"How many bottles of wine do your parents have?" Jay gasps gazing through the wine cellar.
"Over a hundred I'm sure," i say
"Why are people so obsessed with collecting wine?" He asks walking further into the room, his voice sounding more muffled
"It's valuable and tastes amazing," I holler
"Whatever," he laughs
I follow him into the cellar, he's made quite a ways in there. There's two floors, one on our first floor and one underground.
"You see the top shelf, the first one from the left?" I say
"Ahuh,"
"Sixty years old. It was the wine my grandparents had at their wedding. It's worth over four hundred dollars," I lean up against the staircase for support
"It's literally a beverage," he walks closer to examine it
"To some people it's more, it's more than a drink. It's a memory," I whisper
"Yeah I guess," he mumbles
Jay never understood why something so small could be so important to someone. He thinks it's silly and a waste because they will eventually get attached and get it ripped from them. Which is a good point, but I still like to hold small memories.
"When is your doctors appointment?" I ask
"Around two," he moans
"Would it help if I came with again?"
"You are coming to every single one, Ronnie," he laughs
"Your dad doesn't...mind? Most parents would like that to be confidential," I state
"I don't give two shits what my dad thinks," he spits
I huff. I know every teenager doesn't have a truly healthy relationship with their parents, but like I will keep on saying, Jay is different. He still doesn't talk to his dad. And I can't tell you if he ever will.
"I think you do," I mumble
I shouldn't be pushing Jays buttons like this, but If I don't, who will? His dad doesn't even make an effort to try to speak with him anymore. I think about him quitting at trying to mend his relationship with Jay and it makes my pulse quicken.
"You know everything don't you Ronnie?" He raises his voice
"I didn't say that, I just think you still care about your dad, you just don't think he deserves it," I say
"We're not at my doctors appointment yet, calm it down with the therapy," he says sitting on the stairs beside me.
----
Jays POV
I'm surrounded by thick white walls. The same ones I was born in. I've never liked doctors offices. I can't see why anyone would choose this as a profession. It reeks of air freshener and chlorine, which isn't helping my unsettled stomach. The doctors have my dad in a separate room, asking him separate questions. I've been here twenty minutes and have counted every single tile on the ceiling twice. A hundred forty-eight. Ronnie went across the street to grab us some burgers and should be back in time for me to answer questions with the doctors.
"Hello, Jay! I'm Doctor Miller, I'll be taking care of you today," the woman intruded my thoughts
"Hello," I say. I panic thinking of where Ronnie might be.
"My friend's not here yet," I state
"Is she the dark haired girl in the front? Blue jean jacket?" She asks
"Yes," I smile. The jacket's mine.
"They don't allow food back here, she's eating up front," she explains
My hands are sweaty when I rub them together. I don't want to start without Ronnie.
"What did you do today Jay?" Doctor Miller enters my mind again.
"Uhm, I went to Ronnie's; she's the girl I'm waiting on, and then came here," I say slower than I managed to.
"Do you like Ronnie?" She asks
"Yes," I say
"I think I might love Ron-
"Hey, sorry I'm late. A girls gotta eat when a girls gotta eat," Ronnie says as she entered the now crowded room.
A smile grows on my face. I meet Doctor Miller's eyes and blink a few times before answering again.
"I..I,"
"Got it," she smiles
"What was that?" Ronnie whispers
"Don't worry," I say still focusing on Doctor Miller
"Why is it considered a solution to you to not be speaking with your dad?" She says
Ronnie's knee's begins to bounce. Out of nervousness of course. She knows I could lose it at another mention often father. But I won't.
"He was having an affair, he doesn't deserve my attention."
"How long ago did this instance occur?" She asks
"It wasn't an instance. He did this multiple times Doctor Miller," I say with gritted teeth
"When was the most recent occurrence?" She asks
"When I was twelve," I say
"And you're seventeen?"
"Yes,"
"So, don't you think it's time to forgive him and begin to talk about it?" She suggests
"There's one problem," I say
"What is that?" She furrows her brows
"If I give him my forgiveness who knows that he won't do it again," I say
"We've been asking him questions too, Jay. He's very regretful of his actions. We highly doubt he will go to such measures again. Especially after seeing it having this effect on you," Doctor Miller says
"Jay I think she's right," Ronnie chimes in
I let out a hard sigh. Ronnie usually will fight my side of the case. Maybe that's because other Doctors haven't sounded as calm and understand as Doctor Miller is coming off to be.
"You're not going to put me on some pill that will make me more understanding of him are you?" I moan
"No. No pills." She says
Ronnie meets my eyes. She's tried so hard to get me to listen to all these Doctors. I know she's barely hanging on by a thread. All I'm being is selfish dragging her here and sucking her into my problems. She deserves better than this.
"Okay," I sigh
I'm only doing this for Ronnie. I can't be this drugged up depressed son of bitch all the time. There' has to be some healing in my life. And it's got to start somewhere.
