Chasing Your Dreams

A Very Difficult Time

*a few months later*

Miranda's pov

Mo came back home after hanging at the bar. He tossed a beer bottle in the trash. The last few months Mo's been getting drunk alot and when he does, he gets violent. I sigh thinking of mama's song. I lay my head back on the couch, my eyes closed, hearing Mo walking over. "Are you drunk?" I say, not opening my eyes. He stays quiet, standing in front of me. I open my eyes. He's drunk. Again. I sigh and start to stand up but he pushes me back down and gets on top of me. "Mo, stop it! What are you doing?!" I gasp. "What do you think girl?" He gasps, pulling on my jeans. "Stop it. I'm not fooling around while you're this drunk!" I shove him off me and he hits the floor with a heavy thud. I text mom asking if I can come over. Which of course she says yes.

Jason's pov

When Miranda gets here, she looks exhausted. I finish helping Kendyl with her homework and I fix a plate of fries from the pan Brittany made. Miranda sits beside Britt at the bar. "You okay?" I ask. "Just tired." It looks like more than that. "Want some fries?" "Yes please." I hand her a plate and sit across from her. "Mo's getting on my nerves." "What? Why? What's he doing?" She glances at Kendyl. She gives me the Not with her in the room look. I nod. Keely walks in. "Oh Miranda! Hey!" They share a hug and she grabs an apple. "Oh hey I've got a softball game tomorrow at four if you're not busy." She smiles but looks miserable. I really wanna know. "Of course I'll be there, sis." She smiles. "Love you." "Love you too." "Go get ready for bed, girls." They leave. "Ok what's up?" "Mo's been upset from the miscarriage as have I but he's dealing with it.... Differently." I raise an eyebrow. "What is he doing?" "Drinking. A lot. And I'm tired of it. I had to get away." "He... Hasn't hit you, has he?" "No but he's a little rough with.... Well you know... That's why I had to leave cause he was trying that and I don't want to." I'm this close to marching over there and giving that boy a piece of my mind. "Stay here for the night. You look like you need the sleep anyway." "Thanks dad." "Of course."

*later*

Miranda's pov

I'm awoken to my phone ringing. I sigh, seeing Mo's number. I reluctantly answer. "Where are you?" He instantly says angrily. I roll my eyes. "No hello?" I ask annoyed. "Where are you?" He says even angrier and impatient. "I'm at my parents' house. I'm not coming home tonight Mo, so don't even try." "I'm not gonna pull anything. I just miss you." I sigh tiredly. "Ok but I'm going right to bed, I'm exhausted." "Ok. I'll pick you up." "Ok." I say, hanging up and falling back asleep.

Jason's pov

"I'm this close Britt from rippin' that boy a new one. He's really trying my patience." I mutter, walking back downstairs. "I thought you liked this boy." "I did until he started a little fuckboy routine." "What are you talking about?" She asks turning around. "Drinking and convincing her to have sex. Obviously it's what he's doing. Since he's drunk." "I swear, you're like a bear guarding his cubs." I roll my eyes. "I'm serious Britt. He's-" Just then the door opens. Mo stands there, instantly annoying me. "Get outta here, boy." "I came for my wife. Where is she?" "Asleep upstairs and you ain't steppin' foot up there." He's still drunk. It wouldn't be hard to stop him anyway. "The hell I ain't! She's my wife!" "And she's my daughter! I don't want you comin' near her. Sober up then we'll talk!" "Baby get your butt outta bed. We're leavin'." "Shut your little prick mouth!" I growl furious. "Dammit, Miranda hurry your ass up!"

Miranda's pov

I'm awoken when Mo screams my name. Crud! I sigh and walk into the hall. They're having a stand off! "Shit!" I gasp, running downstairs. I brush my hair out of my face. "It's okay dad. I'll go with him." "No you aren't, honey." Dad says, holding me back." Oh man they're gonna fight. "Mo, I know you're upset about the baby dying but you are not gonna take it out on my daughter." His eyes go wide. "Oh no!" I gasp shakily. "I'm not taking it out on anyone!" He yells. I back up, hearing him yell. They start yelling back and forth. I can't take it. Tears come to my eyes. My hands shaking.

Jason's pov

"If you think for one fucking second-" "Both of you stop yelling!" Brittany shouts, standing up. I glance at her and she's looking behind me. I turn around. Miranda's on the ground, her hands covering her ears and crying hysterically. Crap! "Boy you have five seconds to leave willingly before I throw you out. She's not coming home with you tonight so get that outta your head." He stands there furiously. I ignore him and bend down to my poor little girl. "Sweetheart it's okay. You're okay." "I can't take it!" She whimpers. "All the yelling... The fighting... I can't handle it.... I'll go with him.... I'll be fine... I just want the fighting to stop." "It will stop baby and you're not going with him til he sobers up and you get some sleep." "I have to!" "No you don't." I stand back up. "Get out, Mo." "Fine. But don't expect me to follow your rules all the time. You don't control me." "Get the fuck out!" Finally he leaves. I help Miranda back to her room. I was about to leave when she whispered, "My parents...." I turned back around. "What about them?" "They... Fought all the time... My whole life was arguing over who's house me and my older brother were gonna stay at. My dad did everything he could to make life harder on mom. Mom was so depressed, she almost stopped living life. I begged her to eat.... I had to force her to do anything." She sure had a rough childhood. I sit on the edge of her bed. "I hate.... It when.... People yell. It brings back awful memories." She turns on her back, crying silently. I hate that I fought with Mo and upset her. "I don't even remember.... There's a lot of my life I don't remember. Before I was 8, I have no memory of it. Mom thinks I blocked it out. Because the divorce was so hard." I don't know what to say. She shakily sits up. "You know little toy guns by Carrie Underwood?" I nod. "I'm that little girl, hiding in the closet with her hands over her ears." I feel a tear slip down my cheek. "Jason, promise me something." I'm shocked. She hasn't called me that in a long time. "Anything, sweetheart." "You and Brittany won't become depressed like mom was." I'm confused. "What do you mean?" "I don't want you to be sad over me. You don't deserve it." "Baby girl, I don't get what you're talking about." "I'm sorry." She shakily reaches into her drawer. My eyes go wide, seeing a pill bottle.... An empty pill bottle. My hands are shaking. I grab it. Hydrocodone. A really strong pain medication. "You didn't take all these?! Please tell me you didn't take all these." She lays back down. "I'm sorry." She whispers again. My God! She did! "BRITTANY GET UP HERE!!"