Everything Will Be Alright Chapter 2
“Mom, can you braid my hair before I go to bed, please?” Ava wandered down the long stair case, dressed in a pair of comfy shorts and one of Justin’s old tour t-shirts with her long golden brown hair dangling halfway down her back, soaking wet.
“Of course, sweetie,” I said sitting up on the couch and tossing the blanket resting in my lap aside. She sat in front of me as I began braiding her long hair.
"Where’s everyone at?" Ava questioned, "It’s like eleven and I haven’t seen anyone since dinner."
"Well your dad got held up at the recording studio so that could be awhile. Aubree, Andrew, and Addie are in bed, Jazmyn is sleeping over at her friend’s house because they had a school project, and Jaxon should be home but he’s out somewhere," I explained. I really did wonder where Jaxon was. I told him to be home by eleven o’clock and it was currently 11:21. Of course, once again he was breaking his curfew and I had no idea where he was.
"What’s up with Jaxon? He’s never around anymore," Ava mentioned quietly. I knew that Justin and I weren’t the only ones noticing Jaxon’s behavior and absence lately. Just the fact that the younger kids were starting to pick up on his attitude and absence was definitely a warning sign for me. I was really starting to get worried about him and what he was showing the four younger children that looked up to him as their uncle. I missed the little Jaxon that I used to know. That was extremely sweet and loved to laugh. I understood that he was a teenager now and he’s starting to figure himself out, but this was the completely wrong way to go about it.
"I’m not really sure," I replied. I didn’t want to tell her young ears what I really thought. She was too young to get caught up in Jaxon’s mess.
"There you go, sweetie," I smiled glumly, tying the ends of her hair together with a with a hair tie.
"Thanks, momma." She stood up from the ground and cuddled up to me on the couch. I wrapped my arms around her as she leaned her head on my shoulder, rubbing my hands up and down her back soothingly.
"I hope Jaxon gets better," She mumbled softly into my side. Ava and Jaxon have always had a close relationship growing up and the fact that she didn’t get to see him much anymore was hard on her.
"Me too,” I sighed as she fell asleep in my lap. I continued to watch the movie playing on the TV, waiting for Jaxon’s return. Time continued to tick by and before I knew it was past 12 and I was still lying on the couch, hoping Jaxon would come in soon considering I was about to pass out. I waited up for another hour, almost asleep, before I finally heard the front door open and close. Knowing that it was most likely Justin I didn’t bother to look over until I heard stumbling going up the stairs. I quickly shifted Ava off my lap and got up to investigate. There was Jaxon stumbling up the stairs.
"Where have you been?!?" I questioned following him up the stairs and into his bedroom.
"Why does it matter?" He snapped, turning around. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he was about to pass out.
"Because I was worried sick not to mention you’re home hours after your curfew without so much of a text to let me know where you we’re.” I stepped further into his room, closing the door behind me.
"Whatever. I’m sure you weren’t that worried. You and I both know that you don’t love me like you love your kids.” Jaxon rolled his eyes, kicking off his shoes.
"Don’t even go there. You know I love you just as much as I love them,” I explained, trying to stay calm, “Where were you?"
"Why does it matter where I was?"
"Because it just does." I stepped closer to him and that’s when I took a big whiff of him.
"Why do you smell like alcohol? And have you been doing drugs?" My stomach churned at the thought. He couldn’t be taking himself down this path.
"I don’t do drugs, Selena!" He screamed, "And I don’t smell like alcohol."
Just as I was about to reply to him I heard Justin prancing up the stairs. He walked into the bedroom and looked between Jaxon and I.
“Doesn’t he smell like alcohol?” I asked Justin as he took a sniff of Jaxon.
"Yeah,” Justin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, “actually he does.” Obviously he wasn’t catching onto the situation.
"Your parents would be so disappointed in you. We’ll talk about your punishment in the morning, I’m going to bed and you are too." I said walking out of the room with Justin following me. As soon as Jaxon’s door was shut I let the tears fall. Justin stopped me, pulling me into his chest.
“I hate fighting with him,” I whimpered, “I’m so sick of it.” I could feel his hand rubbing circles on my back.
“Can you please put Ava to bed? She fell asleep on the couch. I’ll meet you in bed.” I ignored his question, wiping my tears and pulling my hair back into a pony with a deep breath. Justin nodded, kissing my forehead.
“Should we send him to school?” Selena rubbed her temples, leaning against the kitchen counter. I’d just gotten back from dropping the littles off at their respective schools and part time daycare but Sel and I decided to let Jaxon sleep in because he was up all night sick.
“I don’t know,” I sighed, hopping onto the counter. I knew he was probably feeling miserable and I did feel kinda bad but then again it was his decision to drink and experiment with drugs and he knew beforehand what the consequences would be.
“Maybe we should just let him stay home today. We can sit down and have a talk with him. I don’t know, what do you think?”
“But it’s my only day off this week,” I whined playfully, pouting my lips. Selena threw her head back laughing, slapping my arm softly.
“Justin, I’m being serious.”
“I know,” I chuckled, “He can stay home. I’ll call the school and then we can go wake the sleeping beauty.”
“Get the fuck out of my room! It’s none of your business what’s in here. I’m not even your fucking son so it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to listen to you!” Jaxon hissed grumpily. Selena and I had sat him down for a talk but it wasn’t much of a talk because he wasn’t willing to participate in any other manner than scream cuss words so we’d been fighting all afternoon.
“This is my house, and as long as you live under my roof you will follow my rules,” I growled.
“There are no drugs in there because I’m not taking that shit!” he screamed, physically trying to stop me from opening his drawers as I went through them. Sel stood at the door watching, biting her bottom lip. I knew she wanted to stick up for Jaxon because she always saw the best in everyone and gave everyone the benefit of doubt but we we’re both beyond pissed off with Jaxon and it was time to get this straightened out.
“Don’t touch that!” he cried as I pulled out a cardboard box from the bottom right drawer, the last one left to check. I disregarded him and pushed past him with the box, taking it into the kitchen to cut the tape off.
“Justin,” Selena whispered her hand on my back as I grabbed some scissors, “maybe you shouldn’t.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t think he’s got a stash.” I rattled the box to hear glass clinking.
“Let’s wait until he calms down,” she murmured, her eyes trailing to the bottom step where Jaxon sat, his head buried in his hands.
“No, we’re opening it now.” I tore the box open and just like I expected there were a few bags of pills and a bottle of beer. Rage took over and I smashed the box on the ground out of anger, 3 old pictures of Jaxon with dad and Erin fluttering out.
“I’m going to go pick up the kids from school. I’ll be back,” I mumbled under my breath, grabbing the keys and slamming the front door behind me. I needed some time to think and collect my thoughts before I blew up on Jaxon.
“Daddy! What are you doing here daddy!?” Adelynn squealed, running into my arms as she spotted me waiting outside her classroom. Usually Sel was the one to pick the kids up from school or they’d ride the bus because I worked in the afternoons.
“Hi princess,” I smiled, kissing her cheek before lifting her up, “how was your day at school?”
“It was good,” she grinned, showing off her toothless smile, “I made you and mommy a picture. Oh, and Sarah brought her puppy in today and she said that we’re getting one too!”
“She did?” I navigated my way out to the parking lot. Because Sel and I did send our kids to public school there was a bigger chance of information about our lives leaking but the kids, well the older ones knew to keep their mouths shut for the most part and it was nice to have that normalcy for them. There was a disadvantage of people addressing rumors or taking them up with the kids but it was what it was. Technically nobody was allowed to bother them but we couldn’t change it so we just had to deal with it.
“Yeah! She said that we’re gonna get a white a brown puppy,” Adelynn nodded eagerly, “Are we really daddy? Are we?” Sel and I had gone to the shelter the other day to donate some stuff and we’d taken a picture with a dog which matched Adelynn’s description. The pictures must’ve surfaced.
“Not right now baby. Mommy and I we’re just visiting the doggy and give it some food,” I explained.
“But I already named it spots,” her eyes filled with tears.
“Maybe we can go visit him.” I compromised. After a huge fight with Jaxon I couldn’t handle any more tears.
“Okay,” she sighed, climbing into the car, “daddy I love you.”
“I love you too bub.” I strapped her in before starting the car up and pulling out onto the road, off to pick up Drew and the twins since Jaz took her car to school this morning. It was the calm before the real storm.
~Dun, dun, dun. What's gonna happen..? Feedback prutty please!