Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
AN: You guys are awesome! Thank you for all the reviews! Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. Will try to get them out quicker in the future :D
Quotes:
Bouncer: (about Lilly) "She is kind of a dork."
Miley: "I know, but she's my dork."
Chapter 3: Reactions
Everyone's been screaming and shouting for the past 5 minutes. It's actually reached an earth-shattering crescendo that has me holding my hands to my ears in an attempt to drown it out. It really is quite deafening to hear. Everyone is trying to make themselves heard over the next person, and it's only serving to make it all sound like extremely loud gibberish.
"Everyone hush! HUSH IT!!" Daddy yells, and amazingly, everyone complies mid shout. I'm almost tempted to laugh at the comical looks on all the faces around the table. Mouths frozen half open in the middle of speaking, and eyes big and round at having been told, quite nicely, to shut up. I think the anticipation is getting to me.
Taking my hands of my ears, I quickly and quietly retake my seat next to Jackson and reach for his hand again. I'm as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The butterflies that have been fluttering around in my stomach since I woke up have gone and instead have been replaced with something akin to horses galloping around. I can barely even swallow as my throat has constricted in anticipation of what my father has to say. Because of that, I'm quite shocked to see that Mammaw Ruthie is the one to start speaking.
Slowly I tilt my head upwards and catch Mammaw's eyes across the table from me. What I see shocks me, but at the same time doesn't, and I can't seem to turn away. I can read every emotion on her face right now. Shock and anger are there with disgust being the most prevalent. I want to turn away but I keep staring almost as if I'm trying to punish myself by not turning away from the condemnation in her eyes.
"Miley, I am so disappointed in you right now! I hope to God that this is a phase you are going through and if you know what's good for you, you'll get through it real quick!" Mammaw says with a slam of her palm against the table. "I'll not be having someone with those thoughts and tendencies staying under my roof! So help me God Miley Ray Stewart, you don't give these un-natural thoughts and tendencies up, you'll not be sleeping another night under my roof! Do I make myself clear?!" She adds vehemently.
"Y-Y-Yes Mammaw. I understand," I quietly say while tears slowly run down my face. After that, I don't think I quite have it in me to hear what anyone else might have to say.
Braving it, I timidly glance around the table at everyone present. I see a range of looks from everyone, and the most surprising is the look of compassion on my cousin Luanne's face. I think most everyone is surprised at the out of character declaration Mammaw Ruthie had just spoken. Thankfully, Aunt Dolly has a look of weary acceptance on her face while Uncle Earl looks down right happy. I'm not sure if it's my situation that he's happy with or the fact everyone has stopped eating leaving all the desserts for him to eat. Aunt Pearl looks completely indifferent while Uncle Bobby, Aunt Max, and Aunt Clara are clearly not ok with this either.
I look to Jackson to see that he's been stunned silent. I guess he was really only here to hold my hand in silent emotional support. I don't blame him for not jumping in anyhow. I don't need for him to become a black sheep along with me. I give him a half smile to show that I'm ok with his silence and that I understand it.
"Miley Honey, I love you and who you chose to love is your decision. I'm not going to stand in the way of that. I only care that you're happy," Aunt Dolly softly states keeping her eyes locked on mine to emphasize the sincerity of her words.
"Now wait a minute, she is an abomination of GOD! How can you tell her it's ok? That it don't matter?!" Aunt Max furiously asks, spittle shooting across the table.
"Now you listen here, you trailer trash livin' hussy! You EVER call my Goddaughter an abomination ever again, I'll-
"You'll what! I'll call that disgrace to this family whatever I want! You know what, I can't even stand to be in the same house as that- that-…disgusting freak!" Aunt Max finishes with a pointed finger in my direction.
Freak. Is that what I am now, a disgraceful disgusting freak? I don't even know what to think right now. My heart just keeps clenching as if a vice were squeezing it tighter and tighter with every hurtful word. I don't even know how it is I've managed to hold back my sobs. They've been threatening to break free practically since Daddy quieted everyone down.
Of course, Aunt Dolly, never one to let someone else get the last word adds, "Good, get out! Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!"
After she says this, Aunt Dolly makes her way around the table and toward me. She has a couple tears sliding down her cheeks as well. I guess this situation isn't easy for her either.
"Give me some sugar darling," She says holding out her arms. Barely holding myself together, I quickly push my chair back and launch myself into her arms for a bone-crushing hug. I thank God for my Aunt Dolly and her compassion, and I have to say, it feels really good to know that she's not only behind me, but she's willing to go toe to toe with the family for me.
Disengaging from the hug, I give her a watery smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you Aunt Dolly. For everything. I can't tell you how much what you said means to me. Especially what you said to Aunt Max," I say barely holding back more tears.
Giving me a small kiss on my forehead, she places a hand on each shoulder and holds me at arms length.
"You don't gotta thank me for nothing child. You're my Goddaughter. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you. You just remember that. And if you ever need to talk, about anything, you just come and see me. You got that? And don't you worry; everything will work out in the end. I love you Miley," She says with absolute conviction.
Aunt Clara grunts in our direction with a look of distaste on her face and follows most everyone else out of the room, and I'm assuming out of the house as well. Mammaw left midway through the argument. I can only assume that she couldn't stand there and listen while Aunt Dolly defended my honor.
"I love you too Aunt Dolly. And don't worry, I will. I'm sure in I'll need someone to talk to in a few days." I say giving her another hug. Afterwards she grabs her purse and leaves as well.
"Well, Miley, I can't say I agree with your lifestyle choice, but your Aunt Pearl and I still love ya," Uncle Earl says adding his two cents. Turning to Aunt Pearl he adds, "Pearl, I think it's high time we get outta here." Aunt Pearl grabs the hand he's holding out for her and together they leave as well. I hear him yell out his thanks for breakfast to Mammaw right before the door shuts.
Now it's just Uncle Bobby, Luanne, Dad and I at the table. Uncle Bobby looks furious while Luanne just looks around awkwardly. I look at Uncle Bobby waiting for his response, but he just sits there tight-lipped. His face and neck are tinged red and I can his frame shaking just slightly. I guess I know how he feels about all this. Choosing to ignore him for the moment, I grab my seat and sit back down at the table. The elation I felt at Aunt Dolly's words is already starting to leave me as I wait for Daddy's reaction. Aside from his telling everyone to hush earlier, he has yet to utter another word.
I admit I'm scared to look at him. Aside from Jackson, his is the only other opinion that has the ability to make or break me, and I don't think I can stand for him to look and say to me what Mammaw Ruthie and Aunt Max said not moments before. I'm upset that he didn't intervene during Mammaw's tirade or Aunt Max's bashing of me, and that almost tells me exactly what his reaction will be as well.
Hesitantly, I turn my head to the left and see that he's not even looking in my direction. Instead, he's staring straight ahead at the wall with a blank expression on his face. I'm not quite sure how to take this particular reaction, but his lack of support has finally broken the damn holding back the sobs that have been threatening to burst ever since my opening declaration.
Not bothering to stick around to hear Uncle Bobby and Luanne's remarks, I stand up so quick that my chair flies back behind me to the floor. But I don't care. I turn and run from the room in an attempt to escape as more and more hot tears course down my face and sobs erupt from my throat. I don't even slow my steps as I hear Jackson yelling for me to stop. Spotting the front door, I wrench it open, not bothering to close it as I keep running blindly.
TBC
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AN: Ok, I know this chapter is a little short, but I felt that that was the perfect place to end it. I'll try to make the next chapter longer to make up for this one. :D