Nothing To See Here

Chapter 5 - Badlands

As the days went on I noticed that Crybaby didn't do anything with the money, she just kept it and let my paychecks pile up in the bank account. Crybaby didn't start transferring to another school, she didn't look at houses, and she didn't start to detach from this place. One thing that she did do though was smile, a big real one that she pulled whenever she thought people weren't looking and she went out almost every night, coming back with a huge sappy grin on her blushing face.

I knew immediately that she was in love, which was good, she claimed to lose her inability to love after she lost Johnny, and I remember exactly how she swore on so many people's lives, including my own that she'd never fall in love again.

The front door slammed shut as Crybaby ran in, crying loudly as our mother who was under house arrest, scurried quickly over to her. I sat at the foot of the stairs, watching the scene lazily as smoke drifted out of my nostrils, a blazing joint in hand.

"What's wrong honey?" my mother asked, bringing Crybaby close to her patting her hair affectionately. I always knew that my mother preferred Crybaby over me, she was sensitive, just like her and Crybaby has always loathed her father for cheating on my mother.

"I lost Johnny, mom, I lost him for good," Crybaby sobbed, her shoulders shaking with each word. "He told me he loved me, that he would always wait for me, but when I got taken he left,"

I looked at Crybaby, surprised that she actually could actually have a meltdown over a most likely temporary relationship. She was going to end up just like mom, stuck in a what was supposed to be a temporary relationship.

"Chin up, he was probably messing with ya, Johnny isn't worth it," I shrugged, taking another long drag.

My mother suddenly took a step away from Crybaby, looking at me smugly, and I knew all that she could see was my father in me in that moment, she didn't care what would happen to me.

Crybaby, on the other hand, was shaking, her fists clenching and unclenching as silent tears ran down her face. Her eyes turned darker than usual and with a deep breath, she walked over to me, and I held my arms out for an expected hug from her.

She plucked the still smoldering joint from between my fingers and in a flash, she had the burning end against my skin making me scream out in pain.

Her voice was deathly calm as she spoke, "This is for being a bitch during my obvious pain, and also suggesting that Johnny wasn't worth my time, love and care. Now you are going to repeat after me,"

I thought of slapping her hand, thought better of it, not even sure if I knew what she was capable of. My eyes were blurry with tears as I let out a strangled cry for help at my mother who raised her eyebrow at me and mouthed "You got what was coming to you,"

"Johnny," Crybaby squeaked in a childish voice.

"Johnny,"

"Is,"

"Is,"

"Worth it,"

"Worth it," and with that she lifted the joint from my arm and walked to the kitchen, throwing it in the trash bin.

"And I swear on the lives of everyone in this godforsaken town, I will never love anyone again," Crybaby declared.