He's Insane (Dave Franco AU)

Ignorance

this chapter has been revised

I had the night to myself, and I decided that I'd stay in instead of putting effort into getting dressed and going anywhere else. Most of the time, I'd much rather stay home and watch Netflix or Hulu all night instead of partying and socializing with other people.  I enjoyed having 'me' time. Besides, the only popular bar to hang out at was Nola, and I refused to sit and hang around at my job on one of my nights off.

I sat on my bed with my laptop on my lap, watching one of my favorite romance dramas, The Notebook. I began to come misty-eyed as Noah was telling how he wrote Allie three-hundred and sixty-five letters. He was telling her how it wasn't over...and still isn't over.

Buzz buzz.

I quickly wiped the under of my eyes as I saw James' name on the caller ID. I answer the phone.

"Hello?" I pause the movie.

"Hey. What are you up to?"

"Nothing, just sitting in bed watching a movie."

"Oh. Are you crying?"

"What? No." I lied. I clear my throat. "Anyway, what's up?"

He lets out an exasperated sigh. "Just seeing what you were up to. Dave just got home and is being a total prick right now, but what's new right? I'm really not in the mood to be around him right now."

I close my laptop shut. "What did Dave do?"

"I was sitting in the living room writing up a resume and he just busts through the door, being loud as fuck. I asked him to keep it down since our mom was taking a nap in her room and he just...you know by now, Brooke. He was just an ass about it." He lets out a chuckle.

I started to wonder if it had anything to do with Adrienne.

"He also came in with the gnarliest, black eye. I didn't even bother to ask what happened because I know he wouldn't tell me. I'm guessing he finally met his match, and whoever it was decided not to put up with his shit."

I chewed on my bottom lip and close my eyes. It had to have been Adrienne.

"James...," I trail off.

"Yeah?"

I know I promised Dave I wouldn't tell anyone, but James was his brother and needed to know what was happening. It would explain why Dave acts the way he does. Also, James could probably find the help he needs better than I could ever try.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"That black eye that he has...I don't think it came from just anybody."

"What do you mean?"

I take a deep breath. What Dave told me was so personal but James had the right to know, and he was one of my closest friends. I couldn't keep this a secret from him, especially it being it had to do with his family. It wasn't right. Dave needed help. I tried my best to hint at it.

"I'm pretty sure it was from Adrienne." I tell him.

"Adrienne? Huh?"

"Yes, Adrienne."' I repeat myself.

James snorts. "You have no idea what you're talking about right now."

I frown. "Excuse me?"

"Brooke," James sigh. "You barely know Adrienne, let alone Dave. You don't know what he's capable of."

I was in bewilderment. He didn't even bother to try to hear me out.

"You said you heard them fighting the other day, and that you wouldn't be surprised if he hits her. What if it's the other way around, James? Have you ever thought about that?" I say sharply.

His silence signaled that he was taken aback with my tone.

"He even told me that they were-

James cuts me off. "He told you what? He spoke to you?"

I close my eyes and bit my lip. I didn't mean for that to slip out.

"Well?" James called out, waiting for an answer. "What did he say to you? What did you two talk about?" He was growing impatient.

"He was just saying how Adrienne and him have always had problems. Like serious problems, James. They're not right for each other. You need to talk to him before things get ugly."

James scoffs. "And how did you get all of this information out of him, huh? Why can he talk to you and not me?"

I could tell my James' tone of voice, he was getting frustrated and upset. I decided to leave the part about Dave taking lit cigarettes to his arm out of it, and how I basically pushed the information out of him. I could tell Dave had a hard time trusting people, and after telling him I wouldn't mention it to anyone, I wasn't going break that little bit of trust he had with me.

"That's bullshit. Even if Adrienne did do it, maybe the shit-head deserved it. Maybe it'll teach him something."

I scoffed, and was baffled at James' ignorance at the moment. "Do you hear yourself right now, James? This is your little brother you're talking about."

"Exactly. He's my little brother, and know him better than you ever will. Maybe you should just stay out of things from now on, alright?"

"Seriously? You're being just as much of an ass as Dave is, right now. Everyone has a reason why they act the way they do."

"Drop it, Brooke." He demands, like he was my father. "I'm done talking about it." James groans.

"And I'm done talking to you. For someone who acts so concerned about something, you really don't know how to listen and accept the facts."

I hang up. It was a new side of James I had never seen before. I was expecting him to be understanding, and sympathetic but instead encouraged the violence towards Dave.

Dave really was alone in this. His brother, and his own girlfriend were against him. I wasn't sure about his parents, but they were barely around anyway. I doubt he had friends around considering the fact that he spent most of time with Adrienne. Maybe that's all he needed; was someone to talk to and for someone to listen. No one should have to face this situation alone.