「it ended at sonic」 | d.w. + c.v.

Chapter Thirteen.

AT THE MOMENT, Cherry's head was laying in Marcia's lap as she combed through the slightly younger girl's red hair. She'd stopped crying by now, sadness gone and replaced by a numb feeling in her body. Dally and Two-Bit were sitting on the opposite couch. Cherry's father was who knows where doing God knows what. Her mom was at work at the moment, on a business trip to who knows where for a few days. Her father on another one of his 'business trips', only her mother leaving a phone number to call in case of an emergency.

Needless to say, both boys in the house were confused and full of questions. But the one question Dally wanted to ask was: What the hell happened while he was in the bathroom? Seriously, he was in there for maybe two minutes, what all could have gone on that was so bad in two measly minutes?

Marcia cleared her throat, alerting the two boys of her oncoming explanation. "I honestly don't know how to explain any of this, but, I'll try to answer everything I can." She first answered Two-Bit's question, already knowing what he would ask. "The person who called earlier was Cherry's older brother, Bruno. You probably don't know about him because when she was, seven I believe, he took off to join the army after graduating. He only got out of the army last year. Of course that was after a couple spent being in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. They hadn't heard from him in a year and their parents started fighting. By the time he came back, they were already divorced. They only live together because they don't want the town knowin'. That's why me and Two-Bit came over here, when he called he started worryin' me so I headed over here. I guess he took off again..." She trailed off, looking down at the sixteen year old laying in her lap. Dally looked at her as well and realized just how worn down she must've been. He'd never seen her look so blank and emotionless, and it was weird. Her eyes were dull, the life having drained from them. She stared at the wall for a long while, faintly hearing the rest of them speak but not contributing herself. Soon enough, she rose her head and stood up.

"I need to call my mom." She spoke slowly, almost as if trying to gather her wits. Smoothing down her gray skirt, she cleared her throat and walked to the kitchen phone without another peep. "Brianna Valance." Her voice was cool and collected, as if her world hadn't just come crashing down. She sniffled slightly as she waited for them to transfer the call to her office, gathering herself as best as she could. It was the last stable job she remembered her having, and apparently she'd kept it this long. Maybe it'd stick, just this once.

"Hello?" Her mother's voice cut through the other line, sounding professional.

"Mom?" She cringed at how her voice quivered. She'd been calm until now.

"Honey? Are you okay?" The concern that laced her voice caused Cherry's vision to cloud slightly, feeling surging through her once more.

"No," she shook her head, as if she could see her, a tear slipping down her previously puffy cheeks. Marcia came up behind her, hand wrapping around her shoulders. "I'm not okay." She clutched the phone, voice cracking again.

"What's wrong, what happened?" She'd always been closest to Brianna. Her father was a bit sleazy and unorganized, unconcerned with most of the family situations since the divorce. Her mother, on the other hand, had almost always been her saving grace.

"Bruno's gone, again." The other end was silent for a moment, no doubt in thought of a proper response. Brianna couldn't say that she was all that surprised.

"Oh, sweetie. Do you need me home?" The redhead's eyes glanced to Marcia and lingered there for a moment. As long as she had her best friend, she could surely deal with it. Her mother would never let her go searching for her brother, and that's what she needed to do.

"No, no." She sucked in a deep breath, wiping the salty liquid from her face. "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." She paused. "I'll let you get back to work."

"Okay..." She seemed skeptical, but was most likely too caught up to keep insisting. Most of the time she was got home, Cherry was either out or in bed. The two didn't cross paths often, but they had their moments. "I love you, Cherry. I'll be back Wednesday."

"I love you too, mom." With that, she hung up the phone. She bit her lip, holding back a sob as Marcia hugged her from behind. She leaned back into her best friends arms, relishing in the warmth. Everything else just felt numb and disconnected.

She didn't know how, but at some point, she ended up back on the couch, laying across it with her head in Marcia's lap like before. They were watching some old TV program, though she wasn't paying attention. Tears were streaming onto Marcia's own skirt silently, she doubted the others had noticed it. For a moment, they were all thankful for the TV program. If not for that, everything would be silent. So they all stayed like that, Dallas and Two-Bit not really knowing how to react to what they'd heard.

And soon enough, Cherry welcomed the depths of sleep that covered her like a blanket.