We Bought a Zoo-Falling Apart

Chapter 8-That's what friends are for.

I sighed for a moment, thinking about the pros and cons of going back home. I always envied Dylan and Rosie. Rosie was at an age where she could play by herself, and clean up after herself. Dylan's dad cared about them, but wasn't over protective. They weren't a perfect family, but they were pretty close.

On the opposite hand, my family back home seemed like a fight for attention between the siblings. With Riley being the oldest and setting off to college in a year or two, my parents focused on him the most. I don't judge them, but I'm pretty sure that's one of the reasons that Leon struggles with school. He doesn't get enough attention, and I think he understands that too.

Our house back in San Francisco was never clean, which was something that drove me crazy. I wanted a modern, beautiful house with leather couches and a huge TV. There would be a marble kitchen and fancy kitchen tools. Rather, we were in an old but usable house, with mix and match furniture and an old TV that was constantly being fought over for the remote.                        

Thinking of my home made me feel queasy on the inside. I remembered all the horrible fights I've gotten into with my siblings before, and I wished if I could flush all those memories away, forever.

-

"Hey Lily." Dylan climbed up to the roof of the Jaguar Cafe.

I was still thinking about how being away from my family was tough, but I wasn't 100% sure on going home.

"Hi Dylan." I replied. I knew Dylan wasn't too excited on my idea of leaving. I didn't want to bring that up.

"What are you thinking about?" Dylan asked.

I just decided to talk to someone about it, even if that someone was Dylan. "I'm making a mental list  of the pros and cons of going home. My family sucks. Like, it's nothing compared to your family."

"No one's family is perfect."

"Yours is pretty close to perfect." I replied. I knew how selfish and rude that sounded, because  I shouldn't be judging Dylan and his Dad and Rosie in the first place.        

Dylan immediately replied to my rude remark, "Have you seen how much I fight with my Dad? I'm pretty sure he's hoping that Rosie will be nothing like me in my teenage years." Dylan spoke with disappointment and sadness in his voice.

To be a disappointment in life, especially to your parents, was a horrible feeling. After all, your parents are who you look up to for praise and encouragements, at least for your childhood. 

"Why don't you try harder?" I asked quietly. I knew Dylan had it in him to read his books, to study for tests, to do anything but draw. I didn't understand why he didn't care about school. It wasn't like he struggled in school, he was just being lazy.

"I don't know, to be honest." Dylan glanced up at the stars for a moment. They were shining brighter than ever. "I feel like doing homework, and studying, was something that I used to do with my mom. It was our 'Mommy and Dylan' time. Rosie couldn't interrupt us, and neither could my Dad. I guess it just reminds me too much of my mom."

When Dylan said that, it made me sad. I realized that I would never have that 'Mommy and Lilly' time, because my parents were always too busy. They were running around sending my siblings to their extra curriculars, or busy folding laundry, or working. 

"Hey, at least your mom had time for 'Mommy and Dylan' time." I replied, knowing that it was stupid.

"At least you have a mom." Dylan replied, dully.

I was so tired of these conversations, to be honest. I felt that I was trying to tell Dylan what was going on, but each of us ended up saying stupid things and just these talks didn't feel like what they used to be.

"I'm sorry." I replied quickly. I didn't mean to ruin the conversation. "I just feel like, and I know, that my parents never have time for me. I mean, three siblings can be a big pain in the butt. I want to go shopping or go on family vacations, but we never get the chance to."

"Think about how your parents feel. They get home, they have to cook dinner for four kids, send your brother to waterpolo or whatever-"

"Swimming." I cut him off.

"Swimming, yeah. Then they have to read your sister a book and get her to sleep, and they also have laundry, dishes, and other chores to do, along with work they didn't finish yet. It's a lot to handle."

I already knew everything Dylan had said. I just wanted to feel selfish, because I just wanted to. Hormones, or something. "I know!" I snapped. "I've totally understood how I could be a better kid by helping around in the house, taking care of Ariana, doing laundry, but that doesn't mean that my parents will have more time for me!"

"That's what friends are for."

I gave Dylan a shoulder hug. "Thanks. I'm scared that if I'm gone for much longer, I'll move farther and farther away from my parents and my siblings. I won't know them any longer, and I won't know my family any longer."

Dylan was quiet for a moment. "Go home. I hate to say this, but go home."

I was surprised.

"Family is one of the most important things, to anyone. They are always there for you. No family is perfect, but it doesn't mean that no family is important. I don't want you to leave, but you need your family, and your family needs you." Dylan told me the right words to convince myself.

"Okay. Thanks Dylan, for your very encouraging and life changing speech." I laughed. What Dylan said to me made me happier that he would approve of whichever choice I made, and it made me realize how much I wanted to see all my siblings, and parents. 

Dylan smiled. "No problem. Now, let's go watch a movie or something. We've got all night, and I don't plan on doing homework."

Same old Dylan. And soon, it would be the same old me, back in San Francisco.