Complacent Dreamers

See ya later

A month Later:

"Yea Ray, I understand." I said, as I laid on Marshall's bed with my legs propped up behind me. "Umm no. Since the concert is today, in our backyard I'm guessing there will be no room or time to set up tarp." After the prom, that weekend we had a concert at the Hip Shop. A total of twenty three people came. Ronnie, Me, Gary, M's underground society, Bassmint Productions, Proof, and some other people I didn't recognize.

Marshall did five freestyles in like twenty minutes and performed a song with Bassmint Productions. After that we had concerts every Wednesday, except for today. A Saturday. Today is the concert that M's been practicing for all week. He just rhymes constantly.

"Yes, I'm fully aware that it's gonna rain, but it can't hurt you...well hopefully there's no acid," I chuckle into the speaker and then I hear the line go dead. The boys are all in the backyard trying to get ready, but by the sounds I'm hearing...its nothing like that. I rolled my eyes, and pushed myself off of the bed and across the room to find something to wear that I won't care about if something bad happens to it.

I ended up choosing a hoodie that was a little bigger than my actual size, so I tightened it by pulling the sleeves down to my palm. I pulled my hair into a long, blond ponytail, and slipped on my converse, rubbing my tattoo behind my hair.

Marshall and the Guys are standing behind a chalk line and Proof stands on the side with a stick. I hug my chest as I walk towards them and they all stand straight, like I'm an abusive mother. "Um what are you guys doing?" I say, looking directly at Marshall. "We're playing 'beat the crap out of the dude who loses the race'," Proof shrugs like it's no big deal. "With what?" I inquire, balancing all my weight on my left foot. Proof throws the stick to me and my eyes widen at the thorns poking out from the stick. "What the f-" I start, but then quickly correct myself and snap the stick in half. Their faces tighten and I throw the broken sticks to the ground.

"Do you guys ever wanna get married?" I say, rolling my eyes at the ground. "Shoot, my wife is gonna be a fat, ugly, maid who can cook." Bizarre says, rubbing his stomach. "Mine is gonna be very smart and blonde and has anger issues." Marshall says tilting his head, while staring at me. "Not even in your dreams."

"That's where you're wrong. I dreamt about you last night." He wriggles his eyebrows at me and I nearly throw up my breakfast which is really...nothing. Yea, Debbie hasn't fed us once this entire week. We have to get food from school and Proof's house. Debbie looks skinner of course and she constantly takes pills then goes to the doctor and pretends like she's sick. I'm sort of thinking she has Münchausen syndrome.

I ignore the thought and walk past the guys, to the refreshment table. We don't have much. Just chips, soda, and a bucket of candy. I feel bad about that too. If the show is a failure it's on me and no one else, so Em's biggest amateur concert will be a total reck if I don't do something now to fix it. So, I call Raylen and ask her to bring the tarp.

Once she gets here I notice her hair isn't in braids anymore. Its in a small fro, but there's a headband around it, smoothing it down. She wears a leather jacket and black skinny jeans. I'm guessing she's trying to impress one of the guys. We set the tarp up, do it's like a mini shelter towering above the ground. I hook up the turn tables that proof will be working at and the stero and the speakers. Ray sets up the chairs even though we don't need any and Marshall starts practicing. People slowly start creeping in and I get super excited. Almost everyone from the neighborhood will be here.

~~~~The concert~~~~

I bob my head to Marshall's words from behind the seats. It's completely packed in our backyard and even my dad came to support and Marshall's so called 'dad' from the Christmas party. I forgot his name. Ray stands at my side and it's dark out here besides the street lights that shine from the street and behind the wooden fence deprecating us from the community. I hear Kim and Debbie yelling from the inside and my heart flips. Not tonight. Please not tonight.

I breath and nudge Ray. "Hey I'll be right back." She nods.

I hide behind the kitchen counter, watching Debbie and Kim fight in the living room. "You're his sister Kimberley, so why did I find this in his room with your name on it?!" She holds up a pair of Kim's underwear and I cover my mouth to keep from screaming. "First of all don't call me that and second, don't act like you didn't know we were more than brother and sister. You were well aware of us and our status so don't play stupid!"

"You little...that is my son you are having sex with and you 'were' his family. How could you?!" Kim rests her hand on her hip and snorts. "Wow. You know I had a sense that you were one of those bipolar moms. One moment you don't even realize that your son is slowly becoming someone in this world and then the other you're all up in his grill like a dirty ho-" She doesn't have to finish because Debbie's hand is already tattooed on Kim's face. I want to stop this.

I want to,but where would that leave me? Kim stumbled a bit then shoves Debbie hard in the chest, knocking her off her feet and onto the coffee table. After that all I hear is screams and swears. I run outside and shut the door slowly to find my dad in the mist of all this ruckus, but all I see is drunk teenagers following along to M.

I tug on my sleeve to keep it from falling off, and run through the crowd and there he is. My father. Who is holding a silver flask in his hand and while he brings it up to his mouth to take another swig I push him. He turns around about to swing, when he stops and smiles. "Isabella. How are ya?" Shit. I say to myself. He's drunk. "I'm fine, but Kim and Debbie are not."

"Well what happened? Did they find out about us moving?" My face twists and I think it's just his drunk side coming out. "Okay c'mon I'll show you what's wrong." On the inside, I wanna scream out of frustration, but instead I breath and guide my father inside the house.

----Later That Night----

Marshall's face is buried in his pillow and I slump in the desk chair. "She's gone bells." He nearly cries. He's been doing this all night. I try to help, but then he just screams. Debbie kicked Kim out and I helped her pack. She left to her dad's house and as soon as she left I saw tears in Mickey's eyes. "Marshall! I can't take this anymore. You need to pull yourself together because if you don't so help me I will leave and never come back!" I said, it was really supposed to numb his pain, but I think it made it worse.

"You wouldn't leave me would you? Please tell me that's a lie?" I walk over to him and rest my hand on his back. "No. I would never leave you. But think about this, you and Kim are still dating she just doesn't live with us anymore." He turned his face to mine and pulls me closer. "How come you never cry?" He asks. It's a wonderful question that I really don't have the answer for. "I don't know...i think tears are memories and every time we cry we're making those memories vanish just like that." He takes my hand in his and caresses it with his thumb.

"I need you, to help me be strong okay? I never wanna lose you." I nod and cover him with the blanket. I kiss him on the cheek and rise from my chair. "See ya later." I whisper at the door frame and I turn off the lights. As soon as I turn away I hear his muffled sob.