Episode 4 (2.1)
October 7, 2008 04:30 PM
Allen led the way into the house; behind him trailed the three female McCaulleys. Saying nothing; he sullenly marched up the steps. Jillian watched his every move with concern, her tired face visibly distraught. “Allan, do you want anything.” Jillian received no response. “Allan?”
“Leave it, mom.” Isabel brushed past her mother, making her way into the living room. She fell unto the couch, pulling a throw pillow under her head. Alicia made her way to shut the door, but it flew open before she could reach it. The three turned as Jason entered; he apologetically offered a sorry, then closed the door.
“How’s Allan doing?” Jason kicked off his shoes, throwing them into the nearby closet.
“He doesn’t want to talk right now.” Isabel’s voice was muffled through the pillow she’d placed over her face.
Jillian continued to stare up the steps, “But I need to know that he’s ok.”
“Mom,” Isabel pulled the pillow free, “he was arrested and held in a cell with his idiot buddies. They probably played beer pong to pass the time.”
Jason began dragging himself up the steps; “Look, he’ll talk when he’s ready.”
Jillian nodded, but she felt tears beginning to swell up into her eyes. She turned away from her children, fighting back breaking down in front of them. She began busied herself with straightening the room, moving pillows and straightening lampshades. “You’re right. You’re right. Go to bed, it’s late.” From his position on the landing, Jason hesitated; Isabel rose from the couch and took a step towards her mother. “I said GO TO BED!” Jillian was taken aback by the fierceness in her own voice. Her two eldest shot each other a look, then silently went upstairs. Alicia didn’t move.
Jillian wheeled, ready to repeat her demand, but Alicia threw her arms around her mother. Shocked, the matriarch paused, then began to cry softly into her daughter’s shoulder.
* * *
Molly pushed open the door, looking ready to drop. “Thank you Carleen,” she softly muttered. It was nearly 2 am; she and Misha had successfully completed inventory. More importantly, she’d managed to withhold the impulse to strangle her coworker the entire time. She dropped her work bag on the front table, put her keys on a chain and then paused. Flickering lights from the living room caught her attention; Shane had left the television on. “Shane?”
Molly maneuvered around the couches and turned the corner into the living room, only to come to an abrupt stop. Shane was sleeping on the couch, wearing only shorts; Laying against his chest, her head on his shoulder, was Keira Prescott. In her sleep, she shifted and her hand trailed down his chest, stopping on his stomach.
Molly bolted towards the tv set and shut it off, then flicked on the nearest lamp. “Ok, time to wake up!”
* * *
Isabel and Jason stood outside Allen’s door. Isabel made a motion to knock, but Jason gently stopped her hand. “Seriously, Iz, don’t you think we should let him rest?”
“I think we should ask what he was thinking? Did you hear the charges, Jason?”
Jason shook his head no. “Abby and Tyke weren’t really talking that much on the ride home.”
“Most likely because he was still hurting from Allan attacking him.” Jason’s eyes widened at this assertion. “Yeah, our little brother decided to add assault along to his charges while he was waiting for us to arrive. Mom tried to get him to open up, but he just stared out the window the entire ride home.”
“Well, do you think he wants to hear a speech from us anymore than he would from Mom? He’s been through a lot tonight, Iz. I’m sure he feels like crap without us making things worse. Let him sleep, we’ll start sorting this crap out tomorrow.” Isabel sighed, but relented; the siblings went to their separate bedrooms.
* * *
“What’s going on?” Lynne stood in the hall doorway, arms crossed over her chest. She looked back and forth at her parents; Carleen leaning against the counters, Levy sitting sullenly at the table. She was greeted by silence, neither parent able to look at her, before Levy, sighing, finally answered.
“Your mother and I were just having a discussion . . .”
“Pretty loud for a discussion,” Lynne scratched at her mussy, red-hair.
“We were talking about Tori,” Carleen shot a look at her husband, then finally turned to her daughter.
Lynne scrunched up her face, “Ugh, what about her?”
“Ugh?” Their attention was now on their daughter, both surprised by her response.”
“Yeah, she’s a complete waste. Seriously, she comes in and never really cleans.” Lynne began counting off points on her fingers, “I think that she sometimes gives away free cookies to her friends and, honestly Daddy, I question if she knows any of our drinks besides the ones you’ve already brewed in the pot.”
Carleen bit back a smile, “So then you would be open to letting her go.”
Lynne seemed somewhat taken aback by her mother’s sudden interest in the shop’s employees. “Well, yea. She’s a waste of space.” Skeptically, she studied her mother, “Uh, since when did you care about hiring, ma?”
Carleen was quick with a lie. “I was just thinking of ways that we could possibly start saving money.”
Levy broke in, “Why didn’t you say any of this before?”
“Because I’m the one who does the hiring?” Lynne, still only half awake, was now completely confused. “You guys are freaking me out, what’s going on?”
* * *
Shane and Keira, startled, nearly fell from the couch. Keira sat upright, straightening out her shirt and hair, trying to compose herself. Shane dazedly looked around the room, before slowly settling on Molly; she stared down at both of them pointedly, arms crossed over her chest.
“When did you get home,” Shane asked, voice cracking with sleep.
“Just now. You have any idea what time it is?” She responded briskly.
“Not really, was asleep remember?” Shane was beginning to come around; as he awoke, his attitude towards his sister returned full force.
Keira glanced over at the clock, then leapt to her feet, nearly smacking Shane. “Oh no! My dad is going to kill me!” She grabbed at her bag, which lay at the foot of the couch, then began pulling on her discarded shoes. “Shane, my keys!”
Shane stumbled to his feet, then began picking through the cushions. He pulled out a pair of keys and handed it over to his hectic girlfriend. Keira leaned over and kissed him swiftly, then began running towards the front door. She stopped and turned, “Oh and goodnight Molly! Sorry for falling asleep!” She went to open the door, but it resisted her.
“It’s locked,” Molly called, icily.
Keira was to distracted by fear to notice the coldness in Molly’s tone. She fumbled with the locks and then the door finally pulled free. Keira raced out. Shane brushed past Molly, making his way towards his bedroom.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Molly went to try and stop him, but Shane brushed her hands away.
“I’m going to bed, it’s late remember?”
“You think we’re not going to talk about this? We’re going to have this dicussion!”
“Fine, whatever, in the morning.” Shane stomped into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Molly glared at the closed doorway.
* * *
Carleen said nothing, intently watching her husband. “Your mother and I were just discussing some of the employees in the shop. She felt that Tori wasn’t really contributing her worth and I thought otherwise.” Carleen rolled her eyes at that statement, but still remained restrained.
“Well, she’s not and I was ready to let her go by the end of this week. Was just hoping to find a replacement before hand. Wait,” Lynne grew visibly agitated, “Is she stealing? I’ll kill that bitch if she stole from us!”
“No, I promise, we were just trying to raise-”
“Productivity.” Carleen finished her husband’s sentence. “You know how busy the shop can get, we were just brainstorming ways to get you and your Dad some help.”
Lynne appeared doubtful, but seemed to accept their explanation. “Well if you two really want her gone-”
“Tomorrow,” Carleen responded hastily. “Tomorrow would be good,” she added a little softer. Levy said nothing, just stared down at his crossed hands. “It’s late, I’m tired,” Carleen stretched and then proceeded over to her daughter. “Come on, huh, back to bed.” Lynne hesitated at first, looking at her father, then relented as her mother gently guided her by the shoulder down the hallway. As she left, Carleen glanced back at her husband once, then flicked off the lights.
* * *
Allen lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. As he heard his family slowly settling down for the night, he finally rolled over. He clutched at his pillow, wincing at the pain in his hand, but saying nothing. He just continued to stare out through the window, watching as the trees swayed in the night breeze.
Jason finished laying out his outfit for the following day, then glanced at his bedroom clock. Groaning at the time, he flicked off a lamp and made his way into bed.
Jillian draped a blanket over her sleeping daughter on the couch, reaching over to brush a stray hair from Alicia’s face. She smiled softly, kissed her forhead, and then made her way into her own bedroom.
* * *
Isabel lay on her bed, exhausted. She mustered the strength to sit up and began pulling at her boots. They fell to the floor, followed soon after by her jacket. Her phone slid across the floor; Isabel sighed and stepped down to retrieve it. The screen flashed that she had three missed messages.
She flipped it open.
[Are you ok? ] - Misha.
[ Iz, How’re Things? ] - Molly
“Ugh, if you two only knew.” She stopped at the last text.
[ I’m sorry ] - Tim.
Isabel stared at the phone for a moment, then pressed delete. She tossed it down on the bedside table, before throwing herself unto the bed and burying her face into a pillow. It managed to stifle the scream. Sitting up, eyes wet with tears, she reached down into her discarded jacket and pulled out the small, orange bottle. Isabel hesistated for a moment, then twisted off the white cap.
Posted at 10/07/2008 by beck | Comments? (1)