Talking With Destiny

Part Eight : Hell of a Home

When I got home my mom was sitting on the couch slugging off a bottle of vodka. Dustin was sitting in the chair already and he was shaking. I made eye contact and flicked my head to go to my room.
When I got to my room I asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
"Nick was here." Dustin said.
Nick is Dustin's Biological dad. He's a drinking asshole just like my mom so i dont know why they broke up. But if he was here I know it's not good.
"He told me to leave the house, he fucked your mom and pretty much left after that. He gave her some alcohol. I think they're back together..."
"Shit. This is bad news." I looked over to James. "What do I do?!"
James looked like he was going to cry he pulled me into him and hugged me. "Shhh."
Dustin then opened my drawer and I tried to close it as fast as I could but it was too late.
"You skipped your pills." Dustin looked mad. "I figured you skipped them when you started talking to James. This is bullshit. He's the one who made your mom start drinking."
"No, Dustin. I'm the one. Because James is real."
"I'm telling your mom." Dustin got up to run toward the living room but I started to scream stop and pulled at his shirt.
It didn't stop him. When we got to the living room, I saw Nick shirtless, my mom pant-less.
"Dakota skipped-" Dustin started.
"Go back'swich Dustin to your'guyses roomss.." My mom slurred.
I guess Nick wasn't drunk enough to let what was happening go.
He came up grabbed Dustin by his shirt and started screaming. "YOU IDIOT, YOU'RE GONNA MESS EVERYTHING UP. AND YOU!" He pointed at me and grabbed me by the throat. "YOUR MOM TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR LITTLE BOY TOY. I KNEW YOU WERE A FREAK. YOU LITTLE SCHIZOPHRENIC BITCH!"
"LET HER GO!" James screamed.
I was gargling by now and slipping consciousness by asphyxiation. James threw a punch which landed Nick right in the eye. He stumbled back in disbelief. But i knew he was too drunk to realize what was going on for sure.
I gasped and choked while James made sure I was okay.
"YOU FUCKING WITCH." He yelled toward me.
But he proceeded to say, "Leave I'm gonna fuck your mother bitch."
I scrambled to my room slamming the door in Dustins face. Dustin pounded and eventually cried but I didn't open it.
James laid next to me and played with my hair. The bruises of Nicks individual fingers were starting to appear.
"Fuck. How can I go to school like this?" I turned over to face James and he just frowned.
"I'm so sorry Dakota."
I wanted to say it's fine. But I knew I couldn't. I can't lie anymore. It's not fine. It's never been fine. "I'm sorry too James."
"Why are you sorry?" He asked me.
"Because... I'm thinking about it again." 
"Thinking about what?" He asked.
"The bad things. The bad thoughts the depression. The self harm.."
He went silent and turned over.
"Don't hate me." I said. There were tears dripping from my eyes and I just buried my head into my pillows. He flipped over when he heard me crying and put his arms around me. He laid his head against mine and looked me in the eyes.
"I love you Dakota. I do. With all my heart." He smiled but his eyes were welling with tears. "I just want to help you. And I feel like I'm part of the problem... I think you should take your pills Dakota."
...