My Deepest Fear (Septiplier)

Chapter 20- Mona Lisa

Mark woke up the same way he had every day since school had ended for the summer.

He got up, threw on an old t-shirt and some jeans, and went down the stairs to assess the damage.

'Not as bad as yesterday' he thought as he looked at the mess in the living room.

There were beer bottles lying on the floor, about a case worth of them, and an empty bottle of Jack Daniel's in his mother's sleeping hand. He ran over and grabbed it before it almost fell out of her grip. He didn't want to sweep up broken glass... again.

Mark started picking up the various alcohol containers and putting them in the cupboard so they could be recycled the next day. 'Damn, we're running out of room...' The small closet they used for recyclables was so full of glass and plastic containers (the majority of them being for a variety of alcohols) that he could barely fit the newest additions in there. 'Good thing garbage comes tomorrow' Mark sighed to himself, knowing that this problem couldn't last forever... Could it?

He hoped not.

After he was done cleaning up after his mother's tri-weekly binge, he put a duvet over the woman currently passed out on the couch and went to the kitchen to get himself some cereal.

Jack woke up to the smell of fresh bacon and a rumble in his stomach. He knew what that meant and sprinted down the stairs, not caring that he was wearing only his boyfriend's sweatshirt (which he happily stole from him the last time they were together) and some boxers.

Mrs. Mcloughlin was used to her son being half-naked at the breakfast table seeing as he did so every day. It wasn't that big of a deal anyways. She changed his diapers and taught him how to put on pants in the first place, so what difference would it make?

"Mornin' Jack" she said in her usual sing-song voice.

Jack continued chewing his breakfast loudly "G'mornin' Ma" he tried to say, his words garbled by the food he continued to shove in his face.

"Jack, what have I always told you about talkin' wit yer mouth full?"

Jack swallowed hard "I'm sorry Ma... I'm jus' excited fer the cookout later! It's been so long since we did stuff together, y'know?"

Jack's smile faded as he seen the look on his mother's face and recognized it instantly. She had the same fake smile she always does when she has bad news. "W-we are still having the cookout... right?"

"Well, Jack... You know how work can be-"

"But Maaaaa!" Jack complained. He would say that he was disappointed, but honestly, he was used to being blown off by his parents. They rarely delivered on plans and promises because of the demanding nature of their work.

"I'm sorry, Jack! Both me and your father have business to attend to out of town and the only flight we could find leaves tonight."

Jack's mother walked over and kissed her son on the forehead. "I promise we'll have the cookout when we get back, okay?"

"That's what you said last time..." he grumbled under his breath, just barely loud enough for her to hear. She didn't bother saying anything more because she knew he was right.

Jack's mother left to her room so she could prepare for the trip ahead of her, leaving her son alone to his disappointment.

Jack didn't let his pain get the better of him and decided to go over to Mark's a bit early today.

He loved the way the leaves fluttered in the wind. The amazing glow that shone through between the branches from the noon sun. It was a beauty that couldn't quite be captured without seeing it yourself and that's what Jack loved most about it. It was the one thing he'd always wanted to paint, but could never capture with camera or canvas. It was so beautiful he wanted to show the world, but it was so beautiful because he couldn't show the world.