Conflicted (Flip Zimmerman)

27. Ive failed you...

*warnings: violence, blood and mentions*

You got distracted during your presentation in your class by looking down at your old Mary Janes, the girls laughing at you in the corner of the class didn't help. You stuttered through out your presentation, which made the girls laugh more. Freya, hushed them, along with the teacher, it made them stop. The class was uncomfortably quiet while your soft voice read your paper out loud. You kept your head down while you heard everyone speak of their moms or aunts, you were the only one that spoke about your dad.

Normally you'd have a new pair of Mary Janes by now but since she left, you were stuck with the old pair while everyone had new shoes and bragged about it. It made you sound ungrateful but truth be told it wasn't the shoes that you cared about. You were jealous that everyone had what you were missing. Fifth grade had a tough start, considering your mother  left without a trace.

"How'd your presentation go?" Liam asked as the three of you walked home from school. They both grabbed your hands as you crossed the street.

"It went ok, I got a 'B'," you told them, kinda embarrassed considering they stayed up with you all night to finish the paper.

"How'd you get a B?" Eric asked in a softer tone. You sighed, slightly annoyed at them.

"The presenting part is what lowered it." You admitted looking down at your old shoes. They both sighed, regretting that they even asked. They both shook your hands making you look up.

"Hey look dads back early," Liam pointed to dads Opel GT. You smiled as your dad stepped out of the car with his go bag in hand.

You tried letting go of your brothers hands, but they wouldn't. They always loved making it harder for you. "Let go, buttheads." You frowned at them, they laughed as you ran towards your dad.

"Hey kid, how'd you do today?" Your dad asked, you sighed heavily again, "that bad? Come on, I'm making my famous carbonara and for you, vita mia, I'll add chicken. How does that sound boys?" Your father looked back at your brothers. Of course your brothers didn't care, they'd eat anything. He never changed the recipe to his carbonara, he only did it when you or your brothers had a bad day.

You told him about your presentation while he cooked, he knew it wasn't the presentation that you were upset about. He had a case to go to, so he didn't get a chance to know about your assignment. Earlier that day, your teacher called him letting him know that you were having a hard time...adjusting, as she put it. It was the reason why he was back early.

He noticed, you'd occasionally glance at the empty place setting, where your mother sat. He started to notice your brothers doing the same. Your dad continued to ask about school, trying to distract you all from the elephant in the room.

"Salem?" He called to you, as you were mid-chew, you looked up at him. "Why don't you tell me what your assignment was about?" He smiled. You swallowed your food and tried sinking into the chair.

"Come on, kid. It must be good if you got these buttheads to help you?" Your father teased, trying to make you feel better.

"Hey!" Both your brothers snapped, "that's not funny," you laughed a bit and nodded.

"it was on who we look up to and we had to explain why we do." You explained, you played with the left over chicken on your plate. "I did it on you, dad." You smiled at him.

He choked on his water slightly, "on me? Really?" You nodded, your brothers smiled as they continued to eat. He was taken a back, Liam nudged you in encouragement.

"I could read it to you after dinner? If you want?" You suggested, seeing his reaction made you forget about your presentation in front of your class.