destined for disaster

“And you think a dumb little girl would’ve been able to pay to keep both of you alive?” He asked, rolling his eyes. “If I was not your father, she wouldn’t be confronting me right now, so I have always been your father.” He let out a deep sigh, wanting to take Ty and drive him back home without any further problems. “You have no right to accuse my son of anything. Last time I checked, he didn’t put a gun to your son’s head and forced him to be there. My son is as innocent as every kid there.” 

“Then why didn’t you? I didn’t force you to take the money or the free room in my hotel, so if you could’ve easily done it on your own, why didn’t you?” George was tempted to ignore the boy as he had done for his entire life. “Don’t get involved in things that don’t concern you. Like it or not, I am still your father and I will not be talked to like that.” He said sternly before turning back to Lily. “He has a home because of me. He goes to a good school because of me. I could’ve sent you both away never to be seen again, but I kept you close and I kept you safe. You owe me enough not to go accusing me of getting him involved in a crime when I did nothing of the sort.” 

“You wanted to have him. How else was I supposed to deal with it? If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t have a life and you know that. Whether you want to admit it or not, everything you have is because of me. You can call it what you want.” He couldn’t look at Griffin the whole time he was speaking, choosing to focus on Lily instead. Ty could hear the whole argument despite pretending to keep himself occupied at the water cooler. He couldn’t pretend he was surprised to find out that his dad had another child, but it wasn’t something he wanted to think about. He gave Griffin an apologetic look, but he knew better than to get in between his father and another adult.

“Is he? I didn’t know. It’s not like I pay for his entire life or anything!” He snapped back at her, lucky that Ty was seemingly too far away to hear. “Well, you know what they say about assumptions. Doesn’t change the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be there and he was the one who found the body.” 

“It’s my job to protect my son!” He raised his voice slightly. It was too early in the morning for him to be talking to her and he had to deal with the press nightmare that came with a bunch of kids finding a dead body in his hotel. “Ty is allowed to go wherever he wants in his hotel. Your son is the one who was breaking in and if I heard right, he was the one who found the body.” He pointed out, even though Ty was told many times to stay out of that room. 

George Ridgemount was never a perfect father, but he had just lost his daughter, so when the call came that his son was being held at the police station for questioning, he had his driver rush him there. His wife had been asleep when he got the call, and instead of worrying her, he told her he would be back as he went to get Ty. He realized just how right that decision had been as he was walking out of the station with his son when he was approached by Lily. “We are not doing this now. Not in front of Ty.” He said, signaling for Ty to go somewhere else. “I did not force your son to trespass in my hotel, so don’t you dare put the blame on me.”

“Perfect, I’m great at the whole oxygen thing.” Casper said, not realizing that that was not in fact how the whole breathing thing worked. “And I’m going to be honest with you Griff. You’re not looking so hot. Which is a big statement coming from me who usually finds you actually kind of adorable. Has someone had a little too much to drink?”

“Thats not how... th-thats...” Griffin stopped, hanging his head for a moment before giving a quick shake of a no. “I didnt m-m-mean to drink. I was j-just drinking punch but some b-buttface I guess...” He didnt finish his statement as his eyes went wide. “My moms g-g-going to kill me. Im n-not going to get into a g-good college. My l-lifes falling apart.” His breathing picking up again into a panicked pace. 

Lincoln sat outside the prom, cigarette in hand, as it was starting to come to an end. He had been waiting all night for this moment, and there were only about fifteen minutes left until midnight. “I really don’t know why I came to this this. I just wanted to hit up the after party” he confessed. He didn’t have a date, and truly didn’t mind. He liked it better that way actually, no strings to hold him back. “So, where’s your date? Are they as drunk as I wish I was right now?”

Stepping outside to get some air, Griffin pulled out their phone wondering if it was too early to just call it a night. He wasn’t having much fun and could think of a million other things he could  be doing instead of being here. “Huh? Oh uh well... thats n-nice.” He stated softly before shaking his head quickly at the question. “N-no. No I dont um... I d-d-didnt come with a date. Especially not one that w-would be drunk. No offense.” 

“I’ll have you know, I just so happen to be an excellent dancer.” Casper assured the person he’d seen standing away from the dance floor. He decided almost instantly that it would be his goal to get them too dance to bring more people out onto the floor. How else was he supposed to get his grind on? “Not to mention I might have a little something special in it for you if you come out on the floor with me.”

Playing with his bowtie, Griffin was beginning to wonder why he had even came. It wasn’t like the danced or drank or really liked crowds. Oh no, this definitely seemed like a bad idea now but wasn’t prom this big milestone in life? Looking up as Casper spoke, Griffin shook their head quickly clearing their throat. “Uh um... w-well.” He managed out before he closed his mouth again. “Two left f-f-feet and a really b-bad habit to muck things up so I’ll p-p-pass.” 

Maeve looked up from her book and gave the boy a warm smile “ Oh yeah sorry I was going I was going to give to lost and found when I was done, here you go” She said as she held out the binder. 

Taking it quicker than he needed to he held it close to his chest, letting out a sigh of relief. “Than you. Th-this means a lot to me. I cant imagine l-l-losing it.” He knew it wasn’t practical to have a bunch of important things in one place but he had never lost it before either.

Jane pulled out her earbuds and to listen to the boy. Though he seemed much older than her, he was stuttering and playing with his hands. In the best way possible, he reminded her of a lost puppy. “I’m sorry I haven’t seen it.” 

As she talked about not seeing it, he let out a quick huff bringing his hand up into his hair. “Crap, crap crap crap.” The words mostly under his breath as he looked around her anyway. “Im dead if I dont find that binder.”