by Izzy Cullen
I saw Sam disappear into the house and I got in my car and pulled out. Yesterday morning I had figured something was up, but I didn’t realize it was to this extent. I was happy for them, but knew Alex would hate the thought of his friend and sister sleeping together.
That night, we all went to my parents for dinner and returned to Alex’s. The next day went by quickly since it was the last day of school before Thanksgiving break. The girls wanted another slumber party in the living room, but they settled for movie and popcorn instead.
On Wednesday, the girls were up early, knowing Derek would be arriving. I told them he wouldn’t be there until dinner, but they didn’t care. I was asked at least a dozen times before lunch when he was coming. I needed a break, so I told Sam I was heading out on a run.
As I was stretching, Johnny came out and stretched next to me. “What are you doing?” I didn’t mean it the way it came out.
“Thought I would run with you. I needed to get some fresh air.” I was thinking it was more than that, but I wasn’t going to question him.
We headed out on the run, neither of us talking. Johnny was the first to break the silence. “Sam told me you saw her coming out of the house on Monday.” I knew there was something to this run.
“Yes, I did. And did she also tell you I saved her ass from her brother finding out?” Our pace slowed a bit, but we continued running.
“That’s the thing. I want to tell Alex, but Sam refuses.” I was surprised and a bit confused.
I grabbed his arm and stopped him. “Wait, how long has this been going on?”
“A while, on and off for a few years, but I want this time to be different. I don’t think she believes me.”
“A few years? So this isn’t a onetime thing?” I was going to kill Sam.
“It’s a confusing and long story, but no, it is not a onetime thing.” Johnny seemed like he wanted to fill me in on everything, but I didn’t want to know and then have Alex find out I knew. It was becoming a web, and I didn’t want to get tangled in it. I didn’t respond. I just shook my head and started running again with Johnny keeping pace right with me.
“It isn’t what you think. I care about her a lot, but I fucked her over in the past, and she doesn’t trust me or believe that I want to commit now.” I kept running and I wanted to stick my fingers in my ears, because even unwilling, I was still being brought in. “How do I get her to trust me?”
I finally stopped running. “Why are you telling me this?” I felt bitchy for not wanting to listen to him.
“I need your help.” No, no way was I getting involved.
“I don’t think I can. I mean, I’m a flipping head case with my own relationship. You know my past, so what makes you think I can help you? I’m a bloody train wreck when it comes to love.” I was not the person to give relationship advice.
“Because you are forgiving, and I need to know how you forgave me. I need Sam to forgive me and trust me.” He grabbed my arm gently. “Please.”
I can’t believe I was even considering it. “Fine, I’ll try to help, but no more sleeping together until Alex knows or until you guys are serious.”
“I can’t promise that.” Johnny had a serious look on his face. “Sorry, that is asking too much.”
“Fine, but have her in her bed in the morning. I’m not helping her sneak in anymore.” He had a huge smile on his face. He wrapped me in a hug and thanked me. “Can we run now? This added stress just added more miles to my run.” Johnny started to laugh. We headed out, and by the time we got back we were both dead.
Alex was in the driveway, hauling wood into the house. “Looks like you had a good run. Hope you saved energy for later.” I wanted to smack him for saying that in front of Johnny.
“I can beat you at cards asleep.” I walked past him to head into the house.
“I know what you can beat.” He swatted my butt as I passed him. I ignored him as if I didn’t hear him talking.
When I walked in the house, I could smell the baked goods. I went into the kitchen to see what the girls made with Sam. They were at the table decorating turkey cupcakes. The twins had more frosting on their faces than most of the cupcakes.
“Smells yummy. I’ll go shower and then I’ll help.” I kissed each girl on the head. I was heading up the stairs when I heard someone run up the stairs behind me. When I turned, I saw Sam.
“I didn’t get a chance to talk to you about Monday.” Ugh, I was screaming in my head. “It’s not anything serious, it just happened.”
“Like before?” Sam looked at me with wide eyes. “Look, you are an adult and I love you both. I don’t know the whole story, but I do know he wants to show you it’s not like the past.” Sam’s mouth fell open a little this time. Then it closed and her lips became tight. “Listen, you two need to talk, and not to me, but to each other.” The last place I wanted to be was in the middle. “Horizontal talking doesn’t count.”
“I’m going back downstairs.” Sam went to head back to the kitchen.
“Hey, seriously, if you need to talk I will listen. I don’t know the history, but I see a different person than who I met months ago.”
“So do I, but for how long?” Sam’s response made me wonder if this had happened before. I never really asked for the full Johnny history on sobriety.
When I got out of the shower and to the kitchen, the decorating was done. I decided I should start making dinner. The girls set the table as I got the chicken going with the side dishes. I was finishing the rice when I heard the girls yelling for Derek and then the door slamming. It didn’t take much to guess he had arrived.
I got everything off the burners when he walked into the kitchen. I walked over and gave him a hug. He picked me up and spun me. I had missed him. It had been months since I had seen him last, and our talks had been few and far between.
“Hey, don’t be trying anything,” I heard Alex say as he walked in.
Derek set me down, reached over, and shook Alex’s hand. “How are things? How’s life in Mayberry?” I whacked him in the arm. “Why is it always the arm?”
“I love it here. There is no way I could ever return to LA.” I honestly believed that answer.
“Good, because there is no way I would allow my girls to move to LA.” I smiled. I loved how Derek still referred to the four of us as his girls.
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” I grabbed Derek’s arm as I walked past him.
“Wow, my own room. I’m so used to the Hello Kitty sheets and Justin Bieber posters that I don’t know if I can take this.”
“Shut up, you even have your own bathroom here.” I turned and smiled at him.
“Shut the front door, seriously? I don’t have to share with four females?” He didn’t wait for a response. “I might just like Alex after all.”
We walked into his room. It was the same room Lexi slept in when she was here. I walked over and sat on the bed. I asked about his drive up, his parents, work, and everything else I had been falling behind on. He filled me in and I filled him in on Lexi. I knew she wouldn’t tell him. I almost felt guilty talking about her situation to him, but remembered that they do the same to me, and just like when it came on, the guilt was gone.
We went down to the kitchen, but the conversation was censored because the girls were there and hanging all over him. He told them he got them a surprise, but they would have to wait until after dinner. They were all excited, and Lily looked over and smiled, which basically said I told you so.
We were all in the dining room for dinner. The girls monopolized a lot of the conversation, which was expected, and everyone was fine and used to it. After dinner, the girls made Derek play Just Dance with them while the rest of us cleaned up the mess. When we were done, we went out in the living room and joined them.
Everyone was laughing at Derek. He was trying so hard, but could not figure out the moves, and he was on a few seconds delay from the screen. There was one point I was laughing so hard I was crying.
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The girls finally got bored and Derek didn’t have to dance anymore. He did have to play Princess Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders. At one point Derek thought he could escape until they had the iPad and were showing him the world they had made in Minecraft. He was a good sport with them, but looked relieved and tired when I broke it to the girls that it was bedtime. Derek helped with bedtime and read each girl a book.
When he came back down, he flopped on the couch. “God help me, I need a beer.” We were all pretty quiet at first. Nobody had a drink since Johnny had been back and I don’t think anyone really noticed. “What, don’t tell me you don’t have beer?” Derek was looking at us.
Nobody said anything at first. I wasn’t sure what to say. “They do have beer. It’s in the garage fridge like it’s hidden,” Johnny said, looking at us. “Seriously, like I didn’t notice.”
I didn’t even know there was beer in the garage.
“Am I allowed to have one?”
Johnny got up. “I’ll grab you one.” My eyes just stayed fixated on him. “Like I said before, the drinking doesn’t bother me. I don’t know why you are acting like seeing a beer can will send me into a cocaine stupor.” He walked out of the room.
Sam was the first to speak when he left the room. “He is right; you treat him like he has some sort of disease.”
“It is a disease, you fucktard,” Alex shot back at her quickly.
“No shit, but one he is recovering from. Sheltering him from alcohol isn’t helping him learn to live with it in his life. He won’t know how to cope in a real world situation if he isn’t practicing with people who care about his sobriety. Do you think every place he goes will remove booze when he walks into the room?” Sam was making a good point. We were babying him, but I honestly didn’t think much about drinking since I do little of it during the school year anyway.
“It’s early in his sobriety, so that’s why I haven’t had it around. You know what has happened in the past.” Obviously this conversation was just between Sam and Alex, because I was clueless on what happened in the past.
“This is different. I think he actually wants it this time. In the past it was because you guys were holding the band over his head. At this moment the band isn’t doing shit.” Sam was getting mad and I have never seen her get this heated ever. I could tell it had to do with defending someone she cared about. There were feelings there, and I now wanted to get tangled in this web to help them, even if it pissed Alex off.
Johnny walked back in and he handed a beer to Derek and Alex. “Sorry, I knew you didn’t drink beer,” he said to me and then looked back at the others. “So what was all said about me? I know you were talking about me.”
“Well, I was explaining to my wise brother here that they can’t keep treating you like a baby and you have to learn to deal with being around alcohol.” Sam was shooting daggers at Alex.
“I was explaining to Miss Know It All that I have had experience with this and exposing you too soon isn’t the best thing.” Alex shot her a smirk.
“My track record sucks. I know that, and basically the whole public does too, but I can stay clean this time.” Johnny was only looking at Sam when he said it, almost as if he was trying to reinforce something.
“Fine, I’ll move the beer back in the house. I can keep a better eye on it that way.” He stuck his middle finger up at Johnny as he opened the can of beer.
“Love you, too,” Johnny shot back.
Derek and Alex had a few beers while Sam, Johnny and I had coffee. We channeled surfed and Derek filled us all in on the different women he had been seeing. I guess one, and occasionally, two dates didn’t really count as seeing. I wished he would settle down and find someone, but he just couldn’t be happy with any woman that he found. I thought it to be sad, but he thought it was fun. Finally, around eleven, we decided to head to bed.
The next morning, Alex and I talked about our plans for Thanksgiving. He was getting up early to help my mother. I had a few salads I needed to make here at the house and the pumpkin pies. We were eating in the afternoon, so there was plenty of time. Plus my family has always had a relaxing Thanksgiving. My dad always watched the Lions, so there was no need to dress up in stuffy clothes.
Alex was up pretty early. He kissed me and told me coffee was on downstairs, but to stay in bed for a bit if I wanted. I did, and there was no need in telling or offering me that option. I finally did get out of bed, but only because I had to go to the bathroom. I washed up and headed downstairs. I peeked in on the girls first and they were all crashed. Sam’s door was shut, but I couldn’t help be curious to see if she was in there. I thought I was being quiet, but I must not have been.
“Yes, mom, I’m in my own bed.” Crap, I was caught.
“No, I was going to see if you wanted coffee and to help with the pies and salads.” I thought that maybe she would buy into it.
“No and no, I’m sleeping. I’m a guest. I don’t need to work for my food.” She rolled over and wrapped the covers around her tighter.
“Someone woke with a bad case of the bitchies.” I grabbed the knob to shut the door when I saw a hand with the middle finger sticking up on it. I made a kissing sound as if I was blowing her a kiss and then shut the door.
When I got to the kitchen, I noticed the snow coming down. I had a love-hate relationship with snow. I loved how it made everything look once it made a full blanket on the ground. I hated it because it stayed so long and how it made everything look dirty in the spring.
The girls came downstairs after I had the pies in the oven. I saw Derek being dragged behind them. I made him a cup of coffee and slid it across the island to him. He was sitting on a stool and the girls were sitting and standing around him. The girls told us about their dreams, and about what they planned to eat at Thanksgiving dinner. I sent them upstairs to brush their teeth and get clothes set out so I could get them in the shower.
“What the fuck is this shit?” I snapped my head around and saw Sam walking into the kitchen. She was pointing outside.
“It’s called snow. I’m sure you have heard of it before and possibly even seen it in movies.” I went to get her a cup of coffee, too.
“No shit, I’ve seen it before, but it’s only November.”
I was starting to make another pot of coffee. “Well, you lucked out, because we usually get snow in October. In fact, sometimes we trick or treat in snowsuits.” I wasn’t exaggerating either.
“Why do you live here again?” I ignored her question.
“Go over and get Johnny please. There isn’t a coffee pot over there.” I shot her a sly look. “Or you can wait and just take him a cup.” I winked at her.
“His ass can get his own. He has two legs.” Sam slid in next to Derek.
“I am so lucky to be in a house with the two classiest ladies I know.” Sam reached over and smacked Derek before I could. “Honestly, it’s kind of hot.” I rolled my eyes at him.
We sat around and had another cup of coffee before Johnny came over. The pies were done soon after and I was upstairs getting the girls ready. When I was done, I had a few more salads to make and then it was time to get ready to head over to my parents. We had to take two cars because mine wasn’t big enough. Derek drove the girls and me over and I had Sam and Johnny take my car.
When we pulled in, the girls ran right in as Derek and I started to unload the car. I couldn’t help but watch Sam and Johnny in the car. It looked like they were in a heated discussion. It ended with Sam exiting the car and slamming the door. She blew right past us and into my parent’s house. Derek followed with an arm full of stuff. Johnny walked over to help carry the rest in with me.
“Hey, is everything okay? I didn’t mean to spy.” I was genuinely concerned, not just being nosy.
“You know the saying fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me?” He didn’t wait for a response. “I’m just the fool who has fucked up a lot and run out of chances.” He shut the door with his foot and started
to head into the house.
“Johnny.” He turned and looked at me. “Just remember that actions speak louder than words.”
“Yeah, so I’ve been told.” He turned and walked back into the house.
When I walked in, it smelled so good. Alex and my mom were finishing up in the kitchen. I kissed Alex as he took the pies from my arms and then gave my mom a hug. I went and looked for my dad. I hadn’t seen him in a few days, but when I did see him on Monday he had looked so tired. He was getting worn out, and I wasn’t there to help like I had been in the past.
I walked into the living room and he was in his chair watching football. The girls were playing by his feet and Sam was sitting on the couch next to Bruce, her arms crossed. I walked over and kissed the top of my dad’s head. He looked up, smiled, and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I went back to help set up the table.
Dinner was so good. There was so much food, and the amount of leftovers was ungodly. We would be eating turkey for weeks. My mom told us she was making turkey potpie and sending a huge dish over the next day. We all helped clean up and package leftovers. Bruce took a bag full home, saying he now didn’t have to worry about dinner for the next week.
When we got outside, I noticed how much it snowed. There had to be a few inches now on the ground. The girls were trying to catch flakes on their tongues as everyone started getting ready to leave. Sam quickly jumped in with Derek. She had avoided Johnny most of the night and didn’t look at him during dinner. The girls split up between cars. Lily and Josie went with Johnny, and Jasmine went with Derek and Sam. Alex and I rode back together.
“This is the last quiet weekend for a while.” With all the company, it wasn’t very quiet. “Paige, Eric, and the band will be showing up on Monday.” I had forgotten all about her coming. I leaned my head back on the seat.
“Well, Sam will be here to help, so that should help keep things smooth.” I was thankful for that.
“No, Sam said she was leaving on Saturday. She said she had some things to take care of, but would be here for Christmas.” Alex changed the station. “But Johnny said he would stay and help out. He said he doesn’t have anything going on and he really likes it here.” I was now wondering if Sam wasn’t staying because she wanted to get away from Johnny. I needed to get her alone before she left Saturday to find out what the hell was going on.
