Let's Restart

Chapter 8

"I didn't know you played guitar, Jake."

He just stared at me for a second as I walked into the back of the shop. "Were you the one who put ice on me?"

"No."

Nodding slightly, he went back to picking at his instrument. He was seated on the ground, next to the mini-fridge they kept back there, barefoot and shirtless, wearing board shorts.

"I'm still learning," he told me. "Chords, the ones you don't have to bar, are easy, but the bar chords suck. And picking? It's hell."

"Then why are you doing it?"

"To get chicks."

"Figures." I went over to Eli's work area and sat down, facing Jake. "Shouldn't you be working?"

"Meh." He looked up at me again. "Where's my brother?"

"He told me to meet him here around three, but he's not here."

"He must have gone across the street."

I just shrugged, looking around Eli's workspace. "So…are there no bikes to do or what?"

"There are." Jake sat his acoustic down before standing and coming towards me. "You wanna watch me work? Would that make you hot?"

"Okay, ew." I was, however, interested in watching him work, if only because I didn't really understand what it was they did. Jake went over to his station before motioning me over, though I didn't come.

"I have to fix the brake lines on this bike," Eli's brother told me. "If you think you can stop yourself from throwing your naked body at me-"

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes as I heard the front door open and close, Wallace calling out a greeting from the front to whoever walked in.

"Auden in the back?" I heard Eli ask.

"She is."

"Thanks." When Eli came back there, he immediately went over to me, pulling me off the stool before kissing me on the lips. "Hi."

I smiled slightly, glancing over at Jake, who was now very intent on his work. "Hi."

"Are you ready to go get lunch?"

"I already ate lunch. You didn't?"

"Nope. You can stand to eat again." He pulled his cap off before setting it on my head. "Hey, Jake, you want me to bring you back something or-"

"I'm on a hunger strike."

"Do I want to know why?"

"Because Mom is leaving me."

"Her and Dad are going on vacation. You're not two. Grow up."

"Steven's gonna kick me out while they're gone."

"Sucks to be you, huh?" With that, Eli wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me out of the store. "Where do you want to eat?"

"Anywhere other than Last Chance."

"You're no fun."

"That's where I ate my first lunch," I defended.

"Fine." Eli led me over to the truck. "You wanna real lunch or fast food?"

"It's up to you, Eli."

Opening the passenger side door for me, Eli didn't say anything more, just closed the door once I was seated before coming to get on the driver's side. Yawning, I turned down the stereo some before buckling my seatbelt.

"You sleepy, baby?"

"A little. My neck hurts too."

"Probably from sleeping on the floor." Eli shook his head slightly. "Tonight, it'll just be me and you, huh?"

"Until you ditch me because you're not tired."

"Until then," he agreed. "So I was thinking."

"About?"

"Wallace has been dating this girl that plays Halo with him."

"How fun."

"You should play games with me too. You know, to help us bond."

"How about no?"

"Aud, you should at least try them."

"I won't be any good."

"And I'll teach you." He winked over at me. "As you know, I am a very good teacher."

"Oh god." Sighing, I leaned my head against the window. "You're very annoy sometimes."

"Thanks. I try."


We ended back up at Eli's with a bunch of tacos. I could only eat probably two, but Eli had to ability to put away about ten or twenty. So…yeah.

"I love tacos."

"Hmmm." I just watched Eli as he got crumbs all over the bed from the taco shell cracking all over the place. We were in his room, watching videos online. I was focusing more on stroking Eli's leg, considering that I wasn't that interested in the dumb videos he was. You can only watch people fall off things so many times before you just don't care anymore.

"You can have the rest," I told Eli as I pushed the bag of tacos closer to him. "I'm full."

He just grunted as I moved to lay down, still stroking his thigh. I just laid there, watching as he finished the rest of the tacos like they were nothing. When he finally laid down with me, I just patted his stomach, shaking my head slightly.

"You full, Eli?"

"Mmmhmm." He let out a loud yawn before reaching down to change the video on the laptop. "Comfortable?"

"Mmmhmm." I kissed his chest. "Are you gonna have to go back to work today?"

"Later tonight, probably." He smiled at me. "I don't want to though."

"Why not?"

"Take a wild guess."

Running a finger down his clothed chest, I asked, "Where're Vinny and Thisbe today?"

"With their parents, I guess." He stretched a little bit. "Your dad's last day is tomorrow, so I'm sure she's with your parents."

"My mom sure has been being super nice."

"Of course she has," he said, kissing my head. "She just got you back."

"You've been super nice also."

"Because I just got you back too." He smiled. "And I don't plan on losing you again."

"I don't plan on getting lost again."

Eli removed himself from under me, reaching down and picking up the laptop before setting it down on the floor. Then he turned back to me, quickly enveloping me into his arms with a loud sigh.

"Mmm." He kissed the side of my head. "Love you."

"Cut it out."

"What? You said that I couldn't say I love you. I just said love you." He nuzzled my head. "Besides, how come I can't tell you how much I love and missed you? Huh? You're everything to me, you know that?"

"Shut up."

"You are." He rubbed against me. "I love you, Auden West."

Rolling my eyes, I turned into him, hiding my face in his chest. "Are we gonna let Jake stay with us? While your parents are out of town?"

"Are we?"

"Well, you."

"No, no, I like this we stuff." He kissed the top of my head. "I guess he can. If you're alright with it. I know that you two get along better now, but I also know that having him around too long normally leads to you fighting with him."

"Only when he acts like a douche."

"So he's gonna have to find another place to stay."

Sighing, I snuggled into him. "We'll try. Or you know what, better yet, you tell Steven that he's a grown man with a freaking wife and kids. Jake's just a boy, living with his mom and dad until he finds his way. Steven's the one that needs to get the hell out."

Pressing his nose into my hair, he said, "Don't start stuff, Auden."

"I'm not. Steven's been a jerk since he got back and-"

"He and Kelly are going through stuff, okay?"

"And?"

"Auden-"

"He was rude to me, at the party."

"What?"

"Nothing, never mind."

Eli stroked my stomach, thinking. "I've always told you that if Jake's bothering you to tell me. The same goes with Steven. You mean everything to me. They're not taking you from me."

I popped my neck, before closing my eyes. "It's not that serious, Eli. And I kind of provoked him."

"Hn. Don't care. Still mad at him."

I yawned a little. "Why did he move all the way to Colby? Instead of just getting an apartment so he could still see his kids?"

"Don't know. We don't exactly get along these days."

"Still."

"I know that I hate him for it."

"Huh?"

Eli pushed up my shirt up slightly, stroking my skin now. "I'd do anything to get Clayton back and he just fucking leaves his kids? Then gets mad at me when I say something about it? Fuck Steven. He's a fucking asshole."

"Eli."

"No. He is. He really fucking is." His hand stilled now as he pulled me closer, nuzzling my neck. "Let's talk about something else."

"How about your taco breath?"

He let out a long breath. "You like?"

"I love."

"Hey." He kissed my neck. "You said that you love me."

"No," I said slowly. "I said that I love your taco breath. And I said it sarcastically."

"Did you now?" Eli let out a long breath as his phone vibrated in his jeans pocket. "I don't want to let you go yet."

"Just answer the phone."

After kissing my head, Eli moved away from me, sitting up to answer his cell. "Hello? …No. No. Mom, I- No. But…fine. Ten minutes. Bye."

"Who do we have to pick up?" I asked.

"Not pick up, Aud. We're having dinner there."

"This early?"

"Well, we have to go over there early to meet some people."

"Who?"

He just glanced at me. "Some of my aunts and uncles are here."

"What?"

"Yep. Come on. I get to go show you off."

"Eli-"

"They just showed up. I didn't know. If my mom had told me about it before hand, I would have made sure we were still at your place. Sorry." He sighed slightly. "If you don't want to go, Auden-"

"I'll go. If you want."

"I don't even want to go." He pushed out of bed. "Come on then. We'll pick up your sister on the way."

I just moaned before getting up. "Fine. Let's go."


"Hi, Vinny!"

There Vinny was, in the middle of being praised by all of his relatives, and still found the time to rush over to my sister.

"Thisbe!" He patted her on the head when he got to us. I sighed as I got out of the truck too, watching Eli as he closed the passenger's door after getting Thisbe out.

"You okay?" He asked as Vinny took Thisbe's hand and led her over to some of his family, who were standing outside, talking.

"I guess so."

Eli took my hand also, but unlike the two little kids, he interlaced our fingers before bringing my hand up to his mouth. "Then let's go."

As we walked up to the house, Eli's relatives moved into the house, which meant we had to go in too.

"Your mom's side or your dad's?" I whispered to Eli as we came into the house, making sure that Vinny and Thisbe followed.

"Dad's."

"So no hugs?"

He squeezed my hand. "I didn't say that."

"Oh, Auden."

I was quickly separated from Eli as someone pulled him into a hug while Karen grabbed my other hand and pulled me away.

"Hi," I said weakly, uncomfortable. Karen held my hand now as she excitedly introduced me to one or two of Eli's cousins before dragging me into the kitchen. Once there, she didn't let go of my hand, but did unload once we were out of earshot of her husband's family.

"Oh, Auden," she groaned, shaking her head. "Can you believe him?"

"Who?" I asked, looking around.

"Joseph." I could tell by her use of his full name that she was angry with him. "He just sprung this on me."

"Eli said that you didn't know they were-"

"I didn't!" She whispered hissed, letting my hand go. "But apparently Joseph did. He just forgot to mention it." Letting out a long breath, she turned and went over to the fridge. "I know why he really didn't say anything. He knew that I would say-"

"You would say what?"

We both looked up as her husband came into the room, his usually chipper mood slightly down, though out there, in the living room, it had been just as perky as usual.

"I would say no." She turned quickly again, now facing him. "You always do this sh…stuff, Joseph. You never think things through. How am I gonna feed them all?"

"I told you, I sent Steven out to get hotdogs. I'll grill."

"For this many people?"

"Then I won't eat, you won't eat, I'm sure Jake's to drunk to eat-"

"Oh, shut up!"

I was at this moment slowly making my exit back to the living room, hoping to not get caught. Of course, my wishes never come true.

"Stay, Auden," Karen ordered, not facing me as she now opened the fridge again, pulling out a pitcher of Kool-Aid before tossing it down the sink. "We need to make fresh tea and Kool-Aid. There's another pitcher, in the cabinet over there. Get it, please."

"Karen-"

"Shut up, Joseph." She didn't even look at him now. "Just…go away. Go be with your family."

"I don't know why you're-"

"Leave me alone."

"Fine!" He huffed. "Fine."

With that, he left, leaving me and Karen alone in the kitchen. We weren't for long though, as Vinny and Thisbe quickly found their way in.

"Guys, I think you should go play-" I tried, but Karen shook my head at me.

"You guys are fine," she told them. "Do you wanna help?"

"Yes!" Vinny went and drug a chair over to the counter before gesturing for Thisbe to stand on it, quickly going to get his own. "I make Kool-Aid a lot, Auden."

"A lot?"

"Twice."

"Oh," I said, smiling as he clambered up on his chair. Having seen Karen cook before, I mostly knew where everything was, so I went to the cupboard to get the sugar out. "That's cool."

"I know."

"I like your hair like that, Vinny," I said, taking in how he had spiked it with gel. "It looks very nice."

Really, he had over gelled it and it was obvious that his grandparents or father had let him do it himself. Which was cute, too.

"Thank you!" He smiled at me, reminding me of that creepy obsession he had seemed to form on me. Thisbe, noticing this, shot me a look as Karen gave her a packet of Kool-Aid open and put in the pitcher. Ignoring her, I went over to where I knew the pot was, putting water on to boil for the tea.

"Thank you," Karen said now, smiling at me, though I could tell she was still stressed. I glanced back at the living room and saw one of Eli's aunts, who I had met once, coming into the kitchen.

"Karen! There you are."

She rolled her eyes at me before putting back on her happy face, turning to speak to the woman. I told Vinny and Thisbe not to cause any trouble before finally heading back out into the living room, bypassing everyone so that I could find Eli.

"Hey," he said as I came up to him after finding him back outside with two of his male cousins. I had met them too, once, at a wedding of one of his relatives that I went to, my freshman year of college. "Where'd you go off to?"

"Your mom wanted to tell me something."

Eli just nodded before looking at his cousins. "Guys, this is Auden. Aud, this is Randy and Raymond."

"We've met," the older of the two said. They were closer to Steven's age, but Eli seemed to get along better with them.

"Hi," I said, watching as another car pulled up, Steven, Taylor, and Jordan getting out.

"What do you got?" Eli called out to him as we went to help unload the car.

"Hotdog, hot links, sodas, chips, burgers, and buns," his brother told him before telling his kids to take all the stuff around to the back yard. "Ray! Randy! Hey."

"Look at my strong girl," Eli bragged on me as we walked off to the back, me carrying two twelve packs of coke, while he had two twenty-four packs of Pepsi. "That's hot."

"Shut up," I said with a roll of my eyes. No one was walking next to us, so Eli found this the best time to ask me a question.

"So…what did my mother ask you?"

"Nothing. She just…she was mad that your dad's family was here."

"Ah." He smiled at me. "Sorry. I didn't realize she'd let you in on that."

"I think…I think that she likes me."

"She does. You're her favorite."

"Favorite what?"

Eli just shrugged as we sat down the packs of soda down on the porch. "Can you get the tables out of the shed? I'll go help get the rest of the groceries and stuff."

"Sure."

"Thanks, Aud." He kissed me quickly before taking a step back as his niece and nephew came into the backyard, carrying bags of chips and hotdogs. "Hey, guys. Can you go tell Grandpa to get out here and get to grilling, Taylor?"

She just gave him a look, but he took it as a yes while I went over to the shed to get those tables.

"What are you doing?"

There I was, struggling with dragging a table out, when someone else grabbed some, helping me.

"All these guys, and they're making you get the tables?"

I just smiled at Mr. Stock. "They were getting the groceries out."

"They always take the weak way out, my boys."

We were quickly joined by Steven as we began to set up the tables. When Raymond and his brother came over to help, Joseph sent me off to get some bowls, for the chips. When I went in through the backdoor though, I found that Karen was gone, now replaced by Eli's relatives, who had posted up by the kitchen table to discuss things. I didn't understand how so many of them came in a pack, but then again, I don't know much about families to begin with. Not their closeness, at least.

"And you're Auden, right?" One of the women asked me as I came in. "Eli's girlfriend?"

"Yes," I said, going over to the table when it was clear that was what they wanted me to do. The only guy seated there readily gave up his spot, taking his freedom and heading out into the backyard. "I am."

As I sat down, the woman closest to me, Eli's grandmother I think, said, "I had heard that you were no longer in the picture."

"Mom," one of the woman said while I just blinked.

"Well, I'm back now," I told her, remembering now that she and her husband, the guy that had let me have his chair, lived in Florida. They had come a long way. Something must be going on. Not very big, seeing as Karen didn't know about it, but something.

"That's so nice," the woman who had corrected her mother said. I didn't know her, but that wasn't shocking. Joseph's family was huge. He had a high number of siblings, mainly because you had to add in his half and step ones. It was all too confusing to me, so I never really pretended to know everyone's relation.

"Are you staying here now?" Another asked, who was seat across from me. "In Colby?"

"No. I actually have-"

"She's gonna plant corn."

"In a field!"

I looked over at the entrance to the kitchen to find Vinny and Thisbe coming into the room, some of Eli's younger cousins, roughly Vinny's age, with them. There were three of them, one girl, who was the oldest, around ten, and two little boys, younger than that by some amount of years. I knew that there were numerous little kids that always seemed fluctuate in Joseph's family, so these three must have been the only one's invited. At least my sister got something to do, other than bother me.

Ignoring that, I looked back at the woman. "I have an internship in Tyler that starts in soon."

"Well, me, personally? I would never leave my man alone in a beach town, what with all the woman that are always coming through here," the youngest of all the other women at the table, probably a few years older than me, said. I think she's one of Eli's step-cousins or something.

"When have you ever had a man, Sydney?" Another combated.

Now, feeling like I had to prove myself for whatever stupid girl reason that I will deny if anyone ever calls me out on, I sat up a little bit taller and said, "Actually, Eli's coming with me."

"What?"

I turned my head and saw too late that Karen had come back into the kitchen also, probably following after the kids. I couldn't go back on what I had said, however, so I just went along with it as best I could.

"We've talked about it. He wants to spend part of his time down there."

"What about his job?"

"He'll work something out," I said, standing now. "I was supposed to be getting bowls for the chips," was my excuse to the women at the table as I went over to the cupboards to do so. Karen just stood there, watching me for a moment before looking at the kids.

"You guys want to go outside and play? Just promise not to get in anyone's way, okay?" She went over to the backdoor and opened it for them. "And Thisbe, your parents will be here soon, with Ralph."

"Yay, Ralph," Vinny chanted, leading his relatives and my sister out the door. It was my turn to be shocked.

"Was that plural?" I asked Karen as I got three big bowls out.

She sighed, glancing over at her in-laws at the table before back at me. "Joseph thought that he should invite Robert. They had a few words last time he was in town, when your brother and Eli… And of course Heidi and Jack are coming, so your mother… I didn't plan it this way either, Auden."

She patted me on the shoulder before going to take my spot at the table, even though she apparently wasn't fond of these people, but knowing she had to face the music sometime.

"There you are," Eli said as I came out of the house, carrying the bowls. Taking in my face, he asked, "What's wrong? Did someone-"

"No." I sat them down on the table closest to us. "No one. It's just, uh, my parents are coming. And Heidi and Jack."

"What?"

"And Ralph," his father said as he came over with bags of chips to dump in the bowls. "One big, happy family, Auden. That's the goal here."

"We're not…" I looked to Eli for help.

"We're not family yet, Dad," he told him. Yet. Why did he have to throw down that yet?

"Yes, we are," he said as he finished with the chips, a certainty in his voice that I had only ever heard him use. Well, except sometimes my mother was that certain, when she knew she was making an excellent point about a novel. Looking up at the two of us, Joseph's face was had a solemn look that was rare for him. "We shared something. All of us. Even though we lost it, it doesn't mean it didn't exist."

I just looked at Eli as he left, but didn't know what to say. Eli didn't either, apparently, as he just kissed my head.

"I'm sorry."

"He means well."

"He always does," Eli assured me before shaking his head. "My brother forgot ice. Wanna go get it with me? We have to pick up Jake on the way."

"Sure."

"Good." Interlacing our fingers, he looked around for someone before finding my sister. Seeing as the two of us were the only adults that she really knew here, he told her where we were going and that we would be back soon, adding to ask his mother or father for whatever she needed.

"I know, Eli," she said as Vinny appeared behind her, having gotten water guns from somewhere, probably his grandpa. "Mrs. Karen loves me."

"I know she does." Eli patted her on the head and I told her that I loved her too before letting him lead me away.

"So what's wrong with your mom and your dad's family?" I asked Eli once we were in his truck, the A/C on. It was burning up outside, a perfect beach day. Or, a perfect lay around in bed with your boyfriend day. Damn Joseph's family for ruining that for me.

"It's a long story."

"I have time."

Eli glanced at me. "I meant it's a long, boring story that I don't even really know anymore. I guess, really, it comes down to, well, my mother's mom? She hated my dad."

"Not uncommon."

I got a grin for that. "No, guess it's not."

"Anyways."

"Anyways, when my parents got married, well…Auden."

"What? Tell me. You know I have no one to tell. No one important anyways."

"You know that my parents both went to school together, like, their whole life."

"Like most people in Colby."

"Well, yeah, I guess." He turned down the radio a little bit. "But they never really got along. At all. My mother's older brother and one of Dad's brother's used to fight. Constantly. Fist fights, everything."

"Such violence for little, old Colby."

"You'd think, huh?" Shaking his head, he went on. "So, anyways, you've heard the Janice stories."

"Which one?"

"About how my father asked her out, as he says, once in high school."

"Oh, yeah."

"If you ask my mother or any other sane person, you'll know that he was, like, creepy obsessed with her, all through out middle and high school. Which isn't uncommon, considering there are so few people your own age here-"

"No excuses."

Sighing, he said, "So dad tried, one last time, to ask her out to their 11th grade prom, but she said no. She was a senior and, though she didn't have a date, refused to be seen with him. My dad wasn't exactly popular with, well, girls."

"No kidding."

"Anyways, my mother was always in and out of school so-"

"What?"

"She was kind of a trouble maker."

"Your mom? Karen?" I sent him a look.

"That's why I didn't want to tell this story."

"Keep going."

"So, anyways, she didn't have a date, she wasn't even gonna go, really, but when he asked her, she went because…I don't know. I guess she had nothing better to do."

"And then it was love?"

"Then it was pure hatred of each other, but…every time after that, when he'd ask her out again, she'd just say yes. Always. They didn't get along well, but, I don't know, I guess they were sticking it to their siblings by being with each other or something."

I let that sink in for a moment before saying, "That doesn't really answer anything."

"Well, my mom cleaned up her act senior year and got into a college. Not a good college, but a college. And my dad, who still claimed to not be that into her, followed right along."

"So?"

"So my father was supposed to go to a university. He had scholarships. He was real smart back then, I guess. At that point, his parents had only had screw ups that got out of school or just didn't finish. So I guess Grandma resented Mom for that or something. Then they had to go run off and elope."

"Your parents?"

"I know. It's disgusting." Eli made a face. "And my mom wanted to go to medical school, which-"

"If you say she became a stripper-"

"Have some respect, Auden."

"Sor-"

"Exotic dancer."

"What?"

"I'm kidding." He shook his head at me. "Anyways, Dad dropped out, worked his ass off, and freaking helped pay for it all. With extensive loans, of course."

"Of course," I mumbled.

"So Grandma really hated my mom for that."

I took a second before speaking again. "I don't get it."

"Get what?"

"If they hated each other so much, then why did they do that? Why did he follow her? Or drop out for her? Or even marry her?"

"Because," he started as he pulled into a gas station. "Love and hate are two different things, Auden. As long as you feel something, anything, for the other person, there's still a chance for them."

"It's just so weird," I said as he turned to face me. "Every time I see them, they're so…so…"

"In love?"

"Yeah."

"Making up for lost time, eh?" Eli unbuckled his seatbelt before looking at me. "Be right back."

"Need help getting ice?"

"Just gonna get two bags," he said before leaning over the center console and kissing me gently, staying close even as we parted. "Maybe it was passion, eh?"

"Shut up." I pushed him away gently. "Hurry so we can get back."

"What's the rush? If you're counting on seeing my mom have another meltdown, you can cool down. She'll only explode when her and Dad are alone."

I shook my head. "I just want to be there when my parents get there, you know? So that if any punches are thrown, I'll know for sure who to blame."

With that, Eli got out of the car, headed into the gas station to get that ice. While I was in the truck, I got a text from Maggie, asking what I was doing and where I was at. When I told her, she just laughed, saying that she had to gone to plenty of the Stock's family things; I could expect Karen to be pissed as her husband for at least a month.

By the time we got back to the house, Jake now with us after getting him from the bike shop, my parents had not yet arrived. Someone else had though.

"The dog's here?" Jake asked as we walked into the backyard.

"Let the kids play with him. You leave him alone," his older brother said, but Jake just ignored him, running off.

"Come on," Eli said, leading me over to the ice chests. "Open one for me."

As we were filling the ice chest with drinks and ice, who else to come up, but Heidi.

"Oh, hi, Auden," she greeted as she walked up, her boyfriend in tow. "How are you today?"

"Good, I suppose," I said, standing as I finished with the chests so that she could hug me. Ugh. "You?"

"Fine," she said, smiling still. "And Eli, how are you?"

"Great, Heidi," he muttered, taking one piece of ice out of the ice chest and rolling it around in his hands, apparently hot. "Hope you don't mind, but someone gave the kids water guns to play with. Probably my dad. Thisbe'll probably get wet."

"That's fine, of course. I just hope they don't spray Ralph."

"Ralph'll be fine," Jack assured her before looking closer at me. "I met your mother the other day, Auden."

"Really?"

"Yes. Real treat, that was."

Heidi elbowed him, but I just said, "You have no idea."

After they walked off, Eli told me that he should go help his dad with the grill or at the very least, mingle with his relatives. He offered to show me off, which prompted me to tell him how derogatory that sounded, effectively ending his desire to do such. In the end, after walking around a little, I somehow ended up sitting on the porch steps next to who else, but Karen.

"Seeing a lot of each other today," she commented with a sigh. Without letting me respond, she added, "I can't even begin to describe how angry I am at Joseph."

I searched the people, easily finding her husband, no longer at the grill, but rather over in the far corner of the yard, where he had drug one of the plastic, little kid pools out from the garage, for the kids. Currently, it was still being filled with water, but the kids were happy still, chasing Ralph around while squirting each other with water guns. Mr. Stock looked just as happy watching them as they did playing.

"Could be worse."

"How?"

"You could feel nothing at all."

Karen stared at me for a long moment before speaking again. "Are you okay?"

I looked back at her. "About?"

Shrugging, she looked off. "You know. Everything."

I had never thought of Eli's mother as a confidant. By the same token though, I had never pictured her as being a bad girl in high school either.

"I think I have to be. Now. Eli gave me more time than any other guy would have ever given me. Nearly six months. I better be okay."

Karen was quiet for a minute or two before saying, "With Kelly gone, I'm more than happy to have you fill her place."

"You don't plan on carrying on the tradition?"

"What tradition?"

I nodded over at a group of lawn chairs, where I could see her mother-in-law sitting.

"There's nothing in the world you could do to deserve the amount of hate that woman has for me. Nothing that Eli wouldn't deserve, anyways."

Again, we both fell silent, each watching as the Stock family interacted with each other, neither really a part of it, but also not completely separated from it either. Maybe she was more of one than I ever would be, but I could tell, if it wasn't for her husband, she'd gladly trade in that part of her history.

"You gonna sit here all day or you gonna go speak to people?"

Karen just frowned at her husband when he came up.

"Karen, don't do this, alright? Has anyone said anything to you to make you upset?" When she opened her mouth, he added, "Today?" Silence. "Alright then. And, Auden? Don't let her fill your head with lies. We have way more fun than her family's ever had."

"Go away," she finally told her husband, who now was head back towards the grill, where all three of his sons were, all somehow having found the alcohol. After he was gone though, she slowly stood up, patting me on the shoulder. "I should go though, talk to these people. Either way I'll do the wrong thing, but at least if I do, I'll know that I'm not being rude."

When Karen walked away though, she didn't head over to the group of women sitting in those lawn chairs, instead headed towards Joseph's brothers, who were standing by the tables, eating all of the chips. I figured this was mainly because that's where Heidi and Jack were anyways. After watching her for a moment, I got up too, though I immediately headed towards my sister.

"Hi, Auden."

Hi," I said, taking the water hose out of the pool, now that it was filled up. "Vinny, go turn off the hose."

He was busy chasing his cousins around, but seeing as it was me who asked, he did it without complaint.

"Ralph likes our pool," Isby told me as her dog began to lap at the water, his tail wagging from the fact she was right next to him, watching.

"Oh, Thisbe, did no one get him water yet? I'll be right back."

"He can just drink from our pool."

I just shook my head at her before going off to get the bowl out of the kitchen.

"What are you doing in here all alone, Jake?" I asked as I went in there, headed to the cabinet to get Ralph's normal bowl.

"Stupid Dad and Steven sent me in here, because I'm drunk." He was sitting at the table, arms crossed. "They said they didn't want to deal with me and if no one else was watching me, I couldn't-"

"They treat you like a child."

"I know!"

"Come on then," I sighed as I took the bowl outside. "You can hangout with me, I g-"

"Okay." He shot up, almost falling, having to find his balance by putting his hands on the table to steady himself. "But don't try anything with me, Auden. Unlike Eli, I honor bros before hoes."

"What do you mean, unlike Eli?"

He just wagged his eyebrows at me.

"You know what, Jake? Stay in here."

"No, no." He quickly closed the distance between us. "I was just joking. That's all."

"Come on then."

The second I came outside, I saw Joseph zero in on us, probably due to the fact he could hear his son's loud voice, announcing to everyone that he and I were hanging out, in this loud obnoxious voice. Karen glanced our way too, rolling her eyes.

"-think they can tell me what to do? No they can't! I can hang out with Auden all I want," he kept up, following right behind me. "Auden and I? We go way back. Way, way- Ah!"

I looked back at Jake to see that Eli had showed up, beer in one hand, the other clamped around his brother's neck.

"The heck are you guys doing?"

"I was getting the dog water, but Jake was inside, all alone, so I told him that he could come with me." I kept walking, knowing it wouldn't be long before Eli too was wasted. "Eli, can you go turn on the water hose? I need to fill the bowl up with water."

I was being as specific as possible, to distract Eli from hurting his brother. Watching me for a moment, Eli just shook his head before going off to do as I asked while I went to go put the end of the hose in the bowl.

"Thank you, Auden," Thisbe said, coming over to me, Ralph with her. "Ralph says thank you too."

"I'm sure he does," I said, smiling at her as Jake stumbled over to the little kids' pool. "Wow! Eli, look, Dad got the pool o- Hey!"

Turning around, I saw that Jake was being sprayed with water guns by Vinny and the other little kids, save my sister, who had given Vinny her gun so that he could have two. This was probably due to the fact she was more concerned with Ralph.

"Got you, Jake!" Vinny took off running the second Jake saw them, his cousins with him. Jake tried to chase them, but his coordination was so off that he fell flat on his face.

"Jake!" I rushed over to him, getting down on my knees next to the guy. "Are you okay?"

He just groaned, pushing himself up to a sitting position. "Damn kids."

"Are you hurt?" I reached out and ran a hand down his arm.

"He ain't hurt." Eli was suddenly behind his brother, reaching down with one hand, clasping it around Jake's neck before pulling him up that way. Jake cringed, almost falling again as Eli let him go.

"Eli!" I hit his arm. "God."

"Why do you have to be such a douche?" Jake rubbed the back of his head. "God. I-"

"Gotcha again, Uncle Jake!"

Vinny's shinning moment was more thanks to Eli than anything. In his rush to get me away from his brother, Eli had forgotten to turn off the faucet, leaving the water hose for Vinny's diabolical use. Which would be holding his thumb over it in a way to cause it to spray, directed at Jake. The only problem with that?

"Vinny, you little brat!"

He got me too.

"Uh-oh," he said when it was clear that I got just as soaked as his uncle. Tossing the hose down, he tried to runaway, but Eli wasn't as drunk as his younger brother.

"Got you," Eli said, picking him up. "Come here."

He carried the boy over to me, setting him down at my feet. "Say sorry."

"N-"

"Now, Vinny."

"Sorry." He looked off, making me sigh while Jake stumbled off, needing to go change now that he was soaked.

"It's okay," I conceded. Eli patted him on the head before pushing him off.

"He got your jeans all wet," Eli said, shaking his head. "Come on."

After getting the dog water and turning off the faucet finally, Eli interlaced our fingers before leading me into the house, to his old bedroom.

"Here." He pulled out a pair of basketball shorts from a dresser drawer. "Wear these."

"Are they yours or Jake's?"

"Do you really think I would give you his shorts?"

Taking them from him, I unbuttoned my jeans while Eli went around the room, looking at Vinny and Jordan's stuff that now inhabited it.

"They keep their room pretty clean."

"Yeah. They're good kids," Eli said as I pulled the shorts on. "Mmmm, new underwear, Aud?"

"I got them a few months ago."

"So new to me. You can pull those shorts right back down."

Rolling my eyes, it was my turn to grasp his hand. "Come on. Let's go back out there."

On the way, Eli made a stop at his father's liquor cabinet to get some kind of stinky whiskey. It made me nauseous just to smell it.

"They should get a lock on that thing."

"Aw, shut up." Eli just smiled at me. "What's a party if you can't feel good?"

"That makes you feel good?"

"Being with you makes me feel good. This? This is just second place."

Again, he got an eye roll. "Well, you're with me, right now. So put the-"

"You don't get it, alright?" He took his hand from mine as we made it back outside. "You wanna beer or soda or something?"

"Yeah, a soda."

"You don't want a beer?" Eli went over to the table where some red plastic cups were sitting. Picking one up, he poured a good amount of whiskey in it before reaching down for the ice chests and pouring a little bit of Pepsi in also.

"Eli."

We both turned to see Karen standing there.

"What?" He just glanced at her before handing me the rest of the soda can.

"Put that up. Now. Do not leave it out here. And if you get…" She looked to me.

"Wasted."

"If you get wasted here, there will be Hell to pay. My goodness, Eli."

With that, she walked off, leaving me with my boyfriend again. He just shrugged, taking a sip of his drink, making a face.

"Strong."

"No duh." I shook my head. "It's basically all alcohol. You're gonna get sick."

"Nah, not me."

"Yes, you."

He just shook his head at me before heading back into the house to put the bottle of whiskey back. I was waiting for him when Vinny came up to me, carrying a plate with a hotdog on it, ketchup strew all around the plate, clearly put on there by him.

"Here, Auden," he said, holding it up.

"What?"

"I got you a hotdog. Because I'm sorry."

Smiling, I reached down and took the plate. "Thank you, Vinny. That was very kind of you."

"Really?"

"Yes." I patted his head. "Now go play."

I made sure that he went back over to the other kids before heading back to the porch to sit down and eat my hotdog. Eli almost joined me, but just as he was sitting down, someone called him over to the circle of chairs the women were sitting at. Apparently his grandmother wanted to speak with him. Whatever. There was nothing short of money that would get me over there.

It turned out that I didn't have much of a chance anyways, as just when I finished my hotdog, my own relatives decided to show up. My parents, to be exact. I happened to be glancing at the back gate at the exact moment they came through. Sighing, I sat my plate down before heading over there.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted her, allowing her to pull me into one of her never ending hugs without restraint. "How's your last day in Colby going?"

"Alright, other than your father and his attitude."

"Oh, be quiet, Victoria." My father was dressed in his usual attire, except he left the tweed jacket at home, instead just wearing a button down and shorts. "Where's your sister, Auden?"

"Her and the other kids are playing with water guns, over there," I said, pointing across the yard. "You want me to get her or-"

"No, no, she's fine." My father looked around again. "So this is all Joseph's family?"

"Yes."

"He called Heidi, you know, to invite her and she said that he wanted us to come also. Some sort of family thing or something," he went on.

"He mentioned it." I looked around. "Eli's around here somewhere, but-"

"I'm sure we can find our own way around, sweetheart," my mother told me.

"Well, okay," I said as she led my father off. I think they were in the middle of a fight or something. Whatever. Not my problem. As far I was concerned, they were already divorced and should have just left it that way.

"Auden!"

Can't they ever just leave me alone? All of them? For five minutes?

Turning, I saw that it was Karen rushing towards me.

"Yes?"

"I have to go pick up a cake."

"A cake?"

She nodded, taking my hand as she walked passed. "Come on."

"Me?"

"You'll go with me, right?"

"I, uh, guess so."

"Then come on." She pulled me along with her. "Joseph thinks it's best if I leave for a little while and go get a cake from the store. He thinks that I'm gonna fight with his mother or sisters or something. I have been nothing, but civil."

I was still trying to figure out where I fit into the equation, but decided just to go along with her. Karen had never been rude to me or mean, although there were times that her and I disagreed on things. Recently though, I feel like she has more affection for me than her son does. I think, though, that it has to do with the fact that there are so many other women around who she knows hate her. Seeing as I'm the only she's sure does not, she's sticking to me. Or at least that's all I can figure.

"Ugh. So many cars. Where did Eli park?"

"Down the road."

"We're blocked in," she said, nodding at her car, heading that way. "Come on."

"How did you get his keys?"

"I always have Joseph take them from him at parties, now that he's taken to drinking so much." She sighed as we continued on down the street. "Can you believe them? All of them? All getting together, driving here."

"Why?"

"Hmmm?"

"What's after this?"

"Joseph said something about there being some reunion or something that's gonna take place while we're away on our trip." She rolled her eyes as we made it to the truck. "I don't even want to go on vacation with him right now."

"Where's the reunion?"

"I don't know, Auden," she sighed, getting into the driver's side. "I'll drive, alright?"

"Fine by me," I said, eyeing that photo of Clayton. "I don't like driving the truck."

"Me either," she admitted. "My boys all love trucks, but they're too high up for me. Can't stand them."

We rode in silence for a minute or two before Karen spoke again.

"So Vinny sprayed you with a water hose?"

I sighed. "Yes. He got me a hotdog though, as an apology."

"He likes you."

"I know."

"You're all he ever talks about, now. I think he's just happy to have another woman around, now that he never gets to see his mommy. He missed Kelly, you know. God knows how, but he does." She shook her head. "I told Steven not to bring the him down here. That he'd be better off with Kelly."

"Why did Steven come all the way down here?" I ventured. "Instead of staying up there?"

She paused as we came to a red light. "He…he says that he didn't, but, um, Kelly claims that he was cheating on her and he thought it was best just to get out of town for awhile. It was just supposed to be for a week or two, but then he didn't leave. Joseph wants to make him leave, but he won't until I agree. And now that we have all the kids down here…I like it, you know. Having all of them here."

"Except Erica."

"Linda doesn't visit much, no." She sighed. "It's the boys that we can't get rid of."

"Jake's going nowhere soon."

"Oh, I know. Thank you, for being so helpful towards him."

I just stared out the window, having that silent debate with myself for the millionth time about whether or not Karen knew about Jake and me hooking up. I don't think so, but you never know.

"Well," I said slowly. "He is Eli's brother. And Eli likes to help him."

"They've always been close, the two of them. Steven's rather…rude to his brothers." She glanced at me. "Not Linda though. They all like their sister."

"I don't know her as well."

She nodded. "She likes you. We all do."

When we pulled into the grocery store, Karen told me that we needed two cakes; one chocolate and one vanilla.

"I hate buying store cakes," Karen told me as we went into the store. "I really do. I can't believe that Joseph did this to me. Do you know what they'll say?"

"What who will say?"

"His family, Auden. They'll talk about how I can't even find the time to bake a stupid cake. That I couldn't even make a real dinner. That I couldn't-"

"Do you really think they'll say that?"

She glanced at me. "You don't know them like I do, Auden. They hate me. Especially his mother. She loves all her other daughter-in-laws, just not me. And I never did anything."

"Kind of like Kelly."

She stopped walking for a second. "It is nothing like Kelly."

Not wanting to fill Kelly's place, I quickly said, "Right. Sure, sorry."

She just shook her head. "Kelly was rude to me and always has been. I tried with his family. Multiple times. The only reason that they hate me is because they think that I stopped Joseph from becoming something. I didn't. He gave up things for me, sure, but it was his choice. I never made any choice for him." When she felt my eyes, she added, "Back then. Back then I didn't. Now, sure, but not back then. He was a lot different, Auden."

So was she, according to Eli. Still, I kept silent as we came upon the baked goods. The woman behind the counter knew Karen, as did most people in Colby, probably. After we got the two cakes, we bought some ice cream too before heading back to her house.

"Did your parents arrive yet?" Karen asked once we were in the truck again.

"Yes."

"Oh, Auden, you could have stayed and spoken with them if-"

"I didn't really want to."

"I've never really spoken with your mother. Maybe now is a good chance. At the very least, it will give me a chance to get away from Joseph's family. Maybe yours will be more suitable for me."

I just shook my head. "Don't count on it."

"From what Eli says, I won't."

When we pulled up, I helped Karen carry the cake and ice cream back to the house, leaving them on the table. Then I set out to find my boyfriend. I eventually located him sitting in a lawn chair, drunk, clearly miserable in the heat.

"Again, Thisbe."

She sprayed his face with a water gun before spraying the rest of his body, apparently in an attempt to cool him off.

"Thank you," he said as she ran back off to play with her friends. "Hey, Auden."

"How drunk are you?"

"Just drunk, not drunk drunk." He hunched forward in his chair. "Can you bring me cake?"

I ran a hand through his hair. "No."

"Fine!" He tried to shoot up, but I had to grasp his arms to keep him from falling over. "Fine."

"Come on." I interlaced our fingers. "Let's go get your cake."

So many people were at the cake now that I tried to make Eli sit down and wait, but he flipped out.

"No, Auden, I want it now." He tried to shove me off him, but I held on. "Let, go."

"Eli, chill," I hissed, unsuccessful in my attempt to steer him towards the porch steps. "Do not make a scene. You don't want your mother to know that you're drunk. Remember?"

He just growled at me, finally breaking away…only to run into the chest of one of his uncles.

"Hey, now, Eli," the man said. Joseph had always been on the tall, broad side, but this guy, his brother, was huge. Eli, though, was too drunk to care. I have a suspicion that Eli had snuck a few more bottles while I was gone. "You need to calm down. Joseph! Come get your son."

I'm sure Mr. Stock was expecting Jake to be the problem, but found Eli and I standing there as Eli tried to run again, this time in the opposite direction. I didn't want him to fall like Jake had previously, so I reached out and grasped his arm.

"Let go!" This time he literally put his hands on me to push me away, pissing me off. And almost causing me to fall, I might add. So I let him go, not caring anymore.

"Hey!" Joseph caught him by the arm, but Eli kept fighting him. Everyone was watching us now, Karen making her way over.

"Whatever the heck is going on, stop it. Now," she said. When she saw that it was Eli, she just shook her head. "He goes home."

"No!" This angered Eli for some reason. I took a glance back at the chair he had been sitting out, finding that the bottle of liquor he had put up before was now empty next to it. Great. "No. Auden, tell 'em. Tell 'em."

I didn't know what exactly I was supposed to be telling, but I wasn't going to say anything anyways, not with the way that he was acting.

"Come on, Eli." Joseph tightened his grip, moving to grab both of his arms. "We're gonna go inside, huh?"

"No. Auden-"

I just watched as my boyfriend was dragged away by his father, putting up my best mask of all, the mask of apathy. Karen looked beyond pissed as she followed into the house, leaving me with Eli's uncle.

"Auden, I can assume." He reached out, taking my hand. "Nice to meet you, though, you know, this probably isn't under the best of circumstances."

I just shook my head. "Eli's not going to ruin my day."

"That's a very good plan." He smiled at me as he let go of my hand. "I'm Koda, Joseph's brother."

I nodded as I took a step back. "So you guys are all on your way to a reunion or something?"

"Yep. Picking up people as we go. We're a very close family," he assured me. Then, staring at me, he said, "Hey, I remember you. You went to Denise's wedding, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Ah." He smiled. "Do you remember me?"

Faintly. That day, Eli introduced me to multiple people. "Yes, I do."

"Well, at the very least, it's good to see you again, Auden. I hope to see you again."

After patting me once on the shoulder, he headed back over to the grill, taking over for Steven, who had stepped up when he saw his brother having a meltdown.

"Quite a funny predicament, eh, Auden?"

I frowned as Jake walked up. "Go away."

"They all think I'm the drunk." He leaned heavily into me, looking over the party. "Your boyfriend's way worse off than me."

"Yeah," I said as I moved away from him, headed over to my parents. "I know."

"What's wrong with Eli?" My mother asked as she stared down at her piece of cake, poking it a few times. When she noticed Thisbe at her feet, she readily handed her the plate.

"Everything," I sighed, watching Vinny ran at Thisbe, wanting her cake seeing as he had already devoured his own. "Everything."


"Are they in bed?"

I just nodded at Karen as I came into the living room after putting Vinny and Jordan down. Isby had wanted to spend the night, but Heidi said no, knowing that the Stock's had enough to deal with. It was weird that as I sat down on the couch next to my boyfriend, who was nursing a massive headache, and his younger brother, who seemed bored, I felt like they were my problems too. Like I belonged more with this family than I did my own.

Karen sighed from her chair, glancing over at us all, but not saying anything. I wanted to lean against Eli, but was also still irritated with him, so I didn't. Jake kept scooting closer to me though, as he was still a little buzzed, meaning I had to keep moving away from him. I was about to get up and leave the room when Steven came in from the backyard, shaking his head at his brothers before sitting on the arm of the couch, on Jake's side.

"Well, Karen, I think that went-"

"Don't."

Joseph continued into the room, still smiling. "Karen-"

"I said don't. I really don't want to hear from any of you guys. Steven's the only one that didn't do something stupid."

"Gee, Mom," Jake frowned at her. "I didn't drink anymore than anyone else in here."

"I didn't drink at all," she told him.

"That's because-"

"Just shut up," Steven ordered, elbowing him.

"Mom, he hit-"

Karen turned her stare on him, silencing her youngest, before looking back at her husband. "Just get away from me, Joseph."

"Karen, I don't know what exactly you want me to do."

"What I want you to do? I want you to leave me alone. I'm being pretty clear."

"What exactly did I do wrong to begin with?"

"You know what."

"No, I obviously-"

"You know that I hate those people-"

"Those people? Karen, that's my family, alright? We've done this before and-"

"No, Joseph." She stood up, facing him. Not for the first time, I noted their height difference, which wasn't drastic, but obvious. She was such a tiny woman in comparison to her husband. "This? This is your family. They're just people who ostracized me for-"

"What is up with you and forgiveness, huh? Things happen, Karen. People hurt other people. I get it. I do. I spent years dealing with all this stuff that you caused-"

"I didn't cause anything, okay? I'm not that one that-"

"Stop it, alright? You couldn't even speak to my mother, could you?"

"I spoke to her. Why? She tell you different? Gee, sure sounds an awful like the past, Joseph."

He let out a long breath before looking into her eyes. "Karen, they came to see me because I can't go to the reunion. I didn't tell you only because I wasn't sure on the day. I forgot to mention it, okay? There's been a lot going on, okay? I didn't plan this, okay? Do you think I would plan for you to be upset with me? Because I wouldn't. I'm sorry that it makes you upset to see my family, but I never get to see my parents, my brother, or my sisters. It's not fair. Do you know how much time I spend with your family? Do you? Do you?"

"That's not the point. You-"

"What more do you want from me? I'm taking you on that stupid vacation instead of going to see the rest of my family, aren't I? Huh? Aren't I?"

"Then go to the damn reunion! Go! I don't want to go to stupid California. I really don't. I don't want to spend time with you, I don't want to leave the kids here all alone, and I really don't want to hear you bitch about your family anymore. So go."

"Ka-"

"Just freaking go!"

"Fine! Fine! So what am I going to do with my damn plane tickets? With that stupid hotel reservation? Huh?"

"Give it to the kids!"

"Great, let's just give it to one of the kids."

Jake sat up. "I'll take it."

Karen sent him a look. "Oh, like we'd send you anywhere. Idiot."

"Don't yell at them when you're mad at me," Joseph told her.

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Isn't that what I'm in trouble for? For not telling you to get ready for my family?"

"Eli," I whispered in his ear. "Let's go."

He moved further away from me, watching his parents.

"You know what?" Karen's voice cracked this time and Joseph's face lost some of that hard look it had at the moment, but not going back to his usual jolly expression. "I don't care anymore, Joey. I really don't. Go, be with your family. I can't…Auden, Eli, Jake, let's go."

"Go?" Jake blinked. "Go where?"

"Auden's taking Eli home. We're going. Come on."

"Mom," Steven started, but she just shook her head as she walked out of the house. Eli groaned as his older brother stood, moving to help him stand. "This is why you don't drink straight whiskey, Eli."

Jake followed along behind them, out of the house, silent for once. Then it was just me, sitting on the couch, staring at Mr. Stock. He cleared his throat once before looking at me.

"One big, happy family, Auden." He came slowly over to me, sitting down where Jake had been before. "At least your parents had a good time, yeah?"

"Yes," I said after clearly my own throat. "They did."

"Good." He smiled a forced, sad grin at me. "That's all that mattered. My wife, Karen? She'll always have a bad time. She'll always find something to complain about."

I looked off, trying to figure out what to say to him. Then, after building up some courage, I hedged my way in. "You know…she said that she feels like they don't like her."

"Yeah." Joseph snorted. "I know."

"It has to be hard, always being hated by someone who's supposed to be a part of your family."

"And what would you know about that, Auden?"

"Not a lot," I admitted. "But I also know that she thinks that she's tried in the past to fix-"

"Yeah. I know." He glanced at me. "You two were together a lot today. Did she…say anything about this to you?"

"No," I said slowly. "But I know that she thinks that they hate her because you gave up-"

He laughed at that, a dry laugh. "If that isn't the biggest lie of all."

"No, she really-"

"Not her. My parents." He glanced at me. "You wanna know the real reason I dropped out? The real reason I told Karen that I would help put her through school?" When I didn't speak, he went on. "I couldn't keep up. I didn't want to study; I just wanted to drink and be with Karen. I guess that's where my boys get it."

"Maybe," I mumbled as his oldest son came back into the house. "Maybe."

"You better get out there, Auden," Steven told me as I stood up. "They're all ready to go and Eli looks like he's about to blow chunks."

Making a face, I told him and his father goodnight before heading out to the truck. When I got there, I found that Eli was in the back with Jake, moaning about how bad he felt. Karen was staring straight ahead, in the passenger's seat. When I got into the driver's side, she handed me the keys.

It was a silent ride back to the apartment. Even Jake didn't make a noise. When we got there, I found that was because he had fallen asleep. After rousing him, I had to move on to my boyfriend, helping him into the apartment. The second we were in, I dumped him on the couch to sleep off his night.

"Eli'll take the couch," I announced to Karen and Jake. "You can have the sleeping bag, Jake."

"What? No. I want the b-"

"Where would you mom sleep, genius?"

He glared at me, but didn't speak.

"Oh, Auden, you can have the bedroom," Karen told me. "I really shouldn't stay long. I'm just waiting until Joseph goes to bed to head back."

"It's fine," I told her, going to get the mini-trashcan from the bathroom. "I'm gonna be out here with Eli all night, probably. No way can his body keep all that down for much longer."

"You shouldn't have to-"

"But I do." I sat down on the floor, underneath the couch. Eli's hand came down, resting on my head as he moaned some more. "He'd do the same for me."

Karen stared at me for a second. It looked like she was about to speak when her son suddenly sat bolt up. I held up the trashcan, getting on my knees, not wanting him to miss.

Once he was done, Eli just collapsed back on the couch, moaning some more as I shook my head, looking back at Karen.

"You should roll him on his side," she said as she came towards me, "so that he doesn't choke in his sleep. Give me his keys, please."

Confused, I did so, watching as she head for the door. "Where-"

"I should go home," she told me. "Before he goes to bed."

I just smiled a little bit, calling out a goodbye. Then it was just me and Eli.

"So…can I have the bed now?"

Correction. Me, Eli, and Jake.

"Yeah, sure," I said, glancing up at Eli. "I'll probably be out here the whole night."

And yeah, I hated it, having to deal with his self caused vomit, but...at least I felt something. Right?


Long chapter to make up for the short one last time.