𝚂𝙾𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 𝚆𝙾𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷 𝙺𝙸𝙳𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙳𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 ,, j. b routledge

9| everything's in order in a black hole, nothing seems as pretty as the past

Chapter Nine

Fluorescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys)

"everything's in order in a black hole, nothing seems as pretty as the past though"

We were all still on edge about the brick incident, but nobody was ready to let it show. Pope had joined us for breakfast (Pop Heyward wanted to make sure JJ was alright) and mom was out on the beach, yelling at dad through her outdated iPhone. The broken glass had been cleaned up, a piece of Tupperware plastic replacing the pane. Something just wasn't sitting right with me about the entire escapade. I hate not knowing things.

"Morning, children." Vittoria chortled, reaching over the counter to steal Cheerios from JJ's breakfast.

Okay, I was still on edge, but clearly Vit wasn't.

The home phone started to ring, at the same time that the smoke detector went off because John B can't cook for shit.

"Jesus Christ." I muttered, grabbing a hand towel and swatting at the smoke, the other two boys pitching in to help.

"I'll get the phone, then." Vittoria sighed, reaching for both the Cheerios and the landline. "Franca Barba household... this is she."

After Pope and I had finally cleared the smoke, I took over bacon frying duty.

"What exactly was on that note Isabella whisked away yesterday?" JJ asked, wolfing down his Cheerios.

"No idea. I saw her burn it in the bathroom sink this morning though." I said, remembering the shock on my mom's face as I watched her drop the flaming yellow paper into the porcelain sink, when all I had gone there to do was brush my teeth.

"And your dad had something to do with it?" Pope mused

"I think so, but I don't know what exactly."

"I'm heading out!" Vittoria shouted, grabbing a Vitamin water and a sesame seed bagel

I looked at her, shocked "Don't you have a meeting with the parole officer this afternoon?"

"Not until noon. I'm off to see Barry."

"You're acting like you want to go back to lockup."

John B placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder "She can handle herself, Sienna."

"Yeah Sie, listen to Routledge. He sounds like he's giving good advice."

"Don't let your parole officer hear about this!"

Her response was to shove her middle finger in the air. Great.

"She's grown up, Sienna." JJ said, "She can handle herself."

I burst out laughing thinking about the last time JJ Maybank had said something remotely along those lines. He claimed that he could take care of himself, and then proceeded to try and wax a surfboard by firelight and ended up setting both the surfboard and his shorts on fire. So he really wasn't filling me with much confidence here.

"Thanks for not reassuring me, Maybank." I chuckled, proceeding to jump three feet in the air after the toaster popped up, a loud beeping sound following.

"Sorry babe!" John B shouted as I gave him the finger.

"So what exactly are the plans for today? I think Kie is working all morning but the rest of us are free." Pope said, helping himself to some of Nonna's homemade cookies.

"John B has to go to work, and I have to run some errands. I also want to stop by the awn shop this afternoon because it's on my way."

"Doesn't your sister have to see her parole officer?" John B reminded.

"That she does. I'm hoping she's not gonna be with Barry when I stop by the store."

JJ looked like he was going to say something when the patio door slammed. Mom, fully dressed for her Muay Thai class, threw her phone at the couch. She was red faced from yelling.

"Where's your sister?" She said gesturing wildly.

"She went out. Mom, what's wrong?"

"Your father is coming to visit."

Oh dear god.

"Favio is WHAT?!" I shouted, John placing a calming hand on my arm

"After last night, he doesn't think we're safe on our own."

"That son of a-"

"What's all the ruckus?" Nonna said, slowly lumbering down the hallway leading to hers and my mother's rooms.

"Favio is coming to visit!"

"Who does he think he sis? Is he bringing that slut Cynthia or Sylvia or whatever her name is!"

Mom sighed "I don't know mom, he just seems like he wants to be adad again, and there are some important questions regarding the brick somebody decided to vandalize our living room with."

"Yeah, about that-" JJ started before my mom glared at him and the quieted.

"Just try and be nice when he gets here. I need to go, and so do you kids." Mom said, grabbing her purse and heading out the door, Nonna grabbing her cell phone form the couch and running after her.

"Well, this is strange."