Into You
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Twilight characters or anything Twilight related.
Hello again! I bet you're all wondering now that we know who is responsible trying to ruin Edward's good name so I hope this makes up for the cliff hanger! Well, here we go! Enjoy!
Chapter 26 – All Time Low
'Cause driving won't do it
Flying won't do it
Denying won't do it
Crying won't drown it out
What you said
When I'm standing on the yellow line
Waiting at the station
Or I'm late for work
A vital presentation
If you call me now girl
Without reservation
I would try to break through
But if you know
How do you get up from an all time low?
I'm in pieces
It seems like peace is
The only thing I never know
How do you get up from an all time low?
I can't even find a place to start
How do I choose between my head and heart
'Til it ceases I never know, know
How do you get up from an all time low?
~ The Wanted
Edward's POV
There was nothing but silence and yet you can feel the tension around the room where Mike and I are sitting. It was not too long ago I was beating Mike's ass after finding out he's responsible for what I've been through. I may be worried about being suspended from school for fighting, but I am too damn pissed at that moment to care. Mike tried to ruin my life and my relationship with Bella by lying to the media that I cheated on her for selfish reasons, thus tarnish my character and not to mention me nearly losing my dreams. And just a while ago, he was having inappropriate thoughts about my sister if her photos were taken. The fucking bastard!
Right now, we are sitting in the principal's office, waiting. Mike had his head down while I just sat just, glaring at him. Though I couldn't see it now, I know I gave a black eye and a bloody nose. Just wish I could do more to him.
The door opened and then closed as Aro came in and sat behind his desk. He looked at me and Mike before clasping his hands together and sighed in frustration.
"Okay, can someone explain to me why two of my students are here?" He asked as he looked up at us. "I get that you two never liked each other dating all the way back since kindergarten, but fighting against one another is an unacceptable way of handling things, even if it wasn't on school grounds! Now tell me why you two were fighting in the first place?"
"Go on Mike, tell him! Tell him why we're here, or I will!" I said, looking very much like I'm ready for round two as I glared at Mike.
Aro was confused at my outburst and then looked at Mike. He didn't say anything and Aro had that look as if he's daring Mike to lie right in his face. Finally, Mike lifted his head, and confessed, admitting to taking that photo of me and Tanya, sending it to the paparazzi. Telling Aro how he met with James and struck a deal with him to find any dirt on me in exchange for money and how Mike never heard from them again, leaving him handing high and dry.
After Mike was done, Aro just stared at him, with a neutral expression on his face. He then got up and turned to face the window, letting out a big sigh. In all my years knowing Aro, I have never seen him this way, not even outside of school. I guess the only time he would act this way if you're in his office and got into trouble.
Aro turned around and placed his hands on the desk, leaning forward looking towards Mike.
"Who else was involved?" Aro asked him slowly. "Another student?"
Mike was silent and I was wondering who else he's been in league with. He cleared his throat. "No, it was just me." He answered.
"I see," Aro said. "In that case, I don't even know where to begin. Disappointment is an complete understatement. I knew you've been nothing but a sore eye whether in class or not, but this right here, tops everything about you!"
"L-Look, I made a mistake okay?" Mike said causing me to be pissed off even more of his sad excuse. "I only wanted to –"
"A mistake? A mistakes?!" Aro said in complete outrage. "You made a deal with a complete stranger for money only you got nothing in return! You lied to the media about Edward in hopes of ruining his life and his relationship with Bella! He nearly lost his acceptance to a school all because of some idiot who thought he had the power to blacklist Edward from all schools who would've been lucky enough to have him as their quarterback and had his future taken away! I had dozens of phone calls and emails from people questioning me about what kind of student I taught here, almost destroying this school's reputation! You made the other students mistreat Edward so bad that you all vandalized his old car on top of it! And we almost lost his life in a car accident along with his little sister, who I may point out is only seven years old! All because of you! Tell me how that is a mistake!
Mike was shaking as his lips tremble. "I-I'm sorry." He said quietly.
"Sorry doesn't make up for what you've caused. You've failed to see that your actions have consequences. You didn't see that what you did to Edward, effects not only him but everyone around. His friends who had to endure the torment sticking by his side, his parents where one was lucky enough to keep his job after the staff were ashamed, questioning him and his loyalty to the family, while his mother quit her job because of how that company was questioning about her family, and his sister who was tormented by other students while that little rat tried to take pictures of her, unwanted and suffered injuries with her brother. Nothing you say, changes for what you've done because everything you did was for your own selfish gain when you try and ruin someone's life." Aro said as Mike hung his head down in shame, as he should be.
Aro sighed in frustration as he gathered up some papers. "Alright Mr. Newton, grab your things. I'm notifying your parents."
"Um… when do I get to come back?" Mike asked as he looked up, talking about his suspension. Aro looked at Mike coldly as he answers.
"Mr. Newton, we have zero tolerance for your kind of behavior at this school. And what you did today is where I draw the line. I have no choice, but I'm expelling you." Aro declared.
At those words, Mike's face slowly went into shock when he was told of his fate. "W-What? No! Please, you can't!" He begged.
"I just did." Aro said. "You are no longer a student here at this school. You should've known that was coming to you." He said as Mike looks like he's struggling on how to respond.
"B-But-But-But it's my senior year! What about prom? And graduation?" Mike pleaded causing Aro to raise an eyebrow.
"Hate to break it to you, Mr. Newton, but I don't think any girl in this school would go to prom with you if you were the last guy on earth. They'd rather take the janitor over you if that was allowed." He coldly said. "As for graduating, you weren't even going to graduate anyway since you took that theater arts course last year but dropped out over some girl who transferred. That left you a credit short, and you haven't taken any other art course this semester. If you want to graduate this year, good luck at your new school or finish it in summer school. Though I highly doubted that any school will want you if they get a word about what you did."
Mike just sat there as if he couldn't believe it until he started to break down and cry. What? Like he didn't deserve it?
"As for you Mr. Cullen," I turned when Aro addressed to me and my anger evaporated as I was now nervous since I brought myself into this shit. "Normally in your situation, I would suspend you for starting the fight since striking a student is prohibited on school grounds." His face then softens from his stern expression. "However, due to recent events, I won't do that since we now know the source that's been troubling your life. But that does not mean that your actions will go unpunished. That is why you will be given detention for the rest of this month, where you'll be staying after school starting tomorrow. However, if this happens again, you will be suspended. Do I make myself clear?" I nodded my head in agreement.
"Then you may go." Aro said as he picked up the phone and started dialing to call Mike's parents. "Mr. Newton, go and clear out your locker. Meet back here when you're done."
And with that, both Mike and I got up and left Aro's office. The minute we were out in the halls, the hallways that was filled with students where they're always talking amongst themselves intensifies as if hearing an swarm of angry bees coming close to you.
"There he is."
"Jerk!"
I looked to see some of the students were around and looking in my direction with angry looks on their faces, but it wasn't towards me. Mike rubbed his arm nervously seeing that everyone is looking at him in a not so friendly way with all the muttering, even though they are purposedly mean to be heard.
"Can't believe he did that to Edward."
"Unbelievable!"
"What is wrong with this guy?"
"Guess this dumbass never learns."
"Murderer!"
"What a douche!"
"Such a creep too! You saw him getting ideas with a little girl, right?"
"This is why no girl wants to be with him."
"I'm so glad I didn't date that guy."
"This is a new low for Mike."
"I hope Mike gets arrested for what he did to Edward."
"Hope your listening skills are better than your football skills." Ben said as he, Seth, Demetri and Alec came over to us, all looking mad towards Mike.
"Nobody likes you, Mike." Alec said. "They never had. You've been nothing but an embarrassment and you did that all on your own. This is on you. Not anyone else, you!"
"You're a real dumbass to believe that you're all hot shit and got skills claiming yourself to be awesome. News flash, you're not!" Demetri said. "And after what you did to Edward, no way in hell people are going to think you're awesome now."
"Yeah, especially Bella. You don't deserve her! So you better not mess with her and Edward's relationship ever again if you know what's good for you." Seth said.
Mike was silent during the outburst from my friends before he walks away, defeatedly, as he heads to his locker to clean it out. Once he was gone, the guys turned to me with concerns looks.
"So what happened in there?" Demetri asked me.
I sighed before I answered. "Mike admitted to what he did to me and he's been expelled."
"Good riddance!" Seth said. "Mike shouldn't be back in school at all."
"No shit. I mean no one wants to hear about our school having a complete nobody like Mike still being here." Demetri said. "No one even wants to see his stupid face."
"Nobody even wants anything to do with Mike in the first place." Ben commented.
"What about you?" Alec asked me as he and the guys have worried looks on their faces. "What did my dad say?"
I shrugged. "I'm not suspended, but I got detention for the rest of this month." I said.
"Well that's pretty much a relief. I mean, you pretty much got a slap on the wrist." Demetri said.
"Yeah, that would've been very bad if you got suspended since you just got reaccepted into UW and their team." Seth said.
"I think that's the least of his worries." Ben said.
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion causing Ben to be nervous.
"Um, well… Jessica found out that one of the students recorded the whole thing with you and Mike at lunch where you were beating Mike's ass." He explained.
"Don't tell me." I said as Ben pulled out his phone and handed it to me.
"This was uploaded a few minutes ago on YouTube while you two were in the office." Ben said and played the video where it shows the part of me beating up Mike. The sound quality was terrible but the audio seems to make up for it because you can definitely hear me yelling over the crowd saying how Mike is dead.
"Unfuckingbelievable." I said when I handed Ben back his phone.
"And you all call me out for being an idiot." Demetri chuckled earning a glare from me.
"Well, you are." Ben said to him.
"I told you to keep things on a low profile." Alec said to me. "Like I said, you weren't thinking straight. Getting in trouble in school with Mike is one thing, but to draw attention from everyone is another, especially with the attention you already have."
"Yeah, I get it. Thank you." I said in frustration since I don't need to be reminded. That's just fucking great. Just when I thought people are laying off my back, questioning about my relationship with Bella and making me the bad guy believing I cheated on, another thing comes at me and it's all due to Mike's actions. He had to lie to the media about me and now finding out he was responsible for –
That's when something occurred to me.
"Wait, how long did you say this was uploaded?" I asked Ben.
"Um, maybe like fifteen or twenty minutes ago." He answered after looking at his phone where the video was that he showed me.
"And how many people have seen it?" I slowly asked.
Ben looked at his phone and then he looked at me with confused look. "Uh, almost at a million views. Why?"
"Fuck!" I said in a not good tone.
"Edward, what's wrong?" Seth asked.
"If that many people have seen it already then that means –" I was interrupted when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I pulled it out and my eyes widened at who's calling when I saw her name on the caller ID. Double fuck!
"Shit! It's Bella!" I said, panicking.
"Laters!" Alec said.
"Wait, where are you guys going?" I asked when they all took off suddenly. Demetri stopped however and turned to give me a look like I was crazy.
"Where are we going? Uh," Demetri gave out a scoff that said, "Uh, isn't it obvious?" before he took off with the others leaving me alone in disbelief. Unfuckingbelievable. I thought. You know, I bet if I throw a rock across the hallways, I can make four new friends to replace these dumbasses.
I looked at my phone and it was still vibrating in my hands where Bella is waiting for me to answer. I took a deep breath before answering. "Hey Bella," I nervously greeted her.
"DON'T YOU HEY BELLA ME, EDWARD ANTHONY MASEN CULLEN!" Bella snapped causing me to flinch. Fuck! The middle name! How did she know? "You got a lot of explaining to do, you know that?! Argh! If I was back in Forks right now, I would strangle you for such stupidity!"
"Love, would you please relax?" I asked as I tried to calm her down.
"You want me to relax after seeing a video of you getting in a fight at school?!" Bella asked in disbelief causing me to cringe. Now I understand why my friends were right earlier. "Did you not see what people were saying about you right now about how you went from the most hated guy on Earth for cheating on me, to some stuck up pretty boy who likes to cause trouble just because he thinks he's superior to others?"
Well… at least people are not hating me anymore still so I guess I could take that one.
"Look, I can explain about what happened there." I said.
"Do try to lighten me." Bella said, not sounding pleased.
"You see, the guy I was in fight with, Mike, my backup quarterback, well… he was the one responsible for the photo. The photo of me and my cousin, he took that for the paparazzi and told them I was seeing someone behind your back." I explained.
"WHAT?!" Bella exclaimed causing me to pull my phone away from my ear.
"Um yeah," I said as I held my phone close to me to my other ear. "Mike was stupid to make a deal with James in exchange for money and did the deal while James took all the credit of him taking the photo of me and giving Mike nothing in return."
"Unbelievable!" Bella exclaimed, and it sounded like her attitude has changed. "The nerve of that guy! He was your teammate and you did nothing wrong, yet he would follow you and make up some cockamania story to them that you were cheating on me!"
"It's okay, love." I assured. "Mike and I never liked each and he pretty much has a grudge against me since day one."
"It's certainly not okay! He tried to ruin our relationship! He lied to the media in hopes to make you the most hated person on the planet! He almost took away your dreams to play football! He almost killed you and Renesmee." She said the last part quietly.
"I know, what he did was unforgivable. And you really don't want to know what caused me to be pissed at him resulting in that fight." I said. "But Mike got the punishment when we were sent to the principal's office and Mike got expelled."
"He deserved more than an expulsion." Bella said, bitterly.
"Perhaps," I said. "But I don't care. Whatever happens to him is his problem."
"Well about you? Aren't you in trouble too?" Bella asked, now sounding worried.
"I only got detention for the rest of this month." I answered. "I would've been suspended but after the principal found out what Mike did, detention is what I got instead."
"Well I'm glad you didn't get punished that badly, but you should be careful with all the attention you're getting." Bella said. "Wait, does Charlie know about this?"
"Uh yeah, he called me before to explain to me about James's discreet of getting Mike to find dirt on me to give Laurent in that article." I said, wondering why she's asking about that.
"So that's what was going on." Bella said, or more like she was talking to herself which got me even more confused. That's when I heard the warning bell ring as some of the students who were still around started heading to their classes.
"Look Bella, I got to get to class. I'll talk to you later." I said.
"Okay, Edward, please be careful." Bella pleaded.
"I will. I love you."
"I love you." And with that, we hung up and I took off to my final class.
It went by fast when school ended as the whole school was buzzing hearing about what Mike did and being the reason why everyone felt really bad for how they treated me and hearing that he got expelled. Pretty much everyone was pleased to hear that Mike got what he deserved as they show to hate him, more than they had before when he sucked as during our football games or how he tried to hit on girls in an annoying, and maybe creepy way, and Mike was oblivious to it all. Well, now he's aware that no thinks he's that great as he claims himself to be.
"So," I turned my head when I arrived home from school and saw my parents in the living room, both with their arms folded. Ah fuck. I thought. "We got some big news and some interesting news. You want to explain about the interesting news we got from Aro?" Carlisle asked me.
I sighed as I explained to my parents everything that happened at school of the altercation between me and Mike and the results of our actions were. Of course, my parents were shocked to hear that Mike was the one who took that photo, but then they were displeased to hear what I did.
"Well, I am glad that Mike got what he deserved for what he did to you and to us all, but that was completely reckless of you to confront him like that." Esme scolded me.
"I agreed. Though Mike has hit a new low on you, violence was not a good way to settle things between you and him. Your mother and I raised you better than that." Carlisle said.
"I know, and I get it." I sighed as Carlisle patted my shoulder.
"Regardless, that doesn't mean you were off the hook with Aro at school." Esme said to me. "You are grounded until you are done with detention. You can keep your phone because we know how much Bella means to you." She said with a soft expression before she got serious. "But you're not allowed to hang out with your friends besides school. They can come here if they like to but that's it." I nodded my head, no use in arguing. It was a better punishment than what Mike got.
"Now on to the big news," Carlisle said as he starts to smile along with my mom. "It looks like we're going on a trip to Los Angeles to attend the Billboard Music Awards!"
"Wait what?!" I asked in complete shock as my dad held out not only plane tickets but badges that look to be read for VIP.
"Yes, it appears we've been invited by Bella to come with her for the awards show." Esme said. "And we get to stay for a few days after to enjoy the sights of L.A. Of course, we'll have to notify your school to excuse you and Renesmee."
"T-That's great." I said, sounding excited, but also confused. I thought Bella and I made it clear that it's best for us to stay out of the public for now, what made her change her mind to invite my family and I to come over and attend the award show with her?
"I know what you're thinking, sweetheart." I looked at my mom in confusion. "But I think this could be a good chance to go out and make your appearance known with Bella by going out in public."
"I believe she's right, son." My father agreed. "We get why you didn't want to attend the Grammy Awards in the first place but you know, you shouldn't hide from the spotlight forever. Yes, you caught the attention for many reasons since your guys' relationship was exposed, but people are going to have their way to talk about you guys and even questioning your relationship together, whether you keep it private or not. It'll at least get people to see the kind of person you are and this could be a good experience for you to feel what being famous is all about."
I supposed they brought up a good point. If I'm going to make it as an NFL quarterback one day, I am expected to be famous if I'm good. I guess I have to expect all the cameras and media coming at me for them to get the latest scoop, but I do have to talk to Bella to know what's going on and if she really wants me to come with her.
I gave a smile to my parents. "Sounds like a fun trip." I said.
"Great! Carlisle, why don't you go pickup Renesmee from school?" Esme said to Carlisle who nodded and took his keys before he left leaving me and her alone. "You, young man, can help me meal prep for my book club this weekend and that's the start of your grounding where you're in charge of desserts. And no, you don't get any taste testing from my bake goods." She smirked.
"Dammit!" I muttered causing my mom to chuckle as she and I went into the kitchen.
The next day, it was a complete buzz-fest with the story going around about me in that video beating up Mike. That there, led to curiosity of why I did though. And with the students at Forks High who witnessed the whole thing, everything came to light that Mike was the one who took that photo and agreed with James to doing so. News soon came out with James as his sentencing has been changed to life with the way he got out of his sex offender registry. From what I hear, once again, James was throwing a hissy fit, but no one cares. Once he was put behind bars, that was the last they heard about James.
As for Mike, the whole town is headlining all about him as the reason for what happened to me and everyone had some not so nice things to say about him. To be fair, it's somewhat more pleasant than what the students here at my school are saying about him. They all really hate Mike. Though I'm not sure if it's because of how I almost lost everything in my life, or the fact that he was the reason why everyone treated me so badly because Mike made them. To be honest, I don't care because now the whole world officially knows the truth. Hey, at least Mike gets the attention he always wanted, just for the wrong reasons.
But just because everyone knows the truth about who I am and where my loyalties lie, doesn't mean what I did that made Mike the most hated person in the world was left unsaid. News broke out about me beating up Mike and it continues to raises more questions from people to know what kind of person I am, such as if I'm the violent type of guy. Well, my life has been one shit show after another so it's not like this one could get any worse with what I've been given as punishment.
It was after school and everyone was leaving to go home like always, but unfortunately for me, I couldn't since I have detention to attend. So after saying goodbye to my friends, I went to the bathroom first just to take a piss and after washing my hands, I got out of the bathroom and was heading to Mr. Banner's classroom where I have to do my detention there to spend time just studying or doing any homework when on the way, I heard something that caught my attention.
"You're serious?!"
That was Tyler's voice. I wonder what's he still doing here.
"I'm dead serious." And I was shocked at who it was. That's Mike! What's he doing here? He's been expelled. I know school's over for the day, but what business does he have here?
I quietly snuck by the corner and lean against the wall. I took a peek, before pulling back, to see in the hallways that leads to the entranced door was Tyler and Austin and Mike was there. He was wearing the same clothes he wore yesterday since he came to this school.
"Your parents really kicked you out?" I heard Austin say and what I heard took me by surprised. I guess Mike's parents were not too happy about what happened to him.
"Yeah man, my parents told me to just leave, just like that. They didn't even give me the chance to pack my things or let me take my car. Nothing but my phone and wallet." Mike said.
"And you had nowhere else to go since?" Tyler asked. "What about your job at your parent's sporting goods?"
"No, I tried to go to some of my relatives but my parents got to them before me and they all just shot me down to stay with them. And my parents fired me from working there. They won't even let me work for them full time." Mike explained.
"Damn, that's sucks." Austin said.
"I know. That's why I came to you guys. I was wondering if your forks would let crash at your place." Mike said.
"Uh…" Austin sounded like he was caught off guard. "S… Sorry man, I can't."
"What?! Why?" Mike asked.
"Because man, the last time I let you come over to my place, you crashed on my living room couch and thankfully you had your underpants on. My parents couldn't stand you and your obnoxious behavior that they forbid me from inviting you over ever again." Austin said. "And now, they don't want me to have anything to do with you Mike, saying you're a bad influence, which they aren't too far from the truth."
"How am I a bad influence on you?!" Mike asked in disbelief.
"You made me buy that new Assassin's Creed game back in middle school when you know I had to buy my little sister that new doll she always wanted. And when I couldn't return it because it was used, you got us caught when you tried to get me to steal the doll." Austin told him, sounding pissed now.
"Oh come, it wasn't that bad when we got caught. We didn't go to jail." Mike said.
"No, but I had to dress up as a princess for her birthday that year and my dad destroyed my Xbox because of you. It took me the whole summer to get myself a new one!" Austin complained.
I heard a frustration coming from Mike. "What about you, Tyler? Can your parents let me come over?"
I heard nothing for a moment until Tyler spoke. "Sorry, but I can't do that."
"You got to be kidding me! Come on man, I don't have anywhere else to go. Your parents love me. I thought you were my best friend." Mike said.
"Since when did you ever treat me as a friend?!" Tyler snapped. I was stunned because I never heard Tyler talk back at Mike before. "You didn't act like a friend when that one time you promised to hook me up on a double date with you only for you to get both of the twins for yourself. You didn't support me when we were going to play football, you'd back me up hoping I would be your backup quarterback but you didn't say anything about me after coach made you the backup and I ended up some cornerback and you didn't have my back when I told them I wanted to be a wide receiver. And you didn't mention to me about a deal you made with the paparazzi and didn't include me in, which I'm glad you didn't since now everyone hates you."
"But… you guys are my friends." Mike said, sounding very hurt.
Tyler scoffed. "Doesn't sound like it or even looked like it the way we see it. Every time we ever talk about something or about our lives, you go talking over us talking about yourself, going on with these stories about you or how you get the hottest girl in school. You don't care about any of us or what we want."
"Yeah man, you made things all about you like you're some big deal, but all you ever did is talk with no action and complain about things where you'd expect us to side with you." Austin said. "You really think we want to be friends with someone who thinks he's full of himself and treats us like some sidekicks who doesn't get a mind of their own?" There was silence. "Didn't think so."
"W-Wait, guys, where are you going? What am I supposed to do?" Mike asked, weakly as I heard footsteps moving farther away from where I can hear.
"Gee, I don't know, maybe get a job? I heard 7-Eleven is always hiring. Either way, that's your problem." Austin said.
"Yeah, because as far as we know, you were never our friend." Tyler said as I hear them walking away.
I poked my head to see Mike's back towards me as he stared at the entrance door where Tyler and Austin walked away from him. Judging from the way Mike stood and his position, he looked to be stunned, and heartbroken. Well, can't say I feel sorry for him, but I am surprised because I always thought Mike and his friends were close. Guess I was wrong.
I spent the next hour in detention where all I did was get some homework done and just read some stuff in my textbook until I was excused to go home. The parking lot was deserted except for my car as I got in and drove myself home. I was expecting it to be empty since my dad's at work while mom is out with her friends and Renesmee is with her friends, going out for ice creams with one of her friends' parents. When I came home though, I was surprised at who was sitting on my door step.
"Seth?" I called out when I got out of my car.
"Oh, hey Edward." Seth said when he lifted his head up and saw me, giving out a small smile. "Uh, what's up?"
"I should be asking you that. Have you been sitting here for a while?" I asked.
"Yeah. I know you had detention and your dad is at work, so I thought your mom would at least be home, but no one answered." Seth said, turning his head directing at the front door.
"Today's Tuesday, Seth. My mom usually goes out for lunch with her friends after yoga." I pointed out.
"Oh… right." Seth said as he gave out a sad sigh and hung his head down.
"What's wrong, man?" I asked in concern. I never seen Seth so down. Even so, he would always maintain a smile with a bright attitude, but now, he seems really bothered about something.
"It's… complicated." Seth said.
I let Seth inside as I led him into the kitchen. Once he sat down, I went through the cabinets until I found the compartment that has all kinds of tea bags. There's one rule my mom made in this house and that rule is that it's complimentary to give someone, whether a family, friend or even a stranger, a hot beverage whenever that person is feeling down. And that's what I did as I made herbal tea for him while I accompanied him and made myself green tea. Once that was made, I handed Seth his tea and sat down next to him.
"So what's going on?" I asked Seth.
His head was down as he held the mug in his hands while being silent for a moment. I waited patiently until he finally answered.
"My mom and I… we got invited… to the Billboard Music Awards." He said, like he couldn't believe it. That there surprised me. I didn't know Bella invited Seth. Perhaps the others were invited as well.
"Oh, you too?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm guessing you got invited as well?" Seth asked looking at me.
"Guilty, and I got a feeling our friends are invited as well." I said.
"Oh." Seth said as he took a small sip of tea.
"Are you not excited about it?" I slowly asked.
"No, it's not that, it's just… I found out about the invitation when I picked up the mail and opened it. When I did, apart from receiving the tickets and VIP passes, there was a letter from Charlie who invited us and… well… he and my mom… seem to have a thing going on." Seth said as he stared at his mug.
"Oh." Was all I could say. I guess Seth found out about Charlie having an interest in Sue as she seems to show the same. "And that's what's bothering you?"
"I guess," Seth said. "When my mom came home and saw me with the letter, I asked about her and Charlie and… she said they like each other."
"I know." I admitted causing Seth to look at me in surprised.
"Wait, you knew?!" He asked.
"Yeah, it was on my last day when I released from the hospital and your mom came to check on me. Charlie was there and he offered to give her a ride home. I thought it was obvious the way they were talking at the Christmas party, but I guess no one but myself knew. He told me not to say anything until after the divorce was settled." I explained.
"I see." Seth said and was quiet.
"Are you okay?" I asked causing Seth to sigh deeply.
"I don't know man." He said. "I mean… I know my mom's been lonely for a long time since my dad died, and it was hard. She was doing all the work to support me and Leah before my sister was old enough to help her out in taking care of me. And even so, I had to step up and… be a man of the house, you know, look out for them, because I'm sure that's what my dad wants. And after Leah graduated from high school and later became a police lieutenant, I had to look after my mom. So yeah, of course she seems sad and I do my best to cheer her up. But… as the years go by, I guess I'm sort of… used to how things are now with us. And now finding out she and Charlie are interested in one another, that's something I guess I'm not ready for." He sadly said.
"I get it. The more things change, the more they stay the same." I said as I took a sip of my tea. "I'm sorry you had to find out that way, Seth. But you know, your dad has been gone for a long time like you said, and it's always been you two and your sister since. Your mom has been lonely and yet she took her time and everything to look after you and Leah. She even takes time off of her work to come to our football games and watch you play. Basically, she's made a lot sacrifices for you in order to have a good life all by herself. And that's the thing, with you going to college and playing in the NFL one day, even with Leah, your mom will be pretty much alone. You don't want to get in the way of what makes her happy besides her children, do you?"
Seth was silent, and through it all, I saw a tear coming out of his eye causing him to quickly wipe it off as he took a shaky breath.
"I guess you're right." He admitted. "I do miss my dad a lot. That's why I always celebrate on the football field whenever tackled someone or sacked the quarterback, to send my love to him as if he was watching me the whole time. And I love my mom. Charlie is a great guy in person and so cool. All I want from her is to be happy. I don't want to be the reason why she's not."
"Then tell her. Just talk it out." I encouraged him.
"I'm a little afraid to talk to her after how I acted." Seth said.
"Does she know you're here?" I asked.
"Um… no?" Seth said with a face that shows he's embarrassed. "I just took off after she told me about her and Charlie." He said, causing me to sigh.
"Seth,"
"I know, I know, I'll call her." Seth got up and left the kitchen as he pulled out his phone. From where I sat, I can hear Seth talking to his mom.
"Hey mom." Seth said. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm at Edward's place. I'm sorry to take off like that. … Yeah. Listen, I'll be on my way home, so I'll see you in a bit. … Yeah, okay. And mom, I love you. … Okay, bye." Seth hung up and came back in the kitchen with me as I smiled to see him stepping up for his mom.
Seth stayed for a little bit longer before he went home, thanking me for the comfort before he was gone. I took a deep breath from what is happening as I washed the mugs in the sink. So many things has happened but the recent events such as these are a lot to take in. I have to handle being famous for my relationship with Bella, Mike is dealing with the consequences of his actions, and now Seth is about to adjust the idea of his mom and Charlie dating if they want to. A lot can happen to someone and how it affects you all depends on it. The question is, how do you get up from something like this?
And we'll leave it at that for now. Yeah, a lot for our characters to take in but hey, that's life for ya, right? Can't believe we only got four chapters left. I just hope I can get them all done before the summer ends but I guess that all depends on how I write these chapters out. It would like I won't have a problem with that but fingers crossed I won't have delays for long updates.
Until then, please review!