The Diary

:(11):

       Beth and Jerry hadn't returned until the next day, explaining that the storm had forced them to stay over with a friend. The blizzard had raged through the night and was carrying into the morning now. I'd helped set up the tree, Summer walking down and complaining that it was naked. We'd laughed and were now in the middle of decorating it, some Christmas music playing from Summer's phone. She'd insisted it would add to the mood.

       As we decorated, I couldn't help but smile. Morty had come down shortly after and ran to immediately help Summer put tinsel and sparkly balls on the branches. He reached up several times and Summer would catch me staring at the smooth flesh revealed when his shirt rose. She'd wink and I'd grumble throwing more tinsel on the tree. If anything, tinsel was stress relieving. I could whip it at the tree as hard as possible and it would still float right down.

        Beth and Jerry had hung a few ornaments and stopped, leaving the rest of it up to us. We walked around each other, setting objects where we thought they would look best. At one point, I'd gone to grab an ornament from the box, already having a place in mind to hang it, but I'd wound up grabbing Morty's hand when he reached for the same one. He stared at me for a moment before looking away, light pink dusting his face.

        That's actually... really cute.

       I'd grabbed another ornament and moved to hang it, only to find Morty hanging the previous ornament in my spot. "I-I guess great eugh minds do think alike, Mo-Morty." I laughed and moved the ornament elsewhere, feeling Morty's stare. From the other side of the tree, Summer giggled. We put away the empty boxes, now just admiring the tree for a moment while Beth ran off to make breakfast. Jerry went off to play his iPad, like always, and the three of us sat in the living room, watching television.

       "I've gotta ru- eugh run to my room. Have fun or whatever." I stood and made my way up the stairs, walking into my room and shutting the door behind me. 

       I think I fixed it. I hope I fixed it. I just don't know if he wants that anymore. Those two idiots seemed awfully happy. I don't know if my Morty would still feel the same.

       I laid back on my bed, my hands folded behind my head as I stared at the ceiling. Christmas was in three days, maybe I should get something for everybody. Nah, I'll build everybody something. 

       I stood and wandered back downstairs. "Hey, dad, I was just gonna send Morty up to get you. Breakfast's ready." I paused, "Thanks, Beth, but I'm not eugh hungry right now. I, uh... I have something I have to do in the garage." I smiled, hopefully letting her know I was okay. 

       My desk was quickly cluttered with random pieces of miscellaneous objects. It didn't take long to know what to make for Jerry, as much as I had wanted to just break his entire being. He's getting a stupid little shelf for his stupid little coin collection which had grown over the years.

       "Beth... eugh I know what she'll want." I dug around in the pile of junk, pulling out a metallic frame and a few decorative objects. I threw a photo of the whole family in there, a picture I'd stolen away a while ago, and closed it up, admiring my handiwork.

       Summer was getting a simple mirror on a rotating gear, one that would make it easier for her to do her makeup. God knows how much she uses.

       I didn't know what to make for Morty, so I decided to put that off. He hadn't really changed all too much, but there were still things I was unsure of. For now, I didn't know what to get for him.

       "Hey, grampa?" A light knock rang out through my garage. "Don't come in yet!" I hastily shoved everything into a drawer and locked it, tucking the key into my pocket, "Alright, you're eugh you're fine now." The door opened and Summer walked in, holding her phone.

       "So, Morty broke up with his guy." She looked upset, "But apparently he still didn't take it too well." She held her phone out.

Morty
I don't know why it still hurts. I expected it to be over and done with, I didn't really care. I'm just gonna stay in my room for a bit.

       I felt my heart fall to the floor, "So he's hurt, eugh then?" I furrowed my brows, interlacing my fingers and placing my hands atop my head. "What eugh am-am I supposed to do, then? You-You came in eugh here like I was supposed to fix it, so what do I do?"

       I crossed my legs, waiting for a response. "Well, you could go and act like you noticed he locked himself away, like he would probably hope for, and comfort him. Or you can stay in here and pretend you don't care again. Your choice."

       "Dammit, Summer." I stood, "eugh do-do you think he'll actually eugh wan-want to talk, or are you eugh setting me up for- to fail here?" Summer shrugged, "He might actually want to see you."

       I pushed past her and rushed up the stairs, pausing and running into my room for a minute. I sat in absolute silence until I heard sniffs from Morty's room.

       There's my cue.

       I walked up to his door and knocked lightly, "M-Morty? Are you ok? I, uh... I hear-heard crying or-or something."

       "Yea," he sniffed, "I'm fine, Rick."

       "A-Are you eugh sure?" I felt compelled to help him, but I was unsure as to whether or not he would want my help. "Y-Yea." His voice broke and I pressed the door open.

       "Morty..." He was laying on his side, facing the wall as he laid on his bed. "Morty, eugh this isn't the de-definition of ok." 

       "No, but I'm still ok."

       "Morty, what's wrong?" He stiffened for a moment, "Why do you care all of a sudden?"

       I hadn't really expected him to ask. I didn't really know what to say. "W-Well, you're my Morty. I-I-I eugh gotta know what's go-going on in your life, you-you know?" Smooth.

       He sat up, wiping his eyes and clutching a pillow to himself. "I broke up with Daemon. But I didn't think... it-it would hurt. I was the one doing the breaking up, not him. I'm not supposed to be the one who's heartbroken here." He stifled a small sob and sniffed, "I'm fine, Rick, really."

       "Morty, why... why did you eugh br-break up with him?"

       "Because, Rick."

       "That's not a very good answer, you know."

       Morty stiffened, looking away before he stared back at me. "There's no way around it, Rick. He'll never be you."

       I felt my heart jump in my throat, heartrace increasing rapidly. "Mo-Morty, I-I..."

       I stood up, not knowing what to do. "Go ahead, Rick, hate me some more. I don't mind. I'm fucked as it is."

       "Morty, i-it's not like that." He stared up at me, confused, "Then tell me what it is like, Rick? What is it like?"

        I stood there, gaping, before I quickly backed up to the door. I ran down the stairs, shutting his door behind me, and found Beth.

       "You and I need eugh to talk right now."