The Pastor's Son

Partying and Idiotic Decisions

Isaiah runs as fast as he can. He knows Jayden has lost him, but he keeps running. As if he can escape all of these dark clouds surrounding him. 

The rain falls against his face, mixing with the tears that keep blurring his vision. He keeps coughing and sniffling. But he could care less. 

'Why did I say all of those things? I'm an idiot! He's right, I'm a loser,' He thinks to himself. He can't take it anymore. He desperately wants to return home, but he's too hurt. He can't bare seeing his dad and getting beaten for returning home so early. He'll also get beaten for returning late. But who cares? Not Isaiah. 

He slows to a walking pace, he has an idea of where he is, but not an exact location. His phone is stuffed in Jayden's hoodie, he only realizes this when he reaches for his phone to call his mom or Joanna. 'Crap! I forgot I was wearing it. What should I do with it? I'll just give it to him on Monday. Sunday would be too awkward,' Isaiah decides. He stuffs his phone back in the hoodie pocket, not caring enough to call. But still unsatisfied with his life. He sighs and pulls the hood over his head, slightly covering him from the rain. 'That fixes at least one problem,' Which would be good if he didn't have a million other ones to deal with. 

................................................................................................................................................................

Jayden arrives at home, soaked, and crying. Because he is an idiot, he knows it. 

Carly's eyes widen at the state of her son, "Sweetie! What happened?" Mark runs into the kitchen, hearing the worry in his wife's tone. 

"I did something really stupid," He mumbles. He can barely speak between sobs.

Carly and Mark hug their son, terrified, and concerned. He's never been the type to break down like this. 

Mark speaks, "Would you like to tell us what happened?" 

Jayden shakes his head, not being able to speak. He didn't know how to tell them that he made the biggest mistake of his life. 

His parents nod, in understanding. Jayden goes to his room, still crying. He feels so disappointed in himself. He lets his mind go wild. Thinking through what happened and his feelings.

'How can he love me? I just don't get it. Do I love him back?' The question lingers in his mind the rest of the night. His broken heart seeming unfixable.

................................................................................................................................................................

Isaiah walks through whatever neighborhood he's in and suddenly he hears loud music playing. There's a party, and from what he can tell, the kids outside of the house are his classmates. He recognizes most of them as the popular kids. 

He makes a pretty bad choice, he goes into the party. Not many people notice him, which is good. He doesn't need to have a lengthy conversation with a classmate about why a pastor's son is inside a party. 

He goes into the kitchen, because it has less people. He sees alcohol, it doesn't surprise him, he just has never been allowed to be around the substance. His parents always force him and Joanna to only take grape juice as communion. 

"Want some?" A guy offers. Isaiah recognizes him as Jonah, a basketball player. 

Isaiah hesitates, "I'm good."

Jonah laughs, "Come on. It's not like," he hiccups "the pastor is here," He's very obviously drunk.

Isaiah isn't in the right mindset to make a decision like this. So, he accepts the alcohol and starts drinking. His body can't handle very much alcohol. 

He starts talking to random people at the party. 

Some girl even ask to take a photo with him. He accepts, not thinking it through. 

He continues to drink, till he's downed 3 beers. He's close to passing out by then.

Isaiah is so drunk. To the point where a classmate offers a cigarette and Isaiah takes it. He goes outside and sits smoking a cigarette, even though he hates it. He hates everything about this night. This isn't him. He's drinking, he's smoking. 

................................................................................................................................................................

"Mom, it's already 9 pm! Where is he? Isaiah doesn't stay out this late!" Joanna explains, frantically to Beatrice. 

She nods at her daughter's point. Isaiah would never stay out this late. "Let's go look for him."

Joanna is surprised, "Really? What if dad finds out?" 

"Your dad is in the basement watching the news. He'll never know," Beatrice rushes out the door. "Where would they go?" 

Joanna thinks for a moment, "The park."

Beatrice nods.

They start driving to the park, slowly. Just in case he's walking home or out somewhere else around the park. 

Joanna is the one to see him. "Mom! Stop! There he is!" She points to Isaiah smoking a cigarette talking to a bunch of random seniors. 

Beatrice shakes her head, petrified, "Your brother would never... That can't be him."

"I know, mom. But sometimes good people make bad life choices," Joanna climbs out of the car and storms over to her brother. 

"Isaiah, what the heck are you doing?" Joanna is furious. 

Isaiah looks at her with a dazed look in his eyes. "I could ask," he hiccups, "you the same thing," He's drunk. The other seniors around him laugh.

"He's just having a good time," Some random guy says, laughing. Also, very drunk. 

A girl nods, "Yeah. Take a chill pill."

Joanna is saddened by her brother's state. She takes the cigarette from his hand and throws it onto the ground, stomping on it. She grabs her brother and pulls him away from these irresponsible seniors. They're awful influences for her wholesome brother. Joanna opens the car door and shoves him into the car. 

Beatrice looks at her son. He has a confused face. His eyes are shaking. He reeks of alcohol and cigarettes. "He's drunk, isn't he?" 

"No!" Isaiah hiccups, "I'm not!" 

"Yes, he is," Joanna mumbles, looking at him. She can't believe it. How could he do this to himself? What happened?

The car ride is pretty silent, except for Isaiah's drunk comments. When they get home, Matthew is in the kitchen waiting for them.

"Matthew- dear! What are you doing up here?" She laughs nervously.

Matthew frowns, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me where you three were?"

Beatrice doesn't want to tell her husband, and Joanna refuses to. But Isaiah dooms them all. 

"Hi," he hiccups again, "dad!" 

Matthew's eyes widen. He storms over shoving his wife and daughter out of his way. He looks his son up and down. He smells the air around him. "You were at a party, weren't you! You smell like alcohol and..." he pauses, anger growing on his face even more, "Cigarettes!" 

He grabs his son by the collar and throws him onto the floor harshly. "You made you poor mom and sister go look for you! How dare you!" He punches him. He kicks him. He slaps him. He beats Isaiah until he is tired and his son is on the floor, sobbing. "Stop crying! Be a man! You're so useless! I don't know how you got into such a good college!" Matthew stomps up the stairs.

Beatrice and Joanna run over to Isaiah. Together they help the bruised and bloody, drunk teenager up the stairs. They lead him into his bedroom, not even bothering to get him ready for bed.