Confessions

Chapter 19

The next day, I woke up to the smell of maple syrup and bacon. I hobbled out of bed, throwing my messy hair into a bun. I walked downstairs, Steve was sitting at the table with my mom and Carl. I yawned, walking over to the refrigerator, grabbing some orange juice.

"Good morning sweetheart." Carl said softly, taking a bite of his pancake.

"Good morning Carl." My mother sat in silence, working on her laptop. I grabbed a plate from the cabinet, putting some pancakes, eggs and bacon on my plate. I sat down quietly, picking at my eggs.

"How was dinner at Alex's?" Steve asked in between bites. I sighed, I was still heartbroken about his dad.

"Pretty brutal actually, his dad is a real pompous asshole." I said, chewing my bacon.

"I can see that." Carl said shortly.

"You can't knock the man for wanting the best for his family." My mom said, looking up for a brief second and then went back to typing.

"He called us trash mom, what kind of person does that to someone they don't even know." I said snidely. She looked up from her computer, her eyes shifted to Carl. He frowned, sipping his coffee.

"Well maybe if you didn't dress like trash, he wouldn't have said that." She sniped back. My mouth fell open, my skin heating up. My brother just folded his arms and scowled at my mother. I stood up, throwing my napkin on the table.

"Wow, I can't believe my own mother would call me trash. What the hell is wrong with you!" I yelled, throwing my hands in the air. My blood started to boil, I really couldn't believe her.

"Well, don't dress like it and you wouldn't have to worry about other people saying it." She shot back.

"Mom!" Steve yelled. "Did you even see her when she left yesterday? No! She looked like a fucking banker, his father had no right to call her that! She is not trash!" He yelled again.

"Steven Michael Webber! Watch your mouth, young man!" My mother yelled, slamming her laptop closed.

"You're being ridiculous, Aubrey is obviously hurt by this and you tear into her. Like, you were never around to see the person Aubrey has become to judge her like that. It's not her fault dad left us, so stop blaming her!" He yelled, slamming his hands on the table. I can't believe he just said that! At least he knows the way I feel. My mother's face stiffened, her lips tightened into a pursed frown.

"Go to your room Steven, now! You do not talk to me that way! That is an absurd accusation!" She yelled loudly. He shook his head, crossing his arms at her.

"If it's so absurd then why do you constantly hound her and put her down? She's an A plus student, stays out of trouble, well for the most part." Steven paused, looking back to smirk at me. I chuckled, shrugging. "She is going to be something someday, just like I will." He said calmly, uncrossing his arms.

"I just want the best life for both of you. No mistakes, no troubles and if that means I have to ship you off to different schools. I will, you both are my virtue, I'd never let anything happen to you." She said softly, sincerely. This was my mother's way of apologizing. Calling us her "virtue".

"Jessica, I think you should apologize. Obviously, Bruce was in the wrong." Carl said softly, cutting his eyes to his plate and flicking his food with his fork.

"Wait, how do you know Alex's dad, Carl? Do you know him too mom?!" I asked, sitting down in my chair, trying to forget the harsh words that came from my mother's mouth.

"Bruce and I went to school together." She said, her eyes darting toward Carl.

"Well how do you know him, Carl?" I asked, prying more. He sighed, rubbing his bald head slowly.