Silenced

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten: Jeremy's Not So Perfect Life

Jeremy sighed deeply, mindlessly kicking pebbles along the side walk.

He walked down the side walk to his home where a house full of family were waiting for his arrival. They would be a bit angry with him when he got home, due to the amount of time he spent at Brianna's house. But, he could care less. All he cared about right now was Brianna's safety.

Jeremy thought, 'Brianna doesn't deserve anything her dad does to her. She is such a nice and innocent person.'

If he got a hold of her father right now, he could easily hurt him. More than hurt, he wanted her dad to feel the pain, agony, and suffering he made her feel for two whole years!

Jeremy stepped up onto his porch, and walked through the front door, shutting it behind him. He stepped into the kitchen, and then into the living room.

There, his three cousins, June, Ky, and Nickie were sitting on the floor with his brother and sister, Shane and Jackie. His mom and dad were sat on the love seat beside his Aunt Mary and Uncle Buck.

"Where have you been?" His father snapped, clutching his cup of coffee.

"I told you I was going to Brianna's to drop off-"

"Thats right, just to drop off her phone. What took you so long? You said she only lives a block or so away."

"What, I'm not allowed to talk to her? I didn't want to be rude and just give her her phone and leave!" Jeremy raised his voice, becoming angered by his father.

"I don't want to fight with you now, Jeremy. Just... come sit down, and visit with your family." Richard instructed, pointing to the recliner in the corner of the room.

He debated whether he should sit down, and obey his dad, or go to his room.

He was already upset enough about Brianna, so he decided he'd listen to his dad. He shuffled over to the chair, and sat down.

After Jeremy's and his dads little out burst, the room was awkwardly quiet.

The sound of Jeremy's mom clearing her throat made the awkward silence go away. "Do you want anymore coffee, Mary? Buck?"

"No thank you, Amber." Aunt Mary replied, sitting her cup of coffee on the coffee table in front of her. "We should be going. Its going to be getting late soon."

"Oh, okay. Thats fine." Richard said, sitting his own mug down, and got up from his spot to bid his family goodbye. Jeremy stood from his spot also, not wanting to be disrespectful toward his family.

"Goodbye, Jeremy. We'll see you later, yeah? I love you." Jeremy's Aunt Mary cooed, pulling him into a sweet hug.

"I love you too." Jeremy replied, pulling back, and walking to his Uncle Buck.

"Bye, Jeremy. Do me a favor, and get along with your dad." His Uncle Buck instructed, pulling Jeremy in for a 'bro hug'.

"I'll try, but there are no promises." Jeremy replied, scratching the back of his neck.

Ky, Nickie, and June all stood by Jeremy waiting for their hugs and kisses. Each one only came to just below his waist. Jeremy got onto his knees, and wrapped his arms around his little cousins.

"See ya, guys. I love you." Jeremy smiled kindly, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads.

"Bye, Jer. We'll miss you." June smiled sadly.

"I'll miss you guys too." He smiled, getting up from his place on the floor.

"C'mon, Ky, June, and Nickie." Unlce Buck said. They all smiled at Jeremy once more before scampering off to their dad.

Jeremy waved them off before his mom and dad walked his aunt, uncle and cousins to the door, and his little brother and sister skipped off towards their own rooms.

Jeremy walked toward his bedroom door, and was about to go in when his fathers raging voice boomed through the house, calling Jeremy's name. He froze, and turned around, teeth gritted.

"Jeremy Daniels! Get your ass in here now!"

Jeremy walked toward the living room to see his dad standing in the middle of it, his face full of fury. "What did I do now?" Jeremy rolled his eyes.

"Do not disrespect me like that! Especially not in front of my damn family!" Richard shouted.

"Well, don't question me like that, and we won't have a problem." Jeremy growled, clenching his fists.

"I'm your father! I am not letting you go wandering around without knowing what your doing!"

"What did you think I was doing dad, huh?"

"It wouldn't surprise me if you were getting laid." His dad chuckled, spitefully.

"Do you really think that low of me?! Your my fucking father! Plus, Brianna isn't that way!" Jeremy raged, getting ready to knock the crap out of his dad.

"She looked kind of cheap to me." Richard said. Jeremy knew his dad was testing him. He wanted to see if he could get a reaction out of him. Jeremy tried his damned hardest to let the comment slide, but he couldn't.

"You dick! You don't know a damn thing about that girl, so shut up and leave her out of this!" Jeremy yelled.

"I told you do not dis-"

"Enough!"

Their heads snapped to Jeremy's mom who was standing in the doorway that separated the kitchen and living room. Her face was red from anger, and smalls tears were spotted across her cheeks.

"Jeremy go to your room and do not come out unless its an emergency!" Amber ordered. "And you," she narrowed her eyes toward her husband. "We need to have a word."

Jeremy nodded, and turned on his heel to his room. Once he reached it, he unclenched one of his fists to open the door. He stepped in, and slammed it behind him.

He sighed deeply, and inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm himself. Slowly, his heart rate slowed down to its regular pace, his fists unclenched, and the redness from his face drained.

He plopped down onto his bed, laying his head back onto his pillow.

'The nerve my dad had to call Brianna cheap.' Jeremy mentally scoffed.

He pulled his iPod from under his pillow, and plugged it into a pair of speakers that were set up on his night stand. He pulled up the his music app, and started to play 'Radioactive' by Imagine Dragons. He sat his iPod down, and leaned on his pillow again.

'A nap wouldn't hurt.' He thought, yawning.

Soon enough his eyelids became heavy, and his breathing went slow an steady, signaling he had fallen asleep.


~*~


Jeremy awoke in darkness, his music had stopped playing. But, he could hear faint shouting from the kitchen.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. It read, '10:37'.

Jeremy mentally groaned, locking up his phone.

"I sleep to much." He grumbled, running a hand groggily down his face.

Then it him.

He needed to text Brianna.

He unlocked his phone, and texted Brianna.


To: Brianna
Hey, Brianna. Sorry I didn't text you sooner. I kind of fell asleep. Are you okay?

He laid his phone back down, and prayed she would reply saying she was fine.

As if on cue, his phone vibrated and he opened the text.

From: Brianna
Hi, Jeremy. Its fine, shit happens, ya know? I could be better, but I'll be fine...

To: Brianna
What did he do to you now?!

From: Brianna
He came home drunk, and slapped me, threw me on the floor, and kicked me in the stomach a few times. I've had worst done...

To: Brianna
Dammit! That... dick, asshole, bastard. The list could go on.

From: Brianna
I know he is, but I'll be okay.

To: Brianna
Are you sure? I can come over an beat the shit out of him if you want me too.

From: Brianna
Yes! And, as appealing as that sounds, not thanks. It'll only make matters worse.

To: Brianna
I guess your right... Well, i'll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight! Text me if you need anything.

From: Brianna
Night, and I will! Sleep well!

To: Brianna
You too!


Jeremy sighed, shutting off his phone, and placing it on his nightstand. He picked up his iPod, and began to softly play 'Ride' by SoMo. He got out of bed, and stripped out of his clothes, leaving his boxers on, and crawled back into his bed.

Since he just woke up, it'll be hard for him to go back to sleep. Plus, his mom and dads constant shouts didn't help any.

Jeremy closed his eyes, and thought of a place where his parents got along, and he got along with his dad. Where Brianna's dad didn't hurt her, and she had a loving, and caring family, and didn't get bullied.

"Places that perfect only exist in dreams." Jeremy murmured, slowly drifting off in a hazy sleep.