LIVING SAVAGE 😈

Blue sat around the food court of the mall with her siblings, eating her pizza slice hungrily. She had taken them out today because she wanted to talk to them. She was often very closed off and acted like she didn’t want to be bothered, but she truly did love her sisters and brother and she would do anything for them. She sat her pizza slice down and looked around the table slowly. “So… mom’s pregnant…” she began.

Siena sat among her siblings and she adjusted the strap to her overalls as she popped a chicken nugget into her mouth. She licked her ketchup stained fingertips and nodded her head “yeah” she said not knowing where her older sister was going with her statement.

Luca looked to Blue and he bit it slice of pizza hungrily, munching on it he licked his lips cleaning off the tomato sauce that sported it before he bit into the slice again.

Phoenix dug into her pasta, looking at Blue slowly as she licked her lips. She forked another noodle into her mouth before she said, “what about it?”

Blue wiped her mouth, looking between everyone as they looked at her. “… so that means we really have to step it up around the house,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ve already decided that I am not going to go away for school,” she said to them. “I’m going to take a year off, then go to a community college here in Seattle so I’m close,” she admitted. “Booty you’re next in line, it’s up to us to pick up the slack for mom and dad, we’ve got cars,” she said thoughtfully. “So, we need to start picking up Phoenix and Luca for them, maybe going to the store and picking up groceries,” she said thinking it over. “Just… you know… doing what we can to help,” she said looking at Phoenix and Luca.

Siena looked to Blue as she spoke, explaining why she was bringing this up to them. She nodded her head slowly before she looked at Phoenix, she really meant the three of them. This she knew because Luca wasn’t capable of doing much of anything, their mother had babied him so until it was bound to stay a baby forever. Licking her lips, she looked back to her older sister and said “okay” to her “you’re right” the blonde admitted thoughtfully. “We do…”

Luca continued to eat his food; he didn’t have to reply because he knew factually that his sister wasn’t talking to him. Everyone did everything for him, why change that now?

Phoenix ate more of her pasta and she nodded taking it all in. “I can start cleaning up more often,” she admitted. “On Monday’s I’ll clean the living room and the kitchen and on Friday’s I’ll vacuum the house, upstairs and downstairs,” she said thoughtfully. “And I’ll make it my job to clean the basement once a month, especially after we’ve been down there playing and stuff…”

Blue looked at Siena and nodded before she looked at Phoenix with a smile. “Thank you Nix,” she said before she looked at Luca, gently bumping her shoulder against his. “Luca you can start cleaning your own room and doing a better job and not leaving your toys all over the house. Also, you don’t have to wash anything but just rinse off your dishes and set them aside and one of us will place it in the dishwasher for you,” she said thoughtfully.

Siena looked to Phoenix as she explained what she was going to do to help out. She bit another chicken nugget before she looked at her younger brother, the real spoiled child. She shook her head at him amused as she finished the nugget.

Luca looked to his older sister and scrunched his brows “mom always cleans my room” he told her. He bit into his pizza again “I don’t like cleaning though” he told all three of them.

Phoenix looked at Blue as she now addressed their brother and she snorted. Luca didn’t do anything but mess up the house and watch everyone clean behind him. Eating more of her pasta she shook her head. It was going to be a nightmare trying to get Luca to simply pick up his own slack, let alone someone else’s.

Blue shook her head at Luca. “You’ll be 12 this year,” she said to him. “Mom isn’t going to clean up behind you forever and once the twins come, I assure you she will stop,” she said knowingly. “Mom cleaned up after me all the time too then Siena came. Mom cleaned up after Siena then Phoenix came…” she trailed off. “You get what I’m saying. Plus, you want to be a little man right, little men clean up after themselves,” she said to him, rubbing his shoulder.  “You’re going to need to set a good example for the new babies. Plus…” she trailed off looking around the table at her sisters as she leaned in real close. “I heard that Sunshine likes boys who clean,” she said in a loud whisper.

Luca looked at Blue as he finished his pizza eating everything including his crust and he looked at his other siblings as they watched on. He licked his fingers slowly before he grabbed his napkin and wiped his mouth and hands. At the mention of Sunshine liking clean boys he looked at Blue “really?” he asked before he looked at all of them.

Blue nodded her head. “Really,” she said looking around at Phoenix and Siena. “I heard it straight from her,” she said, lying to the boy. “Why do you think she hasn’t been around recently?” she asked him softly.

Phoenix nodded along to Blue, seeing how her brother perked up and she knew that she had to play along feeding into the lie.

Siena looked to Luca “no dirty boys” she chimed, she felt bad whenever they lied to him. But that was the only way to get Luca to actually fall for anything.

Luca looked to his sisters and he nodded his head pulling his lips into his mouth. “Okay” he said as he grabbed his cup taking a sip from it. “I will clean” he told her agreeingly as he moved to his next slice of pizza.

Blue smiled at her sisters as they co-signed her lie and she nodded her head, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Next time I have to car pull and pick her up, I’ll let it slip that you’re now a cleaning man, I’m sure she’ll be excited,” she said honestly.

Blue plopped down on the couch with her phone in hand, texting with Ariel. She hated these family meetings. She truly didn’t understand why her parents called one, twice a month. They were always over the stupidest things, none of which ever really involved her.

Phoenix rested on the loveseat, her legs over the arm of one side of the chair, her back pressed against the other arm as she re-read Stop Telling Women to Smile by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, really dissecting it this second time around.

Luca sat on the floor in front of the couch, he sat there unmoving as he blinked slowly. He didn’t know what this was about but he guessed they never did. Hopefully no family drama would come from this one unlike the last one.

Siena sat on the couch Indian style and she rested her head in her hands, elbow pressed into her leg as she waited. Pulling her hoodie down off her head she revealed her bald head once more. She knew everyone had mixed feelings about and she didn’t know what possessed her but she loved the confidence it gave her everyday she stepped out the door.

Samuel moved for the couch and sat down before his children, licking his lips he waited with them. For this, he’d let his wife take the lead and run with it, he was not sure what it would lead to. Sitting them in his gym attire, he’d planned to go however plans changed. So sitting back he slid his hands into his hoodie pocket looking to their middle daughter with a sigh. All her beautiful hair was gown, and at what cost?

Ava flushed the toilet and pulled herself up from the floor carefully as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Quickly she moved for the sink, rinsing her mouth out with water before she brushed her teeth. She couldn’t go without doing so, even though she knew her family was waiting on her. Tapping her toothbrush on the side of the sink, she let all the water drop from it before placing it back in the holder and moved to exit the bathroom, rubbing her stomach gently. She moved down stairs and sat beside her husband, looking around at their children before she looked at him. Taking a breath, she began, “your father and I called this family meeting because we have something very important to share with you…”

As his wife finally surfaced Samuel looked her over, damn he hated not being there every single time she needed him to be. However, he rested his arm on the back of the chair looking at her as she spoke and he rubbed her shoulder gently. He was here to support, speak when needed, and make sure their children were informed.

Luca sat there, hands in his lap and as his mother sat down he looked at her blinking slowly. He was so not on her run right now, she’d hurt his feelings for the last time. No longer his mother’s baby boy, he was a young man he didn’t need her comfort anymore. He’d run to his daddy instead. As she spoke he continued to look at her with an unreadable expression.

Siena sat there and she shifted on the couch and looked to her mother as she finally sat down before them. As she began speaking she looked to Blue and Phoenix nevermind what everyone mood was right now, it sounded serious.

Phoenix slowly lowered her book as their mother finally appeared and began speaking to them. She looked over at Siena and Blue, then down at Luca as she nodded slowly. What could she possibly be about to tell them?

Blue looked up from her phone, gazing between her parents as Ava began to speak.

“This affects everyone,” Ava said softly, looking each one of them in their eyes. “It’s going to change things drastically in this house and everyone needs to be prepared,” she said thoughtfully before she grew quiet. She looked at her husband, leaning into him slightly. “In about 9 months, you all can expect to have two more siblings,” she said out-right. “I’m about 6 or 7 weeks pregnant with twins,” she explained to them all.

Luca continued to sit there and as his mother gave details he continued to look. He looked to his father for a moment before going back to her. Upon her announcement, he didn’t flinch or make a sound. He could have imagined this, his mother had gotten sick in front of him that much he remembered. And then their parents had shared a few words, that much he witnessed without them knowing. Luca stood up from his spot on the floor and said “good” before he walked off quietly, walking away from them all as he moved back up the stairs to his room, unaffected.

Siena listened as her heart actually started to race because she could have only hoped nothing too serious or even deadly at this point was happening. As her mother went on and dropped a huge bomb like this on them her eyebrows rose slowly. “Twins?” she asked as if she didn’t already hear her mother a second ago. “Mom?!” She said in shock, her mother was older than she was when she had Luca and Blue was going to leave for school. She was next and then Phoenix. What were they going to do? As Luca got up and walked away she looked to him shocked as well, the usually bubbly and happy kids were literally not himself anymore.

Blue sat there, slowly placing her phone in her lap as her mother began to speak. Clearly whatever it was, was extremely serious by her tone and she needed to pay attention. As Ava announced that she was pregnant with twins, her mouth dropped. “What?” she said out loud, baffled. Twins? That wasn’t one, but two babies. Her neck jerked back as she thought about it. “What?” she said again from pure shock as she tried to come to terms with it in her mind. As Luca got up and walked out, Blue watched the back of his head still really unable to speak.

Phoenix looked to her parents, then to her siblings, then back to her parents. As their mother told them all that she was pregnant, she accidentally dropped her book off her lap as she sat up straight in the chair. “Pregnant?!” she questioned. Her mind ran a mile a minute before she said, “but… you’re old…” Looking at Luca as he got up and walked away, her eyebrows rose to her hairline. Something was seriously wrong with that boy. Looking back to her parents, Phoenix continued. “I mean… is it safe for you and the babies?” she asked.

Ava grew quiet, giving all of their children time to process what she had just told them and she gazed, looking around at all of their faces as they went over it in their heads. As Luca spoke, then got up to leave, Ava frowned. “Luca, honey,” she said gently, but the boy was gone anyway. She sighed deeply before she looked to Blue, Siena, and Phoenix. “Twins,” she said looking to Siena as she confirmed. She looked at Blue, watching the girl’s face of shock before she looked to Phoenix and she frowned even deeper. She was not old. “Yes, I’m fine, the babies will be fine,” she said to clarify. “I am a bit older to be having children, especially twins, however, I’m healthy and I’ll be okay, we’ll be okay,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ll be on top of it all and monitor myself along the way,” she said as she looked around at her girls. “How do you all feel?” she asked them.

Samuel watched their children and he exhaled slowly as he rubbed his wife’s arm supportively. When Luca got up to leave Samuel watched the young boy, something was bothering his son and he’d have to figure that out a little later. As his daughters began to react to the news, much like he did really. All over the place and insultingly, he tucked his lips away for a moment before he said. “Your mother and I spoke on this ourselves. And with her doctor during our first appointment. Everyone is going to work extra hard to make sure everything is just fine with all three of them” he said touching his wife’s leg. “It was unexpected, but you mother and I are content” he said. “Everything will be fine.”

Luca moved to his bedroom and he closed the door and he climbed into his bed with a book to read. He had heard his mother call out for him, but he chose to ignore her. To ignore them as he moved back to what he enjoyed right now, books.

Siena looked to her mother and then to her father, she watched Blue and then she watched Phoenix. Unsure of what to say she sat there for a long moment, she didn’t know how to place her thoughts into actual words right now. She in her opinion was nervous about all of this, no matter what her parents had to say. “Nervous” she said to them both as she stuck her hand out as if that should be the obvious answer for everyone. “There is a lot of stuff happening out here in the world today, and medically they can’t stop it” she said seriously. “Women are like not having easy pregnancies and stuff” she told them “look at Beyonce!” she stressed “and she was like, younger than you are right now mom” she told her with wide eyes.

Blue looked to her father as he spoke up and she blinked slowly, still trying to digest it all. “Okay…” she said as her mind processed slowly. “Uh, what’s the plan?” she asked. “I mean… you know Ariel and I applied to Spelman and Howard,” she said. “That’s far away,” she said feeling like now she had to stay here. She was the oldest in the family. It was her responsibility to step up and do things when her parents couldn’t. She could still leave and let it all fall on Siena, but she wouldn’t. She loved her family too much to just leave them high and dry. Her parents were almost 50, they were going to need help. “W-what is going to happen?”

Looking between her parents, Phoenix nodded slowly, trying to take it all in. “But what if they turn out like Luca?” she asked softly, not wanting to be the one to bring up the elephant that just stomped out of the room but she had to. Statistically, the twins were at a higher risk to be born with some type of illness due to Ava’s age and weight, plus there’s already a family history of illness. “I mean… it’s a possibility,” she said before she went on, “and at your ages, it’s going to be harder to handle, especially with two,” she said thoughtfully.

Ava looked to her husband as he spoke and she nodded slowly. “Yes, we’ve got it all under control. Plus you forget, I’m a doctor,” she said chuckling. “I think I’ll be okay,” she said honestly. Turning to Siena, Ava said, “baby girl, I’ll be fine,” she said once more. “Beyonce had preeclampsia and something else going on with her,” she explained. “Yes, I am at risk for it, but I’ll be okay,” she told her sweetly. “Like I said, we’re going to monitor me very closely along the way and take it all step by step.” Next, she looked to Blue. “This isn’t going to hinder you from going away to school,” she said honestly. “Go,” she said sweetly. “Get that HBCU education and experience, I want you to,” she said lovingly before she looked at Phoenix with a sigh. “Honey, I have no control over whether or not these babies will have some type of illness or not, just like I had no control over Luca and his condition,” she said with a sigh. “I just have to take it all in spades and deal with it as it unfolds,” she said to everyone. “And just like with Luca, nothing will ever take away the love that I will have for these babies, just as nothing will ever take away my love for you girls.”

Samuel looked to them as they all spoke their minds and he nodded his head. He looked at their faces before he landed on Phoenix and he was reminded why he liked for her to keep her mouth closed. He said nothing to any of them however, he was little bothered by that comment as he looked to them still allowing his wife to go on with her statements.

Siena looked to Blue as she mentioned school and she took her all in, rubbing her hands against her nearly bald head she looked to her young sister shocked by her words actually. It came off a bit rude, and insensitive to their mother and brother not to mention Luca had feelings to. “He has feelings Phoenix, you speak on his as if he’s mentally retarded. The boy could be in college right now if he could sustain myself” she said as she shifted on the couch. “That babies won’t be mentally retarded I am sure and even if they are, we can’t just like not love them” she added. “However” she pointed out “I don’t intend on living without my fucking mother” she said outright.

Blue looked to Phoenix, her eyes going wide. “Hey,” she said quickly. “Phoenix, please think before you speak,” she said. “Yes, everyone knows Luca has a condition but he’s fine, he can still function and is a normal kid and has the possibility of growing out of it,” she said honestly. Everyone knew Luca was her favorite, so she felt some type of away about the comments.

Phoenix looked to her sisters. “I wasn’t saying it to be mean, I was just stating the facts,” she said honestly. “It’s a fact, the twins could also have something and being that mom and dad are older, it won’t be as easy to deal with, if they do, as it was with Luca, especially with their being two of them...,” she said looking around at everyone. Of the bunch, she was the analytical one, she thought things through and looked at things from every angle. It was just truly a possibility. “I’m just trying to understand…” she said.

Ava’s neck jerked back fiercely. “Siena!” she said raising her voice, which was rare. “I know you better go wash your mouth out with soap, using that type of language in my house,” she said shaking her head. “You know better,” she said. “Me being pregnant doesn’t mean you can speak any ol’ type of way,” she said sternly before she looked to Phoenix. She knew that the girl wasn’t trying to be rude or mean about her little brother, she knew that Phoenix loved her little brother. “Sweetheart, there’s always going to be a possibility of something. Like I said, it’s out of my hands and if it turns out, then’ll we’ll do whatever is needed but let’s not think about it right now,” she said. “As of right now, they’re both healthy, I am healthy, and we’ve got zero worries,” she said. “We just wanted to let you all know so that you can get used to the idea and be prepared for two more babies in the household. “It’ll be an adjustment and take some getting used to,” she said, “now, yes, your father and I are getting older and we could use the help but we’re not going to force anything into you all. We would appreciate it, but at the end of the day it’s not your responsibility,” she said. “You just need to be mindful that there will be babies in the house, so watch noise levels and keep hazardous things away from them, off of the floors, and if possible always wash your hands before handling them.”

Samuel watched as the girls brickered back and forth and he looked to his wife before Siena flew out the mouth with some choice words. Samuel titled his head at her and said “don’t ever let me hear you say that again Siena” he said without much conviction because honestly raising his voice or even getting angry wasn’t his thing. He was already quiet so him falling silent wasn’t a shocker, however him having to speak should, be at any point of time. “Your mother is fine, the babies are fine, we are fine” he told them all. “We don’t have to fight or argue over this” he said seriously “it is a choice of which your mother and I get to make only” he added. “If we felt that this wasn’t something we would want to pursue we would have done what two adults needed to do” he said. “Babies are nothing short of miracles” he told them “that’s what we thought of each of you, no exception to Luca…”

Siena looked to her baby sister and then to her mother as she hung her for the statement she made. “I’m sorry” she said covering her face a bit with the sleeve of her hoodie. “It won’t happen again” she said truthfully, she didn’t know what came over her either, she just had so much going on right now. So much hurt in different places, she couldn’t possibly afford to lose anything else she’d already lost herself. As her father spoke up as well, she dropped her hand leaning back against the couch and she folded her arms as she listened. “Sorry” she said apologizing for not only herself but her siblings “you are right we shouldn’t be fighting over something like this” she told them.

Blue looked over at Siena as she hid behind her jacket and she reached over, rubbing her sister’s back gently. Looking over to Phoenix she nodded slowly, understanding what she meant and where she was coming from after she explained herself. As their parents spoke, she let out a sigh. She needed to step up, “I can… I can take a year off before I go to college, to help out around the house,” she said quietly, looking down at the floor, her wavy hair covering her face.

Phoenix, looking at her sisters, then at her parents as they spoke and she shifted on the seat, shocked by Blue’s statement. She really always thought that Blue hated them all but maybe she was just putting on a show that entire time. Licking her lips, she looked to her parents as they spoke and she nodded more. So, she had nothing to worry about. Everything would be fine. “Okay…” she said, trying to wrap her head around it all. “I love you guys too,” she said looking to her parents, then to her sister.

Ava gazed at Samuel, then at their children and she was shocked by Blue. “We couldn’t ask you to do that Blue,” she said honestly. “You’ve been trying to get out of this house forever,” she said, “now you want to stay?” she asked shocked. “You and Ariel have a plan, stick with that,” she said before she looked to Siena and she sighed out, their baby girl was just going through so much. Turning her eyes to Phoenix, she said, “I love you too baby girl, all of you,” she said looking at her children before she looked up at the ceiling towards Luca’s room.

Blue approached Siena’s bedroom slowly as she iced her fist from the fight that had taken place earlier that day. Blue had known for a while what had happened but because Siena never came to her, she never said anything, but she guessed now the cat was out of the bag after she’d literally squared up with Jessie. Sighing, she knocked on the door, wincing slightly as she did. “Hey booty, can I come in?”

Siena laid in her bed, pushed all the way back against the wall as she laid there with a hood over her head and her body buried under mounds of cover. As her sister knocked on her door, using her pet name she sighed heavily “sure” she called to her in the dark gloomy room.

As Siena gave her the go-ahead, Blue slowly opened the door and crept into the dark room. As the door closed behind her, she flicked on the light, squinting for a few seconds before her eyes adjusted and she walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed as she turned to her sister. “I’m sorry,” she began.

Siena watched her sister walk in and she partially covered her face as she turned the light on. She didn’t know when the last time she had done that was, she barely ate, did no homework, and only made it her business to shower and brush her teeth these days. “For?” she said in a low voice as she peered at her from under her hood.

“Embarrassing you even more today,” Blue said as she climbed further onto the bed, kicking her slides off her feet as she did. “That wasn’t my intentions, but I couldn’t let him walk about like fucking King Tut any longer,” she admitted.

At her sisters’ words Siena closed her eyes for a bit before she opened them saying “nothing is more embarrassing than him using me for my body Blue…” she breathed out.

Blue frowned and slid closer to her sister, wrapping Siena up in her arms. She stroked Siena’s hair gently and said, “I’m sorry booty.” She hugged Siena close to her. “I wish I could have protected you from that, from him…” she said softly.

As her sister leaned in close to her, hugging her slightly she let a tear roll down her cheek slowly. She sniffled before she said “it’s not your fault” quietly. “I should not have been so stupid” Siena said.

“You weren’t stupid,” Blue said quietly. “You were in love…” she whispered, rubbing her sister’s shoulder lovingly. “We’ve all been there,” she said quietly, trying to reassure her sister.

Siena blinked a few times before she sighed “love is stupid” she said bitterly. “No one will ever want me now…”

“Oh Booty,” Blue sighed out. “That’s so not true,” she said as she gently pulled the covers down to uncover her sisters face. “You’ve got people on your side Booty,” she said gently. “And you’ll love again,” she said, hugging her tightly. “Your heart is so big,” she said softly, “please don’t let this idiot harden your heart.”

Siena rubbed her wet eyes again, some days she really felt her sister hated being a part of their family, hated having to associate with them. But moments like this reminded her of all the good that comes from having an older sister. Her words made her cry harder and she sniffled hard as she hugged her sister back.

Blue hugged Siena back as she cried, and she rubbed soothing circles into her back. “You’re so special,” she told her little sister. “So, so special and your light shines so bright, please, please, please don’t even dim it for anyone,” she said into her Siena’s shoulder as she held her.

Siena sniffled again at her sister’s words, and she nodded her head at her. “Okay” she said in a shaky voice, not sure if she fully believed her much like she hadn’t with her mother but again just a little better she felt.

Blue pulled back slowly and she held Siena by her shoulders. “You gotta be you again sis,” she said gently. “He might have taken a piece of you, but it was only a fraction,” she said gently. “You’re still in there somewhere and I need you to dig deep and find that girl,” she said before she laughed softly. “I need my snot nosed, rapping, goofy ass sister back,” she said lovingly. “There’s only room in this house for one grungy ass piece of trash,” she said with a smile, ragging on herself, “and I’m not giving up my spot because then I’ll have to wear dresses and comb my hair,” she said playfully.

At Blue’s words Siena smiled a bit at that, her sister was right about this somewhat. She was sure her parents and everyone else hated seeing her like this, even though she couldn’t help how she felt deep down inside. “I know” she said wiping a few more tears and she sat up and when she did, she wrapped her arms around Blue tightly. “Thank you” she breathed “for kicking his ass” she told her lovingly.

Blue chuckled softly and said, “you’re welcome,” as she hugged her sister back just as tightly. “You know these boys can’t touch this,” she said with a laugh as she pulled back, gesturing to her long, gangly frame. “I tower over most of them,” she said, “so height advantage,” she said with a smirk. “And Jessie shat his pants, I’m sure of it.”

At Blue’s words Siena dipped her head, smiling to herself a bit before she looked back up.

Blue smirked. “I got him good too, bloodied his mouth, blacked his eye,” she told her sister honestly. “He hurt my baby sister, I hurt him,” she said raising her bruised fist to her lips and blowing on it. “Float like a butterfly, string like a bee.”

Siena covered her mouth as she chuckled to herself, it’s what he deserved after all he’d done. Thinking about the beating her sister gave him, only made her a tad bit happier on the inside. “The mighty Blue” she breathed with a smirk.

“I try, I try,” Blue said as she dusted her shoulders off. She let out a hum before she looked at her sister seriously. “You’re going to be alright Booty.”

“Yeah, I am going to be okay” Siena told Blue as she looked up at her again.

Blue had enough. She was so sick of hearing people whisper and talk about her sister. At first, she had no idea what was going on but as the rumors spread more and more, she learned very quickly that Jessie had played her little sister and she was pissed. Livid actually and that was about a week ago. She had spent a week sitting on her hands because it was her senior year and she had a lot riding on graduating and moving away with Ariel for college. She couldn’t mess this up, however, upon talking to her mother, she knew that she had to. Her mother had given her permission to go in and she was ready, suspension or not, she was hyped up as she stood in the hallway near her locker, her long wavy hair already pulled back into a ponytail as she looked up and down the hallway, waiting to see Jessie. He was known to frequent that hallway, she assumed that he had a class or two on it, so she was just waiting.

Jessie rounded the corner smoothly, her hadn’t a care in the World as he stuck his hands into the pocket of his uniform cardigan. He moved down the hallway towards his next class, goofing off with a couple of his pals as he combed his hands through his dark hair.

Blue watched as Jessie turned the corner and she cracked her knuckles as she pushed people out of her way, stalking towards him. “Jessie!” she called out as she stood in the middle of the hallway. “I gotta talk to you,” she said loudly, her tongue rolling over her lips.

Jessie shook his head at his friend before he heard his name booming through the hallway, he looked up and saw Siena’s oldest sister, Blue. He stopped in his tracks and looked to his friends as they all continued to scatter leaving him their alone. He continued to walk no less still heading for his class, he knew what this was about, and he wasn’t going to engage.

Blue looked Jessie dead in his eyes as his friends scattered. “I’m talking to you,” she said with a grunt. “You had a whole lot to say before, why you so quiet now?” she asked him as he called himself walking past her and she turned, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and slamming him into the lockers, her arm pressed up against his throat. “Boy I’ll… owh!” she huffed out. She was beyond pissed as her face turned red.

Jessie heard Blue but he chose to ignore the aggressive girl as she taunted him in front of other kids. As she grabbed him and slammed him against the locker, he flinches a bit. “I don’t know what you are talking about girl” he said easily.

Blue immediately drew back and punched Jessie in the mouth at his lie. “Shut your lying mouth!” she grunted out. “You know exactly what you did you bastard,” she sneered as she hit him again, this time in the eye. “You’re going to man up and apologize to my sister,” she huffed out as she slammed her hand down against the lockers beside his head.

Jessie hissed as the older girl punched him in the mouth, licking his lips he felt and tasted some blood pooling there and he looked to her wildly before she landed another one. Jessie covered his eyes crying out “are you nuts?” he asked her seriously. “I’m not apologizing for shit” the boy said easily to her.

“Oh yes you are!” Blue said as she grabbed by his collar, lifting him up and letting him dangle. “You’re going to fucking tell her that you’re sorry and that you’re an ass!” she yelled out before she dropped him to the floor and leaned over him, punching him in his mouth once more. “My sister is good and decent, and you fucking ruined her you pig,” she grunted out.

Jessie looked to the girl with somewhat wide eyes as she lifted him from his feet. Falling to the floor Jessie attempted to get away from Blue with no luck, his parents always told him not to hit a girl. But each punch she landed only made he more and more upset as he swung his balled fist at her “leave me the fuck alone Blue!” he commanded. Jessie tried to use his feet to kick the tall girl as she stood over him.

Blue snarled at the boy. “Tell her your sorry!” Blue commanded back of him, grabbing his foot as he tried to kick her. “You’re a bitch!” she grunted. “A pussy ass boy!” she huffed out as she kicked him in his side, creasing her crisp white sneakers in the process. “A predator!” she huffed out kicking him again. “You motherfucker!” she grunted, prepared to kick him in the face when a faculty member snatched her back.

Jessie wasn’t much of a fighter to begin with, so he didn’t know why he tried. As the girl kicked him, he grunted with each blow, this crazy chick was going to kill him. As she forced to stop, he laid there, his hands up defensively before he dropped them, laying there in agony.

“What is going on here!” Mr. Thompson, the eleventh-grade math teacher said sternly. “Blue!” he said as he held her while she kicked and fought against him. “What is the meaning of this?!” he asked holding the girl tight so that she couldn’t get away.

“He’s a pig!” Blue huffed out before she looked to Mr. Thompson. “He hurt my sister!” she said angrily. “Then he started spreading lies and rumors, I couldn’t take it anymore!” she grunted, sneering towards Jessie.

Jessie shifted, trying to pull himself up off the ground and her cradled his side as he did so. “She’s crazy!” he said pointing to Blue, his lip still bleeding from when she punched him in his mouth.

Now wait a minute Blue that’s your grandmother. You know she’s getting older and she can’t run around you kids as easily as your father and I can, but I do commend you for stepping up and looking out and taking care of your brother and sisters. I’m proud of you. 

I am so happy to be back home though, even if I am getting sick.

Seeing all of you children is the best part. How was it with your grandmother?

Ava bit her lip gently as she made a plate of food for her husband, despite the fact that he wanted nothing to do with her. Even though her feelings were hurt she was still a wife, she couldn’t turn it off. Adding more rice and beans to his plate, she looked around the kitchen as their children made their plates as well and she shifted around Blue to add a chicken breast to Samuel’s plate, along with a dinner roll and some peas and carrots. Moving for the dining room, she sat the plate before her husband, avoiding looking at him as she did so. With that she turned on her heels, moving away as she announced to their children. “You all enjoy, I’m not really hungry. I’m going to go lay down,” she told them softly.

Samuel sat at the dinner table anticipating his dinner, as the kids fixed their own plates he looked to his wife. She sat the plate down without saying a word to him and he guessed it was because he had asked her not to. He also asked her not to look at him which he assumed she took literal since she did not. Licking his lips slowly as she announced that she wasn’t eating with them as a family because she wasn’t hungry, he sighed. He would never ever voluntarily cause his wife to cry or hurt her on purpose. He said those things but, in his mind, he was just asking for space. And though she did give it to him, having slept in the guest bedroom he didn’t like the lonely feeling that brought him. Picking up his fork, he began to eat quietly, little by little.

Blue looked at her mother curiously as she left them to eat alone and she arched an eyebrow. They always ate as a family, no matter what. Looking to her father, she arched another eyebrow at him. “Is mom okay?” she asked curiously before she sat at the table.

Ava moved up the steps and into the guest bedroom, closing the door behind her softly because she didn’t want their children to know that they were sleeping in different rooms. Laying down on the bed, she curled up on her side, her back facing the door as she stared at the wall with tears in her eyes. She absolutely hated that her husband was mad at her, of course he had the right to be, she had hit him. However, she had done all that she could to apologize and truly show that she was sorry. She didn’t know what else could be done. Never mind the fact that she in her own right had the right to be upset, he had been lying to her for weeks and she was flustered. Sighing out, she closed her eyes, blinking away fresh tears.

Samuel forked rice into his mouth slowly at his daughter’s question he ignored her at first. “Eat your food Blue” he said to her as he continued to eat his own. It was none of their children’s business what was going on right now, they never let them in on anything of this caliber before and he didn’t plan on doing so today.

Siena looked between Blue and her dad as she moved to sit down at the table with him. She looked at his demeanor, he wasn’t ‘happy’ he hadn’t been for weeks and she didn’t know why. And now her mother was walking around with a questionable disposition. What was going on?  

Luca swung his feet back and forth, as he stuffed food into his mouth. Luca hadn’t taken an actual pill in three consecutive days; he was off his rockers at this point. And luckily for him his parents were too busy consuming themselves with other things until he had no clue what he had done. Licking his lips, he jumped up and ran into the kitchen with his plate looking to Phoenix as he said, “can you put more food on my plate?”  

Phoenix waited until everyone was finished with their plates, simply because she didn’t feel like moving around all the bodies in the kitchen. So, once everyone was out of the way, she made her plate of food starting with the chicken. She was just about done making her plate when Luca came rushing towards her and she sat her plate on the counter quickly, so that she didn’t drop it as he bounced. “Slow down kid,” she said to him as she took the plate asking, “what more do you want?” she asked him, wondering if he was really going to eat it all.

Blue scrunched her nose up at her father and she ate her food, eyeing him still. “But you’re not going to go check on mom?” she asked him shocked. Usually her parents were annoyingly stuck at the hip when they were both in the house and now it seemed as if they wanted nothing to do with each other.

Luca nodded his head to his sister as he bounced on his tippy toes a bit, “chicken!” he said loudly to her even though she was very near. “More chicken I am hungry” he exclaimed.

Samuel continued to eat, and he finally looked up at Blue before he looked down. “Your mother doesn’t want to eat…” he told her “she isn’t dying Blue” he countered as he continued to eat. He dropped his gaze and ripped a piece of chicken on the bone popping it into his mouth.

Phoenix eyed Luca carefully. “Are you okay?” she asked him as he bounced, and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Calm down,” she said to him quietly before she began to add more chicken onto his plate. “Here you go,” she said as she handed it back to him before she resumed her own plate, finishing it off.

Blue looked at her dad and tilted her head to the side as she eyed him. “Right…” she said before she looked down at her plate. Something was definitely going on.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Luca asked his older sister even as he zoomed around her grabbed a napkin and zoomed back towards her and his plate. “I am calm,” he said to her as he folded his arms over his chest and looked to her crazily. “Thanks” he said running back to the table clutching his plate and he climbed in his chair and began to eat again.

Samuel continued to eat his food silently to himself, ignoring his oldest daughters last statement. He didn’t know what his next plan of action was right now, but clearly if it were trickling down to their children, he needed to do something.

Phoenix watched Luca as he ran out of the kitchen and she shook her head. “How have mom and dad not done anything about him?” she muttered to herself as she made her way into the dining room, sitting down before she asked. “Where’s mom?”

Blue looked at Phoenix as she sat down. “Laying down apparently, she said that she wasn’t hungry,” she told Phoenix before she looked at Samuel pointedly.

Samuel watched Luca as he sat down and ate his food, something was off about the kid today, but he didn’t know what it was. He looked to Phoenix and then to Blue as she responded to the girl. Changing the subject, he asked “how was everybody’s day?”

Phoenix looked at Blue oddly before she looked at her father. “It was okay…” she said softly before she asked. “Is mom okay? She always eats with us,” she said thinking it over.

“I don’t know…” Blue said shrugging slightly. “Is she okay dad?” she asked looking at him even harder now.

“Yeah dad” Siena drugged out behind her sisters, “is she okay, is she sick maybe?” she said licking her lips.

Samuel eyes moved to Phoenix, moved to Blue, and then they moved to Sienna slowly. He just wanted to have dinner, but he guessed that would not be happening tonight, so instead he pushed his plate away. He sat back in the chair and looked to Luca before he said, “would you also like to know what’s wrong with your mother son?”

Luca looked to his sisters as he gnawed on his chicken bone, as his father spoke, he looked to him and he shook his head. “Isn’t it obvious that you two are not seeing eye to eye right now. It’s probably because father lost his job” the little boy said as he moved back to his chicken.

Phoenix looked between Samuel and Blue and she watched as Samuel pushed his plate away and she bit her lip, just wanting to know what was going on. At Luca’s response, Phoenix’s eyes grew wide and she said, “what?”

Blue continued to eat as she waited for their father to admit that something was indeed wrong with their mother.  When Luca finally spoke up, Blue began choking on a piece of chicken and she patted her chest, trying to help.

Siena looked between her father and siblings and when Luca spoke, she turned to his slowly. “We are broke?” she exclaimed as she whipped her head in her father’s direction. “Dad, how could you?” she asked.

Samuel squinted Luca, as his face grew red “who told you that? I didn’t lose my damn job I quit it” he told him. “And no, we aren’t broke. And no that has nothing to do with that woman upstairs as a matter of fact. Why don’t you all ask HER why she isn’t eating” he said angrily as he stood up from the table and walked off headed for his office.

Phoenix was taken back completely. When had their father lost his job? That meant all of the financial responsibility fell on their mother, who made decent money on her own, but it was really the combined income of both their parents that kept up the lifestyle. She was broken out of her train of thought when Samuel left the table angrily and she looked around at her siblings shocked.

Blue’s neck jerked back at Samuel’s words and as he stormed off, she looked to Sienna muttering to her, “that woman?” Clearly their parents were upset with each other or something, rather it had something to do with their fathering being jobless or not, but for their father to not even refer to their mother by her name, shook Blue to her core and she said, “… they’re going to get divorced…”

Siena looked to her father as he snapped on them all, looking to him as he continued to speak on her mother making statements that shocked her. She looked to Blue and frowned as she repeated her father’s words and at her last statement, she said “they wouldn’t do that to us would they?” shocked as she looked to her confused. “What will we do if they do?”

Luca looked to his angry dad and he placed his chicken on his plate, as the man stormed off and Blue told them they were getting a divorce his eyes grew the size of his face. “What?” he said to him as he instantly began to cry out in frustration and anger. He loved his parents and he loved them together. Luca screamed loudly before he stormed off for his bedroom slamming his door behind himself.

Phoenix frowned up her face at Blue’s words and she shook her head. “Don’t say that Blue,” she said as the thought truly occurred to her. “We’d all have to either split up or split our time between them…” she said before she watched Luca, flinching as he screamed before storming off.

“I mean have you ever seen them like this before. I know I haven’t,” Blue said looking to Sienna, then to Phoenix nodding slowly. When Luca began screaming, Blue’s face scrunched up. “Luca, shh, no it’s okay,” she said as she stood up quickly, moving for him but as he stormed off, she stopped in her tracks, looking at her two younger sisters sadly, actually showing emotion for a change.

Ava had cried herself to sleep, but it wasn’t restful as she tossed and turned in the bed. When Luca began screaming, she sat up in the bed quickly before she heard the door slam. She jumped out of the bed quickly, wiping her eyes as she did and she rushed out of the room, looking for her son. “Luca?!” she said slightly frantic as she opened his door quickly. “What’s wrong?” she asked looking at him in shock to see his tears. “Oh sweetheart,” she said as she walked over, scooping him up into her arms and holding him close as she sat on the bed. “What happened baby, why are you so upset?” she asked him.

Luca stormed over to his bed and he let out another angry scream as his mother walked into his room, he gazed at her with bright red eyes, a flood of tears having soaked his face by now. He couldn’t place his emotions without his medicine all he did was raged. As she moved to pick him up and take him into her arms as he sat on his bed, he screamed again behind closed lips he was so mad at her. “H-how could you” he stammered barely capable of getting words out sitting against her with his fist balled. “You are going to divorce daddy!” he screamed as he banged his fist against his head. “I won’t see my sisters” he cried out, “I won’t see my daddy” he said cried loudly.

Ava gazed at her son, shocked beyond belief as he screamed once more and she looked him over in her arms, trying to figure out what had gotten into him. “How could I what baby?” she asked him, trying to understand. “What?!” Ava said shocked, looking at Luca with wide eyes. “Sweetheart, what are you talking about?” she asked as she rubbed his back soothingly. “Your father and I are not getting a divorce,” she said him softly, trying to calm him down. “Why would you ever think that?” she asked, wondering if it was that obvious that she and Samuel we’re at odds right now.

“Blue said it” Luca replied back to her brokenly, even though she said they weren’t he knew his parents weren’t themselves. “Then why didn’t you eat dinner!” he yelled at her “why didn’t daddy check on you like Blue asked him to!”

Ava stared at Luca as he rambled off various things and she nodded slowly, gently stroking his cheeks before she took his face into her hands and forced him to look into her eyes. “Luca, honey, take a deep breath with me okay,” she said as she inhaled deeply, holding it for three seconds before she released. “Again,” she told him as she did so once more. “Now, calm yourself,” she told him as she released his face and continued to rub his back. “Blue doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” she said finally responding to what information he had given her. “Baby, I just wanted to lay down,” she informed him. “Mommy was tired,” she said gently, still rubbing his back in soothing circles. “Daddy just wanted to let me rest,” she told him trying to get him to calm his nerves. It was clear to her that he hadn’t taken his medicine again today.

Luca looked to his mother only because of the mere fact that she had made him, he looked in her eyes as did as instruct. Breathing in and out in time with her before he nodded his head at the older woman. Resting against her plush body tiredly, he held her to himself as she spoke to explain that his sister was educated, or at least that’s what he determined. “Okay” he said to her quietly, it was simple as that he was calm though he still shed some tears he was calmer with his mother’s touch and tricks.

Ava nodded slowly and began to rock from left to right with Luca, holding him close as he laid against here. Rubbing his back, she let out a small sigh of relief as he began to calm himself down. She pressed a kiss to his forehead and continued to rock him, rubbing his back for a while longer. Finally, after about 5 minutes she asked, “are you okay?”

Luca hugged his mother, arms wrapping around her waist as she rocked him soothingly. He closed his eyes as she kissed his forehead and when she spoke again, he nodded his head at her. Though he were sad, he would be okay, and he knew that.

Ava continued to hold Luca close even as he nodded his head and she nodded along with him, brushing her fingers over his hair lovingly. “I love you baby,” she said to him sweetly.

“I love you too mommy,” Luca sniffled as he looked to her with big brown dough eyes.

Samuel moved up the stairs slowly, he knew that it had to been Luca screaming at the top of his lungs acting like some wild animal that was not actually birthed from his wife’s womb. He turned the corner as he moved towards the boy’s bedroom when he reached the landing he peered in “have you lost your mind boy? What is wrong with you?” he asked never mind his wife who was sitting on the bed holding him as if he were an infant.

Ava looked up at Samuel as he came into the room and she tucked her lips inward as she stood from the bed, adjusting Luca in her arms, her hands now under his bum as he walked past Samuel, mumbling. “It’s okay, he’s fine.” Walking to the guest bedroom once more, she entered it, closing the door with her foot before she laid Luca on the bed. “It’s okay sweetheart,” she said before she told him. “I’ll be right back.” Walking back out, she looked to Samuel with wide eyes. “You told Blue we were getting divorced?” She asked him in a hushed tone, the hurt on her face apparent.

As his wife walked past him, he eyes her before he looked away moving to turn on his heels. Of course, it was her m.o. to baby him and not discipline him as she should. Samuel left his hands in his pockets as his wife left and returned, he looked back at her. “What?” he asked her confused. “No, I didn’t. So, I hope she didn’t lie and tell you that” he said angrily.

Ava dropped her eyes, still not really looking at him. “No, she told Luca that hence his screaming and crying,” she informed her husband. “He hasn’t been taking his medication, so his emotions are all over the place,” she told her husband, already knowing what was wrong with their son. Looking at the carpet, covering the space of hardwood they were standing on, Ava shifted her weight slightly, gently crossing her arms over her body, her hands holding her elbows. “Why would she think that?” she asked her husband, still looking down.

At her words Samuel furrowed his brows, why did his family hate him so? Why didn’t they ever let him have a break? Licking his lips, he shook his head “because you didn’t eat dinner” he informed his wife as he grabbed her by her elbow and pulled her close to him. “Which isn’t your fault” he told her “it was because of me and the hurtful things I said to you,” he told her resting his chin on her head. “When the kids asked me to check on you, I should have” he said as well. “I’m sorry, you have to know that I didn’t mean those things. And that I love you very much. And that I would never ever divorce you, unless it is you that would want to get rid of me” he told her as he ran his hand up and down her back lovingly.

Ava bit her lip gently, nodding along. Of course, her not eating with the family is what did it. They always ate as a family, or at least sat as a family, even if she wasn’t hungry. As Samuel gently touched her, she looked at him through her eyelashes, her head still hanging slightly. Leaning against him gently, Ava closed her eyes as he spoke, and she sighed out. “I love you too,” she whispered sadly, “and I accept your apology,” she said gently. “I’m sorry too baby…”

Samuel leaned up and he leaned his wife’s head up by her chin kissing her lips gently. “I know you didn’t mean to do it, I guess I just felt so… you made me feel like a weak little bitch” he finally told her. “I guess that’s why I was so upset…” he sighed. “But I should have never treated you that way and no matter how many lies I told in that instance. You don’t know how much I just want to run off and vacay with you baby…” he smirked.

As Samuel leaned her head up, Ava kissed his lips back tenderly. At his words, she bit her lip, nodding slowly. “I still shouldn’t have hit you regardless, I was just so…” she trailed off. “I wasn’t thinking clearly,” she admitted. “We can still go,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m still off until she 15th.”

Samuel nodded his head, “I have to be truthful with you, I should have been truthful with you about that. I am about anything else” he said. “I guess I would not have ever thought you’d find me a man to ever mess around Ava. I love with all my heart; do you know that?” he asked her.

Ava bit her lip gently, looking up at her husband. “I know you would never cheat on me,” she said, shaking her head. “I just… I got jealous and then to find out that you’d been lying…” she looked down ashamed of herself. “I have to be more rational,” she said knowingly. “I do, I do know that,” she said gently. “And I love you with all my heart too,” she whispered.

Samuel sat on the couch among everyone as he looked at his watch as they all waited for Blue to join them downstairs. The girl only truly had one more second to surface, respectfully he asked for a moment of their time. The thought of her moving when she got ready was pissing him off greatly and he was trying to mask it behind the rubbing of his lips and the sideways glances he gave his wife who sat comfortably next to his broad body. He couldn’t be upset he knew that; he couldn’t get upset, that he knew even more. His anger had gotten the best of him with his wife months back and he vowed that that would never happen again with anyone. But right now? He was reaching his peak.

Ava sat on the couch beside her husband, humming softly to herself as she scrolled Facebook on her phone, reading various stories and watching many videos as they waited for their eldest child to join the family meeting. In all honesty, Ava was curious to figure out what was going on herself, however she wasn’t going to question it. Her husband was just up to something and like their children, she was going to have to wait to see what it was.

With a huff of annoyance, Blue finally came trotting down the stairs to join the family. Beats over her ears and music blasting through them as she text Ariel, already thinking whatever was going on with the family was stupid. It had to be if her father was calling an unscheduled meeting. At the thought she rolled her eyes as she moved into the living room, socks sliding across the hardwood as she plopped down on the couch beside Siena, turning the music down in her headphones but not taking them off.

Siena looked to Blue as she finally joined them, glad that she did. She was actually anxious to hear what her father wanted to talk to everyone about and by the looks of things her mother had no clue either. But she did know her father wasn’t as vocal as her mother, he stayed quiet and she always wondered why that was, however he was getting ready to speak before them now, so she assumed she’d better listen. “What is this all about dad?” she asked quietly.

Luca looked to his parents fidgeting slightly, his parents had made the mistake of not giving him his medicine that morning and no one caught on. He was on edge, a hyper ball of energy that was bursting at the seams. He bounced from one seat to the next before he ended up on the couch with his mother and father. Luca laid his head on his mother’s lap, feet curled up as he toyed with the hem of her dress humming to himself playfully. His head popped up when Blue surfaced and he slid across his mother’s lap, as a baby would to its mother as he looked to his father expectantly. “Father has a secret to tell” he babbled as he tugged at his mother’s dress.

Sitting on the couch, Phoenix curled up in the corner with a blanket and her phone as she scrolled Instagram, smirking and giggling to herself at certain posts. When Blue finally arrived, she sat her phone off to the side and snuggled up under her blanket even more as she looked to her father expectantly.

As Blue surfaced, Samuel gazed at her long and hard. He would have sneered if he was sure his wife nor his other children would have heard him do so. Pulling his eyes away from the girl he said “we all know the rules here. No electronics” he said in a gruff voice “headphones included” he added looking back to Blue. “Great that you asked Siena. I called this meeting to talk about Christmas this year. It’s vastly approaching, and I need you all to know that, it won’t be spent here” he told them.

Looking down at Luca, Ava gently stroked his hair with her freehand as he shifted and fidgeted and wiggled while he played with her dress. She eyed him carefully, wondering why he simply couldn’t be still. Especially when he climbed over her lap. “Luca, what are you doing?” she asked him softly, sitting her phone down as she cradled the 11-year old in her arms.

Blue rolled her eyes as she pulled the headphones around her neck. “I can hear you,” she said with a huff as she folded her arms over her chest and at the announcement, Blue moved to stand up. “Whoopity doo,” looking between her parents. “I don’t care where we spend it, can I go now?”

Siena looked to her brother oddly, what was up with him she didn’t know it was like he had reverted back to an infant like state of mind. As her father spoke her eyes grew “yes, where are we going dad?” she asked him happily. As she looked to her sister, she sighed heavily. Blue always had to put a damper on a family moment.

Luca licked his dry lips and he looked to his mother letting her dress go, “nothing” he said to her with a smirk. As he shifted, despite his long limbs he rested in her arms gently cuddling up to her bosom as his dad spoke. He wasn’t interested in grown folks talk; he was just here because he had to be. He didn’t care where Christmas was spent as long as he got gifts.

Phoenix looked at her father as he began to explain what was happening. “We’re going on a Christmas trip?” she asked curiously. “Jazlyn and I were going to go see the light show this year, her dad agreed to take us.”

Samuel allowed everyone to speak and he looked to Blue “please sit down, I don’t have it in me to deal with you irrational and misplaced attitude” he said in a deep voice. “No” he replied to his daughters easily. “You all are going to your grandparents’ home this Christmas and your mother and I will be going on vacation. That is part of her gift from me. We are going to the Bahamas for two weeks” he said “I, sadly enough, do not care about any plans. Sorry Phoenix. You aren’t vacationing anywhere, you guys can’t even comprehend the need for a vacation, sorry Siena” he said exhaustedly. “I just wanted to make you all aware, of what’s happening” he told them.

Stroking Luca’s cheek, Ava watched him carefully before she slowly shook her head at the rest of their children. Blue’s attitude was out of control and they really needed to do something about it. At Samuel’s announcement that he was taking her to the Bahamas, she looked at him shocked. “Baby, I have to work… you know the holidays are the busiest time of the year.”

Blue let out an exasperated sigh as she plopped back down. “GRANDPARENTS?! Nah, I’m good. I am old enough to stay here by myself,” she voiced out-right. “Send them,” she said fanning to her brother and sisters, “not me.”

Siena looked to her dad and then to her mom “what?” she said disappointedly as she sat back pouting. He owed them all a trip he’d promised it a while back and fell through. Looking at her siblings, she sighed and quietly watched on.

Luca looked back to his dad, his head tilted upwards, he held his mother’s plush body and looked to the rest of the crew. “I love grandma and grandpa’s though” he said quietly.  

Phoenix pouted, poking her lip out. “That’s not fair,” she mumbled dejectedly as she pulled her blanket even tighter around her, now sad that she wasn’t able to see the light show with her friend.

Samuel looked to his wife, he expected her to be excited for this trip. It would be two weeks without any kids to worry about and it was a vacation for work after all. Something they both needed considering how much they worked. Looking to Blue, who he’d never get any respect from. Then looking to Siena who clearly hated the idea of not being able to go on a family vacation. Then there was Phoenix who was upset that she couldn’t be with her friend this Christmas. Looking to their son, he silently got up from the couch and walked off from the group. That was the tip, the very peak, and the crack in the dam that he did not want them to see as he removed himself from the meeting he actually called for.

Ava frowned softly at their children and their responses. Of course, they had holiday plans of some sort, they were teenagers. What was Samuel thinking? As her husband got up, she looked at him, shocked. “Baby,” she said gently as she stood up, Luca on her hip now and she let out a grunt at that. He sure was getting heavy. Never mind the fact that he was 11 and far too old to still be riding on her hip. She sat him on the couch before she said to the children. “Meeting over, you’re all dismissed.” With that, she went after her husband. “Sam…” she said as she moved in the same direction he had.

“Yes?” Samuel said simply to his wife as he moved to find his briefcase, there housed all the information for the vacation he booked. It wasn’t too late for him to cancel the plans and at least get a portion of the money he’d spent back. Once he located his briefcase, he moved towards his in-home office.

Ava sighed softly at her husband’s curt response. “Baby, I’m sorry,” she said honestly. “I had no idea you were planning this,” she said as she moved behind him swiftly, placing a hand on his back. “If I had known, I could have made arrangements,” she breathed out gently. “I can still try if you really wanna go,” she said already thinking about who she could call to cover her.

“Nope, it’s fine” Samuel replied easily as he searched for his cellular phone on his desk. “It was my mistake for trying to surprise you, my mistake for not putting all of my kids wishes and desires before my own” he said agitatedly. “I’ll cancel the plans, maybe I’ll get some money back from it. I’ll call my mother-in-law and tell her we aren’t going, and that will be that” he said never looking to her as he opened his briefcase and pulled out the itinerary information along with the resort, he booked information.

Ava sighed out listening to her husband and she was slightly taken back by his tone. Did he honestly have an attitude with her? Watching him as he moved around the room, looking for something, she nodded slowly. She wasn’t about to do this with him. “Okay honey…” she said as she turned to walk out of the room.

“Ava!” Samuel said with authority laced in every syllable, he shifted in his seat. Leaning up her told her “we can talk about this, I’ll calm down, and you don’t need to walk away from me” he voiced.

Turning on her heels slowly, Ava looked at her husband, one eyebrow raised as she stepped back into the room and closed the door behind her. “Okay,” she said softly as she moved to perch herself on the side of the desk.

“I’m angry because I wanted to surprise you with a trip, just you and I. No kids, no responsibilities, no problems” he said. “Why did you automatically dismiss it? Do you not want to go?” he asked her. “You don’t think we need a break?” Samuel asked her.

Ava leaned on the desk slightly, looking at her husband as he spoke, and she sighed. “Of course, I want to go,” she said thoughtfully, “and I didn’t mean to just dismiss it but…” she sighed once more. “I do have things to think about when I get surprises like this,” she said softly. “I’m already set to scrub in on surgeries and the holidays are the worst when it comes to emergencies and walk-ins…” she explained. “I need to make provisions… “

“I’ll just change the date” Samuel said defeatedly, when did their jobs control their every move to the point where they couldn’t even make the executive decision to live there on lives he didn’t know. But the thought annoyed him greatly.

At his solution, Ava shook her head and stood up, walking over to him. She placed a gentle hand on his chest. “No, don’t, I’ll figure it out,” she said gently. “I can get someone to fill in for me,” she told him gently.

“It’s not going to work; they always call upon you for everything at that hospital” Samuel said sadly. He just wanted a little peace, he needed it right now. Especially considering he made a very irrational decision lately and he knew his wife would kill him for it when she found out. “I quit…” he told her “last Friday” he breathed “and I just wanted to get away.”

“They can live without me for a week or two,” Ava said thoughtfully. She did need a vacation. They had both been working like crazy in the last few months and she was tired. Rubbing her husbands’ chest softly, she gazed up at him, her face changing from one of admiration to one of shock and confusion as her fist balled up his shirt. “What?” she asked shocked.

Samuel sighed heavily, “I couldn’t do it anymore Ava” he breathed out to her. “They didn’t appreciate me there anyway….”

Gazing up at him, Ava was blown again. She couldn’t believe it. Her hand tightened around his shirt and she pulled him down to her slightly. “Where in the hell have you been getting up and going every morning?!” she asked him as she released his shirt and pushed him away slightly. “Every damn morning!” she asked as she turned her back to him shaking her head.

As she tugged at him, he stumbled and he looked to her, his fidgeted with his hands much like a child when they were being chastised by a parent. Samuel looked to her before he dropped his head and he shrugged lightly “to uh… Maya’s house to clear my head and think…” he said.

Turning slowly, Ava looked at her husband, her eyes wide and her nostrils flaring slightly. “MAYA!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “YOU’VE BEEN GOING TO THAT WOMAN’S HOUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR A WEEK AND A HALF FOR NINE HOURS A DAY?!” She was livid. One because her husband had clearly been lying to her and two because he was spending his days with another woman. She could actually kill him right now. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU DO OVER THERE SAM?! COMING HOME ALL TIRED AND WORN OUT?!” She questioned him. “I OUGHTA…” she trailed off shaking her head as she took a deep breath through her nose trying to calm down.

Samuel kept his head low, as she raised her voice at him because he deserved it. It sounded crazy leaving his lips though he hadn’t in his mind before. “Yes” he confessed to her softly, “I was just clearing my mind getting clarity from her. You know she’s a very insightful woman. Wise beyond her measure she was trying to help me figure out a way to tell you. Because I know for sure you would have been upset” he said. “I wasn’t really worn out” he said quietly under his breath. Though that is the lie he told her more than once.

A headache was forming in Ava’s temples because she was that upset. How could he be this idiotic? “A very insightful woman?!” Ava questioned him as she rubbed her head slightly. “Have you lost your mind?” she asked him harshly as she now began to pace the floor. “I’m not even upset that you quit, I’m upset that you lied, then continued to lie!” she yelled. “And on top of that with Maya?!” She fussed. “You know I don’t like that woman!” she huffed as she turned to look at him once more, it taking everything out of her not to slap him for simply being stupid. “I can’t even stand to look at you right now!” she said with a roll of her eyes. “So, what great plan did you think up with Maya?” she asked curiously. “The woman that you apparently don’t share a bed with, clearly don’t have kids with, haven’t made a whole life with, what plans did you create with her?”

“No, I haven’t” Samuel said confused “you know Maya is my best friend Ava” he reasoned. “You don’t like her?” he asked taken back. “Well, we uh. Went fishing a lot, played a lot of drinking games, worked out at the gym….” he breathed. “We didn’t come up with much… outside of the vacation…” he told her stupidly.

Ava licked her lips slowly and cocked her head to the side. “Best friend? She’s your co-worker, damn near your assistant,” she clarified for him as she sat down in a chair because she must sit for this. You went fishing… played games… got drunk… and went to the gym…” she said as she rested with her body against the arm rest, her hand holding her face up. “And the best you could muster up was a vacation, to cover up the lies you’d been telling?” she questioned him as she stood and nodded slowly. “You make me sick,” Ava said as she walked right over to him and slapped him across the face. “Do you hear me?! Make me so damn sick!” she fussed angrily. “I am your wife!” she said holding up her hand to show him the ring. “You come to me! Not some young, stupid ass whore that clearly wants you in her bed!” she screamed.

“We haven’t worked in close proximity in over a year Ava” Samuel corrected her. “Maya had other ideas that I should have taken more seriously but I did not and yes the vacation was a mirage and maybe even a delicate way to smooth it over and tell you at the same time,” he told her. “Huh?” he said, confused by her words. How was that so, he was a good husband he hardly did wrong but every now and again he makes a minor mistake. As she slapped him, his expression changed and he looked down at the floor, she’d never hit him before, and he didn’t know how to take the aggressive way she’d done so. It was hurtful, did he deserve it? “What?” he said at her lasting statement as he looked up at her “Maya is a lesbian, Ava” he said.

“A lesbian?” Ava responded out of shock, her neck jerking back a little. “Really?” she asked him, softening a little, feeling extremely bad for hitting him. “She’s always lingering around and remember that one party we had, she couldn’t keep her eyes off you, I was watching her!” she said trying to make sense of it all.

Samuel looked to his wife “she’s only dated women as long as I’ve known her. She’s the manliest woman I know” he said his eyes to the floor. “I am sure that wasn’t the case…”

Ava sat back down confused now. “If she wasn’t looking at you, then…” she trailed off as it hit her. “She was looking at me, I was on your arm the whole evening…” she said thinking it over. “Wow…”

Samuel furrowed his brows “huh?” he said to his wife, he didn’t know if that was true. Maya was his friend she wouldn’t secretly lust after her this whole time right before his eyes.

Ava began to laugh softly because all of this was just so ridiculous. Shaking her head, she moved to stand up, walking over to his husband she looked up at him with soft eyes. “This whole thing is stupid,” she said speaking of their argument. “I’m so sorry for hitting you baby,” she said honestly. “I just… I was so frustrated…” she admitted as she gently reached up and caressed his cheek.

As she laughed, he stood there, Samuel didn’t find the humor in any of it but often he didn’t. At her comment he stood there silently, she said she was sorry but that didn’t make him feel less like a little bitch.

Gazing up at her husband, Ava leaned up on her toes, kissing his cheek gently. “Baby, I’m so sorry,” she breathed once more, honestly feeling bad about hitting him. “Did you give Luca his medicine this morning?” she asked him, that still on her mind.

“I took it out for him yes” Samuel said ignoring her second apology as he stood there.

“Hmm,” Ava said softly, “I don’t think he took it,” she said gently. “He’s bouncing off the walls,” she told her husband as she stroked his beard lovingly.

“Okay” Samuel said back to her “it’s too late for him to take it now…”

“Well yeah…” Ava said knowingly with a sigh as she continued to stroke her husband’s beard. “Just gotta make sure he takes it tomorrow.”

“Will do” Samuel breathed to her as he pulled her hands away from his beard, moving to retreat from the office all together.

As Samuel pulled away from her, Ava frowned. “Sam…” she sighed out gently as she followed behind him. “Baby, I’m sorry,” she pleaded.

“I know, I know” Samuel said in response to her, he got it she was sorry. “Doesn’t make me feel any better though” he told “I’ve never put my hands on you,” he said.

Frowning, Ava looked down as the floor. “I know,” she whispered. She was honestly ashamed of herself. She let jealousy and a little bit of upset pull her out of her character. “I can’t apologize enough,” she said knowingly. “I don’t know what came over me…”

“I think I am just going to go to sleep now, if it’s okay with you?” Samuel said to his wife.

We are going to have a family meeting!