Never Be Alone

Disbelief

(Shawn's POV)

"How? How could I have hurt her like that?! She needed a friend, and I let her down." I plopped back onto my bed.

Zac had already gone home and there was nothing to do. My gaze landed on my guitar. "Only one thing left to do, I guess." I get up and started to play random cords.

"I promise that one day - I'll be around, I'll keep you safe, I'll keep you sound." I plucked a bit more. "But right now, its pretty crazy and I don't know how to stop or slow it down."

I do a few different things on my guitar, trying to create a perfect sound for my new creation. "Ugh- that doesn't sound right." I try something a bit different, but pretty close to the beginning.

"Heey, I knooow there are somethings we need to taalk aboout. And I can't s-s-stay." My body starts trembling. A knot forms in my throat. "Just let me hold you for a little lon-ger now." I manage to complete my thought before bursting into tears.

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(Tiffany's POV)

"You know, my dad has been drinking quite a bit lately." I sighed as we pull into my drive way.

Dean looks over at me once he turns off the truck. "Huh- so has mine." He gives a small charming smile before getting serious. "Uh-who were those guys that were looking at you at school?"

"Like boy-guys? Or guys- like in a group of people?" I open my door and got out.

"Both." Dean laughs.

"Ha, um. Well, There's Shawn and Zac. And there is---The other group." I shrugged and quickly changed the subject. "Do you want some tea? I just got some awesome new flavors."

"Sure." Dean widen his eyes, filled with -- taken-a-backness? We head inside to find my dad on the phone and my mom watching some stupid reality T.V. show.

"Hey, sweety." Dad gives me a small wave. "Hey Dean." He goes back to his phone. "Yeah, Monday works for me. Then make sure she gets a new one. Look, I gotta go."

"Sweety dear, why did you quit? Veronica needed you." Dad called to me.

We, Dean and I, were already half way up the stairs. So I had to some what shout down to him. "She was treating me like dirt under her feet for waay to long." I proceeded up to my room without waiting for his response. I guess, I'm doing that a lot lately -- leaving people before they could answer.

"Who's Veronica?" Dean asked, sitting down at the edge of my bed.

"She the Next Big Thing. I used to be her assistant up until yesterday, and to make things worse!" I threw up my arms. "She's also my classmate."

"That's gotta suck." Dean chuckles. "At least she's no longer my problem."

"Actually." I sat next to him. "She's been bullying me for a couple months now. Saying I was to quiet."

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(Tiffany's Dad's POV)

"What? She bullied you for being quiet?" I hear Dean through the door.

"Yeah, and to make matters worse -- Micky, Steph, Sara, and Carlos joined her. Calling me mean n-n-names. And probably the worst part is: Shawn and Zac never helped me out. I can t-tell that somethin' is holdin' them back."

"Hey, you'll be okay. If you need a shoulder to cry on, soak up mine." Dean chuckle.

"Yeah. I'm happy to see you." My daughter sniffed. "Oh, I had to quit my Your Life group because no one supported me any more. Not even Vincent, the leader of the counseling. Now, I'm stuck with stupid Old Man Carter, my therapist for the Zander thing I told you about in the truck."

"Hey," Dean sounded offended, but upbeat about it. "That's my grandfather!"

Tiffany laughs. "Sorry. I thought something felt -- off, like I was missing a piece of information."

"I can't believe she never told me or her mom. Or even our cook! Or Adam!" I muttered to myself and continued to listen.

"Heh, one time I came home to see my Dad passed out in the kitchen, you know because of drinking. I just lost it. I had a very snappy attitude and I still have it." The two chuckle together. "I just hate it when people drink -- heavily or get buzzed and drive. Like people, buzzed driving is drunk driving."

"Yeah, I was like that too when I figured out my dad was drinking because of hArD dAy At wORk." Dean made a mocking voice. "Like take a fucking walk if your stressed. There's better and healthier ways to relieve stress."

"I know right. That's what I told my parents!" Tiffany laughs.

Disbelief showered over me. How come she's telling this kid everything? I'm her dad! I left to get away from that toxic energy. I needed a beer - no! I need a walk. A nice long walk around the block.

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(Shawn's POV)

It's been 20 mintues of me crying, and I still have enough energy to fill a tub. All I could think about is how much pain I brought onto Tiffany because of Veronica. I feel so guilty, like its all my fault.

"I'm so sorry, Tiffany." I mumbled. "I know you can't hear this but I'm so sorry.

End of Chapter 20