The Help~(Completed♡)

Neglect

Gabe's P.O.V

Dad didn't even look up when I walked in the door. I used it to my advantage, bolting up the stairs to my room. Unfortunately, Braxton followed,

"Kid, I know he's neglecting you-"

"No he's not!", I barked.

"Don't yell at me young man. Let me finish-"

"No! He's not neglecting me! You're wrong."

"Gabriel, enough.", he snapped, using his dad voice. I immediately backed down. "I talked to your dad. He agrees with me. He works too much, he doesn't pay attention or listen, he is technically neglecting you."

"No he's not Braxton. Your parents neglected you. He's not like them." His posture fell,

"That's what this is about?" He sat next to me on the bed, "Baby, my parents were abusive, neglectful, drug addicts. That's why I got taken away and put somewhere better. No one is taking you from your dad-"

"He's all I have-"

"That's not true at all Gabe. You have had me your whole life. And now you have Zaylee and Vila too. And somewhere out there you have Cameron. If it came down to it, he'd be here in a minute for you kid. You have so many people. I understand that your dad means the most to you, that's completely understandable. But you still have more people than just him to depend on."

"I know. I just- he promised."

"I know. And he knows. He feels really bad kid. He just doesn't know how to fix it."

"I told him he's the reason I lost myself. I never should have said that."

"It was... harsh... I'll agree. But it's the truth. This is not the little boy I watched grow up. But I think we lost him when we lost your mom. I've watched you try and try and put everything you possibly could into fixing you and your dads relationship. I've watched it drain you for years. But kid, there comes a point when you have to stop. You have to stop putting in a hundred percent when the other person never puts in any. You're slowly killing yourself. Does-Does he even know?"

"No! And I don't want him too. He has enough to worry about."

"You know I can't get you help. I'm not your legal guardian."

"Dad said he was gonna add you as my other guardian. Then you could."

"Yeah but that hasn't happened yet and it's something we need to take care of now. We need to tell him."

"Brax please.", I whispered, tears lining my eyes, "He-He already thinks I'm this weak, pathetic kid! All I do is start fights and then come up here and cry about it and if he knows I wanna kill myself it'll just prove to him that I'm weak!"

"You-You what?" I froze, quickly wiping the tears from my face,

"Nothing.", I whispered as dad slowly walked into the room,

"Gabe, how could I ever think you were weak? How could anyone? You're the strongest person I know."

"That's bullshit."

"No it's not. I've never met another eight year old who held everyone else together right after losing two of the most important people in his life. You took care of me for months after your mom died. You learned how to make coffee for me and made sure I was out of bed on time and helped Brax keep the house up and everything. You are absolutely the strongest person I know. I don't think I ever saw you break about your mom or sister."

"You didn't need a broken kid on top of losing your wife and daughter.", I shrugged, looking away.

"I cut my hours today.", he said softly, "The office closes at five. I'll be home by four thirty at the latest from now on. And I'll have time to drive you to school in the mornings, if you want."

"W-Why?"

"I know I say that you're more important than work, but I can't remember the last time I proved that. I need to be home more. I need to know my son more. You really have put in all the effort for years now and it's time I do the same. I-I don't want you to pick up and leave like your brother did."

"I couldn't do that to you. Cam couldn't handle losing mom. I couldn't just walk away from you after everything we've been through."

"Good." He paused, "I had my phone off all day. I just went through your messages." Fuck. "Gabe, I would never, ever send you to uncle Mason. Ever."

"I-I didn't think you'd wanna deal with me anymore." Dads older brother beats his kids. We didn't associate with them.

"You're my son. Leaving you or throwing you to him would be the easy way out of parenting and I'd never pull that shit." I shrugged as he reached up, laying his hand on my cheek as he brushed away my tears, "I'd never treat you like that either baby. Ever. I'm so, so sorry for everything. I know I say I'll fix it a lot, but this time I really will. I'm fixing it. I swear to you." I nodded a little, not fully believing it. "I promise. I'll show you."

"That's the only way I can believe you now."

"I know." He moved to the bed, hugging me tightly, "And invite Rosa to dinner tomorrow. I wanna meet her and so does Cameron."

"He's coming home!?"

"And staying."