Benjamin sits down next to his father as he spoke loudly. "No. I don't want him in therapy, I want him in rehab!"
"Rehab! He took a few pills!? That's so extreme, do you wanna send him away?"
"A few pills? He was taking two a day for almost a month! Do you know how much that is? And then he switched them when he ran out? A that's drug behavior!"
"No! I'm not sending him away! We can try therapy and if that doesn't help then maybe we can revisit the idea!"
"Absolutely not! You don't get to make all the decisions!"
Benjamin gets up and walks into his dads' kitchen. He puts his hands over his ears and he tears up.
Anna walks in, frowning. She grabs a cup, filling it with water and walking over to Benjamin. Benjamin removes his hands, grabbing it and taking a sip.
"Sorry".
Anna smiles, "Don't apologize. Nothings your fault".
Benjamin nods and looks down at the cup, hearing his mother's cries. "That's my baby! Do you understand Damien? My baby-...And I don't know what's really going on! He's hurting and I-...I can't let him go".
Benjamin furrows his brows, letting his tears fall. Anna frowns and sets a hand in his shoulder.
"It's okay".
*
Noah shoots a basket, shaking his head. Elly was with him as he said he needed to clear his head.
Elly furrows her brows, "You okay, compa?"
Noah turns to looks at her, "Huh?"
"Ya form is off. Lookin' like you don't know what you doing". Elly walks over, grabbing the ball.
Noah shakes his head, shrugging. "I just...Can't stop thinking about Benny. Fuck! I wanna like...Curb stomp Kiara and her bitchy friends".
"I understand. Have you talked to him?"
"Uh. He's at his dad's house. His mom doesn't wanna leave him home alone at the moment".
"I get that. So...What's the plan? Like...Is he okay...Or?"
Noah shrugs and sits down on the bench. Elly follows, walking over and spinning the ball on her finger.
"He was...So broken...He is so broken. They hurt him so bad...I just can't. If you could've heard the hurt in his voice when he spoke to me and his mom".
Elly stops spinning the ball, frowning. "He's gonna be okay, compa. He's so strong, come on".
"I-I know but...I have to take care of him. He needs me. He's never had someone to take care of him...He was always adjusting to everyone else to please them and it's so fucking heartbreaking".
Elly smiles playfully punching him. "You're so in love, kid. It's kinda cute".
Noah smiles back and rolls his eyes. "Yeah...Maybe I am".
**
Noah walks into his house, setting down his bag and his basketball. His father, José walks in, smiling.
"Mijo. How was basketball?"
"It was good. Hey, can I talk to you? It's kinda serious?"
Noah's mother, whose name was Selena looks over. She walks over, putting her hands on Noah's cheeks, frowning. "Papi? Are you okay? It's serious and your face reads it all".
Noah chuckles softly and removes his moms' hands from his face. "Yeah...It is".
"Oh! Well...Sit! Sit".
Noah sits down on the couch and nods. He looks between his mother and father and sighs.
"You guys know how I told you that Benjamin struggles with depression? Some things happened and he started taking pastillas that weren't his and...I'm just scared for him. I don't want his depression to win".
"Well, did he say why he took them?"
Noah nods, "He was just tired of feeling like he had no control...And feeling hopeless".
Selena furrows her brows, "No control...Of what?"
"Sintió que no tenía control sobre sus sentimientos. Sintió que nadie se preocupaba por él y que sus sentimientos eran una carga".
Selena frowns, "Ooh no. Poor Benjamín".
Noah nods and starts to tear up, "I don't know how to help him".
José wraps his arm around Noah, "Hey. You've been there for him this whole time. That's enough. You're doing all you can and that's the most important thing".
Selena walks to the other side of him, hugging his side. "Esta bien, mi dulce chico".
Mateo walks down the stairs, seeing the three of them hugging. He smiles before looking away and goes into the kitchen.
Selena hears him and looks over, "Mateo. Ven aquí!"
Mateo walks over and sits next to Selena who then hugs him. "Both of you are doing great. Okay?".
**
Benjamin grabs his phone, now in the bathroom of his dads' house as his parents were still arguing.
"Hello?"
Noah smiles, "Hey, baby. What's up?"
"Still at my dads' house. They're arguing. I feel bad...I caused all this shit".
"It's okay, baby. Why are they arguing?"
"My dad wants me in rehab for a month but my mom doesn't want me. She wants me in therapy".
"What do you want?"
Benjamin bites his lip and shrugs, "...I don't know. I mean, I wanna get better but-".
"I get it, princesa. It's okay".
Benjamin nods, "So uh. What are you up to?"
"I am playing video games with Elly and Lucas...Which reminds me, can you call Jazmyne?"
"What why?"
"Elly told me she's freaking out cause she thinks you hate her for telling me about what happened".
"What? Why would I hate her?"
"Just give her a call when you, okay? She was really scared for you".
"Okay...I will-".
Anna knocks on the door, "Sweetheart? Your mother wants you".
"Okay! Noah, I have to go. I'll call you later".
"Okay. Bye bebesita".
Benjamin smiles and hangs up the phone, walking out the bathroom. He walks over to his mom, sitting down next to her.
"We've decided, you're going to therapy again. We've called your therapist and she's agreed to you coming back".
Benjamin nods, "Okay".
Damien, "But, I want you to spend more time here so...Twice a week, Saturday and Sunday, you'll be here with me".
"What? What if I have plans?"
"No! There are no making plans at the moment! We are concerned but you're also gonna be punished, do you understand?"
"Whatever".
"Whatever? Really, Benjamin? You will be held accountable for your stupid mistakes!"
"Damien!"
Damien looks over at Anna and sighs. Benjamin nods and stands up, "Great. I'm gonna wait in the car".
He storms out the kitchen, slamming the front door and gets into his mom's car.
**