(Wow, I've finally found the time to update. Good news is that the winter softball league is just about over, so that means not as many games. Bad news is that that means more practice. Oh, and if you skipped reading Remind Me How to Fly, I recommend you read it, or else this chapter might be a bit confusing. I tried my best. Thanks for reviewing!)
"So, you went to school with Jenna's parents?" I asked Mom and Dad later that night. They looked at each other for a moment and Mom turned to me.
"Yes," she replied. "But there's more to it than that. Sara, why don't you go finish your Potions essay?"
"Aw, why?" Sara whined, but Mom gave her a look and she reluctantly trudged to her room.
When I heard the door snap, I turned to Dad. "Why don't you like Mr. Davies?" I asked.
"First off, honey," Mom said. "We have every good reason not to like him. And since you're 14, you'll understand." She fell silent for a moment and sighed. "Before I started dating Ol and playing for Puddlemere, I worked for the Daily Prophet, which you already know." I nodded and she continued. "Well, for part of that time, I was dating someone else. Actually, I was engaged." I looked at her confused and she sighed. "Andrew, I was engaged to Jenna's dad." A heavy silence fell over the room and I didn't know what to say. Mom, my mom, was engaged to Jenna's dad? "Well," Mom went on. "We broke up. Turns out he was cheating on me with Jenna's mom. Then I started going out with Ol and joined the team, which Jenna's mom played on, only I didn't realize she was the one." My mind was racing and I was finding it hard to process everything. "Anyway, Jenna's mom got jealous of me and tried to get me fired and break Ol and me up. She created a big story about the three of us, but in the end, she was the one who got fired and I finally found out she and Roger-Jenna's dad-were dating. He had told me they broke up, but evidently not."
I was so shocked and confused, I didn't know what to say. Mom and Dad sat there, staring at me as I thought everything through. "So, you were engaged to Jenna's dad?" I asked mom. She nodded. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," Mom said. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know," I said frustrated. "So, her dad cheated on you with Jenna's mom?" Mom nodded again. "And she tried to get you fired and break you and Dad up?"
"Yeah, that's basically it," Mom replied.
"Wait, if Jenna's mom was already dating her dad, why did she want to break you and dad up?" I asked.
"Honey, she's just that type of woman," Mom answered. "She tries to ruin whoever's life she can, just because she thinks she has the power to."
"So what exactly are you saying?" I asked.
"We're saying," Dad said. "That maybe dating Jenna isn't the best idea."
"But Jenna isn't like that!" I protested.
"Every child is like their parents in one way or another," Mom said.
"But Jenna wouldn't do anything like that," I persisted. "She's not like that at all."
"I'm just saying, think it through," Mom said. "Maybe she isn't what you think." She kissed Dad and said goodnight before leaving me with Dad.
"I don't understand," I said. "Jenna's not like that."
"Your mom has a past with Jenna's family that you don't know or understand," Dad said. "And it worries her. She doesn't want to go through it again."
"You wouldn't cheat on her, would you?" I asked.
"Of course not," Dad said. "I love her more than anything. The point is, she doesn't want to have anything to do with Mr. Davies."
"Can't she just forgive and forget?"
"No," Dad answered. "Because what he did to her can't be forgiven."
"But if she has you, why does it matter?"
"Because he hurt her," Dad said. "And I don't mean by just breaking her heart." It took me a minute to understand what he was saying.
"You mean he-?"
Dad nodded. "That's mostly why she doesn't want anything to do with him. She was over him but while we were dating, he came around and wanted to be with her again. Then Brooke-Jenna's mom-announced that she was the one Roger was cheating on Kate with and Kate finally cut him loose for good. After Brooke got fired, we never heard a thing about them again."
I didn't know what to say. I knew about most of my parents' past. I knew things that happened when they went to Hogwarts. I knew about the time they won the quidditch cup. I knew what happened when they got married. I was there when Sara was born. But, I didn't know any of this. I didn't think it was possible that my mom had a dark side to her past. I also didn't think it was possible that she would even let anyone do that to her.
"Now do you understand?" Dad asked me.
"Yeah," I replied. "But honestly, Jenna would never be like that."
Christmas Eve always turns into a big event at our house. Mom cooks anything and everything and Anna and David come over with their parents. They talk about old memories, like the time Mom went running around the Hogwarts grounds in her towel because Fred and George stole her clothes, or the time Angelina smashed Alex Flint's dad's face into a door.
After we all eat, David, Anna, and I always find something to do while our parents find ways to entertain themselves. One year, Fred and George had too much to drink and Fred fell asleep in the shower. After they all left, Sara was wired on caffeine and begged me to play Exploding Snap with her. I beat her and she pouted the rest of the night.
Then, Dad always gives Mom a bouquet of roses for some reason. I don't know why, but after he does, they become attached at the mouth. I was so tired that I didn't even bother with my Charms homework, but went straight to bed.
By the time break was over, I really didn't want to go back to school. The only reason I didn't beg Mom and Dad to let me stay was because I'd get to finally try out my new broomstick, which Mom and Dad gave me, and I'd get to see Jenna again. I was still confused by everything that I'd found out about our parents, but we had an unspoken agreement not to discuss it any further.
I met Anna and David at Platform 9 ¾. We boarded the Hogwarts Express and found a compartment. "I have to tell you something," I said as we sat down. "Jenna's parents and my parents know each other." I waited for them to say something, but they just stared at me.
"Well, isn't that a good thing?" Anna finally asked.
"Yeah," David added. "Because it saves the whole problem of them not liking each other, doesn't it?"
I shook my head. "That's just it, they don't like each other."
"Why not?"
"It's a long story," I said.
"Well, it's a long train ride," Anna said. I told them everything and by the time I was finished, the compartment was silent.
"Your dad told you all this?" David finally asked. I nodded.
"Well, maybe they're right, Andrew," Anna said. "Maybe you shouldn't go out with Jenna."
"Why not?" I asked. I was getting sick of everyone telling me this. "Just because her parents are jerks, doesn't mean she is."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I just don't understand why my mom and dad can't forgive them."
"Andrew, what Jenna's dad did was really serious," Anna said. "If your mom had told, he could've gotten in a lot of trouble."
"But she didn't," I said. "So it obviously didn't bother her that much."
"Are you defending him?" Anna exclaimed. "Are you defending her dad over your own mom?"
"No," I said. "But if it had bothered my mom that much, she would have told someone."
"Andrew, when people go through things like that, it's not so easy to just come out and tell someone. She was probably scared," Anna said.
"Why would she be scared?" I asked.
"Because he might have threatened to kill her or something," she replied. "A lot of times, men who abuse their wives and girlfriends tell them that they'll kill them if they tell."
"I doubt it," I said. "My mom probably just didn't care."
"Andrew, you're so stupid!" Anna suddenly snapped. "You don't see anything, do you?"
"What do you-"
"I can't believe you're defending that bitch's dad over your own mom! She's got you wrapped around her finger and has manipulated you against everyone else! You're so damn blind!"
Anna stood up and glared at me before opening the compartment door and slamming in shut.
(I hope that went OK. Please note that I'll be changing my penname, so if you see a new name in your Author Alert, don't be confused. It's still me.)
