the reason | 13rw

f o r t y - n i n e

i sat on the roof, looking up at the stars. i took in deep breaths of the fresh air. i leaned back, letting my back touch the shingles. i could hear the train in the distance and the small noise of the wind through the leaves. it was nice, peaceful. it was a big change of how the past three months had gone. 

my mom and dad had been fighting a lot, mostly about me. my brother didn't really talk to me much anymore, getting us in the same room was hard. chloe and her mom decided to keep the baby and so she went into home schooling. i went back to school after a couple weeks. the court case was still going on, but not much was happening. 

i kind of stopped talking to everyone because when i did, they treated me like a baby. this led to the break up of monty and i. sure, we never really said the words but we didn't talk anymore. i quit monet's and just went between school and my toxic house. 

and at school, i just sat in the library to do my work. classes were just so boring and everyone's voice made me sad. so my earbuds became my best friend. the football team ended up sucking hard this year, they didn't even make it to play offs. 

and tomorrow was the last day of my junior year. this year has been a long one and i wanted to leave, drop everything and go over seas and just lose contact with the real world. that wasn't going to happen though, my parents could barely get on the same page about dinner and the hearing was only a month away. 

bryce did end up telling his lawyer about the time we spent two years ago, but that was it. he hadn't told them about the pills or anything else. 

"nicolette?" i heard. 

i sat up, looking over my shoulder at my window. i saw my mom, a blanket pulled tightly around her.

"can we talk?" she asked, holding her hand out.

i turned, grabbing her hand and slipping into my room. i pushed the window shut as she sat on my bed. i did the same as she sighed. 

"look..." 

"if you and dad are getting a divorce, just rip the bandaid off please." i cut her off. 

"your father and i are not getting a divorce." she shook her head. "i know we've been fighting a ton lately but with this type of thing...it just happens. and i'm sorry we haven't been very welcoming lately." 

"mom, what's your point?" 

"elliot's graduation ceremony is next week." she said. "you two haven't said more than a sentence in a month and i'm pretty sure one of you called the other something vulgar." 

"i called him an asswipe." i said. 

"anyway, i think we need a nice family dinner tomorrow night." she said. "we all need to drop our problems for one night, that's all i beg of you." 

"yeah, i can do that mom." i nodded. 

"great," she said and pushed hair from my face. "i love you sweet girl, so very much." 

"i love you too," i smiled and leaned into her. 

....

i walked into school the next day. the hallways were loud and people gave looks, the usual. when i approached my locker though, i saw bryce leaned against. monty, marcus, justin and scott were all with him. 

"there she is," bryce smiled. i slowed to a stop, looking between all of them. he pushed off my locker, stepping closer to me. 

"what do you want bryce?" i asked, my voice weak. 

he walked around me, touching my hair which made me uncomfortable. 

"i was just wondering what's been going on with you? the case is looking good, for me at least." he smiled, stopping in front of me. "i'm off to college in a couple weeks anyway."