Sequel: Oh Calamity ›
Status: my first story! hope you like it
Second Chances
Chapter 8: Family portrait
(Friday night)
Ezra’s p.o.v: I’m getting ready for my date with Alix. I dress in a black “All Time Low” shirt with the band on it, black skinny jeans, and black vans. A lot of black. Just how I like to dress. And a Drop Dead Varsity Jacket. I do my hair and put my hoop lip piercing in. I walk down stairs and grab my keys. I don’t know why I’m ready. I still have two hours
“Where you going all dressed up fag?” Eros sneers. This is the first time he’s talked to me all week and the first thing he says is a rude comment. Such an Eros Trey DeMarco thing to do.
“I have a date for your information.” I tell him
“With who? Your hand?” he chuckles. I wish he’d stop making fun of me. I know he doesn’t mean it. You can tell by the look in his eyes. His words are mean and hurtful but his eyes are sad and apologetic
“No. with Alix Moriarty” I reply
“With Him? The slut. He only wants you for a fuck buddy. You know that right?” He tells me
“Why do you act like you hate me? I can tell you really don’t. I can tell by your eyes. Why can’t you just be my older brother? I’ve always wanted one.” I tell him in a soft voice and he looks at me in disappointment and sadness
“It’s hard to be mean to you. You look and act so much like mom. And I know she wouldn’t want me to do this but there is so much anger I have because I lost my mom the day you were born. And I wish I looked a bit like mom. I only have her eye color. Same with Eli. But you….. You’re like the boy version of her. And I-I hate you for that. I wish mom was here. She didn’t look at me like dad does. Dad looks at me in disappointment. But he looks at you like you are an angel. Mom looked at me that way-” Eros says crying but Eli cuts him off
“How do you think I feel Eros, Ezra? Mom or Dad didn’t look at me like I was anything special. I’m just the A.D.H.D one. Mom looked at you Eros with hope and love. She looked at me as something she had to take care of. And I was five! Five Fucking Years Old! I felt like I had to impress her. That’s why I tried to be smarter than the both of you. Because when mom passed I tried to impress dad. Why do you think I was always stressed? I was in gate and AP in everything! You guys had it easy! Someone believed in you guys at one point. I was just the middle child. They wanted me to be a girl. And I had disappointed them from day one. Eros you were babied by mom and Ezra you are babied by dad. I’m just the brainy disappointment. Eros you’re the jock dickhead. And Ezra you’re the sweet outsider that everyone loves.” Eli yells and we just look at him. After ten minutes of silently staring at each other I decide to speak
“I found Aunt Mimi and Grandpa Jesse” I tell them and they stare at me
“You did? When? Where? How?” They say in unison and I laugh as they glare at each other
“At that new diner on Lake Street” I tell them and Eros picks me up and puts me on his shoulder and I squeak
“Hey! I have a date at nine!” I yell at him. He said something but I am on his shoulder and I can’t make out what he says. They run out to Eros’ car (with me still slung over Eros’ shoulder) and he throws me into his 1957 Cadillac
“Hmph!” I scoff and cross my arms in annoyance
“You’re such a girl Ezzie. Now I know why Mina calls you Ezzie.” Eli chuckles and I stick my tongue out at him
“I do have a date you know that. Right Eros?” I say like he’s stupid and he replies and Eli signs for me
“I’m not a complete dumbass. And you have two hours to blow. He probably isn’t even ready. You’re just a freak that likes to get ready super early well that’s what Eros said.” Eli signs
“Thank you Eli. And tell Eros that next week we are going to have dinner with them. The whole family. I’m tired of talking. It’s stressful when you can barely hear yourself. And still! I still have a date and I don’t wanna be late” I respond and he tells Eros.
“Eros said that we are all going. Besides dad. He doesn’t like them. Eros has said that they spoiled him until they stopped coming around when I was born. I don’t know why but they did.” Eli informs me. We arrive there and Eros practically jumps out of his car. Eli and I just slowly get out. We never got a good chance to meet them. Eros was five when they left the picture and Eli was barley born. So we aren’t as ecstatic as Eros. We all walk in and I see Mimi. Not noticing me with them she walks up to us and says something I don’t catch then she walks away not recognizing Eros or Eli
“She said Hello You don’t need to wait for a table just find one and I will be with you in just a moment honey.” Eli signs
“When did you learn how to sign?” I ask
“I learned in high school. But I never used it because I just wanted school to be my main priority. I ignored everyone. I was a lonely kid” he replies and I nod. We find a table and sit down. About ten minutes later Mimi walks out to us. And she notices me
“Ezra! Honey who are your friends? They look quite a bit older than you. You aren’t into bad things right doll?” she says and Eli signs for me
“No Aunt Mimi it’s me. Eros” Eros says and she gasps again just like she did when she saw me. She starts talking to him and he stands up and hugs her. They talk for a bit
“They are talking too fast for me to sign. I can barely catch what they are saying. And I can hear perfectly fine” Eli tells me
“All I got out of their conversation is that’s Eli” I tell him and then Mimi starts hugging Eli and he has a freaked out look. He hates being hugged or touched by someone he barely knows.
“Hi Mimi” he says awkwardly
“Both you and Ezra call me Mimi. I am your Aunt for Pete’s sake! Call me Aunt Mimi. You guys should meet my son. He’s about Ezra’s age. He goes to the same school as him. Connor! Come meet your cousins!” she calls for him and Connor Torres walks out in an apron and a work uniform. Eli, Eros, and I glare at him. He may be in my grade but he picks on all of us DeMarco boys. He makes fun of how academically smart Eli is, how Eros looks like a dumbass compared to Eli and I, and my deafness and my sexuality. He looks at us in shock
“Connor these are your cousins Eros, Elijah, and Ezra. Remember I told you about your Aunt Evangeline. These are her kids. You and Ezra even look a bit alike” she says with a huge smile and we look at each other. I never noticed we really did look a bit alike. Every time I saw him I imagined he looked like rumplestillskin from “Once Upon A Time”
“Well it was nice meeting you Mimi but me and Ezra have to go. Ezra has a date and I have some homework for my college classes. Are you coming Eros?” Eli says
“Yeah me and Winnie have a date” he tells Eli
“Winnie? Is that a guy or girl? And what college are you going to Elijah?” Mimi asks
“Girl. Her name is Winona but I call her Winnie” Eros explains
“And I go to Oregon State. Home of the mighty ducks! Yay!” he says unenthusiastically
“What are you studying in?” she asks him
“Animation and Psychology.” He informs her.
“Well I don’t wanna hold you guys any longer I’ll let you go” she says and hugs us. She looks so small hugging me. And I’m only 5’9. She looks like a doll compared to Eli who is 6’3 and Eros who is 6’7
“Bye” we say and we leave
We get into the car but before Eros hugs me. He stops hugging me and he looks at me
“I am so sorry for treating you terrible all these years” he says and tears are forming in his eyes making me tear up too
“It’s ok” I say faintly. Faint enough where I didn’t hear myself and I hug him and he hugs me and someone taps on my shoulder.
“I actually have to do homework so if the sappy stuff could end that would be amazing” Eli signs and says
“Thanks for ruining a perfectly good moment Elijah” Eros says overdramatically. We get into his car and drive to the house to find a drunken Emmerson Parker DeMarco throwing things while drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels. Eli runs up to my dad and grabs the Jack Daniels and sits him down
“What’s wrong dad?” Eros asks dad answers him but he’s slurring. Well it must be shocking because that’s the emotion Eli and Eros have on their faces. Well Eli’s is mixed with anger and shock
“Dad has two other kids. And they’re coming to live with us. He cheated on mom when she was pregnant with me and you” Eli signs angrily.
“YOU CHEATED ON MOM! I HATE YOU! I FUCKING HATE YOU!” Eros screams at him and storms out
“You’re a waste Emmerson” Eli seethes and walks out. I just glare at him for a moment and process it. He says something but it’s too quiet for me
“Can’t hear you dumbass! While we’re all gone why don’t you go fuck another lady then wait till Maliah is dead for her kid to find out” I spit at him and go to my car and drive off to pick up Alix. Best. Day. Ever.
Ezra’s p.o.v: I’m getting ready for my date with Alix. I dress in a black “All Time Low” shirt with the band on it, black skinny jeans, and black vans. A lot of black. Just how I like to dress. And a Drop Dead Varsity Jacket. I do my hair and put my hoop lip piercing in. I walk down stairs and grab my keys. I don’t know why I’m ready. I still have two hours
“Where you going all dressed up fag?” Eros sneers. This is the first time he’s talked to me all week and the first thing he says is a rude comment. Such an Eros Trey DeMarco thing to do.
“I have a date for your information.” I tell him
“With who? Your hand?” he chuckles. I wish he’d stop making fun of me. I know he doesn’t mean it. You can tell by the look in his eyes. His words are mean and hurtful but his eyes are sad and apologetic
“No. with Alix Moriarty” I reply
“With Him? The slut. He only wants you for a fuck buddy. You know that right?” He tells me
“Why do you act like you hate me? I can tell you really don’t. I can tell by your eyes. Why can’t you just be my older brother? I’ve always wanted one.” I tell him in a soft voice and he looks at me in disappointment and sadness
“It’s hard to be mean to you. You look and act so much like mom. And I know she wouldn’t want me to do this but there is so much anger I have because I lost my mom the day you were born. And I wish I looked a bit like mom. I only have her eye color. Same with Eli. But you….. You’re like the boy version of her. And I-I hate you for that. I wish mom was here. She didn’t look at me like dad does. Dad looks at me in disappointment. But he looks at you like you are an angel. Mom looked at me that way-” Eros says crying but Eli cuts him off
“How do you think I feel Eros, Ezra? Mom or Dad didn’t look at me like I was anything special. I’m just the A.D.H.D one. Mom looked at you Eros with hope and love. She looked at me as something she had to take care of. And I was five! Five Fucking Years Old! I felt like I had to impress her. That’s why I tried to be smarter than the both of you. Because when mom passed I tried to impress dad. Why do you think I was always stressed? I was in gate and AP in everything! You guys had it easy! Someone believed in you guys at one point. I was just the middle child. They wanted me to be a girl. And I had disappointed them from day one. Eros you were babied by mom and Ezra you are babied by dad. I’m just the brainy disappointment. Eros you’re the jock dickhead. And Ezra you’re the sweet outsider that everyone loves.” Eli yells and we just look at him. After ten minutes of silently staring at each other I decide to speak
“I found Aunt Mimi and Grandpa Jesse” I tell them and they stare at me
“You did? When? Where? How?” They say in unison and I laugh as they glare at each other
“At that new diner on Lake Street” I tell them and Eros picks me up and puts me on his shoulder and I squeak
“Hey! I have a date at nine!” I yell at him. He said something but I am on his shoulder and I can’t make out what he says. They run out to Eros’ car (with me still slung over Eros’ shoulder) and he throws me into his 1957 Cadillac
“Hmph!” I scoff and cross my arms in annoyance
“You’re such a girl Ezzie. Now I know why Mina calls you Ezzie.” Eli chuckles and I stick my tongue out at him
“I do have a date you know that. Right Eros?” I say like he’s stupid and he replies and Eli signs for me
“I’m not a complete dumbass. And you have two hours to blow. He probably isn’t even ready. You’re just a freak that likes to get ready super early well that’s what Eros said.” Eli signs
“Thank you Eli. And tell Eros that next week we are going to have dinner with them. The whole family. I’m tired of talking. It’s stressful when you can barely hear yourself. And still! I still have a date and I don’t wanna be late” I respond and he tells Eros.
“Eros said that we are all going. Besides dad. He doesn’t like them. Eros has said that they spoiled him until they stopped coming around when I was born. I don’t know why but they did.” Eli informs me. We arrive there and Eros practically jumps out of his car. Eli and I just slowly get out. We never got a good chance to meet them. Eros was five when they left the picture and Eli was barley born. So we aren’t as ecstatic as Eros. We all walk in and I see Mimi. Not noticing me with them she walks up to us and says something I don’t catch then she walks away not recognizing Eros or Eli
“She said Hello You don’t need to wait for a table just find one and I will be with you in just a moment honey.” Eli signs
“When did you learn how to sign?” I ask
“I learned in high school. But I never used it because I just wanted school to be my main priority. I ignored everyone. I was a lonely kid” he replies and I nod. We find a table and sit down. About ten minutes later Mimi walks out to us. And she notices me
“Ezra! Honey who are your friends? They look quite a bit older than you. You aren’t into bad things right doll?” she says and Eli signs for me
“No Aunt Mimi it’s me. Eros” Eros says and she gasps again just like she did when she saw me. She starts talking to him and he stands up and hugs her. They talk for a bit
“They are talking too fast for me to sign. I can barely catch what they are saying. And I can hear perfectly fine” Eli tells me
“All I got out of their conversation is that’s Eli” I tell him and then Mimi starts hugging Eli and he has a freaked out look. He hates being hugged or touched by someone he barely knows.
“Hi Mimi” he says awkwardly
“Both you and Ezra call me Mimi. I am your Aunt for Pete’s sake! Call me Aunt Mimi. You guys should meet my son. He’s about Ezra’s age. He goes to the same school as him. Connor! Come meet your cousins!” she calls for him and Connor Torres walks out in an apron and a work uniform. Eli, Eros, and I glare at him. He may be in my grade but he picks on all of us DeMarco boys. He makes fun of how academically smart Eli is, how Eros looks like a dumbass compared to Eli and I, and my deafness and my sexuality. He looks at us in shock
“Connor these are your cousins Eros, Elijah, and Ezra. Remember I told you about your Aunt Evangeline. These are her kids. You and Ezra even look a bit alike” she says with a huge smile and we look at each other. I never noticed we really did look a bit alike. Every time I saw him I imagined he looked like rumplestillskin from “Once Upon A Time”
“Well it was nice meeting you Mimi but me and Ezra have to go. Ezra has a date and I have some homework for my college classes. Are you coming Eros?” Eli says
“Yeah me and Winnie have a date” he tells Eli
“Winnie? Is that a guy or girl? And what college are you going to Elijah?” Mimi asks
“Girl. Her name is Winona but I call her Winnie” Eros explains
“And I go to Oregon State. Home of the mighty ducks! Yay!” he says unenthusiastically
“What are you studying in?” she asks him
“Animation and Psychology.” He informs her.
“Well I don’t wanna hold you guys any longer I’ll let you go” she says and hugs us. She looks so small hugging me. And I’m only 5’9. She looks like a doll compared to Eli who is 6’3 and Eros who is 6’7
“Bye” we say and we leave
We get into the car but before Eros hugs me. He stops hugging me and he looks at me
“I am so sorry for treating you terrible all these years” he says and tears are forming in his eyes making me tear up too
“It’s ok” I say faintly. Faint enough where I didn’t hear myself and I hug him and he hugs me and someone taps on my shoulder.
“I actually have to do homework so if the sappy stuff could end that would be amazing” Eli signs and says
“Thanks for ruining a perfectly good moment Elijah” Eros says overdramatically. We get into his car and drive to the house to find a drunken Emmerson Parker DeMarco throwing things while drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels. Eli runs up to my dad and grabs the Jack Daniels and sits him down
“What’s wrong dad?” Eros asks dad answers him but he’s slurring. Well it must be shocking because that’s the emotion Eli and Eros have on their faces. Well Eli’s is mixed with anger and shock
“Dad has two other kids. And they’re coming to live with us. He cheated on mom when she was pregnant with me and you” Eli signs angrily.
“YOU CHEATED ON MOM! I HATE YOU! I FUCKING HATE YOU!” Eros screams at him and storms out
“You’re a waste Emmerson” Eli seethes and walks out. I just glare at him for a moment and process it. He says something but it’s too quiet for me
“Can’t hear you dumbass! While we’re all gone why don’t you go fuck another lady then wait till Maliah is dead for her kid to find out” I spit at him and go to my car and drive off to pick up Alix. Best. Day. Ever.