Broken Memories [Shoey Dawceffa]

Chapter 7

It's Christmas Eve, which means Shane is finally going to turn sixteen. Being sixteen, for Shane, four years ago, seemed to be something big. Bigger than what he is feeling right now. He feels the same he felt yesterday and he is going to spend his birthday the same way he spent last year. When he was eight, he liked his birthday. It was better. Till his thirteenth birthday. It was awful. He didn't go to Long Beach like he used to, to be with his grandmother. He got used. But he still feels an empty space inside of him. It'll probably be there forever.

He doesn't see himself inviting his new friends to his house to do something. Neither they would like it nor would Shane know what to do. Besides they must be busy with their families.

Of course that before thinking about his new friends he thought about Joey. He cringes with the thought of putting his new friends first. Never. He will never do that.

But Joey usually goes to Boston to spend Christmas with his family. And if he is not going, like last year, he stays at home with his parents. Joey hates Christmas but that's one thing Shane can't help him with. He started to hate it as well.

"Shane! Joey is here." He hears his mother from downstairs. She's lucky that the music stopped right in time, otherwise he wouldn't have listened to her due being using his earphones.

"Coming!" He shouts back and jumps out of his bed.

He hates this times when he has to say goodbye to Joey. He's already imagining. Walking downstairs and being faced with a sad boy at the end of the stairs. They'll hug each other and Shane will whisper sweet things close to Joey's ear that only the both of them will know what it is. No one can hear it, it's their secret. But the words make always Joey feel better and strong. So it's probably I love you, it's going to be okay. Call me when you reach there so I won't miss your voice that much. You're beautiful and strong. And Shane feels sad when sees Joey sneaking inside of his house again so his parents don't get to know that he went to Shane's just to say goodbye.

"Hey babe!" Shane makes his best to smile at Joey when sees him and yet, it seems like he doesn't even need to try. Especially this time, he doesn't see that sad expression he thought he'd see on Joey

"Morning!" Joey grins. He grins and besides his red cheek and puffy eyes, saying I've just been crying, he is fine. No really, he is fine.

"Hey, what happened?" Shane is confused, he doesn't know if he should smile or frown or act concern. Teresa looks at the two boys for a moment before heading back to the kitchen.

"Nothing more. My parents are gone."

"Gone?" Shane makes a confused face

"Gone." Joey nods and Shane's face is enough for him to add "Not forever," he chuckles even though it's not funny. He's not amused with what is happening and Shane knows it. Even not knowing what the hell is happening "but just for this week. I mean, I don't know if they're back for the New Year. But probably."

Joey starts walking to the living room and Shane follows him. He knows the boy wants to talk so the hall is not a good place to do it.

"Wait. So they went to Boston without you?"

Joey nods once again "We had a fight this morning. Not sure about what to be honest." It's almost amused the way Joey says it. "But something about how I talked about our family. Imagine what it is to be two days with my father and mother's family. It's the worst because they're all the same. All grumpy and snob and I can't be in the same room as them without going mad. So my mother was saying the same thing she always says. "Joey," he starts to make a pitcher voice, with a strong accent, to mimic his mother's. With no success because it's just funny and Shane has to control his laughter "behave yourself and be nice to everyone. Don't you dare to make something to shame us or you'll regret it later. All of this in a nice tone, of course. Then I said, well then don't make me go because I can't act nicely with that people. Then she slapped me and started to shout at me because I'm impolite and shouldn't talk with her that way. So I said, it was you and Joe who raised me so it's all your fault and she slapped me again and my father appeared and they started screaming at me and blaming each other for my behaviour and well somehow they took their luggage and went to the car. And left."