*MA: Language.
Chloe stared at her. Dumbfounded. She hadn’t told her anything about Matthew and she was certain neither had Simon. “How do you know that?”
“Oh! Really?” Alice cocked her head. “Really? You think this is funny? He hasn’t been there for Simon EVER! You really think he’s going to want him now? All of a sudden?” Alice stumbled back. Now she could feel the burn in her hand and the developing headache that pulsated inside her skull. “He gets to swoop right in and be the god damn hero? Are you kidding me? He’s the one that made me like this. He’s the reason my life is so fucked up.”
“Alice, just listen. He-”
“I DON’T WANT TO FUCKING HEAR IT!”
Her scream was so loud even Simon could almost hear it. The shrill in her voice made Carter jump. They sat stunned and confused. Simon tried to get up for the living room, but Nate took his hand. His heart was pounding so furiously Nate could feel it with their touch. “Sit with me?” He gestured and the boy complied.
Back in the living room, Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and let out a long, painful sigh. That action made Alice scoff. “Wow. You think you’re stressed?”
Opening her eyes again, Chloe attempted to speak, but her sister shut her down again. “He was never there for Simon. I’ve been here since day fucking one and where’s my credit? All of you treat me like I’m absolute shit. And why? Because I made one mistake? Because I thought I was in love and that same guy lied to me?” Her eyes betrayed her laughter as the tears fell like rain. Surely, if she could go back in time and change absolutely everything, she would do so in a heartbeat. She didn’t care that it meant her son would never have existed. “Don’t act like Matthew is suddenly a hero because he isn’t as fucked up as I am. He got to leave.”
“That’s not why I’m doing this, Ali.” Chloe tried to convince her. Her voice was quiet, barely audible, to keep at least part of their conversation private. “Please. I’m doing this to help you. The both of you.”
“You think that helps me now?” Alice scoffed, suddenly quiet. The shouting had stung her throat and the alcohol running through her veins made her so unbearably exhausted. To sleep and, perhaps, never wake up. That was her wish. “I already gave birth. I already lost my teenage years and my twenties. I’ve already lost my fucking mind and I can’t stop drinking.” She stopped. Her chest hurt and a gross, acidic taste crawled up her throat.
As she took one step forward the entire world seemed to shift. Suddenly, she hit the ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the figures of two people she’d come to know well. In a normal headspace, she probably would have been upset. But for reason, it didn’t completely register with her who was standing in her living room. At that point, she didn’t exactly care. “Fuck all of you.” She got to her feet. As she passed the boys, her glare fixated on Simon, he tightened his grip around Nate’s wrist. “Get out of my house, losers!” She threw her hands over her head to flip them the bird and slammed her bedroom door.
Silence followed.
Simon wasn’t exactly sure how much time had passed. All five of them stared off into the distance just trying to figure out what exactly happened before Chloe quietly remarked, “Well. That happened.”
Carter, a rather confused expression carved in his brow, glanced between Chloe and the stairs Alice had disappeared to. “Uh, is she okay?”
“Of course,” Chloe promised and clapped her hands together. “A lot has happened and I think she just needs a minute to blow off some steam.” There wasn’t a chance she was going to explain very private family matters with two complete strangers. Clearly, they were concerned about Alice, but all they really needed to know was that she was upset. And that she had returned home completely, and utterly, drunk. Everything else could be explained away with ex-relationship issues involving Simon’s birth father. Hopefully no further questions.
There were none. At least, Carla and Carter made no effort to pry. They were, however, very concerned about not only Alice’s behavior but Simon’s as well. After a quick talk about recent events, they came to a decision. “If Alice needs a minute to rest we can take Simon.” Carter offered. Carla agreed.
First Chloe debated this. She was about to refuse their offer but noticed the distress in Simon’s eyes. Since Alice arrived drunk he hadn’t let go of Nate. “Okay. I think that would be for the best.” She exchanged notes with Simon about a change of clothes. Simon refused to go upstairs alone and Chloe didn’t dare argue with him.
In the van, Carter and Carla discussed Alice’s recent actions. They knew her as a confident single mother who worked hard for her and her son. That was what they were led to believe. Of course, that one little display did not mean they were convinced she was an alcoholic. By all accounts, it appeared as though she was a stressed woman who was overwhelmed by the idea of having her ex in town. They probably wouldn't have given it a second thought if it weren’t for one specific line:
"I can’t stop drinking."
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