Leo slid down the back wall of their cabin onto his rump as he ran his fingers through his messy hair. Hopefully he wouldn't be found for a bit. He tried to suck down some quick deep breaths. Breakfast has been brutal. First he was rejected by some blond hippie, than some scary red head nearly killed him for staring at her boobs. He pulled his black sunglasses out of his pocket and invested the face were. It was just as he thought when the redhead had pushed him be landed just right cracking the frame. Oh well he tossed the ruined glasses into the foliage behind the cabin.
Leo scrubbed his face with both hands. He had to pull himself together, just 2 more weeks, he could do this. In 2 weeks he would be 17 years old. Because of him 17 years was all Karen got so that is all he would allow himself. He had 2 weeks the wrote his mom a letter explaining why he wasn't around anymore. 2 weeks to figure out how he wanted to do it. In reality he really should go out in a horrifying car crash just like Karen did but he probably wouldn't have the means for that.
All the would of, could of, and should of's ate him alive. Every time Leo thinks about that night it's like he's reliving it. He should've known better, it's his fault she's gone. Leo banged his head back on the wall and closed his eyes. If he had his Ipod he would punish himself by listening to Understanding In A Car Crash by Thursday on repeat. However that was not an option so he'd just have go down memory lane without the soundtrack. He didn't need the song it just made the memories' sting a little more potent.
"Haaappy 17th Birbirbirthday baby!" Leo soured the words unconsciously. He wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
Karen rolled her eyes and pouted at her inebriated boyfriend. She was just as had been trying to sing along to Salt n' Peppa's Push It but only managed in getting tongue tied. She started to stand up from the couch they had sank into only to fall back down laughing hysterically. They were at Leo's apartment his mom and dad away on a business trip so they took advantage of the empty house to celebrate her birthday. They few friends that had been celebrating with had long since went home claiming to need sleep for school the next day.
Finally the drunken girl stood upright and picked up an empty bud light box. "Baby were out!" she turned to her boyfriend and stuck her lip out as far as possible. "I'm not ready to stop celebrating!"
"Awe babe," he hiccuped, "I'm so so so sorry."
"Well if you are so sorry maybe you can do something about it. Your mom did leave her car keys."
"You know she'd kill me if I took her camaro out this late at night, Especially after I've been drinking."
Karen walked over to her boyfriend and bent down in front of him making sure her cleavage was on full display, "I thought I was dating Leo the lion not Leo the pussy ass lamb. Leo the lion who roared in the face of danger and was scared of nothing. You got that name because you go after whatever you want like prey and you are the mutha fucking king. Please baby pleeeease?"
Leo pulled himself off the couch and grabbed a set of keys off the coffee table, "Well what kind of boyfriend would I be if I made my baby do without in her birthday! I know a place that won't check my ID let's go."
Karen smiled and followed her boyfriend out of the apartment to the car.
A lot of what came next all blurred and flowed into one. Leo remembered getting into his mom's red camaro. He remembers laughing as they ran a stop sign. He remembers looking a Karen and smiling before watching her face go white and hearing her scream.
He doesn't remember why they got on the highway. Maybe he was just trying to show off. He doesn't remember crossing the median. He doesn't remember the ever seeing the yellow jeep unscathed.
What he does remember is coming to and seeing red, blue, and yellow flashing lights. He remembers looking at Karen her eyes still open but blood from a laceration on her forehead had ran down covering her face. The skin that wasn't red was paper white. He remembered the paramedics coming to help him. He tried to get them to help Karen 1st but they refused. He knows now it was because she had already been gone before they got there.
It was a head on collision she had died instantly from a broken neck and skull fracture. Somehow he had made it out with some busted ribs and a punctured lung but that was all. The driver of the jeep had been in a medically induced coma for a few weeks. They would never walk again.
He was the driver. He was drunk. He was the only one that would ever be able to live their life the way they use to and Leo knew that wasn't fair. That wasn't the punishment he deserved for killing one person and forever fucking up the life of another. The day he went home from the hospital he promised himself one way or another he would allow himself any more time then Karen got.
Leo shuddered and felt hot tears running down his face. He was terrified to take his own life. Really he was a fucking coward. He had really hoped with the drinking, drugging, and reckless living something would just happen. He wasn't that fortunate so now he'd have to actually do it himself. He let her down once he wouldn't do it again.
Leo grabbed the collar of his hollister tshirt and used it to dry away the wetness from his face. He could blame the puffy eye's on allergies but tears would be another story. He was Leo the lion he couldn't be crying like a pussy. He pulled himself up and straightened out his clothes. After being sure he looked presentable Leo headed for the main hall. Time to see if there was and prey of the female persuasion he could stalk.
Gajeel sat slouched in a plastic chair pulling loose strings from the hole in the knee of his blue jeans. The man still across the desk had been quietly looking through Gajeel's file. Finally the man closed the manila folder and looked up. He had dyed blue hair and an actual tattoo on his face. Gajeel could actually probably like the guy outside this place but this guy was getting paid to talk to Gajeel and Gajeel wasn't much for talking about feelings.
"So like I said earlier my name is Jellal I will be your camp therapist and you can come to me with absolutely anything. Concerns about home camp, and problems or anything you want to get off your chest. I am here for you. It is a judgment free zone my friend."
"Not big on sharing feelings and shit."
"Well why don't we start with what brought you here?"
"Dontcha already know. You got my file right there what's there to even talk about?" Gajeel folded his arms across his chest and gave the man an unconcerned look. The man smiled.
"I know what your file says sure. I don't know your point of view on it though. I'd like to know what your perception is as to why you were referred here. What do you think about being here?"
"I think it's all bullshit. I shouldn't be here I should be home helping my mom. I don't see what being here is going to do besides screw me outta working for the summer. I'm not some pansy little bitch who can't handle shit. I really shouldn't be here." The pierced teen stared at the tattooed man matter of factly.
The guy just kept smiling. It really annoyed Gajeel. "Why is it so important for you to work during the summer?"
"Is that a serious question? Not really sure it has anything to do with feelings. Did you get your degree online with a neat little certificate you got to print yourself?" Gajeel smirked.
The asshole still smiled, "Actually I myself have dealt with severe mental health issues. It takes work everyday to stay in recovery. As for my degree I studied at Kansas University. Rock Chalk Jayhawks," Jellal did a little fist bump when doing the small cheer for his alma mater, "And I feel that understanding your reason for why you want to work on summer break might help me get to know you a little better that's all."
Gajeel rolled his eyes, "Well I like the Huskers. I don't wanna work I need to. My mom doesn't need to be worrying all the time. I need shit like clothes and school supplies. I like helping with gas money when I want to go places or do things. Hell sometimes the money I make ends up going to a light bill or somethings. She's got a lot on her plate already she needs my help. I'm all she got since dad left and my brother moved away."
"That seems like a lot for a 16 year old to have on his plate. I guess you are the man of the house now."
"That's right so I ain't got time for any of this shit."
Jellal nodded in understanding, "Well the situation is what it is Gajeel and you are here for the summer. If you don't complete the program and come out with a report showing the courts the progress they want to see I'm afraid you won't get to go home to your mom.'
Gajeel actually growled, "Those fucking assholes don't know shit about me. They sit in their big houses, eating off their fancy plates before they go to bed in their silk pajamas. They don't have to worry about anything besides judging the trash like me."
"You are right they don't know you. However you are consistently truant from school, have shown blatant disrespect for the staff of your school, and have a history of solving your disagreements with your fist. Now I KNOW that those statements are only a representation of some misjudgment on your part and do on correspond with who you really are. But they don't know that, they only see this list of poor choices. I want to help Gajeel. I want you to go home to your mom and I want you to have a chance to do an be something. In order for what we both want to happen I need your cooperation. You want to be the man of the house well it's time to suck it up and prove it."
They sat in silence for a few moments. Finally the now solemn teen spoke, "What am I gonna do though? I'm stuck here I can't work. We won't make it through october without the money I put up from summer jobs."
"Well Gajeel I have a proposition for you."
Gajeel sat up and gave Jellal a suspicious look, "Listen is this going to be like that one teacher who said he'd give me a passing grade for a favor. I'll tell you like I told that pervert I will break it off if you come near me with your pecker."
Jellal finally lost the smile he'd been wearing, "No absolutely not! I would never insinuate something like that. I do want the name of that teacher though." Jellal pulled a notepad out of his desk and handed it and a pen to Gajeel, "I want that teacher's name, the school and absolutely everything you remember about the situation." Gajeel shrugged and started writing.
"Nothing happened he knew I'd break his face, I'm pretty sure after my threat he wasn't gonna be trying that shit on anyone else."
"None the less I still want the information. Back to what I was saying, If you cooperate with me, meaning actually try to talk and be open. Make an honest effort to try things our way, complete any assignments giving to you and participate in camp clubs and activities I can help you with the summer job issue."
Gajeel looked up from his writing, Jellal had the teens undivided attention, "I need someone to help with some odd jobs like cleaning the offices and taking out trash. Maybe helping set up for some of the camp activities and a few small fix it jobs here or there. You would do a few hours every other night. We will keep a ledger of your work and the pay and at the end of camp Gramps will cut you a check for what you've done."
Gajeel leaned forward, "Are you for real? I will do whatever I'm not scared of hard work."
Jellal was smiling again, "Yes I'm very serious. However, you have to abide by all camp rules. If you choose not to participate in your challenge, therapy, or activity for that day than you will not get to work that day either. If you show any staff or campers disrespect than you will not work til the situation is remedied. If you choose to handle any situation with violence than you will not work. This is a conditional offer and if I feel you are not holding up your end you will not work."
Gajeel sighed, "I ain't really got no choice. I gotta be able to help my mom out."
"Let's shake on it then," Jellal extended his right hand to which Gajeel leaned forward to meet with his own. The two shook, "Good tomorrow night after dinner come see me here at the offices and we will get you started." Gajeel nodded. "Now we still got a little bit of time I'm gonna ask you some questions and I want you to try to answer them as honestly and openly as you can, ok?"
The pierced teen slumped back in the chair, "Yeah whatever."
"I want to talk about the last incident listed here in your file. It says you trespassed onto someone else property busted all the glass one their car, graffitied their house and when they came out of the house it became violent. You put the man in the hospital overnight." Jellal looked straight at Gajeel whose face was now devoid of any emotion. "That is a lot of rage Gajeel. I don't think you are some bad kid going around looking for trouble. I want to know why you felt like you need to do these actions. Maybe you hadn't intended it to go that far. But what was the starting point. Why did you decide to show up at this man's house?"
Gajeel turned to stare at the wall, he was grinding his teeth.
"Remember Gajeel. You working and going home to your mother depends on your cooperation. What we talk about is strictly between us, my note for the case workers will only state if I feel there's progress or not."
Gajeel took a deep breath then looked at Jellal. Jellal could see rage, anger, maybe even hate rolling through the dark eyes. Finally Gajeel spoke, "My mom had almost 6 months sober. She worked so fucking hard and she was doing really fucking good. She was happy again. That piss ant showed up to take her out for her birthday. He knew she was an alcoholic. He knew she went to AA. He knew she wasn't supposed to drink. He took her out to dinner I guess they got wine and it was on from there. He brought her home at 7 am the next morning still fucking drunk. HE FUCKING KNEW AND HE DIDN'T GIVE A SHIT. It was over from there. We went back from her making my lunch for school to me holding her hair every night while she puked. He didn't give a shit. I asked him why he said it wasn't his problem. We weren't his problem so I made us his problem. He fucked up my life so I owed him." Gajeel was seething now, sitting on the edge of his seat with his fist clenched.
"Gajeel I'm going to tell you a couple things and you need to listen even if you don't like it. 1st your mother is the only one responsible for her alcoholism. That guy was a jerk but she is the only one who can make herself drink. 2nd you are the child she is the adult. I know because of her disease those lines are blurred and crossed. You have had to grow up fast and I do understand having to take on more responsibility but you can't make yourself responsibly for her. That is too much for a kid to take on." Gajeel opened his mouth to talk but Jellal held up a hand "No just listen for a moment. You have taking on a lot. I want to go to the little library tomorrow before we meet. There is information about alcoholism, what it does to the person and family. I want to look into that information. I want you to learn the definitions of enabling and codependency. I want you to be informed and tomorrow before you work I want to have a conversation about your mom's alcoholism and what part you are responsible for ok?"
"Whatever."
Jellal stood up, "OK I look forward to our talk tomorrow. Our time for now is up I have another appointment but I think we will both learn a lot from each other this summer."
Gajeel raised an eyebrow as he stood up, "Sure, gonna learn lots."
Jellal lead Gajeel out of the office to the front entry way. Standing in the middle of the small waiting area was a very intense and scary looking red head. She stood with her feet shoulder length apart with her arms crossed. Gajeel noticed Jellal tense up a little. The tattooed man whispered into Gajeel's ear, "If I happen to be the one she's angry at and I die make sure someone goes to my apartment and feeds the cat." Gajeel snickered.
Jellal took a breath, "Erza my darling why brings you here so early, we were suppose to meet for lunch?' He walked up to the red head and kissed her on the cheek. Gajeel suddenly had a newfound respect for the tattooed man. If that was his girlfriend he had to be badass.
"I'm here because of these two." Jellal breathed out a sigh of relief upon the knowledge that he hadn't caused her anger. The redhead pointed behind her. Gajeel started to laugh but sucked it back in when Erza eyed him. Behind the angry red head stood to dripping wet boys. They stood with their heads held down. Neither of them seemed to be dressed both were wrapped in towels.
"They were swimming in the lake."
"Well that's nothing unusual my dear."
"The dark haired one is naked the other in only his boxers." At that Gajeel couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. Natsu looked up and smiled at Gajeel while Gray continued to stare at the ground. Erza fumed not seeing a thing funny and Jellal just shook his head.
"Ok Erza why don't I take it from here but if you would find Gramps and send him my way. Gajeel you can go and as for you 2 lets chat in my office." Erza nodded and marched out of the office. Gajeel chuckled as he left.
Gray finally looked up at Natsu and both boys started laughing as they followed Jellal into the office,