It's been 3 weeks since the fight in the driveway and neither of Bryce nor Vinnie has talked to you. You were sleeping over at your home away from home and Avani had already passed out asleep. You were still watching videos on your phone when Riley's phone went off. She checked it and announced: "Oh crap, J will be here in 10."
You: "Have fun and if your parents wake up, you're in the bathroom. I know the drill."
Riley: "Aren't you coming?"
You: "Vinnie and I aren't exactly on speaking terms, so that's a no."
Riley: "Wow, you really know how to screw up a good thing, because that man is capital F... F-I-N-E!"
You didn't need her to tell you how hot he was or how screwed up you were, but nonetheless when she left you let your feelings of being worthless spill out in tears. The door opened and you sat up quickly and wiped your eyes. You breathed a sigh of relief when you saw Kio's face instead of her parents.
Kio: "I could hear you crying from my room. Might want to keep it down if you're trying to not wake them up and get Ry busted."
You laid back against the headboard and bit your lip in an effort to keep the tears from returning: "I just hate that she always leaves with him. I'm not even jealous like, good for her, but I think you all underestimate how much I rely on you guys to escape my house."
Kio: "I think she sees it as you basically live here so it's no different than leaving Avani home while she goes or Avani leaving you guys to hang with Ant."
You: "I guess. I just wish I had someone to really talk to."
You laughed at the words before you'd even finished saying them and added: "Not that I ever open up anyway."
Kio: "I know you don't like to talk about things, but sometimes it helps and you always talk to me."
You: "Today is my mom's birthday. Somehow not even hearing from her on HER big days hurts worse than not hearing from her on MY big days."
Kio: "How old is she this year?"
You: "Too old to still be running away from home and choosing some musician and drugs over her own daughter."
*KIO'S POV*
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Kio: "Do you think maybe THAT'S why it bugs you that Ry is always ditching you guys once she started seeing Jaden?"
You tossed the pillow at him but by the time he dodged it, the reality of what he'd said really hit home. You could feel tears starting to form in the corner of your eyes and tried to pretend you were tired.
Kio: "I'm not leaving you alone. You can cry in front of me, you know. You've been crying in front of me since the time I tricked you into eating a mudpie."
You opened your mouth intending to make a joke, but instead choke out: "I just don't understand how a mom can leave. Dad's leave all the time, but your mom? She's the one person on the planet that is supposed to be biologically attached to you. And how in the hell could she leave me with HIM."
By the time you finished that statement you had tears pouring down your face. Kio wrapped you in his arms against his chest, shushing you peacefully while he rubbed your back until you stopped crying. He looked down and realized you were fast asleep. He didn't have the heart to wake you so he sat there watching you sleep.
