Overlooked

Chapter 8: The Best Member of My Past's Family? Their Dog

Chapter 8: The Best Member of My Past's Family? Their Dog

It's starting again. The depression, the anxiety, the self hatred. I can feel myself being pulled back into the darkness that I just recently escaped from, and I can't do anything to stop it. I'm trying, I really am, but I can't. All of the memories are coming back. The few bits of happiness mixed with sadness, the grief mixed with pain, the betrayal mixed with hate, everything that I have been trying to hide in the deepest part of myself is coming back and I can't do anything to stop it, or even put it off. Except maybe one thing.

I turn to my left and start to walk home, ignoring Dylan calling my name as both emotions nd numbness somehow over take me at the same time.

I was finally getting better, almost back to normal- or whatever I was before- but no, he has to come back. Now, of all times.

That piece of garbage asshole.

Finally I stop walking when  a familiar SUV halts beside me.

"Trinket, sweetie, I'm sorry that you found out that way. I know that it is hard, but you can't walk all the way home."

I mean, Nancy is right, I live about a thirty minute car ride  from the school, so walking home is almost impossible. Not to mention dangerous with all of the wackos around. Being in a closed space with the Crows, though, is not exactly the best thing right now. Man, why didn't I get on the bus?

"Come on Trinket, your parents are both working so please get in," Nancy basically pleads. I guess it won't exactly hurt. It's definitely better than what end up being a three hour walk, probably seven with how often I exercise.

I send her a small smile and open the back door, surprised to see Dylan back there.

"What are you-"

"Manner is in the front," he interrupts grumpily. I turn my head and see their little Boston Terrier- Manner- in the front seat. They got him a little over a year ago, and even though I haven't exactly talked to the Crows lately, it doesn't mean that I can't hang out with their dog through the broken hole in our connecting fence. I'm not even ashamed, to be honest.

Once I sit down and close the door, Manner turns around and hops back on my lap, licking my face.

"T, that dog hates new people, why is he all over you?" Dylan asks, bewildered.

"We share a back yard fence, Dylan. Put it together," I say while petting the dog that has now settled down.

"So that's where he always runs off to," Nancy comments while driving further away from the school. I smile down at Manner who is panting while Mrs. Crow turns on the radio.

You see, this all isn't that bad. Sure a little bit awkward, but these members of the Crow family don't give me flashbacks. No, though. He has to come back. And I know that it is going to ruin me more than it did when he left. And ultimately, that is going to end me.

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About twenty minutes later, Mrs. Crow pulls into my drive way. The car ride here was thankfully quiet. I think that they could tell that I'm not exactly dealing well with the news so they kept their mouths shut. The downside to this though was that it gave me time to think, which normally isn't good. Now though? That is the worst thing possible. So I'm going to do the only thing that can stop me from thinking- as well as totally back tracking- which is getting drunk. Which is only a little bit of back tracking.

With the rest of the day planned, I move Manner off my lap and get out of the car before going to the driver's side window.

"Thank you for the ride, Nancy."

"It was the least I could do, Hon," she says sweetly. "Sorry again for how you found out. Things definitely should have been handled differently."

"It's not your fault," I assure her. "Now bye, thanks again!" I start walking towards the front door and hear a car door open and close, with foot steps following. I turn around and see Dylan running to catch up with me. Uh oh, what now? Mrs. Crow then begins to back out of the driveway, which makes me more curious.

"Hey," he greets, a bit out of breathe.

"Hi..."

"I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"How do you think I'm doing?" I rhetorically ask as I laugh humorlessly.

"Things should have went down differently, yes, but look at it this way. Now you don't have to worry about what the news is and you don't have to call him."

"I guess."

"Just don't do anything stupid."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know more than you think T," what? "Don't get drunk. Don't go out, looking for a distraction. He's not worth it. None of this is worth hurting yourself over."

He's right. I know that he's right, I have told myself those same words more times than I can count. They never change anything though. I always end up in the same position.

"I know, Dylan. Trust me."

"Good. Now, can I use your toilet?"

"No! Go home!"

"Please? It's only number one!"

"Ugh, fine, but hurry up," I tell him as I open the door. I go back to the kitchen to set my stuff down, while he goes to the bathroom, already knowing where it is. While I have it in my mind, I take out the papers that I need my parents to sign and I set them where I know that they'll see them, by the landline. I press the button on the machine when I see that there is a message, and laugh when I hear Mrs. Crows voice come through.

'Hi guys! It's Nancy Crow! I just wanted to invite you all to a welcome home party for you know who, this weekend. I know that it's short notice and all but, him coming back sort of is, so...
Well, anyway, I hope that you all can make it, especially Trinket! We all miss her and I'm sure that Chance will want to see her, and we just want him coming home to be a smooth transition, and Trinket will certainly help! Oh dear, I'm rambling... Well, it's this Saturday at one, so let me know! Bye!'

"So I guess you would have found out anyway."

I jump and swivel around to see Dylan leaning against the wall.

"Jeez, you scared the hell out of me," I say while clutching my chest. This causes him to chuckle. "But, yeah, I guess your Mom was meant to tell me."

"That's Mom for you."

A somewhat awkward silence follows until for once, I am the one to break  it.

"Well, you used the bathroom, so see ya."

We stared at each other for a moment until he sighed and spoke up. "Look, I don't think that you should be alone right now-"

"I'm fine, Dylan."

"-so I invited someone over." No.

"Who is coming over Dylan? Because you need to call them and tell them-"

A knock was made on the other side of the door, resounding around the house.

"Don't you dare answer that door, Crow!"

"You and I both know that you shouldn't be alone right now-"

"I'm fine Dyl-"

"-they'll  be a good distraction-"

"-you have no right-"

"-I'm worried that-"

"Ugh!"

The person knocks again, and before I can stop him, Dylan yells "Come in."

The person comes in and I groan out in annoyance when they speak.

"Hey!"