Thank you for the reviews and follows on this story! I know things don't make sense quite yet, but trust the process. ;-)
Phoebe's POV
I might've done an uh-oh in confessing to Teddy's party, but he deserved it. Dad wasn't angry at me, thankfully, but he didn't seem that willing to hold a civil conversation after dinner ended. Although he's the big, bad Mr. Grey to some people, he's never that way toward us. Or me, I guess. That was the first time he truly let go of his composure around us. I didn't think he'd start yelling at Teddy. I didn't think he'd even be upset that much... well, only a tiny bit, but still. Not enough to do that.
Mom had to calm him down after we went to bed. Teddy stayed silent the whole time during dinner and I know Dad was forcing a light-hearted conversation with me. I could sense him wondering about how it happened, why it was allowed to happen, and who needs to get talked to about it. I should've known this wasn't something to bring up, but something had to be done after Theodore threatened me.
With my eyes scanning my father's features, I let out a sigh. We were left alone while Teddy stormed off to his room after he finished with his meal, and Mom went to the bathroom. "It wasn't really a party, Dad," I retract in a whisper. "It was more of a... study thing."
His brow rises. "Study thing?"
"Yeah. With friends and friends of friends and..." I'm so not helping here. "Don't get mad at him, okay?"
"I know you're looking out for your brother, Phoebe, but you don't know how dangerous it is for him to let people your mother and I don't know inside the house." Everyone else can have people over but not us? I wanted to retort. He doesn't seem to get that we're teenagers. We're not his babies anymore.
My mouth opens, only to be cut off before saying anything. "We have security for a reason. Theodore knows this and still, somehow, managed to have that party. He not only ruined both of your chances of being left alone here again but also," Dad lifts a finger. His voice is still rigid and I can tell he's trying everything inside him not to raise it at me. "He's going to be the reason someone is fired."
. . . .
"I didn't know he'd react like that, Teddy. I swear."
It's the next morning and my brother hasn't said a word to anybody. He's my ride to school, yet he's not dressed and doesn't seem to be interested in making it according to his pace. "Teddy, c'mon. I didn't know."
I can see his shoulders roll back and his face slowly turns into view of mine. His eyes are dark and his face is stone-cold. Unlike Theodore, I can hide my emotions pretty well. He takes his reactions straight from Dad's handbook and doesn't realize it until he's done with whatever rampage he's on.
"You don't know a lot of things," he spits out. "You ruined any chance I had of actually being normal!"
"We are normal."
He laughs. It's condescending and rude and I hate it. "You think having a fucking security guard following your every move is normal, Phoebe? And he thinks I'm the stupid one..."
I look around the living room. There's a random man standing there in all black, not paying attention to our little debacle. I wonder if that's a new guy or just a stand-in. "Don't be a dick, Teddy."
"It's Theo!" he yells. Just like our dad. I stare at him with wide eyes.
"What is going on-?" Mom's voice sounds from one of the hallways, feet slapping against the floor in a quick motion.
"Phoebe's being a bitch."
"Theodore Raymond Grey." That voice, stern as ever. It's one thing to be talked to by Dad, but it's another to have Mom do it. "You watch your mouth before your father hears about it."
Theodore lets out a loud groan as his fingers grab at his beautiful brown hair. He's like a ticking timebomb. Every second that passes, he's closer and closer to exploding. "While you're at it, why don't you tell him Phoebe hooked up with some guy? I wonder how he'll feel about that, Mom."
I can feel eyes burning through me.
"Phoebe Grey..."
What the fuck, Teddy?
SUPER SHORT, I'm sorry. Let me know if you want to see other POVs or only Teddy's or both Teddy and Phoebe's. :-)