(59): Parents Of The Year

"Chelsea-Anne Richards, you live with a boy?!" My mom hollers angrily, her stare sending shivers down my spine.

After I went for my scan, my parents came back to my hospital room and listened as the nurse interpreted what my results meant. I had internal bleeding, that's why I was out for more than a day. That really scared me but I'm glad I'm okay. I didn't break much, just a small part of my rib cage which is easily fixable, so there's some good news.

They said I just had to remain for two more days so they could finish their work on me and try to mend my scar and bruises. I asked if I'd be needing a wheelchair cause my legs really feel like jello, but they reassured that they would be just fine and I wouldn't need one.

And now I've just told mom about the Kyle thing and she is not happy. At all.

"Now now, Lacey" My dad intervenes calmly "I think you should give her time to explain"

"Don't tell me how to speak to my daughter"

Jeez.

"Mom" I warn sternly, but still being respectful while I'm at it.

"Don't 'mom' me. I know there's something going on between you and that boy! Is that why you moved in with him? A boy?! I thought I raised you better than that"

I gulp scared "Mom, please let me speak"

She breathes "Fine, explain yourself. No lies, Chelsea, or so help me god"

Man, she makes me nervous.

"Okay... Kathrine and I got kicked out of our dorm and then I needed a place to stay. I found one with Kyle. He was the only available option" I say slowly, watching her facial expressions go from disappointment to what I think is annoyance and anger.

Oh god.

"You got kicked out?" She shouts "What did you do that's so bad?"

I can't throw Kat under the bus.

"I missed curfew" I lie.

"So you've been living with a boy for the past god knows how many months and you didn't tell me? You lie too now?" She scolds, her voice getting louder and my heart getting smaller.

I hate being shouted at. I know I deserve it but still.

"Lacey... she's still in the hospital. I think you need to take it easy on her" Dad defends.

I give dad an appreciative look before looking at my mom "I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you, mom"

"I can't believe you" She says disappointed.

I frown, tears threatening to leave my eyes. Those words hurt more than the physical pain that I'm in right now.

"Hush, princess" Dad coos softly, stroking my arm "We'll figure this out"

"First thing we're doing is moving you out of that boys house" Mom says.

I gape, eyes wide "No please"

"No daughter of mine is going to live with a boy" She scolds "A boy that she clearly has feelings for. Who knows what the two of you do there together?"

"No, mom, please" I beg desperately.

"Lacey, I think we should trust our daughter more. She's never given us any reason not to. Come on, give her the benefit of the doubt. She's about to be a woman" Dad says sternly; not being soft like he was before.

Thank you, daddy.

Mom looks like she wants to tell him off but decides against it before looking at me "I'll go easy because you are in a hospital bed"

I think she realizes he's right.

"Okay" I murmur above a whisper.

"Are you good though baby, still in pain?" She asks after a while of calming down and I try to hide my smile.

She's so bipolar sometimes.

"Only a little. I think they put something in my drip so it hurts less now" I say.

"Good" Dad replies looking at me concerned.

"So..." I drag curiously "How'd you guys find out about this whole ordeal?"

"Kathrine told me, then I told your father"

I gape, kind of surprised "You did?"

I thought you hated him.

"Yes, she did" Dad laughs softly at my expression "She knows that a child has two parents and not just one. I had to be here for you too, princess"

I smile widely "Well, you two deserve parents of the year awards"

"Okay sure" Mom also laughs looking at my dad.

I really never thought I'd ever see them together ever again. I don't know, they just act like they hate each other or something. Anyways I'm happy they're both here and not fighting. I honestly thought they would be, they look civil... and comfortable. Kind of.

"Are you sure you don't remember what happened?" Mom presses, giving me a worried look as she plays with my hand.

I can't tell her that Kyle was involved.

I shake my head "Not yet"

"Do you want the doctors to tell you yet? I also want to know" Mom says.

"No, it's fine" I dismiss doing my best to act like everything is okay "I think I just want my memory to come back naturally"

She nods understanding "Okay, baby"

Thank goodness.

I actually still don't fully remember exactly what happened. I remember Kyle and I coming back from 'Sundaes Palace' in his car. I started bopping to some music and singing obnoxiously causing him to sigh every time and me grin. Next thing I know his eyes are wide and he looks panicked. He refuses to tell me what's happening and I shout at him causing him to shout back at me. The robot... it's red but he's making no means to stop. I shout louder, demanding him to slow down and then everything goes black.

That's all I remember. I don't know what happened... how it happened... how I got to the hospital. Nothing.

Do I want to remember?

I can't believe that Zorro and his father actually went this far. They wanted to kill me... us! What the hell? Who does that? Jefferson's own son, Zorro's own brother. They wanted to hurt him... kill him?! I'm so angry. What kind of psycho people are they? It's so fucked up. Imagine if they actually managed to hurt Kyle. I would've lost it. I would die if I saw him in a hospital bed. I can't help but be thankful that it was me and not him... as bad as that sounds. I just don't want to lose him. Ever.

I decide to shut my thoughts.

"I missed you guys" I say, a huge smile on my face as I look at my two beautiful parents. I can't believe they're actually in the same room.

New year, new them, I guess.

Dad smiles "Missed you too, princess"

"I didn't" Mom snorts causing me to gape.

I fake hurt as I pout at her "Mom! That's so mean"

"I'm kidding. I always miss you" She laughs.

"Okay" I smile sheepishly at her "Did you guys have a good new year?"

"I guess" Dad says.

"I was just watching the new years show on television" Mom tells me "What did you do?"

Funny. Confessed my feelings to a boy I had liked months prior to the whole thing. Oh yeah, that boy is the one I currently live with too. Haha. Just a normal teenage new year.

"I was with my friends" I say instead.

"You have a lot of those now, I've noticed" Mom counters shooting me a curious and interested look.

I nod "Yeah, it kind of just happened"

"They're good people, right?"

"Yes. We can have some brunch thing with all of them when I get discharged" I offer enthusiastically.

She frowns "Sweetie, I have work. I need to leave tomorrow"

"Oh" I murmur.

"We'll do it next time, I promise" She assures with a small smile.

I give her an assuring look before looking at dad "When are you leaving?"

"I don't have a fixed date but I'll tell you soon. I'm still going to stick around" He tells me.

It's like they've switched roles.

Mom's phone starts to ring before any of us can say anything and she excuses herself as she walks out of the room.

"How's Josie and the kids?" I ask my dad when I'm sure that mom is gone.

I didn't want to bring it up in front of her because I think that was going to be a tad bit awkward and tense.

Dad smiles "They're good and healthy. I think your little sister wants to meet you so badly"

"How would you know?" I snort.

"I can see it in her eyes" Dad says jokingly "Josie wanted to come with but she's breastfeeding so she can't be away from the baby and she can't travel yet"

I smile "That was nice of her"

"Yeah, Christian was worse. He started crying when I said he couldn't come with" Dad says causing me to laugh as I picture the little cutie.

"Why couldn't he?"

"He has a play today and he's the lead character so we didn't want him to let his friends down because they've been working hard on it for a while"

I grin happily "Aw, I wish I could watch him"

"No worries, Josie said she's take a lot of videos. I'll show you when she's sent"

"Please do" I says "Hey dad, don't you think it's going to be confusing when both of your kid's nicknames are Chris?"

He laughs at me "Of course not. Christian will stay Chris, and little Christina will be Chrissy. It's more girlier"

"Wow" I snort "But fair enough though"

"It makes sense, right?"

I nod "Hows Christian handling the new child though? Is he okay? Or is he one of those jealous siblings?"

"He adores her" Dad dismisses smiling "You know how he has a soft spot for children"

I smile "Yeah, I figured"

"Have you noticed that all your names start with an 'Ch'. I actually didn't do that on purpose" He tells me.

My eyes widen in realization. I really didn't notice till now "That's kind of cool"

"It is. My three babies" He smiles proudly.

Aww.

"Dad, I don't think I should be included in the baby part. I'm a grown woman" I complain jokingly.

"You'll always be a baby to me"

I just laugh at him. I love my dad. I really really do. I think I've always been more of a daddy's girl than a mommy's girl. Even through that rough patch, I still loved him no matter what.

"How's Theo?"

"He's getting so big" Dad tells me "He's started walking now"

"Wow" I smile at the thought "And Jean? Monty? Jake?"

"They're all perfectly well"

Good. That's good.

Dad's eyes suddenly widen in what I think is realization as if remembering something important.

"What?"

"I forgot to go pick Jean up. She's here. She wanted to come see you"

My own eyes widen "What do you mean?"

"She and her husband are here. Or at least around here somewhere. They were on a flight a few hours later than mine and I forgot to go pick them up"

What!?

"They're here?" I gape.

Dad gives me look "Yes. I said that. Don't you want them to be here? Why do you look like that?"

"Nothing" I squeak quickly.

Dad retrieves his phone from his pocket before dialing what I think is Jean's number and putting it against his ear for a while before sighing and tucking it back in.

"She's not answering" He says.

I bite my lip nervously. She's really here? What if she's already here at the hospital? What if...

Kyle.

Oh god, how will he react if he sees her. Shit, I need to warn him now. But I can't even walk, how the hell am I going to do that? Oh my gosh, I'm literally stressing the fuck out right now. He's not ready yet.

"What are you thinking about, princess?" Dad looks at me confused.

I'm incapable of speaking at this point as I put a hand into the drawer next to me and retrieve my phone.

"Chelsea" Dad demands.

"Wait, dad, please" I mutter as I dial Kyle's number putting the phone against my ear. It rings but he doesn't answer. I think I call him about five times but nothing.

"Ugh" I groan annoyed.

Dad just shakes his head at me saying nothing else because he can probably tell that my mind is not here.

I hope Kyle will be okay.

***

Just a filler but another update is coming.