Array
(
[text] =>

(Kellin's POV)

Things were getting a little better. I wasn't even tuning Alan out as he told jokes around the lunch table. He slings a pale, freckled arm around my shoulder and I smile over at him a little. "So, Quinn, how's the neighbor crisis coming?" The ginger asked. My stomach dropped, not knowing how Alan was aware of my situation.

"H-How--"

"Jaime said you're always writing about your neighbor," he begins. Then all eyes are on me and I feel my face heat up. Even more so when he leans in and says, "Is she hot?" My stomach flips inside me and I feel my throat tighten. She, she, she. Alan said she. "U-Um, well, uh," I tilt my head as I speak, feeling like my head would explode. Why hadn't I told them sooner?

They all look at me to finish but I can't find it in me to do so. I look to Jaime for help and he opens his mouth to talk. "How about we judge that," he says. I widen my eyes and look at him again, as if he had two heads this time. Was he crazy? He was supposed to help me not make it worse!

I guess if I would've told them, I wouldn't be in this situation. Jaime continues, "Let's all chill at my house this weekend for a while, and Kellin here has to convince his neighbor to come with him." He grins and I frown back at him. Maybe he thinks it's Jenna.

They all agree just as the bell rings and Alan slaps a hand on my back.

Well, I think solemnly as I stand from the somewhat crowded table. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

_____

(Vic's POV)

Just say something.

Sit down on the couch, get his attention, and ask.

Finally, I stand from my bed with my stomach whirring. Dad was home and I saw this as my chance to get some answers. It felt like Mike and I were living with a total stranger and I had had enough. As the stairs creak under my weight, my throat tightens up and I let out a nervous breath. How would he react?

Would he be angry? Well, he didn't really have the right to be. How did he think we felt?

Pushing the thoughts away, I lower myself onto the plush couch, eyeing his chair. The newspaper was over his face like I expected it to be. When I let out a long breath, the paper lowers a little so I can just see his dark brown eyes that resembled mine too much. "Oh, good afternoon, son. Where's Mike?"

"I don't really know. In his room. I have," I breath deeply again. "I have some questions though."

He nods.

"Um, so...okay. I hate this thing we've got going on. It's like living with a stranger, you know? And I don't want to sound rude and angry but I sort of am angry at you. You leave really early and leave us to do everything until way past midnight and I know you have to work, and I'm glad you can occupy yourself through this, but at the same time, you're supposed to at least interact with u-us a little, don't you think?"

A silence lingers around us as my face gets hot and my breathing is through the roof, chest heaving nervously up and down. His eyes lower from mine and down to the paper again, and he doesn't reply to me. This nade me even angrier. The amount of time it took me to prepare myself, how hard it was to even consider coming down here, and he just doesn't answer?

No, I think to myself. Mike and I deserve more than this.

I stand and grasp the newspaper from him, ripping it from his hands, and throw it on the ground. I'm panting in anger, jaw clenched and face red. "Stop hiding behind that stupid fucking newspaper! Answer me!"

But he doesn't, he just stares at me as if I've said nothing at all. Was he deaf or something? I clench my fists and shout again, "That's all I want, an answer! Answer me, Dad!" Mike rushes down the stairs and grabs my arm, I flench away and tears spring down my cheeks. I feel my lip quivering but I find it in me to yell one more time. "Fine! Apparently losing Mom isn't enough!" I storm past the two, right back to my room.

I lay down on my bed, curled in a ball with my face pressed into the mattress below me. My lip quivers as I cry and shake, throat burning with tears and strain. Why wouldn't he talk? Was he that pathetic? Surely, he had something to say after all this time. My first thought was to call Kellin but when I saw that snatching away from Mike wasn't the best idea, I was bleeding through, I decide to take care of that first.

I change into a black long sleeve shirt, still crying, and then toss the other on under my bed. Then I dial Kellin, knowing he doesn't mind if it's me calling. He answers on the third ring. "Hi, Victor. How is my sunshine?"

Still crying like a baby, his tone changes immediately. "I'm on the way. Hold on, okay?"

I get under my covers and hang up, sniffling into the sheets. Dad probably hates me even more now! Hell, he might even take it out on Mike because I couldn't control myself. I frown and let out another cry as I hear the door open downstairs. God, I hope Dad went to his room. Mom wouldn't have cared but she isn't here, now is she? I heave and cry harder. My door soon is swung open and I hear little patters, signaling Kellin is here.

The sheets are pulled back and I turn my head so he can't see me. He strokes my hair, shushing me genltly. My skin breaks out in goose-bumps at the contact and I try to stiffle my tears to no avail. I close my eyes tightly and hum out cries with my mouth shut, then take a long breath and do it again. "Don't cry, sunshine," I hear, then feel kisses on my ear. I shiver and sniffle again, trying to stop my tears yet again. I bet I looked like a giant baby in front of him. Jesus, I'm embarrassing.

My breathing hitches when I feel him lift me and slide me over, then curl behind my shaking frame. He shushes me quietly, stroking my hair and kissing the shell of my ear several times over. "You're fine, don't cry." Kellin whispers, placing kisses on my cheek and jaw. I sniffle and sigh, the tears coming to an end, but I'm still making that little hiccup noise people do when they've cried for a long time and are trying to stop. I felt like a child but the crying had tired me out so much that I didn't care.

"Now," Kellin kisses my ear lobe and turns me over to face him. "Tell me what happened."

I point towards the door. He nods for me to contiue. "I had, I-I just wanted to ask D-Dad some questions but he didn't even answer m-me. He just s-stared at me like I w-was stupid."

Kellin gives me a small smile and pulls me our chests are touching and uses his leg to pull my knee between his comfortingly. A weightless feeling erupts in my stomach and I blush. He continues to run his fingers through my hair. "You aren't stupid, Vic. Like you said, you only had questions. Don't worry about him, okay? I'm here." I attempt a grateful smile and lean so my head can rest on his chest and I secure my arms around him, snuggling my face into his shirt.

"I have a question," he says after a short silence. I rub my tired eyes and then turn my head to listen, my cheek against his shirt. I hum for him to continue. "Do you want to go to my friend Alan's house, like, with me?"

"For what?" I ask sleepily.

He shrugs and clears his throat, tightening his arm around my waist. What did that mean? Did he want me to meet them or something? Or maybe he spoke of me and they wanted to meet me. No, I think, he probably doesn't talk about me with school people. But even then, I had this sliver of hope about it. Maybe I was the one he annoyed his friends with because he wouldn't shut up about me. It was a slim chance but I held onto it.

"Just to hang out and meet them. I think it'll make you feel better, to you know, get around other people. Hell, invite Mike."

I smile, glad someone cared. Maybe I overreacted about the whole thing, as usual. I lift my head and grin at him, "Thank you." I peck his cheek and notice how warm it is under my lips. I lay my head back on his chest, sighing as I close my eyes.

There's a short knock on the doorframe, followed by my brother's voice. "Okay now, Vic?" Kellin nods above me and makes a shush noise. "Okay, okay, didn't mean to interrupt," Mike chuckles and it brings a small smile on my lips. "Just checking."

"Hey, by the way, want to meet a few of my friends?" Kellin asks quietly. Mike agrees and I hear the ruffling of fabric, like he's shrugged. "Okay, cool, go away." Kellin mumbles. Oh God, I snicker, turning my head so my face is covered by his shirt. "Fine, fine, calm down." Mike says, then I hear the door shut.

"You're mean." I say.

He sighs and rubs my back, "I am."

[text_hash] => 03cc80bd
)