infatuated

27

       ✔ JACKSON ✔

  "So you're leaving?" Violet asked, an almost disappointed expression crossing her face.

     "Yeah," I said. "Unfortunately, I gotta."

     An audible sigh left her lips. "So what? Does my mom have to drive you?"

     I shrugged and then shook my head, "Nah, I'll walk."

     "That makes me feel bad," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Let my mom drive you."

     "Voi, I promise you, I'm fine just walking."

     "But..."

  "No." I said sternly, putting my finger to her lips to shush her. "I'm fine, I promise. I'll walk. And besides, I walked here, why not walk back to save your mom some gas?"

      She frowned and hesitantly nodded her head. "Are you positive though?"

    "If I wasn't then I wouldn't have said yes in the first place," I teased, wrapping my arms around her waist as she laid her head on my shoulder.

       I ran my fingers through her now short, auburn hair; twisting the strands back and forth, up and around.

      "That feels nice," she murmured, her eyes closed in content.

     And then that perfect moment was ruined by her cousin, Auden, running out the front door and practically jumping onto my lap.

     "Vivi," he said, "Uncle Tom wants to know when he has to drive Jacky home."

     "Why aren't you in bed?" a voice suddenly rang out of nowhere, causing Violet and I to glance at each other and then at Auden.

   "Auden, why aren't you asleep?"

  Violet's mother walked up onto the porch, a bag of groceries in her hand and an annoyed expression on her face.

      "'Cause Vivi isn't sleeping and Jacky isn't either, so why do I have too?" he whined, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not fair."

     "Life isn't fair," she remarked, shaking her head. "Now get into bed, Auden."

     "But Auntie—"

  "No, now."

   "Fine." he said, rolling his eyes, "can you tuck me in?"

      "I suppose. Just let me put these groceries away first, okay, Auden?"

     "Yeah!" he exclaimed, running into the house, the screen door slamming after him.

      "Here, Mom," Violet said, opening the door open for her mother. "How was work?" she asked, following her mother into the house.

     I followed after and ascended the stairs to Auden's room.

    "Hey, Auden," I said. "Are you—"

   I froze to hear sounds of crying coming from the closet.

    I sighed and slowly opened the door to see Auden hunched over, his hands rubbing the tears off his cheeks. "What's wrong?" I asked, crouching besides him.

     "Why does Vivi get a mommy and daddy?" he asked, a curious expression on his face. "Where's my mommy and daddy?"

    I frowned and let out a sigh.

  When Auden was just a baby, his mother dropped him off to his sister's, aka Violet's mom, because she wasn't able to take care of him. She was also a druggie and a hardcore alcoholic. She wasn't able to take care of Auden and neglected him; often leaving him in his crib all day long without anything to eat or drink, in his case.

      Yeah, to put it bluntly she wasn't able to keep a job and spent all her savings on satisfying her drug and alcohol addictions.

      And Auden's dad, he wasn't anywhere to be found during the birth. He left when he found out Auden's mother was pregnant.

       I glanced at the kid in front of me and picked him up. "Come on, Audie, let's get you into bed, okay?"

       "No!" he yelled, thrashing his limbs about. "You didn't answer my question! Why don't I have a mommy and daddy like Violet?!"

      The door burst open to reveal Violet's mother, her blonde hair was tied up in a messy ponytail and her eyes were rimmed with dark circles.

     "Thanks, Jack, for taking care of him," she said, her lips curving into a tired smile as she glanced at me.

    I nodded. "I better be getting home now."

     "Okay, do you want me to drive you home or...?"

     But I could see the sacrifice behind her eyes.

   "Nah, it's all good. My house ain't that far and I'll just walk." I explained.

     She nodded, "All right"

  "Bye, Cara." I said, waving as I exited the room.

     "Jacky, are you leaving?" a voice asked from behind me.

    "Yeah," I said, turning to see Violet.

  "I don't want you to go."

  "Voi, I'll see you tomorrow, I promise." I said, wrapping my arms around her.

     She sighed. "Okay."

  "Bye—"

  "Just go, you idiot."

  I nodded and waved as I exited their house and began the walk home.