Tricia Williams - Our fucking future

“Probably because you’re walking around like the world ended, no girl wants to be with a guy who is more of a whiney bitch than she is on her worst day,” I tell him plainly,” Dude suck it up, start coming around and this will pass. I promise you by Christmas if you don’t have a woman I will go recruiting to get you laid.”

“I might need that but thanks Guy, I didn’t know about you making this a secret,” Ben says hanging his head. “You need to get back involved with the group man; you’re my eyes and ears guy. Nobody spots problems and faster than you man, also Kori feels bad since you have been so depressed,” I tell him so he can get a lay of the land as it were.

We actually get to talking for the first time since Liz destroyed him, I will still admit he had it coming but she really nailed him. It kind of made me proud of her. I head out and spend time with my girls at random, some talking with Rachael and her Dads. A little riding with Imelda, she wins even though we weren’t racing. Spend an hour holding Matty who texted me feeling lonely. I was very productive till I got home and discovered that there were now three people in the house and one of them didn’t live there. I can hear Liz and what I’m hoping is Kyle giggling then moaning from her room. I keep quiet and let them have their fun and when he steps out to go to the bathroom and sees me staring at him.

“Guy she said it was okay and that you wouldn’t tell your father,” Kyle says making sure things are cool. “We’ve been alright man unless you pull a Greg and start making her cry after sex,” I tell him getting a chuckle as Liz comes out of her room hastily. “What are you doing home,” Liz asks a little annoyed. “I live here and you need to relax,” I tell her going on the defense.

“You won’t tell Dad,” Liz asks and I chuckle. “If you think he doesn’t know you’re an idiot,” I reply as Kyle starts to relax a little. “Whatever, where did you go,” Liz asks as I head into my room. “A bunch of places, including seeing Ben,” I tell her and I watch her face go from slightly friendly to bitch.

“Why the fuck do you need to see him,” Liz asks following me into my room. “Because he’s my friend and he’s part of our crew. Just like you and just like Kyle, if you don’t like it I never told anyone they couldn’t date outside the group,” I tell her laying down the law.

“He fucked almost everything he could in the state of Texas and you still defend him. He’s a piece of shit boyfriend, Kori knows it and now so do I,” Liz states turning on her bitchometer,” I’m just waiting to find out he’s got some kid down there or an STD.” I calmly turn towards my doorway and while Liz is in my room Kyle is standing just outside it. Liz is pissed and doesn’t care but Kyle is fully aware of the mood she just flipped me into.

“Kyle please sit down in Liz’s room and wait for her. This is a sibling conversation,” I tell him and watch as he nods and heads down the hall to Liz’s room. I stand up and close the door before moving to my bed and sitting down. I will remain calm; I will not give my parents a reason to ground me. It’s my new mantra. “Well you said we needed a sibling conversation,” Liz asks and I exhale loudly.

“Yes, I know he hurt you. I know you cried about him cheating for a while because I spoke with Mom. I knew if he didn’t come clean it was over between you and I did everything you asked when it came to keeping everything secret. As a brother did I not do everything you asked,” I explain to her keeping control of my anger. “Yes but he still proved he’s a piece of shit,” Liz starts but a look from me cuts her off.

“You know when we got back you weren’t there for us, your friends and family? That hurt but you had a plan and I didn’t say shit about it when you dropped Ben so hard he tried to kill himself,” I tell her getting a shocked look,” Yeah, drove him to nearly hanging himself. I found out from his parents and have been talking to him ever since.” “Well it’s not my fault he did it,” Liz states with confidence born of ignorance.

“You stupid little bitch it is exactly your fault,” I growl jumping up from my bed and backing her against a wall,” When you seek revenge on someone there is always collateral damage and the chance that you do more damage than you thought, you wanted him hurt for what he did and you got it. Some people break, some people break so badly that they can’t see a way to fix what they did and they want to die. Did you want him to die?”

“No,” Liz whimpers starting to cry. “You are my sister and I love you,” I tell her calming down and taking her face in my hands,” I was so proud of you when you got your revenge on Ben so viciously that even Katy and I started to feel for the guy. But you have to acknowledge and accept responsibility for what your actions have caused, if it is a broken man then you live knowing you broke him. I remember every hurt, every scar I cause, every time I’ve done something so horrifying that my name is burned onto their brains till the end of time.” “I’m a bad person,” Liz sobs lightly. “No more than I am and people think I’m a fucking hero. You need to accept that you drove him to suicide, be a friend and move on with the rest of us,” I tell Liz when I hear a light knocking.

“Hey I’m just asking if everyone is alive in there after the shouting,” I hear Kyle asks from the other side of my door. I pop it open and let Liz step out of my room and into Kyle’s arms. She’s not scared of me and I know that but when you hurt someone you need to accept it. I will still have to get Ben to accept that he fucked up but try to get him and Liz back together romantically, fuck no. That’s up to her and as I watch Kyle lead her to her room and help her calm down I figure she is doing just fine where she is. Saturday rides out quietly and calmly for me and Sunday is a prime example of how the weekend should be by people coming by to hang out, namely my fiancés, and it spills over into a big group gathering with everyone but Jun and Lilly there.

Monday morning and I get all my stuff ready early and head over to pick up Kori before we get into school earlier than normal, as in no busses for quite a while. We meet up with my crew and hide out as we wait for a very special event that Kori and Natsuko got wind of at the start of the school year. Everyone is geared up in the proper attire of my regime, our hooded jackets. I can hear movement and adults talking as we start moving to cut them off. It doesn’t take long for the ten of us to let the four people walking know they are not alone as I see Mrs. Jackson leading the parents around with their daughter.

“Mr. Donnelly what are you doing here,” my principal asks as she sees me leading my people. “Welcoming committee,” I reply smiling as I look to the teenage girl,” Come on Heather; better get this done sooner than later.”

I get pulled back by Kori who takes center and Heather stares at us very nervous. She’s lost some weight but she’s keeping herself covered by loose yet comfortable and quite honestly ugly clothing. Korinna being in the front just holds her hands nonthreatening. Heather steps forward in her old woman sweater and long skirt slowly and I watch her parents want to say something but are concerned as to what could happen. Heather rushes forward and Kori grabs her softly wrapping her up in a hug. I watch my first fiancé and my ex girlfriend hug and I hear some light sobbing from Heather before Kori starts to calm her down.

“It’s okay, I told you we’d be here,” Kori tells Heather softly.It takes a couple minutes before Heather let’s her parents know that everything is all right and I let Mrs. Campbell take care of the parents while my people take care of Heather. There are a few hugs and a bit of an apology between Kyle, Masha and Heather when it comes down to me. I get some space for us as the busses start arriving and we’re alone for the first time since last year when she was stalking me.