Seeing Grey

8. Grey Winters

"Children, we have hit a bump in your father's campaign."

The words were like ice in my blood. I knew that we would be the ones most affected. Trevor looked at me with fear extremely evident in his green eyes. My heartbeat sped up because I knew what this was about and I never even told my brother. My mom's pale skin had light red splotches on her chest and I was so glad that this was extremely embarrassing for her. Trevor was her favorite and he would now know her dirty secret.

My mother slightly shook her head as if it would erase the shame. Everything about her at this moment was perfect except for the red splotches marring her skin of her infidelity. Her hair was the most perfect. It resembled everything about mine except she had her best friend, hairspray, on her side. She opened her perfect little mouth that was painted in a dark blush color. She starts, "Trevor, this past summer your sister moved out."

My brother nodded his head as if we were stupid. Obviously he noticed that his little sister moved away but he never knew the exact reason. He turned to me and I could see the familiar look of anger slowly bubbling out of him. I was so sorry and I would never be able to explain that to him. He will be mad forever that I kept a secret.

"What did you do Grey? Are you okay?" His curiosity asked me. I was angry that he thought it could somehow be my fault but, at the same time he cared for my wellbeing even though he was angry. I had no right to be angry though. Not after he hears this and realizes that I kept him out.

I shut my eyes. I was tired of this and my parents. This lifestyle was a serious downer and my dad wasn't even that important. "I didn't do anything, Trevor. It is the reason I left, that is the issue. Mother dearest is the one who messed up."

My mother gasped and her eyes narrowed down at me. "Grey, we watch what we say," she sneered. But I had no mercy.

"Too bad the rules don't apply to your actions. Do they mother?" My mother's hand rose up and I shut my eyes, waiting for the familiar feeling to hit my cheek. I never felt the feeling, though. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that my father had her hand tightly in his grip. For a small second, he offered me a tiny smile.

"Leave the child alone, Delia. She is right. You are the one who could not leave her indiscretions as her indiscretions." Trevor stood up and at this point I could feel the anger flaring off of him. I was mad too. How could my father really not care that my mother had cheated? It made me want to cry. Was love not real?

"Everyone here knows a secret and they did not think I should know. Obviously, this is something so horrible that it made my baby sister move out and leave me alone in this shithole for a whole summer!" I shut my eyes. Just two months alone in this house can drive you nuts. I squeezed my hand in the palm of my other one. Sweat was building up and I could not help but wonder how my date with Kenny would be going if I had ignored my parents, and still went.

"Tell the boy, Delia. I have business to attend to." My dad demands. It's always business with him.

My mother looked at my father in so much anguish and I realized now that she wanted to get caught. She compromised my happiness so that she could get hers back but, it backfired. She wanted my father to be jealous. She wanted proof that he still loved her. Sadly, my father failed her test.

My mother wanted to cry, I could tell. She crinkles her nose, just as I do. She was struggling to even speak up because I think she hated herself more than I did. As much as I hated her for cheating, I hated my father more because he did not care and he pushed her to it. I would save her.

"Mom cheated on father, Trevor." My mother was shocked that I said it, and it almost looked like she wanted to thank me. I look at my dad to see if he could see her turmoil but, he was oblivious. Did he ever love my mother? Trevor looked at my mother and then at my father. All his hatred was aimed at my dad. I could now see why he always tolerated our mother more than our father. He also saw that she was just crying out for love. I just wanted to get up and leave but there was still so much more to the issue.

"It seems the wife of your mother's lover wants to come out with this information."

"He is not my lover," my mother's weak voice spoke out. Ignoring her, my father proceeded, "she wants to ruin us and by that she will ruin me." He cleared his voice and pulled down on his suit jacket. "Instead of paying her we have been advised to let her come clean and her husband, who is my campaign manager, will deny it."

Trevor was in shock at finding out who the man is. I was shocked that my father just called him his campaign manager and no longer his best friend. I tried to hold Trevor's hand but he pulled away.

"So we don't even get to voice our opinion?" I asked.

"Your opinions are irrelevant," said my father in the most deadpan voice. I could not believe any of this. I stood up in anger and resistance.

"Do you not see it is her way of making you notice her?" I yelled at my dad. My mother's eyes widened, the murky jade color was bright, and they probably looked exactly how mine did. My father just remained still and had no emotions on his face.

"You are a robot for fucks sake!" I was rebelling. My dad shook his head and stood up. Without a word he walked into his office and shut the door. I turned and saw that Trevor was gone and all that was left was my trembling mother. She reached out and grabbed my arm. "Grey..." I looked her straight in the eyes.

"Save it mother." I walked out of the sitting room and right before I was out of hearing distance, I heard a small thank you come from her mouth.

.

.

My anger made me want to break a rule. More specifically, I wanted to break a rule my parents hated. So, after an argument with myself I had decided to just call Kenny.

"Hey Winters," yelled the sexiest voice I had ever heard. I slightly turned my body on the swings and saw the beautiful Kenny coming towards me. I made a move to hop off the swings but he spoke up before I did.

"Stay there, I will push you." I nodded and with a smile I felt his large hands rest low on my back. With a push I went sailing into the air and I smiled at the sense of freedom it gave me. We stayed like this, quietly swinging for five minutes. It was as if Kenny knew I needed that and I loved that about him.

"So what was the 911?" He finally asked me. I had been waiting for the question. Silence only lasts so long.

I shut my eyes and felt the air rush against me. "I hate my parents," I said in a nonchalant voice.

"Aw, now, I bet you don't really mean that."

"No, I do." I said it so nonchalant that Kenny couldn't help but laugh. His laugh was the most beautiful noise I had heard, ever. Was it crazy that I wanted a recording of it?

"So what has you hating your family?" Did he really care? That was the first question in my mind. Then, should I tell him? It would be everywhere soon anyway.

"My mom cheated on my dad at the beginning of summer." I didn't want to turn back and see his face. He probably has parents that love each other. He let out a sigh. I expected a sorry but instead he surprised me.

"That sucks, Grey." I shrugged my shoulders and as he pushed me I also swung my legs so I could go higher.

"I hate life," I told him as I went up into the air. As I went back down I did not get another push. I began to freak out because maybe I went too far. I screwed this up. Then he surprised me. As I went back up into the air, he appeared in front of me and I almost kicked him in the face.

"Oh my gosh Kenny, I almost kicked you." His smile after dazzled me.

"What is that you just said?" He asked me this with no smile anywhere on his lips.

"I said I hate life, Kenny."

"Grey, jump into my arms!" I checked to see if he was kidding but he looked serious. So, I let go and went flying at him. I am a pretty tall girl, nowhere near petite. So, in the process of flying into his awaiting arms I knocked him down on his back. His arms felt amazing wrapped around me as I lay on top of him. He slowly dragged his fingertips from the tops of my shoulders down to my elbows. Before I realized it, his beautiful lips were coming for mine. This was my first kiss and it was so amazing. It made me feel like I was floating. Floating like I was on the swing.

"Do you still hate life, Grey?"

It was dumb, but I think I loved him at that moment.

Um, I can't believe I updated after what- two years?