Dysfunctional (Sequel to Soft Whispers)

Separation

"For God's sake, can y'all please shut up!?" Ray yelled, "I am getting sick and tired of hearing y'all yelling at each other. No one wants to hear that when they're trying to go to sleep!" 

I rubbed at my eyes and sighed. This was the third night my parents were arguing. It was eleven though, so it wasn't as early as the last time. 

"If you two are so damn unhappy, then get a divorce" Ray added, I suddenly heard his door slam shut. 

Ugh. 

Oh my God. 

"Do you see what you're doing!?" I heard my mom ask. 

"Oh, so you're blaming this on me now!?" 

"Yes, Ryan, I am". 

"Not all of this is my fault". 

"Well it sure as hell isn't mine". 

I couldn't hear anything except for low murmuring now. 

"Well dammit, Keisha, maybe if we didn't have a depressed daughter then maybe things would be better!" My dad yelled, "I don't know!" 

I sat up and thought about what he said. It's all my fault, I'm the reason they're arguing again. 

No, it's not.

Jacob, I literally just heard him yell it. 

My door suddenly opened. 

"He didn't mean it" Ray said as he walked in. 

Don't lie to me.

"I'm not lying to you, he didn't mean it". 

Then why'd he say it?

"He's just mad". 

That's not an excuse.

"I didn't say it was". 

But you implied it.

"Can we not turn into mom and dad?" He asked, "because you're the only one in this house that doesn't get on my nerves". 

I sighed. 

Sorry.

"It's not your fault, I could see why you'd be mad". 

I'm not mad.

"Don't lie". 

I'm not lying.

Ray rolled his eyes, "we're doing it again". 

I smiled a little and shook my head. 

"So what did that note really say?" He asked as he sat down on my bed.

I shook my head.

What do you mean? I told you.

"Hmmm no, you didn't".

They just told me not to start anything with Shania.

He looked at me.

Oh my God, Ray, come on. It's late and I'm tired and mom and dad are still going at it.

He put his hands up, as if surrendering, and said "alright, alright".

Thank you.

"No problem". 

I looked down and sighed. 

Do you think they're really gonna get a divorce?

"I highly doubt it". 

What if they do? Who do you think we'll stay with? Mom or dad?

"My best bet's mom". 

I suddenly got this really scary thought and I looked up at him. 

"What?" He asked. 

What if they separate us, what if you go with dad and I go with mom?

"They wouldn't do that, Bri, and even if they tried, I wouldn't let them". 

Yeah, right. 

Right.

"Come on, don't go getting all sad on me" he stated. 

I'm depressed, remember?

"Just because you're depressed doesn't mean you're sad".

I gave him a confused look.

Uh.... Yeah, it does.

"Hey, look, I'm trying to make you feel better here".

Yeah. Trying.

"Can I at least get a good job or something?" He asked with a chuckle.

Kudos to you, my friend, kudos to you.

He laughed this time, "well, thanks. Try to get some sleep though, okay?" he said as he stood up.

I nodded a little.

He kissed my forehead before leaving.

I laid back down and breathed out slowly. 

He didn't mean it.

They're not getting a divorce. 

We're not going to get separated. 

Everything is going to be okay. 

Everything except for the fact that he meant it. 

It's all my fault. 

Bria.

It's all my fault. 

Bria.

Why am I such a fuck up?

Bria.

What?

Stop.

Stop what?

Talking about yourself like that. 

Stop it. 

I'm stating the obvious here, Jacob. 

Well stop, nothing needs to be stated, alright?

Alright.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry for any mistakes.

Love,

Me.

P.S. I posted the first chapter of Hamartia.