Anger Issues

sixty nine

Jessica

At night, the two people I wanted to talked to, couldn't talk to me.

Wouldn't, for Kayla. Couldn't for Austin.

I tried a lot for Kayla but I gave up after a while. I knew she'd need time alone and I didn't want her to freak out. She was mad at me, I knew it. Now it was a matter of the waiting game.

Austin was the only other person I wanted to talk to. I couldn't even talk to him about what happened at home, with Dad.

He's been acting like he didn't do anything. Noah and I always feel tension during times like dinner or something, but say nothing. I couldn't believe we were letting him get away with it. Mom didn't deserve that and as much as I wanted to tell her, I didn't want to lose Dad.

I wanted to tell Austin, but I felt like he was still mad at me. He wasn't showing it, but I sensed it. The fact that I extended his grounding didn't help, either.

I decided I needed to help him, though. For once, I needed to own up to my shit. He always did it for me, and now it was my turn.

Leaving my room, I quickly told Mom I was stopping by Austin's quickly. She didn't know about the entire situation, luckily.

Walking to Austin's house took a couple minutes. It was cold, too, which sucked.

I was super confident in what I was going to do. I knew what to say and what to explain, how to explain it, and what I wanted them to do.

But once Mrs. Chanel opened the front door, my mind went blank.

"Hi Jessica, Austin can't come-" "I actually wanted to talk to you, Mrs. Chanel," I started. "And Mr. Chanel, if that's alright," I added.

She looked confused, and slightly turned her head to the side. I'd be just as confused, too. Opening the door wider, she allowed me in.

Once Mr. Chanel joined, I let out a breath. I really didn't know what to say.

"What's this about?" Mr. Chanel asked. "When.. when Austin got arrested," I began. They were reeled in. The change in their expressions showed it.

"When he got arrested, that night- it.." I kept stammering, not sure what the hell to say.

"It was my fault," I bluntly said. At a full loss of words, I waited for them to say something.

Mrs. Chanel blinked, softly shaking her head. "Wh- what? What do you mean?" She asked.

"Can I please first just say that Austin really is the most amazing person ever. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have gotten into half the trouble he does get in to.." I said, realizing how true it was only after I said it.

"What happened when he got arrested?" Mr. Chanel impatiently asked.

I sighed.

"I told Austin about a party that I heard about. He told me he couldn't go and tried to persuade me not to go.."

Austin

"But I went anyway, and I don't know why," I heard Jess' voice. Leaning my back against the wall beside the staircase, I listened in on the conversation.

"I needed to leave and I only thought to call Austin, so I did. When he got there, some older guy started hitting him so Austin fought back, but the police showed up and since we were right by the door, they saw the fight and arrested Austin," she explained.

I sighed and leaned my head against the wall.

"Why did they start fighting?" Mom asked. "Because the older guy was drunk. Austin was just trying to protect me but I promise you both, he didn't start it. And it wouldn't have happened if I listened to him in the first place."

Seconds of silence passed. Even I could feel the awkward tension.

"Alright, thank you for telling us," Mom said. "We'll uh.. we'll talk it over with Austin," Dad added.

"Please be.. easier on him, it wasn't his fault," Jess said again. "We can try. Thanks for clearing it up," Dad said.

"Yeah.. you're welcome."

As soon as I heard the door open, I rushed back to my room, quietly closing the door. Sitting at my desk, I pretended to do the work I had out.

Jess really came through for me on that one. I didn't expect her to, and she didn't have to, but she did. It's one of the many reasons I respected her so much.