The Boy's Children

Chapter 24

                             Raven's POV
I heard Malakai slam his door shut.

"Um. What's wrong with my brother?"

"Ryker asked him out. It was a dare."

Her eyes widened.

"Huh?!"

"Yeah. He's been upset all day."

Marionette and me ran to his room. Marionette opened the door and ran in. She jumped onto his bed. I heard Malakai crying.

I'm gonna kill Ryker.

Marionette started rubbing his back.

"I feel like an idiot! I knew I should've stayed away!"

I walked into his room. I sat at the edge of his bed.

"I'm sorry Mally. He probably isn't meant for you then."

He didn't go to school the next day. I walked up to Tia.

"He stayed home today huh?"

"Yeah. That poor dude. He was so scared to talk to Ryker. He feels like an idiot."

"You know, if he comes and says anything that he claims isn't a dare, we can't believe him right?"

"Obviously."

"Oh shit. Ryker's walking over here."

I pinched my nose bridge.

"I-I fucked up."

"No fucking shit! Do you know how scared he was to talk to you?!"

"H-he was scared?"

"Yes! Extremely!"

Ryker looked down.

"He didn't want to be embarrassed!"

"Now he is. He's at home. We'll be lucky if, he comes back."

"Y-you seriously think he won't?"

"Yeah. You don't know him, like I do. He's a great guy. Are you even straight?"

"Y-yeah. I-I am."

"Great. Just fuckin great. Fuck you Ryker. Fuck you."

"If he comes back, stay the HELL away from him!"

"I-I feel really bad."

"Perfect. You fuckin should be."

"I'm walking away now. If I stay here any longer, I'll be in cuffs."

I went to my first class. At lunch, me and Tia started trying to figure out what to do."

"There's gotta be a way to make him feel better."

I shrugged.

"I'm not sure there is one. I hope there is though."

Ryker walked up to us.

"Bro leave us alone. I'm done talking to you."

After school, I went to check on Malakai. I didn't see him in his room.

Where is he?

I found Marionette in the dining room eating.

"Babe? Where's Mal?"

"At the hospital."

I sat down next to her.

"Why?"

"He tried to kill himself."

"What?!"

"He's really depressed. He doesn't want to live anymore."

"O-oh god. All because of Ryker?"

"Yeah. I wish I could, explain how bad his mental health became. He took all of his sleeping pills. I found him laying on his bed. He was turning blue."

"Jesus Christ...do you guys need anything?"

"I need my brother to be okay. That's all I need right now. Have you talked to that shmuck?"

"He's harassed me and Tia all day."

"Ew."

"He's straight too."

Marionette scoffed.

"Have you decked him?"

"No. Kai asked me not to."

"And you're listening?"

"I don't wanna go to jail."

"Ah."

"How are you handling this?"

"I've been playing with Simba all day. He's sleeping now."

"Have you called Mal yet?"

"He's not in a unit yet. It's gonna take a while."

"How long has he been there?"

"Since last night. I had a bad feeling. It ended up being true unfortunately."

"I'm sorry Mari."

"I am too. I should've stayed up with him. I would've been able to watch him."

"You can't do that to yourself."

"Hey Mari? Where's my phone?"

"Uhhh.."

Marionette started looking around.

"It's on the kitchen counter!"

I heard footsteps running.

"HI VEN!"

"AH! Hi Roxie! Jesus Christ. Are you trying to give me a damn heart attack?"

"Possibly. Mal called mom. He's in a unit."

"That's good. Did she tell him to call us later?"

"Not sure. Mari? I'm scared."

"I am too. We all are."

Roxana grabbed her phone then sat across from me.

"Oh! Before I forget...babe I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Do you wanna come? It's just an ultrasound."

"Yeah sure. What time?"

"I think...11? I'll have to double check."

I noticed Roxana was smiling and her face was red. She was doing something on her phone.

"I know that look. Who are you talking to?"

"Oh I'm not talking to anyone. I'm watching a livestream."

"Oh? Who's live?"

"Parker Croft."

"Oh? How old is he?"

"12."

"Wait...you like a boy?"

"Yeah."

"Does he go to school with you?"

"Yeah."