CONFIDENTIAL

2:3

"Do you have to work today?" Kelli asked as Xoria laid on his bare chest.

"No," she replied before looking up at him. "Just me and you today," she said before Kelli kissed her.

"What about Xan?" Kelli asked.

"He's probably working," Xoria said before Kelli nodded in agreement. "When's the last time you talked to him?" Xoria asked looking up at Kelli.

"I don't know... maybe a week," Kelli replied. "Why?"

"You guys seem like you're getting distant... I don't want the gang to break up," Xoria said with a small chuckle.

"It won't," Kelli said.

They heard a bang downstairs causing them to jump. Kelli quickly sat up before putting on some boxers. Xoria grabbed one of Kelli's shirts off the floor to cover her naked body. Kelli grabbed his gun before going to look at what was going on downstairs. He put his gun down once he saw his mom dancing on a random man that sat on the couch.

"Ma, who is this?" Kelli asked before Xoria walked up behind him.

"Oh hey baby," she slurred. "This is Bobby, Bobby this is... Kelli," she giggled not wanting to introduce Kelli as her son.

"Who's the girl?" Bobby asked smirking at Xoria.

"Oh that's just his girlfriend. She's a little wacko so be careful," she replied with a laugh.

"You want to just go chill at my house?" Xoria asked Kelli.

"Yeah, come on," Kelli said before they got their stuff and left.

"Bye Ms. Loretta," Xoria said as she walked out.

"Bye baby! Can y'all pick me up a pack of cigarettes while y'all out there?!" she asked before Kelli slammed the door without a response.

They got into the car before Kelli sped off to a local Wendy's. They grabbed something to eat before going to Xoria's house. Xoria and Kelli walked in before seeing her dads shoes in the middle of the living room floor.

Xoria picked them up, neatly putting them by the door where he could find them. She folded the sheets and blankets he left on the couch from where he had been sleeping. She grabbed the beer bottles off of the coffee table before going into the kitchen to throw them away.

Kelli watched her go through the motions of cleaning up after her father and felt like he was in a twilight zone. A year ago it wasn't like this. A year ago Xoria and Xan's house was a safe haven. A place he could go and feel what a real sober family was like. They weren't perfect but they were loving and welcoming.

Over the course of almost a year their entire family has fallen apart. He thought he'd know how to help because he's been through and is still going through his mom and her being an addict. Although it's slightly different for him because that's mostly all he knows. He doesn't have recent memories of when his mom was sober. For as long as he's known Xoria's mom, Diana has always been a second mom and Wade has always been the dad he's never had.

4 ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴇᴀʀʟɪᴇʀ

Xoria and Xan sat at the dinner table as Diana fixed their plates of food. Kelli came rushing into the house before sitting at the dinner table in between Xoria and Xan.

"Well hello to you too, Kelli," Wade said as he leaned his back against the counter.

"Hey Wade. Xan they're having football try outs on Tuesday. I got the sign up sheets, see," Kelli said putting one of the sheets in front of Xan.

"I have band I can't do it," Xan said passing the sheet back to Kelli.

"But you don't even like band," Xoria said rolling her eyes before taking the paper out of Kelli's hands. "This could be good for you Xan. Maybe you'll actually keep your grades up if you join," Xoria said as she read over the sheet.

"She's right," Diana said as she put everyone's plate in front of them.

"Don't your grades have to already be good in order to get in?" Xan asked.

"We're in the sixth grade. We don't count," Xoria said.

"I'll think about it," Xan said with a shrug before picking up his fork.

Diana swatted at his hand for trying to eat without praying first. After prayer they started eating as Kelli looked around the table nervously.

"Uh... in order for me to try out my mom has to sign for me," Kelli said as Wade and Diana looked at him. "Whenever I try to get her to sign it she's either not around or y'know... busy," Kelli said.

"Give it here, I'll sign it," Diana said taking the paper.

Diana got up from the table to search for a pen. Once she signed it she gave it back to Kelli.

"Now if you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask," Diana said.

"Ok... well there's also this note my teacher sent home with me," Kelli said causing everyone to shake their head.

Bᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴘʜᴏᴍᴏʀᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀ

"You ok?" Xoria asked looking at Kelli.

"Yeah... day dreaming," he replied before Xoria shrugged.

"I'm gonna go use the bathroom," Xoria said before walking upstairs.

She opened the door to see Wade tying a band around his arm. He looked up before trying to hide the needle that was in his hand.

"Hey, I didn't know you were home," Wade said.

"Yeah... I don't have work today," Xoria said.

"That's good. Enjoy your day off. I uh... just need a few more minutes in the bathroom," Wade said before closing the door and locking it.

Kelli walked up the stairs before seeing Xoria standing in front of the bathroom.

"What's wrong?" Kelli asked.

"Oh nothing," Xoria smiled. "It's just this bum ass druggie is always taking up my fuckin' bathroom!" Xoria yelled before kicking the door.

"Xo, chill-"

"You're right... let's just go somewhere else because clearly this house is invested with human sized rodents," Xoria said before pushing past him and going back downstairs to grab her purse.

Kelli looked back at the bathroom before going back downstairs with Xoria.