Plenty Wrong, But Still Here

Chapter 3: I Came to Talk

Hi guys! Sorry for being absent for so long, I just got kind of lazy, what with all the end-of-the-school-year events and summer stuff going on. I feel pretty bad. ' ._. I'm also preparing to release a fantasy story (but idk what the title will be, I'll tell you in the next update).This chapter is from the parents' point of view. I'm writing it in 3rd person because I want to show both of the parents' thoughts, not just one. Enjoy!

-Amy

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"Adrian! ADRIAN!" Susan screamed after her son, but her voice was buried underneath the wailing of the snowstorm. 

"Shut the door, you're going to let the warm air out," her husband, Daniel, said gruffly. 

She didn't respond, so he reached over her shoulder and closed the door with surprising care.

"What have I done to my child?" Susan whispered. She leaned against the door, her forehead touching the cold surface. She could hear Adrian's receding footsteps. She could nearly see Adrian's heartbroken face, and it pierced through her heart. 

"You never cared for me, did you?" 

Susan sobbed, collapsing to the floor. She cried her eyes out, not caring what she looked like, not caring about anything except the pain she inflicted on Adrian. Adrian, the one and only ray of sunlight in her life. 

"A real parent is supposed to watch out for their child. You were supposed to watch out for your child. For me."

I know, I know, Adrian. I'm a selfish person. I never cared for you enough. I was too busy caught up in the rush of work. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Susan cried out in her mind. I'm sorry.   

Susan couldn't sense it, but Daniel was still behind her, just as devastated as she was. 

Tears trickled down his face and blurred his vision. I'm an idiot. I am the definition of a numbskull. 

He reached out towards Susan's back, almost pulling her into a hug. But he recoiled violently, almost as if he were burned. 

No. I don't deserve to do that, Daniel thought. 

He went up the stairs to his bedroom, his heart a jumble of broken shards. 

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José waited until he could hear Adrian's obnoxiously loud snoring. He quietly slipped out of his covers and put on a jacket. He looked back at Adrian, who was sleeping soundly. His sleeping face looked so relaxed, unlike his face of anguish and worry when he was awake. José smiled sadly. You really do deserve the best, you idiot, José thought. He silently swung his bedroom door open and stepped out the door, determined. And I'm going to do everything in my power to give you that.

José walked to Adrian's house. He hadn't bothered to put on warm clothing besides his winter jacket, so he was slightly shivering in his gym shorts and flip-flops. Whenever he exhaled, he could see puffs of smoke. The usually bustling city was quiet, and the streetlights made the snow look a soft orange-yellow.

José walked up the front steps and knocked on the front door. It swung open to reveal a haggard-looking Susan.

"José?" Susan, Adrian's mom, blinked in surprise.

"I'm here to talk to you," José said grimly.

Susan saw the look in José's eyes. He was serious.

"Alright." Susan opened the door, gesturing for José to come in. José stepped into the house, rubbing his feet on the carpet. 

Susan led José to the living room, then looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to start talking. 

"Both you and your husband," José said.

Susan winced. She didn't want to see her husband again so soon after such a touchy arguement, but she couldn't be rude and refuse either.
"Daniel! Come downstairs! There's a guest!" Susan called.

Daniel walked down the stairs groggily. "It's not even dawn yet, who's-"

Daniel saw José.

"You!" he yelled.

"Me," José deadpanned.

Daniel stomped right up to José's face. "WHERE IS ADRIAN?" He shouted.

"Daniel, it's 3 A.M, you shouldn't be shouting at this hour-" Susan reasoned.

José glared up at Daniel, who was a good 4 inches taller than José. "I will not and do not want tell you the location of your son, as he wishes that information to be kept secret."

Daniel froze for a split second, then backed off. "Hmph. Susan, tell this kid to get outta here. If he's not gonna be any help, he's probably just gonna spout horse manure."

Susan glared at him. "Daniel, José is Adrian's best friend. He's treated Adrian more kindly than you have. Besides, he just said he wanted to talk."

Daniel's eyes widened, and then he looked away in shame. "Well, get started talking, kid."

Daniel, Susan, and José were all just standing around the living room. "Well, may I be seated?" José asked, referring to the couch.

Silence.

José sat. "So, I believe we are all aware of what happened today. Or rather, yesterday, since it's 3 A.M. now."

Susan and Daniel were suddenly interested in everything in the room except for José.

"Now, it's not my job to meddle in your marriage. However, it is my job to help Adrian maintain a healthy, stable state of mind. Right now, you guys are not helping."

I know that all too well, Daniel and Susan thought.

"Considering how you drove him to the point of running away last night, I think it's safer for Adrian to stay with me for a while."

Susan interrupted. "Wait, you can't just-"

"Hell no!" Daniel half-shouted, half-said.

José cocked an eyebrow at the married couple. "So you think it's fine for Adrian to return to your house in the morning? What will you say to him? What will he act like? Do you think that everything's just going to be sunshine and daisies?"

Daniel grimaced. Susan cupped her hands to her mouth, shocked.

José continued. "I think it's best for you two to think things over for a bit. Talk to each other. Figure all your adult stuff out. I don't know. But decide what you want to do. I doubt that either of you want this night to repeat itself, and if you don't take action, you'll probably fight again."

"I don't care." Daniel spat. "Just tell me where he-" 

Susan interrupted him. "How long is Adrian going to stay at your house?"

Daniel looked at Susan in disbelief.

"That's up for Adrian to decide. My family is very hospitable, so we won't have any problems. If he wants to leave, he can leave. If he wants to stay, he can stay."

Susan gave José a watery, tear-ridden hug. "Take good care of Adrian, ok?"

José patted her on the back. "I will. I promise." 

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Geez, for a 13-year old, José's tongue is sharp.

I wrote this at 12 A.M. Send help. My brain chooses the worst times to be creative. 

Anyways, I didn't proofread it this time. Sorry..  ' ^-^ 

If you do find any mistakes, or if you think something can be improved, please comment! 

Thanks!

-Amy