the purge - matthew espinosa [a / u]

chapter three.

chapter three.

"wait, you mean to tell me that you knew our parents were-," i paused, i couldn't bring myself to say it, "participating in the cleanse, and you didn't tell me?" i asked, or stated. i could feel not only anger but fear building up inside of me. we all gathered around the room, spread out among the couches. everyone either sat jaw dropped, or wide eyed. johnson was even sporting both.

jack chewed on the inside of his lip. he looked scared too, and sorry, but that wouldn't change how i felt right now, regardless of how vulnerable he looked. "rion, i couldn't tell you. we knew you'd panic and do this. it's no safe for you out there," he talked slowly, taking a breath between every few words. i could tell her was trying to keep calm, but his white knuckles weren't convincing, nor was his clenched jaw.

"wait, your parents are purging?" kassidy said, her face scrunched up as usual. i turned and glared at her.

"kassidy shut up, okay. just be quiet, you're not helping, okay?" jack snapped at her. her eyes became big, and she brought her hand to her chest as if she'd been stabbed in the heart. she looked at johnson with skepticism in her eyes. i scoffed

"you're not even going to defend me?!" kassidy was about to explode like a volcano, and i wasn't about to have it. jack just sat, looking down at his hands, jacey hesitantly rubbing his back. johnson looked up at her apologetically.

"please kass, now just isn't the time," he sighed. she laughed sarcastically, standing up. 

"fine then. i'll be in the kitchen in case someone decides to apologize." and with that, she turned on her heel and waltzed into the kitchen. the look she gave when she had turned to see if her boyfriend was going to join her was priceless. 

"i- i should go talk to her," johnson said quietly, standing slowly. violet shook her head at him, shaking her hand too.

"i got it," she stood from her previous seat on the bottom stair next to shawn. she took a deep breath before entering the kitchen. i could hear a sniff. oh god, she was crying.

"i don't mean to ask the same thing, but, is it true?" sammy asked softly, both brows raised. i looked to my brother. he nodded gravely. sammy looked shocked.

matthew wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close, and for once, i didn't get anything from it. no butterflies, no comfort, nothing. my body was practically numb. i tried to clear my mind for just that moment and enjoy the moment with matt, but it just wasn't happening. i even inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of laundry detergent and cologne and spearmint, which was somewhat soothing, but it went away the moment jack spoke up.

"they weren't out for that. they needed money, dad- dad got layed off," he mumbled the last detail quietly. i shot up, my mind racing. violet looked confused, as did shawn. the others just looked down at their hands; it was easier than having to face the situation in front of them.

"jack, the banks are smarter than that, they move the money, we don't even need the money right now, you and i could've gotten a job, isn't that enough. why do they have to go out tonight, there are so many other options, don't they get that." the words were spilling out of my mouth a mile a minute, in no way could i or anyone else have stopped what i said next. "i mean, how could they do that? their son, our brother, was murdered today and they have the nerve? damian is got now and they still find it worth the money to risk their own lives?!"

the color in jack's face drained, and i immediately took back what i had just said, but i knew i coudn't change it. matthew looked down and i swear i even heard a gasp. all eyes were on me, as if the guilt and remorse wasn't enough.