And Who Are You? e.d.

"He's a wonderful boy." -7

I wake up and my head is pounding right out of my skull. I open my eyes and sit up. I feel something moving beside me so I turn my head and look down. Beside me is a sleeping Ethan, with his mouth hanging open and his hair severely messed up. I chuckle and quickly grab my phone, sure to take a picture. I put the phone down and then try to remember last night, but I can't remember any of it. The last thing I remember is suck and blow, and I can barely remember that. I scan my room and see the green dress I was wearing on the floor. I immediately look down, but see that I'm wearing a not too large shirt. Did Ethan and I? Oh god I hope not. I slowly and quietly get out of bed, and tiptoe out of the room. I get into the shower because I look like the Aztec's sacrificed my face. After about 20 minutes I get out, and go back to my room. I close the door quietly but once I get into my room, I see the bed is empty. Honestly, I'm confused but I'm sure he just went home. I go and change into yoga pants and a sports bra and then go downstairs. Luckily, my mother isn't awake yet so I can actually eat breakfast. I get to the top of the stairs and I smell food being cooked. Oh no. I hurry down the stairs and round the corner into the kitchen to see Ethan making food, and my mother sitting at the island.
Before I can say anything, I listen into their conversation.
"Yeah, she was pretty tired last night so I brought her back. I don't even remember falling asleep honestly!" He laughs and so does my mother.
"I know the feeling."
I walk into the room and raise an eyebrow.
"Mom? Ethan?"
"Hey look who's finally down here!" Ethan says, flipping a pancake.
"Uh, yeah." I sit down and look at my mother. I haven't seen her like this in months. Her hair is brushed nicely, she has on little makeup but it's all put into place neatly, and she has on jeans and a nice plain V-neck.
"Ethan and I here were just talking about him and yourself! He's a wonderful boy." She smiles.
I sit there, unsure of what to do. Ethan gives me a look and I excuse myself.
I walk into the adjoining room and slide down against the wall.
"Honey, what's wrong?" My mom says as she walks into the room.
"What's wrong? What made you change from psycho to normal housewife overnight?" I say, staring at the floor.
"We have a guest, and because of that I'm not going to let them see the emotional side of me." She says, crossing her arms.
"You're kidding me, right?" I laugh. "Too late, he's already heard your little temper tantrums." I look up at her.
She looks at me with wide eyes. "He wh- you've brought him over before?"
"Not intentionally, but," I stand up. "It's been eight fucking months since I have seen you like this. Don't you think that instead of only doing this every once in awhile when someone comes over, you could do this for your fucking daughter? Do you know what kind of impact you've made on me?" I can see tears start to well up in her eyes. "I am forced to live with a drunk who only cares about herself. You have NO idea what it's like being a teenager with no parents. Because this is exactly what it's like." I start to walk away, but then she grabs my arm.
"I am so sorry, Zoë. But I'm trying now, I really am. I can't give you back these last few months and I can't give you another father. But what I can do is be here for you. And it really seems like Ethan will be here for you also."
I shake her off my arm and walk back into the kitchen where she follows behind.
We both sit down and Ethan just looks at us as he gets together our plates of food. I'm sure he can feel the tension.
We sit in silence while we eat until my mother speaks again, "I know what, we should have a fun day today! All three of us! It'll give me a chance to get to know you, Ethan."
I roll my eyes and slam my fork down. I get up and walk out of the room.

ETHAN'S POV.

Zoë's mom puts her head in her hands. "I'm trying. I'm really trying here." I can hear her start to cry.
"With all do respect, would you be trying if I weren't here?" I ask her.
She looks up at me and then back down at her plate, "No, and I guess she can see that."
I stay quiet, unsure of what to do. I mean, I might be totally infatuated with Zoë, but I only just met her. I'm already dealing with family problems?
"It's been so hard, Ethan. After Christian, I-" she stops in her tracks.
"I already know, Ms. Richardson."
"You do? I mean, she told you?" She looks up at me, tears rolling down her face.
"Yes, every last bit. Even about the...notes."
"The notes? What did hers say?" She asks, desperately.
"That's the thing, she won't read hers. She said after you read yours, you went haywire and I think she doesn't want that to happen to her."
She looks down at the ground. "It's not because of what it said, it's what it didn't say. He explained everything I wanted to know, but yet I was still expecting more."
It's quiet for a few minutes.
"Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking, when was the last time you were sober?"
She looks at me, taken aback. "I, uh, honestly I can't remember."
"Zoë is trying her best. She really is. Why don't you think she's left yet? But I don't know how much longer she can put up with the screaming and the alcohol and all the breaking of glass or whatever. She's gonna get sick of it, and she's gonna leave too. You're so scared of being alone, but you're the one who's pushing her away from you."
She opens her mouth but then looks down. After a few seconds she says, "I know."
Again, unsure of what to do, I sit there.
"Go make sure she's okay, I'll clean up. And please, tell her I'm going to try."
I nod my head and leave the kitchen. I head up the stairs and try to open Zoë's door, but can't because it's locked.
I knock, "Zoë, let me in please."
A few moments later, I hear the door click. I open the door slowly and see her slumped up against the wall. I go and sit next to her.
"Why? Why does she do this now? Because you're here? Am I not enough to make her change?" She says, face in her hands.
"You have every right to be angry." I say.
She looks up at me, "I am so sorry you got pulled into this. You shouldn't even be here. I've known you for what, a few weeks? We've only hung out once and the other times you had to take me home because I was too messed up to understand what was going on...maybe I am my mothers daughter. You shouldn't have to deal with my family's bullshit. I am so sorry, Ethan."
"First off, I am here because I choose to be. If I didn't want to deal with this, I would have been out that door a long time ago. Secondly, you are not your mother. You see bad things in her, but I see a broken woman. I talked to her down there, and Zoë, you really need to have a talk with her because somewhere along the way, information got messed up and what you think is right is really wrong." She looks up at me with quizzical eyes.
"Yeah, she might only have started to try because I'm here, but now she realizes it's you she has to change for. She now realizes again that you're all she's got and she doesn't want to ruin her chance at being a family with you. She loves you, Zoë, dearly."
She starts crying and she slowly wraps her arms around me.
"Thank you so much. You honestly have no idea how much this means to me."
We sit there for awhile, her in my arms. Honestly, there's no place I'd rather be. I look down at her. Her hair all curly and frazzled. Tear streaked face. Even now she is the most beautiful person I've ever seen. She's a little damaged but no one is perfect. But, she might be the closest thing to it.
"Now Zoë, you need to read the letter your dad left for you."

An: yessss Ethan's POV!!!!!!! Now we know that the hardass actually has feelings :-) Happy Dolan Tuesday, can't wait for the video today!