atelophobia 🖤 lawrusso

- 14 -

It was sort of funny to Daniel. If someone had told him just a few months ago that he'd be sitting on his couch next to Johnny Lawrence while his mother lectured him about cheating on a girl he wasn't even with anymore in the first place, he would have called them crazy. And yet, there he was. In that exact position.

"I can't believe you, Daniel! I raised you better than this. I know that for a fact. What's Ali gonna think?" Lucille was pacing in front of them. There was a strangled noise from Johnny, and when Daniel looked over he saw him biting his thumb as to refrain from laughing. Daniel shot him a withering look, before turning to look back up at his mother.

"Yeah, yeah, listen, Ma, I get it. You're upset. But the thing is, there is no cheatin' goin' on here. Ali and I, we're over. She likes someone else." Daniel folded his arms over his chest, ignoring the twinge of regret that pulled on his heartstrings. Not because he wished he could have another chance, but because he knew that she wouldn't have left if he hadn't done something wrong. What had he done?

"What?!" His mother nearly shrieked, and he winced, closing his eyes. She looked absolutely devastated. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

"Because I knew you'd act like this, Ma! You'd freak and try to get me to fix it! It's been months. She's moved on." And so have I, he almost dared to say. But he kept his mouth shut, averting his eyes.

"She can't have moved on, Daniel. What even happened? You guys were just fine! Are you sure this isn't affectin' your relationship?" She gestured at Johnny, and anger began to broil in Daniel's stomach. He fixed her with a fiery glare, clutching the ends of his shorts tightly and trying to remain still although he wanted to just get up and leave.

"Stop talkin' about him like he isn't here, Ma. He's a human. There are reasons behind what he did, and I trust him now." Daniel's scowl ran deep into his face as his mother scoffed, and suddenly it was just the two of them in the room and Daniel was on his feet. "Don't roll your eyes, Ma. He's a person! You're actin' like you don't make mistakes, we all make fuckin' mistakes, you forced me out of my own damn house and brought me to this dump!"

"Do not use that language at me, Daniel!" Lucille pointed a finger at him, her face growing red. Daniel forgot all about Johnny's presence and clenched his fists, absolutely seething with rage.

"Yeah, I'll say whatever the hell I want. I'm almost eighteen, Ma, and when I am, I'm gettin' the hell out of here. I don't care what you say. I'm goin' home." Daniel started to pace, moving into the kitchen and opening the fridge. Of course, there was nothing in there, but he stared anyway.

"You can't blame me for all of this!" She shouted from behind him, and he ran a hand through his hair, straightening up and closing his eyes. "I didn't raise you to dump perfect women for boys who never have been any good for you and who never will be! I haven't forgotten every night when you came home with new cuts, and new bruises, and guess what, young man? I cleaned you up! I was the one who comforted you through all of it! I raised you to be a gentleman, and to respect me!"

Daniel slammed the fridge shut and started pacing once more, but his long legs only got him a few steps in each direction due to the size of the apartment. He ran a hand down the side of his face, refusing to look at his furious mother who was breathing heavily with dark circles under her eyes and pure anger brightening her glare.

"I never fuckin' asked you to do any of that, you know?" His voice was quiet now. He could almost laugh. "I never asked for you to marry someone who was gonna to die before I even got to know him. I never asked for you to deal with my shit. And you know what? I never asked to deal with yours, either, but you still dragged me out here." Lucille just stared at him, her lower lip wobbling violently.