Setting: The Demico Residence (day after Grace's party)
Characters: Mr. Demico, Mrs. Demico, Gracelyn, & Catalina
Triggers: Abuse (Neglect), Alcohol Mention
She knew her parents were going to be home some time late the evening following her party; and if she had been a normal teenager who had just thrown an out-of-control rager, she would have spent the day cleaning up the house with her friends despite her massive hangover. But instead, she slept for most of the day and spent the rest of it crying alone in her room. It wasn't until she saw the lights of her parents' car pull in the driveway and heard their footsteps come in the front door that she was able to stop crying and smile the first genuine smile she had all weekend.
"Gracelyn, Catalina... Get down here right now..." She heard her father's voice boom from the foyer.
Wiping her tears on her sleeve, she hopped off her bed and headed downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. "You called, daddy?" She asked just as Lina came down the stairs behind her.
This was it. Her parents had clearly seen the damage in the living room since there was a clear view from the front door. That's what this was about; and she could already hear the anger in her father's voice and see it in his face. This was going to be great.
Her father didn't say anything until Lina's showed up on the steps behind Grace. Immediately when she came into view, it was she who was brought under accusation, not Grace. "Catalina, would you like to tell me what happened here?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest, making him look more intimidating.
A frown found its way to Grace's face. This is not what she wanted. Before Lina had the chance to speak up, Grace did. "It's not Lina's fault, dad. Like at all. My party got, um... My party got kind of out of hand." She explained, being completely honest. She figured honesty would be the best policy since she didn't want to hide anything. The more her parents found out about, the more they would have to be angry with her about which meant more punishment and more of the attention she so longed for.
"Grace, it was your birthday. You and your friends should have been having fun." Their mother piped up, smiling at her daughter.
"If Lina bothered you at all and caused drama, you can tell us." Their father added. "Don't feel like you have to protect your sister. That's our job, to protect you girls."
Grace felt like she was on the verge of tears. She felt like she did right before a panic attack; but she also could feel her blood beginning to boil. This was ridiculous. Not only did her parents not give a fuck that her party got out of hand, they assumed it was Lina's fault and also had the nerve to tell the girls it was their job to protect them. It may be their job as parents to protect them; but that was something they never really did, hence why Grace felt the need to protect Lina: because someone had to.
"That's it!" Grace screamed, a bit louder than intended. "I've had enough of this fucking bullshit!"
Her parents' eyes grew big at the use of her colorful language. "Gracelyn, language." Her mother said, her voice calm.
"Fuck you." Grace replied, her eyes narrowing. She was angry; and she really didn't care if she insulted her parents right now. They needed to hear everything she was about to say. "Fuck you both and your fucking bullshit." She stopped, taking a deep breath before continuing, interrupting her father who was about to speak. "You say it's your job to protect us? Well then where the hell were you when..." She couldn't finish the thought. As much as she wanted her parents to give her attention, there were still some secrets she felt the need to keep to herself.
"When what?" Her mother asked. There was sheer concern in her voice as she took a step towards her daughter; but Grace wasn't buying it.
She took a step back, pulling away from her mother. "Or what about the time I left a pregnancy test on the bathroom counter while I waited for the results?" This question she directed solely at her mom. "I know you had to see it. Because I saw you go into my bathroom to take out the trash... And the empty toothpaste tube that was right next to the test was gone when I got back! Gone! And you didn't fucking say anything to me about that!"
Her mother looked shocked and offended. "What are you talking about, Gracelyn? I never saw a pregnancy test... Are you... You're not... Were you..."
Grace simply rolled her eyes, mostly out of disbelieve that her mother could be so stupid. "Yes, mom. I had a fucking baby. Where were you the past 9 months?"
This comment caused a smirk to come from Lina's general direction. Grace glanced over at her sister, shaking her head. She had almost forgotten the girl was standing behind her.
"Catalina!" The girls' father snapped at the younger girl.
Grace saw fear fill her sister's eyes; and she hated seeing that. That was one of the other reasons she felt the need to protect Lina. And like the good big sister she was, she had to bring the focus away from Lina and back towards her- since for the first time in ages, she was actually getting some attention.
"I just want you guys to take care of me! You're my fucking parents for crying out loud!" Grace exclaimed as tears began to well up in her eyes. There was so much more she wanted to yell at them for. There had been so many things they hadn't noticed over the past year or so; and it had really gotten out of hand.
"Well you're 18 now, Gracelyn. You're a legal adult." Her father replied, though his gaze was still half watching Lina. "You don't need us to take care of you anymore."
"Clearly I still do." She replied as the first of the tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Think of it as practice for when you go away to college this fall." Her mother piped up, trying to sound somewhat reassuring.
Grace just shook her head. "I'm not going to college this fall." She replied, her voice tinged with a somewhat mocking tone. "I'm not fucking graduating because I'm fucking failing my senior year dammit!"
This took both her parents by surprise.
"Yeah." Was all Grace had to say to that. They should have noticed by her report cards and the countless times they had to sign her tests and the notes home she had shown them stating that she was in danger of failing. But they hadn't been paying any attention.
"Whatever, I'm staying at Tamera's for a while..." Turning her focus to her father, she added one last thing before storming out the door. "And dad, you're a fucking addiction counselor. How can you not tell that your own daughter has a drinking problem?"
And with that said, she left the house. She'd go pick up her things later when her parents weren't home.
Characters: Emma-Leigh Carick (Mentions of Stacey Rusakova)
Time Frame: After Curfew Three Weeks Ago
Location: The Pool
Words: 743
Emma walked down the hallway, letting her feet lead her to wherever they wanted to go. She forced her mind to focus on the little things such as the sound of the guards as the passed her hiding spots and the sound her shoes made on the floor. She made sure her mind was on anything other than the crumpled up paper in her fist.
It seemed like a cruel joke that her feet led her to the pool. Of all the places in Division, she ended up at the stupid pool. She glared at the doors before letting her eyes wander to the paper in her hands. If she were to go inside then she could have some privacy while she processed everything. But it was the pool… She swallowed her fear and shook her head. You’re better than this Carick. And you are definitely not afraid of a little water.
She pulled out the knife and fork from her pocket and forced the lock open. She slid inside and shut the door behind her, enjoying the quiet. She could see the water, which now had lights, giving the room a dull glow. She watched the water warily, remembering how she felt the last time she was there, with Nathan.
Nathan. It seems like forever since she had last spoken to him. Neither have apologized for what happened, although Emma knew that it was really her fault. Now he was on his mission and who knows how he’ll come back. Maybe he won’t want to hear her apology. Regardless, his presence helped her get in the water without going into a mental breakdown. But that was before Stacey was cancelled.
Her fingers curled tighter around the paper in her hands as she thought of her old Russian friend. She stumbled away from the water and leaned against the wall. It felt as if glass was breaking in her head over and over again, cutting up what remained of her sanity. She took several deep breathes, doing her best to ignore the pungent smell of chlorine. She wished Nathan was there with her. Or Cambria. Or Stacey. The three was willing to trust, not that it mattered anymore. She wouldn’t trust anyone. Not after the shit that she has been through in the past few weeks. Nothing was worth the amount of pain she felt.
Remain true to yourself. The words echoed in her mind as she glanced at the paper in her hands. Her last message from her friend. She pried it from her hand and looked at the words on the page. It was too dim to read any of it, not that it mattered. She had been reading it nonstop ever since she found it hidden under her mattress.
Remain true to yourself, Em. Don’t let Division destroy you. She swallow back the knot in her throat and chewed on her bottom lip. That’s exactly what she was letting them do. She let herself turn into something she never wanted to be out of grief and it was time to let it go. She had to listen to Stacey now. She couldn’t let Division take over her life. She wouldn’t just be a pawn for them to manipulate and use. Not anymore.
Maybe that was why she went to the pool. The beginning of her problems. Division took away her safe place, her sanctuary to do what she always loved to do. But she was taking it back.
Emma clenched the letter in her hand again and took a few steps toward the water. Images of that night all those weeks ago flashed before her. The feeling of the dead man on her leg. She swallowed but forced herself forward. It’s clean now. It’s fine. But what if—
Before she could back out, she ran as fast as she could to the pool and dove in. When she felt herself hit the cold water, her eyes pried themselves open as she looked around for signs of trouble. Of course there wasn’t one. She pushed herself to the surface and took a deep breath as she started to swim laps like she used to.
The letter fell from her hands eventually, its message dissolving into the water. By the time she managed to grab it, there was nothing left of it except the smudged ink and the imprint left onto Emma’s mind. Don’t let Division destroy you.
