Flesh and Blood

Mistakes That Cost You

"Christmas is in a few weeks. Did you want to go shopping with me?"

I shook my head "No. Not really."

"You haven't wanted to do anything since coming back here. The point of coming back was so you didn't have to be alone all of the time. I think it'll be good for you to get out of this room."

My mom has been trying to get me out to do something since I landed. I felt so horrible and sad for everything that I did before coming out here I didn't want to leave the house. I kept thinking about my dad and Tristan and how hurt they are. I hate that I always hurt people. 

"Cassandra if your dad and I sent you to talk to someone about what's bothering you would you go?"

"You mean a shrink? No, I'm not crazy. I just have a lot on my mind."

"Maybe he or she could help with whatever is on your mind."

"I doubt it.  I just don't want to go shopping today."

She got up from my bed and left the room. "FINALLY" I thought to myself. I looked at my phone and smiled at the background picture of Tristan and I

"Tristan...I miss you"

"Tough. That's your own fault."

"Is my dad OK?"

"LOL...are you serious right now?"

" :( Yes"

"No he's not. He's always drunk. He's a mess. He cries a lot...We all hope you're very happy with your decision and in your life. I told you the night it happened. I told you 2 days later. I told you last week and this is the LAST time I'm going to tell you...STOP texting me Cassie."

I put the phone down and wiped my cheeks. This was a horrible mistake. I can't even fix it. I don't even know what to do. Legally I'm supposed to be living in Vegas with my dad, but I know that my mom and dad have already filed the paperwork to make it so I live here again. I'm afraid to contact my dad. I'm more or less convinced he hates me and it's incredibly obvious Tristan hates me. I didn't think about anyone but myself when my mom talked me into leaving. It seemed like a good idea at the time. It made complete sense when I was listening to her logic. I didn't consider what leaving would do to my dad or to my boyfriend. It more or less confirms everything Tristan said. I am an ungrateful, spoiled bitch. I miss my dad. I miss my boyfriend. I miss my room and my house and my friends. I miss my dad's hugs and the way he just gets me. I sorted through the pictures on my phone while I cried

"Why did you come back?"

I looked over and saw Travis standing in the doorway of the bathroom. I shrugged my shoulders and looked back down. He came over and sat down in the chair across from my bed

"Mom made it sound like a good idea at the time. Now I know it was a mistake.  I miss my dad and my boyfriend...everything."

"Then go back. You're not supposed to be here anyway so..."

"I can't. My dad and boyfriend hate me now."

"I seriously doubt that."

Colby's POV:

I sent Tristan home to his mom this week. Cassie wasn't here so there was really no need for him to be hanging around. I sat looking around the house that had become a mess. Jon won't let me clean up the broken picture frames from the floor and the other night he started packing up her room to send her back her stuff....he won't let me help. Then he goes out to the strip and gets sloppy drunk, comes home, stumbles around, goes to sleep and starts all over again. I have no idea where the spark in him to fight for her went. It's like it flew out the window the very minute she left. I laid down on the couch and started to doze off. The door flew open and slammed shut. I sighed deeply and got up. 

"Jon this has got to stop."

He threw his arm around me and ruffled my hair and laughed

"Colby! Buddy! You missed a great time!!"

"Jon...."

"There was this chick..."

"Jon...you..."

"The shit she could do...it was..."

"JON!! FUCKING LISTEN"

He stopped and stumbled to the kitchen and grabbed a beer. At least he was drunk but not sloppy drunk...you've got to start somewhere I guess.

"Jon. This has to stop. This is nuts.  Every single night. Where did your fight for Cassie go?"

"Who's Cassie?"

"Knock it off. Seriously Jon...fight for your daughter. Don't sit here giving yourself cirrhosis of the liver. Get her back. You need her. Tristan needs her. This is getting stupid. You wallow in your self pity and drink your life away. Do something...go get her. Don't let her leave like that Jon. I know she hurt you, but prove to her that you want her."

"I don't want her here anymore.  She's gone. She has that great life with that perfect family in Indiana"

"Is that really what you think? She's been texting Tristan...she wants to come home. She's afraid to talk to you. She thinks you hate her."

"I don't hate her. I just don't want her here anymore. She can be my daughter from a far..like before. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of trying."

"Seriously? Why?  You don't want her back?"

"No. I already signed the papers the White's lawyer sent. She's their problem again. If she wants to come find me next year when she's 18 then fine. I'm not going to fight for someone who doesn't want to be fought for."

"Jon...I...Wow...I don't even know what to say...."

He shrugged "Don't say anything. It is what it is."