Troubled Times

“UGH!! What the hell am I supposed to do now?” I demanded, punching a slide, at the local park.

The plastic shattered from the impact, satisfying me in a small way, though I didn’t get the satisfaction of hearing it cry out in pain.

“Jayden, calm down. We’ll think of something.” Jimmy assured me.

“I can’t calm the fuck down! I’m expelled. Law suits will be brought up against me, and the
judge will probably question my mental health, because of the recent adoption, and I’ll have
to go to a psych ward for 30 days, for a mental evaluation, and I will go insane, if I have
to stay there. Have you ever been into one of those places?! They’re all fucking loony!
Some of the doctors are worse then the patients!!”

“You won’t have to go there. If you do, I’ll bust you out the first night.” Brian assured me.

“Yeah, and get yourself thrown in prison? Don’t think that’s gonna happen. Not on my
watch.” I rolled my eyes.

I was slightly calmer, but I couldn’t stop pacing, I had to keep moving. I was so jittery.

“Come on, let’s go home, talk to Val, and Matt, I’m sure they’ll back us up 100%.” Jimmy
sighed.

I nodded, and we all walked back to the vehicles. I opted for riding with Brian over Jimmy,
cause well. . .I needed silence. When we got back to my new home, tears pricked my eyes.

What if they don’t want me anymore? Will they hate me? What if they look at me in disgust,
and tell the child protection agency they don’t want me anymore?

“Valary! Matthew! Come down here!” Jimmy called.

I wanted to cling to Jimmy, using him as a shield of what was to come.

“What?” Matt asked, seeming agitated.

“Jayden, what’s wrong?” Val asked, rushing over to me.

I shied away from her, not wanting her to immediately just shove me away in disgust, when
she heard what I did.

“What happened? Why isn’t she in school? You need to bring her back.” Matt ordered.

“I. . .uhm, can’t go back.” I told him quietly.

“Why not?” He asked.

“I’m expelled.”

“What’d you do?” Val asked.

“I beat up some girls.” I cast my glance downwards.

“Why?”

“They were making fun of me.”

“About what?” Val asked.

“Being adopted.” I couldn’t help, but lower my voice.

They went silent. I didn’t want to look up, in fear the my deepest fears were being confirmed,
and they were glaring at me. I know, I think worst case scenario, but I couldn’t think about it
any other way.

“It’s alright.” Val assured me, as she wrapped her long arms around my now shaking
frame.

“You’re not gonna throw me out, and tell me how my much trouble I am? Or put me right
back up for adoption, or beat some sense into me? You’re not going to glare at me, and tell
me how much you hate me, and wished you’d never adopted me?”

“Oh god no! We love you honey!”

“I told you, they wouldn’t care. I told you, that Matt’s been in worse fights for stupid stuff.”
Jimmy rolled his eyes.

“Shut up.” I sighed, leaning against Val.

“How could you think that?! We love you! You’re not only our daughter, but the kickest ass
bitch, I’ve ever met!!” Matt explained.

“Dude, you don’t call your daughter a kick ass bitch.” Jimmy pointed out.

“She was my best friend, before she was my daughter. We’ll look at it like this: She’s my
best friend, and I’m doing her a favor by adopting her, so she doesn’t have to get sent to
some family way across the country.”

“Alright, Mattie, since you’re not my dad, I can call you that, right?” I asked.

“Sure.” He shrugged.

“I’m still treating you like my daughter.” Val said, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Only sometimes. Don’t go uber, overprotective, mother hen on me. You’re still gonna buy
me booze, right?”

“That’s what mom’s do!!. . .Or that’s what mine did anyways. . .” She said, cocking her head
to the side, in a thinking motion.

“Yay!” I exclaimed, jumping up, and down, while clapping my hands together, excitedly.

Matt engulfed me in a hug. We danced around the living room, spinning in circles as Val
spoke quietly to Matt and Brian.

Matt let me go, and another set of heavily tattooed arms wrapped around me, holding me
up, as the world spun around me.

I felt lips press against my neck, as we swayed from side to side. I tilted my head back, and
pressed my lips against Brian’s, smiling, as his tongue traced my lips.

“Have you guys noticed, that you spend a majority of your time together, kissing?” Jimmy
asked.

I rolled my eyes, but continued to kiss Brian, as we both flipped him off.

“You know, relationships aren’t all about the physical stuff.” Matt pointed out.

“No, I had no idea, Matt.” Brian said, sarcastically, making me laugh, as I turned in his arms.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, and laid my head on his chest, as him and Matt
continued their pointless bickering.

“Alright, let’s get wasted!” I exclaimed, out of nowhere.

“What about the other’s?” Jimmy asked.

“I don’t care, invite them over, or whatever, but I’m getting some drinks, and a smoke, do any
of you want anything?” I asked, moving towards the kitchen.

Brian grabbed the back pocket of my jeans, as he followed me.

“I want you to not have sex in my kitchen!!” Val called.

“I want a JD, and Coke!” Matt called.

“I want a Guiness, and I’m sure Zacky’ll say, ‘Ditto’!!” Jimmy called.

“You can have a Budweiser, and see what you’re missing out on!” I called back.

“You drink the good stuff.” Brian smiled, smacking my ass, with the hand not in my pocket.

“Yes, I do.” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

“Hey, that’s not nice.” He growled, pulling me against his chest.

“Hey, did I say I was nice?”

He smiled at me, and lifted me up, setting me on the counter. He kissed my neck, and bit at
my pulse point making me moan.

“Did you not hear what I told you!” Val called, making me laugh.