could do." James scratched his head awkwardly. "I'll see you later then."

"Bye." I said, dismissively. I didn't feel like talking to James after what had happened. As I had said before, I had no time for happy families.

As soon as James left, the door was re-opened again. I felt like throwing the pillow next to me at the next intruder into my peaceful bedroom. That all changed when an unfamiliar, face poked through the crack in the door. A woman with big curly brown hair searched around my room with just her large brown eyes. She was a tall woman, with broad shoulders and muscular arms which were shown through her long sleeve black t-shirt and black jeans.

"This is Mia's room, Nicola." I heard mum tell the woman from behind the door.

"Thanks, Wendy." Nicola replied to my mum. She stepped into the room quietly and gazed down at Blake's sleeping face, then peered up at me. "You must be Mia." She whispered.

"Yeah. Hi Nicola." I answered quietly, trying my best not to wake Blake. This however, was a failed attempt as Blake's eyes fluttered open and he slowly sat up.

"Nicola?" Blake said, quizzically.

"Hi Blake. Are you okay? Where did you go?" Nicola asked, sitting down firmly on the bed and rubbing Blake's leg over the blanket. "Why did you leave?"

"I had to get out." Blake mumbled. "I couldn't take it. I'm sorry."

"Well you're lucky that Mia here found you! What would you have done if she didn't? You'd probably be dead too!"

Nicola's voice grew louder, and more aggressive. I was almost about to tell her to calm down when Blake took control of the situation himself.

"Nic, I'm sorry I left. I know it was a dick move but I didn't know what else to do. I thought Mia was already upset with me so I didn't want to step on her toes after I had just ignored her with her problems." Blake glanced at me, apologetically. "I'm sorry I ignored you, Mia. I would've gone to you straight away about my dad if I didn't think you were mad."

"You should've just come anyways, Blake. You know I can't stay mad at you anymore. Don't do that again, please Blake." I said, calmly.

Blake nodded his head and turned back to Nicola. "Why are you here, anyways?"

"I just got off the phone with your sister" she began. "and we've decided the best thing for you to do is move in with her, in Santa Barbara."

Suddenly, my stomach twisted in directions I didn't even know were possible. I felt a lump in the back of my throat and a ringing in my ears. Santa Barbara? Blake would be living in Santa Barbara? I wouldn't be able to see him every day. I wouldn't have him there when I'm sad. I wouldn't have Blake. I need Blake.

For the first time since I was eleven years old, I began to feel empty inside.

~

Hello friends!

Thanks so much for reading! If you're enjoying the story, please don't be shy to give it a vote, and maybe comment on what you think about the events in the story! Tell me your reactions to everything! I'd love to know!

What'd you think about Blake's dad? And Blake moving to Santa Barbara? I'd love to hear what you think!

Please, if you're enjoying this, tell your friends, followers, strangers, whoever! :P it would be so great to get a whole community enjoying the story together and with your feedback, create something special!

Thanks for reading, hope you like it!

xo Hazel