Becoming Riley

Chapter 9: Schnapps and Secrets

The 25th was approaching very quickly and Riley's parents agreed to let her volunteer and help Anastasia with the party. James thought it was a great idea for Riley to have something to do besides "mope around the house" but Michelle disagreed with her leaving the house for so long multiple times a week until James reassured her that meant more time for them and less with their kids in the house. Michelle enjoyed the torture she gave the kids, James regretted it constantly but didn't know how to live any other way. It became his mindset permanently.

Liam wanted out of the house the same day Riley did for the party. But his reason was because anytime he was alone at the house with the Verns he knew something could set off Michelle and he didn't feel like getting another beating. Any way to avoid that was their life goal. The last time that Riley went over to Anastasia's Liam stayed home. Michelle had gotten into James's grape schnapps and drank a good portion of it without telling him.

"Who the fuck drank all my liquor??? MICHELLE, LIAM, GET YOUR ASSES IN THE KITCHEN NOW" James yelled across the house from the fridge. Liam immediately appeared and Michelle shortly after. James held up his half empty bottle.

"Who?" He demanded an answer. "WHO?"

"Baby, you know I can't stand the taste of that stuff", Michelle reassured James, which was a lie. She would tell him this so he'd never suspect all along she would take swigs of his liquor daily. Liam couldn't believe she'd lie that it wasn't her. James cocks his head to Liam who is shaking his head saying "no, no it wasn't me".

That didn't matter to James, he lost a portion of his "goodies". He wasn't going to tolerate anything at this point. James calmly puts the bottle back into the freezer. He walks up to Liam and pushes him up against the wall. Liam, scared, already the same height as his dad and 18, acted back. Liam swung his right hand at James's shoulder and ducked as James then went to grab his throat

Liam ducked in time and punched his father's abdomen and ran for the door. Michelle tripped him and Liam went down hard. He glanced back to see his father running up to him as James kicks him in the ribs several times. Liam began to cough up some blood and James stopped. James backs up and realizes Michelle's breath when she spoke smelled of grapes.

"Michelle, it was you wasn't it?" He demanded, and strolled over to his wife. She started to step backwards when he grabbed her arm and swung her toward the wall. Michelle then started to tear up, this was the first time he laid his hands on her. She realized she might be getting a taste of her own medicine and it caused fear in her.

"Don't you fucking dare lie to me, was it you?"

"Ye-e-es it was.." Michelle stuttered. James spat next to her and told her to fuck off and stormed to the living room. Michelle glanced toward Liam on the floor. He stumbled up holding his ribs and wiping off the blood from his chin.

"For your information, you deserved that sooner or later," Michelle smirked as she walked away.

No way in Hell was Liam going to be home alone anymore with those two. He vowed to find a way to leave for the day. It was a week away from the party and he knew his parent's wouldn't allow him to go unless he asked then. They had rule for hanging with friends, it had to be a week in advance and they had to know where they were going and everything happening when they're gone. Liam understood that if they said no, he'd leave anyways. No point in asking then he thought.

The day of the party arrived and Anastasia and Riley had Anastasia's house covered in decorations of purple and blue (their favorite colors) and balloons galore. There were snacks, soda, and a giant cake in the kitchen. Riley was just putting the finishing touches when she received a call from her father. She answered it immediately.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hey, you need to come home now, there's been an accident." James says in a slur. He's drunk, or at least very intoxicated. Putting her fingers in a cross formation she hoped it was Michelle.

"Who and what happened?" Riley asked.

"Just get fucking home now, I don't care how you get home just come home now." James demanded.

"Not until you tell me, you know how much this party means to me sir."

"Really? A party means more than your brother dying? He got into a fucking car crash Riley. He sneaked out last night and I had been trying to get a hold of him, when he answered finally I told him to come home immediately. He did but crashed on his way here. He's fucking gone Riley and all you care about is a stupid birthday party. MY SON IS DEAD RILEY."

Riley dropped her phone. No, this couldn't be true. This had to be a lie, no way would Liam be stupid enough to sneak out let alone get into a car accident. She couldn't allow this to be true. She ran up to Anastasia with tears in her eyes and told her the news. Anastasia rushed to grab her keys and they went to Riley's house.

Standing on the porch was James and Michelle and the police. Riley leaped out of the car as her mind raced back and forth between reality and fantasy. She couldn't have just lost the one person she knew needed her and she needed. Riley opened the gate fiercely as she ran up to the porch. A police officer was talking to Michelle about Liam and what to do with his body.

"Is this really happening? PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE TRUE," begged Riley. She looked at the officer and he looked down.

"No, no, NO! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" She pointed at Michelle and James. "IF YOU HADN'T BEEN SO ABUSIVE TO US HE WOULDN'T HAVE DIED. NO THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING"

"I don't mean to intrude but what?" The police officer looked at the Verns wildly.

"Don't listen to her, she's obviously hysterical. Her brother just died after all," Michelle assured the officer.

"Okay," the officer brushed off Riley's comment for help like it was nothing. But it wasn't nothing. Riley just lost the one thing that knew exactly what she was going through and had gone through. Liam was her better half, they had grown into each other and knew that no one else matter. But then Anastasia clogged her vision. This caused Riley to start to hate Anastasia, she began to regret every moment with her that she could've had with Liam.

She lost Liam.

And she lost herself again.