Some Things You Can't Control

01: Forgetting And Regretting

          A lone tear trails down Cassidy's cheek as she watches on helplessly. I glance quickly at her, not waiting for her approval as I trail out of sight down the corridor with Jake in the opposite way to which James had departed.

          When we reach the quiet end of the school, Jake comes to a halt, casually leaning back against the wall with his hands in his pockets.

          "Thanks for doing what you did back there, Eden. You saved me from a lot of shit."

          "No problem. That was pretty rough."

          "Yeah."

          "Now would probably be a really bad time to ask if you're okay, so I'm not going to do that."

          Jake manages a small smile and sarcastically retorts, "You reckon?" I watch his face for a few seconds, sensing the internal battle he's currently experiencing.

          "Jake, if you need to talk to someone..."

          "Thanks Eden."

          I close the distance between us, standing on the tips of my toes as I wrap my arms around his neck in what I hope is a comforting hug.

          As the bell sounds, Jake and I break apart and I notice his eyes locked on the ground.

          "Did you want me to skip with you?" I offer.

          "Nah, dad'll kill me if he gets another call this week," he says quietly. "I should get to class."

          "Okay. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then, yeah?"

          "Yeah."

          I offer Jake a small smile as I start walking backwards, receiving one in return before I make my way toward fifth period English.

~•~

          The moment I cross over the threshold of our front door, I feel a sense of relief wash over me, and a contentedness associated with the fact that the day and all of it's events are officially behind me.

          An argument drifts down from upstairs, my five siblings probably already home seeing as I remained at school to chat with my friends for a bit.

          "Myles, they're my socks! Take them off! You're getting shit all over them!" My youngest sister, Jayde, exclaims.

          "They're not yours. I don't see your name on them," Myles protests, yelling to her through what I imagine is his bedroom door.

          Or hers. Being the absolute epitome of trouble he is, I wouldn't be surprised if he's locked Jayde out of her room.

          "ARGH! Just GIVE THEM BACK!"

          Our other brother, Caleb, laughs loudly enough for me to hear it from where I stand in the kitchen, busy getting a glass of water.

          "Myles, she's going to kill you," Caleb yells in a sing-song voice, down what I imagine is the hallway.

          "I'm going to fucking kick both of your asses if you don't let me into my room! Don't touch anything!" She continues.

          "Boys, that's enough," my dad's voice intervenes, as he yells at them from his office. Aaron Garcia co-owns a law firm with one of his best mates. If there are no issues with the business, dad has the luxury of working from home, meaning he's pretty much always in the house.