Ch. 53 Just Another Bad About You
(CLARE)
"We've been married for three weeks," I tell Darcy.
"But…but you're only sixteen!" Darcy exclaims.
"And that's the age of consent," I reply. Darcy looks like she's about to have a heart attack and Owen's muscles are getting increasingly tighter as he gets stressed out. I turn to Owen with a hand on his chest so he'll calm a little and look at me. "I'm going to talk to Darcy, we'll use the drama room but I need to talk to her alone for a bit." I tell Owen.
He tenses again, he doesn't like the idea of leaving me alone and after this summer I doubt he trusts any member of my family around me.
"Keep your phone with you and lock the door behind you." He insists.
"I will, I know why you're worried but I'll be okay." I assure him.
He leans down softly cupping my face and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. He walks out and I go to the office with Darcy following me.
"Isn't the drama classroom that way?" Darcy asks pointing in the opposite direction.
"Yeah but it's probably locked so we need keys to get in," I point out. Principal Simpson has a spare set of keys in a file cabinet. Few students know about the keys, the reason I know is in grade nine he let us gifted program kids use some of the classrooms for our projects after school. I get the keys and we go to the drama class, after unlocking the door and locking it behind us Darcy turns on the light and we sit on the sofa in the back of the room. "I'm not really sure where to begin." I remark when we're sitting.
"Do Mom and Dad know you're married?" Darcy questions, guess I'll start with our parents.
"Mom does but not Dad, you know they got divorced," I remind her and she nods. "Well at the end of last year I was dating this boy named Eli. He was in grade 11 and the AP writing class with me. I told you about him in some of the e-mails," I remind her.
"Yes I remember," Darcy nods.
"He has these piercing green eyes and dark hair; he also drove a hearse and did things to the extreme which probably should have been my first sign that he was trouble. Anyway he started getting really over protective and jealous, his behavior became manic in a lot of ways. I tried to break up with him; I even went to prom with Alli. I still had the ticket Eli had bought me when we were together and Alli still had the one from Drew. I expected Eli to be at the dance but he wasn't. He called me from his car and then crashed his car into a telephone pole when I told him we were through; he crashed while I was still on the phone with him. I went to see him at the hospital and he was happy, proud of himself even. He crashed his car so I would come see him." I tell her then my phone beeps and it's Owen checking in, tell him I'm fine and put my phone back in my purse.
"Your boyfriend intentionally crashed his car to get you to come see him?" She questions and I nod.
"During all this I convinced Mom and Dad to keep the house and share the condo, they would go back and forth and I would stay in the house. It was good for me but they…" I pause wondering how to tell her this. "Dad was having an affair Darcy, they were having problems before that but that's what finally led to the divorce."
"Dad was cheating on Mom?" Darcy exclaims in disbelief and I can understand why.
"When it was his week with me at the house he would either be at his girlfriend's house the whole time or he would bring her. Mom had a complete mental breakdown; she reverted to being a teenager, going out and staying out till all hours of the morning. Drinking heavily and coming home with random men. It wasn't long before she was smoking pot a…"
"Mom?! Our mom?! The woman who went to church three times a week and told us drinking was wrong and got mad at me after my breakdown?!" Darcy questions in a dubious tone.
"Yep the same but she hasn't been that pious woman in a while. Most of my friends were gone for the summer and I planned to escape the summer by reading in my room. The one friend I did still have in town was my best friend and Eli's best friend and I figured Eli needed him more than me. But Mom wasn't going to allow me to sit and read all day so the next time she was at the house she took me to a party, a party she heard about while shopping. She dropped me off and left me at some kid's house in a part of town I've never been to. I didn't know anyone at this party, everyone was drunk and I kept getting hit on. This kid with a bright pink wig on hit on me and while I was trying to think of something to make him go away Owen appeared. He told the kid I was his girlfriend and scared him off. After scaring off another guy that spilled beer on me Owen took me for pizza and I told him why I was at this party and about our parents, and Eli. He proposed a deal, he would get me out of the house to get Mom and Dad off my back; he would take me to parties and events all summer. He would escort me to everything and pretend to be my boyfriend if he needed to. He took me out to a party the very next night, he was sweet and protective and I felt very safe with him. Then I got home and Mom was home with guests, three guys and another woman. They were all drunk and high and one of the men invited me to join them while looking at me like I was dessert. I ran out and called Owen, he came right back and picked me up. We sat in his car and talked until I fell asleep and when he brought me home he checked to make sure everyone was gone before leaving me to go get some sleep wince we were going out again that night." I pause to give Darcy a few minutes to take it in.
"Okay so wait if his part of the deal was to get you out of the house what was your part of the deal? You didn't…" Darcy is saying and I can tell by the look on her face what she's thinking so I cut her off.
"No Darcy it wasn't like that, my part of the deal was to pretend to be his girlfriend at dinner with his family and a few other events. His family is wonderful and accepted me right away. A lot has happened this summer and Owen's been by my side for all of it. Our fake relationship quickly brewed real feelings for both of us and finally confessing we were in love with each other was the best feeling." I tell her.
"So when did you know you were in love then?" She asks.
"For a while I guess, we went to his cousins wedding and I think it was during that weekend that I felt it, not sure when Owen felt it. I was afraid he didn't feel the same way. I probably should have seen that he did though honestly." I confess thinking back on it.
I go on tell her about Owen's family, Drew, Adam and Bianca. Then tell her about when I had Owen come to dinner to meet Dad, about Tim being at the house and attacking me which is when I pretty much moved into the Milligan house. Darcy went white when I told her that part. I tell her everything Mom put me through with her drinking and leaving Tim at the house with me, she went pale and then red with anger. Then I tell her about Dad giving up his parental rights and moving to Australia.
"DAD'S IN AUSTRALIA?! HE JUST GAVE YOU UP?!" She screams angrily.
"Yeah in a letter and Mom was with Glen by that time getting sober. At first she promised me that she understood why I needed to stay with Owen and not come back home. However as soon as she found out Dad was gone and had signed away his rights she told me to come home. I told her that I wasn't ready, after everything she put me through this summer I couldn't just forgive and forget and come home. She didn't listen though, she wanted to sue the Milligan's and saw a lawyer to try and force me home. I tried to reason with her, to tell her that I needed time and we could work at it but I couldn't just take her word that she had changed and was sober. I couldn't trust her anymore and that was going to take time. She wouldn't listen Darcy; she just demanded I come home. We had options, going to court and fighting her but Owen's parents who are both corporate lawyers talked to a family lawyer. Mom didn't have much of a case for suing them but she probably could get me back. Before this summer she was a fine upstanding church going member of the community. Very few people saw her breakdown and even fewer saw her drunk or high or knew that Tim was left at the house with me. A drawn out court battle would have been stressful and costly and she probably would have won. The easiest way to be assured I wouldn't have to go back to her house was to get emancipated." I explain and stop for a breath.
"And the easiest way to do that was to get married," Darcy says as it begins to come together for her.
"It was Owen's idea first but as much as I was in love with him I didn't want to take such a drastic step. I didn't want it to cause problems later on but after trying to reason with Mom one last time, and it going terribly, I went home and proposed to him. We threw a wedding together in about two and half days but it was beautiful and we're very happy. We kept the wedding small, Bianca was my maid of honor, Drew, Adam and Tris were Owen's best man and groomsmen. Paige and Emma were my bridesmaids a…"
"Paige Michalchuk?!" Darcy exclaims.
"Yes Darcy, she's dating Jay and she's my friend. It's not like I've heard any word from you in months." I point out and she looks ashamed. "Jay, Peter and Spinner were there too and gave me away. Plus Drew and Adam's parents and the Milligan's housekeeper who's like family. That was it because we were getting married so young and so quickly I wanted to keep it a secret. I didn't know how people would react, not mention my former best friend Alli starting hating me when she found out Owen and I were even dating. Then of course there was Eli, he's done all kinds of crazy things since finding out I was with Owen. So only a few people knew but when Mom came to the school, with a court order to force me home that Monday, she found out and she lost it. Everyone knows now but they didn't, not for a while. Well Mom tried to kidnap me, she hurt my wrist and I had a bump on my head up until about a week ago. Then Eli found out we were married and he wrenched my already hurt arm which broke my arm hence the cast." I inform her.
I go on to tell her about Jake and Katie, about Eli taking me to the roof and Mom's behavior after finding out. Then I tell her how wonderful Owen is to me, how protective he is and how sweet, how wonderful his family is. And finally about Maya moving in and we all live together. When I finish she's just staring at me but it is a lot to take in so I give her a minute. While I text Owen to tell him I'll be out soon.
"All this happened in one summer?" She questions.
"Well since June and it's October now," I point out.
"I'm going to the house and talk to Mom, I leave Tuesday morning but maybe we; that is you, me and your husband can have dinner tomorrow night?" Darcy says slowly, I don't think she's processed everything.
"Sure I'll give you my new cell number," I reply and she hands me her phone, it's brand new and a burner phone but I doubt she needed a cell phone in the African bush. "It was good to see you Darc, I better get back out to Owen before he comes looking for me. See you tomorrow, uh just remember Mom swears Owen forced me into getting married and this is some conspiracy against her." I remind her so Mom doesn't tell her some warped version of the truth and persuade Darcy to her side.
"Don't worry I take everything Mom says with a grain of salt." Darcy assures me.
We walk out of the school together and she hugs me before leaving, I walk back to the fifty yard line where most of our group is still sitting.
"How'd it go?" Owen asks as I sit down between his legs and lean against him.
"Good I think, she's going to talk to Mom but she wants to have dinner tomorrow night." I tell Owen.
"Sure but I'm coming with you, I don't trust your family at all and I have reason to." Owen asserts.
"I know, she wants you to come anyway," I reply.
"Here I saved you some dessert," Owen says handing me a plate.
"Thanks Hubby," I smile kissing his cheek. "Did your parents, Maya and Tris go home?" I question.
"Yeah Tris said he was tired," Owen informs me.
We hang out with the rest of the Fab Five, the Bashful Babes, Jay and Paige until about midnight and then go home since we have school tomorrow. I hope by the time we have dinner tomorrow Darcy's still on my side and Mom hasn't poisoned her mind with lies and twisted truths.
(OWEN)
"Tris let's go time for school!" I yell up the stairs as Tris is the last one to be ready, even Clare was ready and she has a broken arm.
"Sorry I'm here let's go," Tris apologizes running down the stairs.
"You okay Tris you don't look well?" Clare says as I lock up the house.
"Just didn't sleep well," he replies.
The four of us get in my car and I drive us to school, Zig and Tori are sitting at a picnic table and the rest of the Fab Five is on the steps. Maya and Tris wave to us and go to their friends. I put my arm around Clare and we join Caveman, Queenie & Bashful.
"Eli's coming back to school today," Adam tells us.
I tense up and start growling as Clare takes my hand interlacing our fingers.
"I'll keep my distance," she assures us.
"And we'll keep an eye on you," Drew asserts and I nod in agreement while Clare rolls her eyes, shaking her head.
We go in and split up to go to our lockers, I see Eli while I open my locker, he's talking with Imogen at the bank of lockers across from us. As long he's not near Clare or in my face he can live. Adam and Clare come back to us when they have their books. We all drop Clare at class and I kiss her at in the doorway. Only I don't break from the kiss and Connor is trying to get in the room.
"Umm excuse me Owen I…" Connor says meekly and I take my lips from Clare's to look at him.
"Go away I'm kissing my wife," I respond.
"Go on, I'll see you at morning break," Clare says pushing me out the door.
Adam leaves us to go to his class, Drew, Bianca and I walk to science. Eli and Imogen are already in there at their table talking in low voices and glancing over at us.
"So what do you think Dr. Doom is planning now?" Bianca questions as we sit down.
"No idea but if he gets anywhere near Clare again I'm going to kill him." I reply.
The rest of the day is wonderfully mundane, with all we went through this summer and all the recent dram between Jake, Eli and Clare's mom mundane is a welcome change. After school Drew and I have football but Bianca takes Clare, Maya and Tris home. When practice is over and I'm changing at my locker Coach Armstrong calls me into his office.
"You wanted to see me Sir?" I ask knocking on his door and I see that Simpson and the hockey coach are in there too.
"Close the door please," Armstrong says and I think I might be in trouble.
"Owen what we're about to tell you is not to leave this room understand?" Simpson asks.
"Yeah sure," I nod.
"The school is in talks for forming a new junior pro hockey team," Armstrong informs me.
"Awesome," I comment.
"Try outs are early next month and we all agree you should try out. We think you have a real shot at making the team Owen; you were the number one player on the team the last two years. That being said it's going to be brutal so you are going to need to train. I'll work with you and Coach Armstrong and I have worked out a rigorous schedule between workouts and football but you won't be participating in regular gym until the end of this semester. You think you're up for it?" Coach Warner, the hockey coach, asks.
"Yeah absolutely I can handle it." I grin.
"Good we'll start tomorrow morning at 6am at the arena." Coach Warner says.
"Remember Owen the talks are still in progress so you can't tell anyone yet." Simpson reminds me.
"I won't say a thing Sir," I smile and leave Armstrong's office.
Everyone else is gone but Drew is waiting for me.
"What'd coach want?" Drew inquires.
"I uh can't tell you yet but it's good news." I tell him.
"Okay well as long as it was good news," Drew grins.
"Very good and I swear I'll tell you as soon as I can." I promise as we walk out to the parking lot.
Drew waves to me getting in his car; I get in mine and drive home.
"Hey how was practice?" Clare inquires when I come in the room.
"Great, I'm not supposed to tell anyone this but I can't keep secrets from you. DeGrassi is talks to form a junior pro hockey team. Coach Warner, Coach Armstrong and Principal Simpson want me to try out. It's going to be a lot of work and extra practices but Coach Warner will work with me starting tomorrow at six in the morning." I tell her.
"That's great Hubby I'm really proud of you and happy for you. Just don't over exert yourself again." She says hugging me and kissing me passionately.
"Yeah this could be huge if I make it. You eat yet I'm starved?" I ask her.
"No I was waiting for you, Darcy called she wants to meet up for dinner at the Italian Kitchen Café." Clare tells me.
"Okay let's go then," I remark and we go back out to my car.
Clare texts Darcy to let her know we're on our way and she's already there when we arrive. We greet each other and sit down, look at the menu and order then we both look at Darcy.
"How'd it go with Mom?" Clare questions.
Darcy sighs and leans back in her chair. "Not well, you were right she's snapped. She told me that she'd done a little drinking but wouldn't admit to anything else. I talked to Jay, even called Spinner and Peter and talked to some of the neighbors. I heard enough to know that she was lying and everything you told me was true. She's convinced that Owen tricked you or is blackmailing you somehow. That you want to come home and that she's not crazy. She was kind of ranting, she's started going back to church and she's worse than before. I told her I was just passing through and that I was leaving tomorrow morning. She told me I couldn't go back to Africa that it was a country of godless heathens and my mortal soul was in danger. She seems to sort of hold it together when Glen and Jake are around but otherwise she's…just crazy." Darcy tells us.
"And she's been like that all summer, now you understand why we got married so quickly. We really are in love Darcy, Owen takes wonderful care of me, he spoils me actually and he protects me." Clare tells her sister.
"I spoil you because you deserve the world," I comment kissing Clare's cheek as our food is brought.
Darcy gives me an approving smile and I think I just won her over. We eat in silence for a few minutes and then Darcy asks about our wedding so Clare gives her every detail. When dinner is over we say goodbye to Darcy, she promises to keep in better touch and then we part ways. By the time we get home I'm exhausted but still have homework to do. Clare gets ready for bed while I sit at the desk to do homework. She kisses me before getting in bed, turning on the TV. By the time I finish my homework and get in bed she's sound asleep, I'm so tired I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
(CLARE)
"I'll see you at school Sweetness," Owen tells me when he's ready to leave for school for his very early hockey practice.
"Don't overwork yourself," I remind him after he kisses me.
"I won't they took me out of gym for the extra practices. I gotta take the car and Mom and Dad will be leaving soon but Tori's mom will pick you all up for school." Owen says.
I yawn and nod, he kisses my cheek again and I hear him leave the bedroom. A minute later I hear his car leave, followed shortly by Wendy's car and then Eric's. I start to fall asleep until I hear a crashing sound in the washroom. I jump out of bed putting on my robe and going out to the hall to see what's going on. I find Tris in our washroom and most of the contents of medicine cabinet in the sink and on the floor.
"Tristan what are you doing?" I inquire.
"Sorry Clare I didn't mean to wake you, I needed an aspirin and I couldn't find any upstairs." Tris answers quickly.
I look at the bottles scattered about the washroom and find the white aspirin bottle. I pick it up and hand it to him, we begin picking up the other bottles and Tris is looking at each one, reading the label. When the medicine cabinet has been put back together Tris thanks me for the aspirin and leaves the washroom running back upstairs. I go back to the bedroom but now I'm awake now so I get dressed and go out to the kitchen making myself coffee and breakfast. Maya comes down a short time later and tells me Tris was making a lot of noise and she couldn't sleep. She makes herself hot cocoa and toaster waffles. When we're done with breakfast Tristan still hasn't come back down the stairs. Maya goes upstairs telling me she's going to hop in a shower. I go down to my washroom to finish getting ready, after brushing my hair I open the medicine cabinet to get out my deodorant and notice that the bottle of morphine the doctor gave me is missing!
I know that Owen didn't take it and the only other one in the washroom this morning was Tris, supposedly looking for aspirin. He has his own pain pills, the doctor gave them to him after his ribs were broken and his surgery, he had a bunch of them. I return to the living room and Tris is eating breakfast, I hear the shower going so Maya must still be in there. If I confront him openly he could deny it and before I tell Owen I better have some facts. Tris smiles at me with a mouth full of cereal and I smile back. His backpack is on the counter and he has his back to it, I walk over and he keeps eating. I don't even have to search for the bottle it's in the top pocket. It's my prescription bottle and it's missing 3 pills, I take the bottle out slipping it into my purse as I hear the shower turn off. I go upstairs and wait for Maya to get out of the washroom, she comes out and goes downstairs and I go into the washroom and look in the medicine cabinet. Tris' prescription bottle is missing, so I look in the wastebasket and find the empty bottle. He's had this prescription for a week and it was supposed to last three!
"Clare Mrs. Santamaria is here." Maya calls up the stairs.
I slip the empty bottle into my purse and run down the stairs grabbing my backpack. Now how do I tell Owen I think his brother is addicted to pain pills?
Update next Wednesday starting in Owen's pov with the others arriving at school.
