Teeth [Harry Styles Fanfiction]

Chapter Twenty Eight

Jaycee's Point of View:

"So, how've you been, Jay?" Annie inquired, her petite body lay peacefully on my beige couch. I gave her a bit of a smile and nodded my head. "Better," truthfully, I said. "Thanks."

Annie's blue eyes seem to scan me now, almost as if trying to uncover a forbidden truth. "What is it?" I laughed, and she gave out a slight giggle and shook her head. "So..." she let out a soft sigh. "I um, I heard something the  other day." Now, the girl sat up on the couch and folded her legs. Her chin slowly dropped and she no longer looked at me. I can almost see the small grimace on her face. Quirking an eyebrow, I asked her what was wrong.

"I, um -"

"What is it, Annie?" Now, she was really worrying me. "Jaycee, I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" 

"Last week, after dinner, I over heard my parents talking about... your parents." With every word the girl spoke, I knew she regretted them. She was biting her lip; that was her way of wishing she hadn't said a thing. "What were they saying?" I felt anxious for her answer. What, now my family has become the gossip of the neighborhood?!

"Well, they were talking about the separation between your parents... I didn't think it was true, you know, just some gossip, but your mum...." Annie paused and looked away before taking a deep breath. "Your mum, she came over at two in the morning, crying to my mum.... my mum didn't know what to do,"

My eyebrows creased; she was lying. I was with my mum all last week. She wasn't crying, nor did she leave the house. "That's not possible." I muttered to myself, but apparently not quiet enough because Annie quickly looked at me. "It is," she spoke, softly; timidly. "She cried for hours about how she needed to build the courage to leave your father... my mother, she tried to help her, but she just couldn't. I'm really sorry about your mum." 

Let the pity begin. I knew Annie had good intentions, but I really didn't want to hear this right now. I already pity myself for my at home situation and now other people are too? I felt as if my family life was becoming the new gossip of the neighborhood - we were becoming the big jokes in town. "Why are you sorry? She's perfectly fine. We will be fine. She's leaving my father and we will be fine." The defiance in my voice was terrifying. If I was talking to myself, I'd frighten myself to death. I just feel like I was just trying to reassure myself. Annie's eyes widened, not in expectancy of hearing my reaction like that. "Jay, I don't think that's what's going to happen."

"Excuse me?!" This time, my words came out a lot more vivid than I had hoped for. "She told me so. One day.... one day, her and I will be gone and things will be better. How are you going to tell me about what will happen in my own family?" 

"Calm down... I didn't mean to upset you...."

"Are you kidding right now? Do you think I like hearing that my personal business is being gossiped everywhere?"

"No one is gossiping about your family, Jay. We only know because of your mum." Annie had a way with keeping calm, a way in which, I didn't have. I refused to have. "Don't blame her, she didn't do anything..."

"Please, just," Annie scooted closer to me, her hand lay smoothly on my thigh. "Hear me out. My mum had a long talk about your parents' relationship with her. After the talk, your mum was smiling again. If anything, my mum gave her a bit of hope."

"She needs hope, to leave my father." I muttered again, my eyes averting away. This was such a touchy subject for me; I don't like talking about it. I certainly don't like talking about it to the people that are close to me because my vulnerability is exposed. "No, no. My mum showed her that what is damaged, can be fixed."