“So then stop worrying okay?
It’s whatever.” He was lying back
on our couch, eating the food that Tyler had just made for him, after we picked
him up half dead in the rain storm, and he wanted us not to worry? Seriously?!
“No, this isn’t okay!
It’s not just whatever!” Tyler grabbed
my arm and I shot bullets at him, “Don’t you stick up for him, not again!” I stormed out of the room and slammed the
door behind me. I breathed several
breaths, calming my head. Okay, I know,
he has a tough life, but to make all of us worry, keep all of us on edge like
he does – I never will understand why the rest of the band fell in love with
this kid. He’s like a lost puppy that
refuses any real help, but will take the occasional hand out after life really
shits on him. I sighed.
I twisted my lips in thought and marched back into the
living room. “I’m sorry. That was rude, you called us because you
needed help. And we do love you, it’s
just hard to help you when you don’t act like you want it.”
“I never asked for help, I asked for a place to stay. I asked for some food, and yeah, maybe that’s
help, but damn it, what the fuck else am I supposed to do?” He sat up and we got into a staring
contest. “You want me to just walk back
home, hey mom and dad, it’s me, do you love me yet? Can I talk to you about my fucking problems? Sorry, I don’t have a support system.”
My face got hot, “You want to talk to me about support
systems, see this?” I held up Tyler’s
arm. “This is mine! No parents, no bullshit like that – you don’t
like your home life, just get out!”
Anthony rubbed his face with his hands, “Who the hell do you
think I go to for support, Jess?”
I was taken aback. It
wasn’t the band that wanted to care for Anthony – it wasn’t that they loved
him, it was that Anthony needed them. As
much as I needed Tyler, he depended on these guys to be there for them. And while it was endearing, it was
infuriating to have him bunk with us on so many occasions, have us taxi him
around numerous times, play house and act like the adults while he throws away
any chance at a normal life.
“Okay, I’m sorry, I got it…”
I sat down next to Tyler, “It’s been a long day, and picking you up at
2am didn’t really help. I’m exhausted.”
Anthony uncrossed his arms and moved his hair out of his
face, “I guess I really don’t thank you guys as much as I should… so, thank
you.” He looked between me and Tyler, “I
mean, honestly, I don’t know what else I would do if you two hadn’t come into
my life.” The stupid, dark gray-eyed kid
had a way of melting your heart for him.
Even I wanted to protect him, and sometimes, I absolutely hated him.
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