Often

Dad (ch 12)

Zayden's POV

(7:00)

I was sitting in my bed waiting for Dr. Mimi. I was tired of switching through the channels, so I decided to call my brother. "Hello?" My bubba answered. "Bubba?! Are you at school yet?" I questioned. "No? I'm heading there right now. Why? What's going on?" He asked a little rushed. "I just wanted to talk before you go to school." I replied. "Oh, okay what's up?" He says, sounding a little calmer now. "I want to stay with mum all the time. I don't want to stay with dad anymore." I said softly. "Bubs, why don't you wanna stay with Dad?" He asked me. There was a moment of silence. I was trying to form the words in my head so I can tell him what dad does.

It was now or never. I gotta tell him what dad does. "H...he beats me..." I said so softly that I doubt he even heard me. There was another moment of silence. I thought that he hung up on me. "Bubba, did y-" I was cut off. "He does what?? He beats you? Am I hearing you right little bro? How long has he been doing this?"" He floods me with questions, I could hardly keep up with them. There's no turning back now. "I..it has been going on for almost 2 years now.." I replied nervously. "For almost 2 years now?? Why haven't you told anyone about this before?" He asked me. "I didn't want dad to find out that I told someone about what he has been doing. Last time I tried to tell someone about it; he punished me even more, so I just never said anything about it." I said as I tried to hide the pain in my voice. "Zayden, we will talk about this later. Stay strong and just pray. Keep positive thoughts running through your mind. Our mum is getting better as we speak. Stay strong baby brother. I gotta go." He replied. I just sat there; it was just me and the dial tone in that quiet room. I hope that everything will be okay.

Nate's POV

Later that day

(3:00)

School had let out and I was heading down the hallway towards the field house when I saw Dilly heading to the bandroom. "Hey Dilly!" I yelled, jogging to catch up. "Yeah, what's up?" He questioned. "I just wanted to say; we have a short practice today. So, I'll be able to meet you after band practice." I replied. "Okay, that's cool. I'll see you after practice then." He says walking into the bandroom. I let him leave and I made my way to the field house. Taylor must be the one who slept with Jj. There couldn't be anyone else. Unless there is someone else and I'm just overthinking it all. I honestly could be overthinking it. I was brought out of my train of thoughts by the shadow of a football coming at me. I caught it, looked in the direction that it came from. It was Austin. "My boy Austin, what's up?" I questioned as I walked towards him. "Nothing really man, I've been great since the whole Kelly incident. What about you?" He asked. "I've been good as well." I replied.

1 hour and 40 minutes later

Practice was over and I headed up the stadium stairs towards the band room. Jj hasn't left the locker room yet so I knew I had the advantage at this point. I got to the band room and I saw DIlly waiting for me. "Sup Dilly?" I asked. "Not much just waiting on you." He replied, looking down at his phone. I stared at him. "Is it bad news about your mum? Is she okay?" I was a little concerned. "No, I haven't heard anything about my mum yet. But I did see her this morning and she was doing fine." He says picking up a rock and tossing it down the hill. "I'm sure everything will be okay with her. She's a fighter." I stated. "Yeah, she is." He smiles. He was staring at something. I met where his gaze ended and it was towards Jj. Oh shit. This is where it's gonna happen. Jj meets his gaze and puts his head down.

Dilly's POV

"Hey, baby, did you have a good practice?" I smiled at him. He just looks me up and down but doesn't say anything. Hm, that's weird. "It was alright, I guess." He states quickly. Well, that's even weirder. I wonder what's going on with him. I go to give him a kiss and he pulls away. "What's going on with you?" I asked. He just stares at me. I look at him and just sigh. I take off the ring and hand it to him. "Why are you giving me this?" Jj questioned. "Because I already know what's coming. You want to break up." I stated. Nate and Jj both stared at me in shock. "How did you know that's what I was going to do?" Jj said holding the promise ring. "I've been in this position before. It's nothing I haven't been through. I kind of figured that is what was happening with how you're acting." I say looking away. "I'm sorry. I just think I found someone that is better for me." Jj replies. "And that's okay. If that's how you feel then who am I to stop you?" I say. "Thank you for understanding," He says walking away. "What just happened?" Nate asked, looking shocked after the conversation.

Trystan's POV

I didn't see Dilly leave the band room, I walked through the bandroom to the parking lot. I see Nate and Dilly standing by Nate's car chatting. "Hey, why did I see Jj walking away looking all sad." I questioned. "We broke up and I gave him the promise ring back." Dilly stated. I stood there shocked. I thought everything was good between them? Why did this happen? What could be the reason he would leave Dilly. That was even a valid reason if there is one. "Trystan." Nate says, snapping his fingers in my face. "Sorry, what were y'all saying?" I was messing with my hands. "I said we're going to the hospital if you wanna come see Zayden." Nate says. "Oh, yeah I can spend some time with y'all." I state. "I'm coming too!" Nae says as she jogs up to us. "Alright, let's head out then" I jogged over to my car.

Nae's POV

I haven't really put too much thought into why Trystan was at the house so early. He was there when that scream happened. Was he there the whole night? He wasn't in there when I opened Dilly's door. I thought back to when I got home last night. He was there. He was just sleeping on the floor. Hm, I guess I missed him because I was only focused on Dilly's bed. Dilly had caught me up on everything that has happened since I've been gone. He has been through a lot along with his mom and little brother.

"So what were the both of you up to last night?" I asked. Dilly flips his head around with a confused expression on his face. I could feel Trystan staring at me through the rearview. "What do you mean by that?" They said in unison. I rolled my eyes. "When I got home last night. I went to check on Dilly and he was asleep and when there was that scream; both of you were in bed. I didn't realize you were there until I actually thought about last night. So again my question still stands." I state. "We weren't doing anything; I promise. We were just so exhausted from practicing all day." Trystan replies. "Yeah, Wes is doing what he normally does at the beginning of every school year. So, the band director had put me in charge of making sure Trystan knew for today." Dilly chimes in. I sat there in the backseat. Analyzing. "So nothing Is going on between y'all?" I was staring them down. "No, nothing." Trystan says. "Nothing romantic anyways. Just a platonic friendship." Dilly replied.