27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Ginny
Wednesday Night
Davis : So, were you going to tell me about Dad?
Shit. I knew he’d turn it into my fault somehow. Stupid big brothers.
Ginny : What about him?
Davis : How about he’s a fucking lawyer breaking the law?
Ginny : Is he, though? Really? *gif of Thor saying ‘Really?’*
Davis : Yes, really. He could get in deep shit for what he’s been doing. And you never told me.
Ginny : Wasn’t my place.
Davis : Virginia.
Ginny : Don’t you dare Virginia me, asshole. Just because you’re pissed off that you didn’t figure it out before now doesn’t mean it all falls on me to open your eyes. Dad is doing what Dad thinks is the right thing to do to help people. People that have been hurt, abandoned, and quite possibly a result of some of the shit you did in the FBI.
Davis : Now it’s my fault?
Ginny : More than mine! Dad stayed quiet because you had such a moral compass, you couldn’t even identify the color gray. Can you see that shade now?
Davis : This is still bullshit.
Ginny : Then you need to work it out with Dad. This is not my circus and I don't have monkeys. Dealing with my own shit over here, remember? Can’t add your daddy issues on top of it.
Davis : Wow. Where did my sweet sister go?
Ginny : She stayed in the fucking church. We good?
Davis : We’re good. Just stop being mean to me.
Ginny : Do I have to? I feel like there are years of you picking on me to make up for.
Davis : Fuck…
Ginny : Love you, big brother. *gif of little girl with the evil smile*
“You really are evil under all that sweetness, aren’t you?” Joker asks, taking the phone out of my hand and putting it on the side table. “And I’d rather you not text with your brother, who happens to be one of my best friends, while we’re both naked in bed.”
I shrug. “If I didn’t answer, he’d have called. And if I didn’t answer that, he’d have called you. And if you didn’t answer, he’d drive over here and pound on the door.”
“I’ll show you a pounding.”
Thursday Morning
I hate school. It’s so much worse as a teacher when you have to wake up too early and then deal with little monsters all day. Forget that part where half of the monsters are actually bigger than you. I want to go home.
Quinn : I put a Snickers on your desk.
Ginny : You’re a Goddess.
Quinn : You were grouchy. Thought it would cheer you up.
Linda : Let her be grouchy. Everyone else is.
Nicole : For real. The kids are all horrible today. Is it a full moon?
Paula : Well, glad to know it’s not just me. The for-real little monsters are all in need of a serious nap today.
Ginny : You have pissy teachers over there, too?
Paula : Yes! Well, one. Bethany McGraw is tearing everyone a new one today.
Ginny : Wasn’t she the one with Keith?
Linda : We don’t address him as that anymore. We need a new name for him.
Ginny : Fucky McFuckerson
Quinn : That was too fast. You’ve already been calling him that, haven’t you?
Ginny : It’s Joker’s fault. I hear him say it under his breath. That and fuck stick, fucker, asshole…well, pretty much all the curse words are mumbled when “HE” comes up in anything.
Paula : He giving you any shit today?
Ginny : Not yet. It’s still early. I’m not leaving my room for lunch today, that’s for sure.
Linda : Maybe he had a giant hemorrhoid pop and has to go get a rod up his ass.
Ginny : Linda!
Linda : Seriously, the man needs something painful to happen. That’s all.
Quinn : You scare me.
Linda : Good. Maybe I’ll scare him, too.
Ginny : ANYWAY! Paula, what’s wrong with Fucky’s new boo thang?
Ginny : Sorry, sorry. I’ll never say that again!
Paula : She’s just acting really off today. She’s snapping at everyone and is really agitated.
Linda : Maybe she finally saw his micro-penis and realized she fucked up.
Quinn : Remind me not to piss off Linda.
Thursday Night
Trish : Okay, I gave you a day to apologize to your brother and you haven’t. I think you broke him.
Ginny : I didn’t break him, he’s just sulking. Nothing new.
Trish : I haven’t seen him sulk since we got together, Gin. What did you do to him?
Ginny : He hasn’t told you?
Trish : Nope.
Ginny : He’s upset that I knew what Dad was doing. I pointed out it was him who could never see anything but black and white and that’s why Dad hid it from him.
Trish : He’s not taking it well.
Ginny : He’s the only one who can work through it, T. Sometimes he needs a dose of cold hard truth.
Trish : How was school today?
Ginny : I’m like 60/40 on calling in tomorrow. I don’t know if I can do it for another day.
Trish : You’re always like this before break. You never grew out of it.
Ginny : I know, right? Who let me become a teacher?
Trish : We didn’t LET you become anything, you chose this life.
Ginny : Only because I stopped playing.
Trish : Nothing to keep you from doing it again.
Ginny : Sure there is. I can’t travel like that anymore.
Trish : I bet you could. I bet there’re some permanent positions available somewhere if you took the time to look.
Ginny : I can’t leave home, Trish.
Trish : You might find a way one day. Never quit or give up. You were made for wonderful things.
Ginny : Love you. Go cuddle my brother and tell him it’ll all be okay. He’ll figure it out.
Trish : I will. Be safe. Let me know if anything happens tomorrow, okay?
Ginny : Other than the walls of my classroom closing in around me because I’m afraid to leave the room?
Trish : You can do it. You can do it all.
“Does she always give you a pep talk?” Joker asks, leaning over to read my screen while we sit on the couch.
“Pretty much. She’s always trying to get me to venture out. Something I don’t do too easily, you know?”
“What if you had someone you trusted with you? Would you be more open to the idea?”
I stare at him, unsure how to answer. “I don’t know. Not sure I’ve ever put that much trust in anyone since the attack.” His face falls, and I hurriedly reply. “Until I met you. I trust you with my life, Harrison. I’ve never done that before.”
“You mean everything to me.”
“Take me to bed?”
“As you wish.”