Chapter Twenty-four
Pages and pages of confusing formulas and equations lay before me, and it takes all my strength not to rip them into shreds.
Mrs. Kinney sent them home with my brothers, because apparently even though I have a three day suspension, and a leg that isn't capable of walking, I still have to keep up with my school work. Most would believe that with everything that happened, I would still not have a suspension, but the principal phoned my parents, advising it would be best if I did.
At least I wouldn't have to formally apologize.
That would have been horrid.
I probably would have punched Carla again, seeing her smug face.
I sigh, leaning against the front of the sofa, pushing away my homework. The house is silent, my brothers at school, and my parents running errands. Jude and Daniel are around somewhere, stuck babysitting me.
Like I need babysitting.
Instead of doing homework, I pick up my phone and go on Facebook. Scrolling down, nothing of interest catching my attention until I see a news video.
In bold letters, the bottom of the screen reads 'Man Goes Free While Local Teen In Hospital'. A woman reporter sits at a table, her hands folded in front of her.
"Good afternoon, I'm Evelyn Meehan. Today, I'm here with James Taylor-" the camera pulls away from the reporter, and my dad comes into view.
I pause the video at the sight of my dad.
What the hell is he doing?
"Hey, little sister, what are you watching?" I turn around and see Jude walking up behind me. He comes around the sofa, sliding down onto the floor beside me.
I shove my phone in his face. "Did you know about this?"
He studies the screen, his eyes widening at the sight of dad.
"No, I had no idea," he says, shaking his head. "Play the video."
I press play.
"Mr. Taylor, tell me what happened to your daughter," the reporter says.
My dad grunts, his face hardening. "Emma had gone out that night after an argument with her younger brother, and on her way back, she had been hit by a truck, knocking her unconscious."
The reporter nods, looking at the camera. "Emma had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and at the hospital, had the doctors put her into a medical induced coma, is this correct?"
The camera shifts to my dad, who nods his head. "Yes, and also damage to her right leg."
The woman leans back, looking back at my dad. "The man who was driving the vehicle that night had been on his way from a bar, where he had been drinking and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Although police arrested Mr. Vaughn, he did not have any charges against him, is this correct Mr. Taylor?"
My dad nods, his face twisting in anger. "Yes, the only punishment Mr. Vaughn received is a slap on the wrist; community service and judge ruled rehab."
"How has this affected your family?"
"My wife and I lost a child less than six months ago. We almost lost another, and we want there to be consequences for Mr. Vaughn's actions. There is no reason Mr. Vaughn should have been released without fines or jail time."
The woman frowns. "Yes, I absolutely agree," she says. "What will your next step be?"
"I've contacted a lawyer, and I guess we'll see what happens from there," he says.
The woman reaches out, and my dad takes her hand, shaking it. "It's been a pleasure to meet with you."
The screen goes dark, and I sit on the floor, speechless.
"I can't believe he went and spoke to the news, and didn't tell me," I say to Jude, shaking my head.
Jude stands up then bends back down, lifting me up onto the sofa.
"He likely knew that you wouldn't want him to," he says, trying to reason. "Dad is trying to get people to see our side of the story, Em. You can't blame him for that. Don't you want that bastard to pay for what he's done?"
I look at Jude. "Yes, of course!"
The front door opens, and Quinn, Mom, and Joey walk in.
Joey grins when he sees me, running over to the sofa and wraps his arm around me.
I cuddle into him. He greets me like this every time.
"How was school?" I ask, smiling.
He smiles. "Good! My teacher let us do crafts today!"
My mom comes into the living room. "Joey, go get changed out of your school cloths, and then you can show Emma the snowman you made, okay?"
Joey sighs, getting up off the sofa and running down to his room.
Jude speaks up, before I can. "So, dad had his fifteen minutes of fame, huh?"
My mom looks between me and Jude. "We were going to tell you, but it just happened so quick. They got the story, called your father at work, and he went in."
"Okay," I say.
There isn't much I can say.
Jude gets up, calling for Quinn. I peer behind me, seeing Quinn in the kitchen, sitting at the table. Quinn still won't talk to me. In fact, he doesn't even belittle me anymore. He doesn't say anything, just ignores me. I think thats worse than when he called me names.
"Are you feeling alright? Do you want a snack or anything?" she asks.
I shake my head. "No, I'm fine."
She walks back into the kitchen. "Oh, you have a physical therapy appointment this evening," she calls back.
"Who's taking me?" I ask, but she doesn't answer, too busy yelling at Jude and Quinn.
Joey comes tearing back out from his room, hopping onto the sofa beside me. In his hand is a snowman, or something that is supposed to resemble one at least. Its three, paper-mashed circles on top of each other, two black buttons for eyes that are uneven and two straws for arms.
He passes it to me. "You can have it," he says, a huge smile on his face.
I take it, looking it over. "I love it Joey. Thanks, little man," I say, and side hug him.
We end up watching television together, Good Luck Charlie, until my dad gets home from work with Owen. I turn on the sofa, unable to walk over to him. He kisses my mom on the cheek and fluffs Joey's hair, making his way over to me.
"Hi Sweetheart," he says, sitting down beside me. "Listen-"
I wave my hand, cutting him off. "It's okay Dad," I say into his chest. "You don't need to explain yourself, I understand."
"I love you kiddo," he says, leaning back. "We're meeting a lawyer tomorrow morning, everything will me sorted out, don't worry, okay? I'm going to help your mom make some supper."
I nod. "Okay."
My dad leaves, walking back into the kitchen. Owen carries Joey over to the sofa, wrestling and tickling his sides. Joey screams, kicking him in the leg.
I shake my head as I text Austin.
Why couldn't my parents have another girl?
"So, how's your suspension going?" Owen asks, laughing at Joey as he squirms out of Owen's grasp. He crawls up next to me, glancing at my phone, being nosy.
I narrow my eyes at my brother. "How do you think its going?" I ask, gesturing to my leg and chemistry homework.
Owen smirks. "I thought lover boy was tutoring you?"
"He is just helping me," I say, and Owen holds up his hands in defence.
"Hey, I'm just asking." he says, laughing. He stands up and walks away.
Joey nudges my arm, his eyes still on my phone. "What does l-u-v mean? Oh, love! Who do you love?"
My little brother looks up at me expectantly.
"I love you," I say and tickle his side. He yelps, shoving my hands away. Then he raises his eye brows.
"Do you love Austin?"
"Can't get anything past you huh?" I sigh and Joey shakes his head. "Fine. Yes, I love Austin."
Joey snaps his head up, "Austin? You love Austin?" I nod and Joey get an evil glint in his eye.
I shouldn't have said anything.
"Joey, please-"
"Austin and Emma, sitting in a tree," Joey starts chanting, climbing out of my grasp and running from the living room. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes looove, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage."
I can hear him all the way up stairs, even the neighbours could probably hear him. I laugh as my mom scolds him, telling his to use his 'inside voice'.
"So, you finally decided to confess your undying love?"
Quinn surprises me by coming into the living room and sitting the down at the farthest end of the sofa. I sit up against my pillows, wondering what I did to have the privilege to be in his presence.
I sigh. "The whole world will know soon. Can't keep a secret around here," I say, and throw my hands up in exasperation.
"Please, everyone can tell you love Austin, it's no secret," Quinn says, laughing then he goes quiet. I know he wants to say something or else he wouldn't be here. The quietness gives me time to study him. He looks as if he hasn't slept in days; his hair skewed like it hasn't been brushed.
After a few seconds, I lay my phone down on the coffee table. "Is there something you need? If not, I'm pretty tired so-"
"I'm sorry," Quinn blurts. "I'm so sorry for everything."
Quinn finally looks at me, his eyes staring into mine. Tears well up in them, and a lump forms in my throat.
"Don't you dare cry," I say, gritting my teeth. Knowing it will only make me cry too. Quinn automatically wipes his face, trying to sober up.
"I've been a horrible brother to you, and you never deserved the way I treated you and the stuff I said," Quinn says. For the first time since the beginning of summer, I feel my brothers sadness and not just my own. "I need to explain why I was so angry at you."
"Alright, I'm listening," I say to my brother, full attention on him. He's silent, fiddling his his hands. I wait patiently, knowing it's not easy to talk when you don't want to.
"I don't hate you," Quinn starts, "and I don't blame you for Tyler. It was never your fault and I should never have made you feel as if it was."
That sentence alone makes tears run down my face.
"I was so angry. I hate that he's gone, and there wasn't anything I could have done to help him. I'm angry at him because he was reckless to try and cross the road with out looking. My brother is gone, and I can't do anything about it and I took it out on the people who I still had."
"I was angry with you because it felt like I had lost not only my brother, but my sister too. You just shut every one else out, like we didn't exist, like you were the only one who lost someone. I figured hating everyone, including you, is better than the pain it causes when I love someone."
Quinn looks at me with such sad, guilty eyes that I forgive him. Before I can say anything, he's wrapping me in a tight hug and when he let go, it felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders.
"I'm sorry for not for being there for you. I'm your older sister, I should have been stronger."
Quinn pulls away from me. "No. I understand that you were hurting. We all are, but we have each other and that's all that matters."
We hug again, and I can not explain how good it feels to have my little brother back.
After Quinn gives me a long pep talk for tomorrow, and he promises that things will get better, he leaves to go up stairs.
Did that really just happen or am I dreaming?
My thoughts are cut short when they're is a knock on the front door and the door bel chimes through the house. I glance behind me, seeing my mom wipe her hands on a cloth and rush towards the door.
I listen as she opens it. "Austin, how many times have I told you not to knock and just to come in?"
My mom ushers Austin inside, bringing him into view. He glances over, meeting my eyes and grins. My mom smiles, giving Austin a warm hug and glances over at me.
"Emma, Austin is going to take you to your physical therapy appointment," she states and walks ahead of Austin. "Austin, do you mind getting Frank?"
Austin pauses, confused. I laugh, pointing to the wheelchair in the corner of the room.
"Frank is the wheelchair," I say.
The name was all Joey's idea. He decided to give it a name, and it just stuck.
Austin laughs. "Ah, I see," he says, bringing over Frank to the sofa. "Ready?" He asks, lifting me off the sofa and into the chair. "Are you having trouble with chemistry?"
He rolls me over to the kitchen.
"Yeah, just a bit," I say, getting my winter jacket from the chair and putting on my hat and mittens.
"I can help you when we get back, if you like," he offers.
My mom interrupts us. "Alright, have a good trip, okay?"
Jude comes down the stairs. "Hey, where are you two going?"
"Austin is taking me to see Mara," I say.
Jude snaps his head over to mom. "I could have taken her," he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
I roll my eyes. "You just have a crush on Mara."
Even my mom shakes her head. "I'm sure Austin can handle it, Jude," she says, and leans down, pulling the hat over my ears. "You two be good you hear?"
I sigh. "We will, we will."
After one last wave, Austin wheels me out to his truck and helps me inside, shoving Frank in the back. Once he gets in, he turns to me, with a small smile.
"Your brothers don't like me very much," he points out, referring to my oldest brothers.
"Aidan and Ben love you, my mom adores, and I kinda like you," I say, grinning.
Austin laughs as he backs out of the driveway. "I kinda like you too," he says.
Patchwork
forgiving is the weight
that comes from bearing
someones else's hurt
lifting off your shoulder
when my little brother
speaks his thoughts and words
of regret and sorrow
and saying his amends
I forgive him
because not only do I understand
his anger and frustration
he's my brother, my family
I love him unconditionally.
How did y'all like this chapter? It was kind of a filler, but at the same time, a conflict is resolved. Quinn apologized to Emma. Can you believe it?
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