Once I left them, fear filled my body again.

Of course I knew the calm and the playfulness weren't gonna last, I knew they would pass. 

As I drive home, I can only think about how I can protect Ash from Dad. He doesn't deserve all of this, and he's so young.

I told Mom, on Tuesday. She deserved to know, she really did. But all she did was gasp, pack her bag and leave. She didn't take keys or her ID, just her phone. She left without a word, without any sign she would be okay.

And, most importantly, she left without us. She left us with her soon-to-be ex, all three of us. Her children. Her babies. Her family. 

Dad has gone crazy. He's been drinking non-stop, and yelling at us. I can't stand it much longer, but I have to. I have to be there for Ash, and for Tom.

I know Tom is acting like everything's fine, but it isn't. When I see him at school, he's breaking down with his girlfriend. Once, I saw him crying in her arms in the hallway. I'm happy he has her.

I still have the boys. And Dylan and Dallas, but oddly enough, they always disappear at lunch. So I'm always sitting alone. Not that I mind, not anymore. Earlier, Elijah gave me all of their numbers, and said I could text every minute of the day. So that's what I'm going to do tomorrow.

But Ash has no one. The teachers at school can't really talk with him because he's three, but I can tell he's suffering. Yesterday, he crawled through the whole house, searching Mom. and then I had to sooth him when he didn't found her. I just wish there was a better life for him.

And all of it because I told Mom.

But if I didn't tell her, it wouldn't have been fair either...

I park and walk inside. I exhale relieved when I see Dad's asleep, so I quickly pass and head upstairs. Asher is sleeping in his bed, and after I give him a kiss on his forehead, I close his door.

When I pass Tom's room, I hear noises. I look inside, and see he's sobbing again. I frown and walk to him, opening my arms.

He sees me and reaches for me, crying. "S-Scarlett, I hate it," he cries. I frown and hug him. I never knew he loves Mom so much.

"It's going t be okay, Tom, I promise," I whisper. He calms down a bit. I wipe his tears away and make him look at me. "You hear me? It's going to be okay."

He nods and I give him another hug, then go to my own room. Sighing, I lay down. 

***

I can't sleep.

Would one of them still be awake? I decide to ask them, but am too lazy to text all of them. So I make a group chat.

Scarlett and the boyzz :) 

Owen: ? Today, 2: 58 am

Elijah: Hey S Today, 2: 58 am

Jordan: Wth is happening Today, 2: 59 am

Ethan: I was almost asleep Today, 2:59 am

Today, 2: 59 am Hey guys :)

Jordan: Ofc this is ur idea Today, 3:00 am

Elijah: Hey! It was mine, loser Today, 3: 00 am

Jordan: Look who's talking Today, 3:01 am

Ethan: S, what's wrong? Today, 3:01 am

Owen: Why are you still awake? Today: 3:02 am

Jordan: It's three o'clock Today, 3:02 am

Today, 3: 02 am  Where's Aaron?

Jordan: I'll go wake him Today, 3: 03 am

Jordan: *voice message* Today, 3: 05 am

I giggle and open it. "Okay, I'm now in his room. I'm going to jump on his bed. Oh my fuck, can you hear his snoring?"  Yes. Mental note: never sleep next to Aaron. I giggle and listen the rest of the message.

"Three, two, one: jump!" I hear him jumping on the bed. "What the fuck!" Aaron yells. I laugh, but muffle it in my pillow. 

Aaron: So funny haha Today, 3: 06 am

Today, 3: 06 am You scream like a girl, A

Aaron: Shut up. Today, 3:07 am

Aaron: You scream like a girl too Today, 3: 08 am

Today, 3: 08 am I'm allowed

Jordan: And he snores Today, 3: 09 am

Elijah: It's fucking annoying man Today, 3: 10 am

Owen: Since when does Elijah talk this much? Today, 3: 10 am

Elijah: Technically am I not talking. I'm texting Today, 3: 11 am

Elijah: And I just like talking to Scarlett Today, 3: 12 am

Today, 3: 12 am Ahw, thanks :)

Elijah: Ur welcome Today, 3: 13 am

Ethan: So why aren't you asleep? Today, 3: 13 am

 Today, 3: 14 am Bcs I can't sleep, Ethan

Today, 3: 15 am What are you guys doing?

Elijah: Talking to you? Today, 3: 16 am

Owen: You're not talking. You're texting Today, 3: 17 am

Elijah: See, everyone is against me Today, 3: 17 am

Elijah: It's like I'm the villain Today, 3: 18 am

Today, 3: 19 am Nah, you're the side character who everyone loves until the author decides to kill him

Elijah: Gasp Today, 3: 20 am

Elijah: You want me dead? Today, 3: 20 am

Elijah: Omg I can't believe this Today, 3: 21 am

Elijah: I have no reason to exist anymore Today, 3: 22 am

Owen: What about Scarlett? Today, 3: 22 am

Elijah: The Scarlett who just said I'll die? Today, 3: 23 am

Elijah: Sounds like a good reason to me Today, 3: 23 am

Elijah: I'll live Today, 3: 24 am

Today, 3:25 am Yeah, don't die

Elijah: I won't Today, 3: 26 am

Jordan: Me neither, if someone asked Today, 3: 27 am

Ethan: No one did, J Today, 3: 27 am

Owen: Nope Today, 3: 28 am

Jordan: Wouldn't you look at that? Today, 3: 28 am

Jordan: I'm so loved Today, 3: 29 am

Elijah: Not really Today, 3: 30 am

Jordan: Fuck this. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight, Scarlett. Don't go crazy with these four Today, 3: 31 am

Aaron: I'M BACK Today, 3: 32 am

Owen: No one missed you Today, 3: 33 am

Aaron: Oh Today, 3: 34 am

 Today, 3: 34 am I missed you sweetie

Aaron: Ahw, thanks Today, 3: 35 am

Elijah: And me??? Today, 3: 35 am

Owen: Me??? Today, 3: 35 am

Ethan: Did you miss me??? Today, 3: 35 am

Aaron: No she did not Today, 3: 36 am

Elijah: Asshole Today, 3: 36 am

Today, 3: 37 am I missed all of you, babes

Today, 3: 37 am Mwah

Aaron: :) Today, 3: 37 am

Elijah: :) Today, 3: 38 am

Owen: :) Today, 3: 38 am

Ethan: :) Today, 3: 38 am

 Today, 3: 39 am :)

Aaron: :) Today, 3: 40 am

Aaron :)) Today, 3: 40 am

Aaron :))) Today, 3: 41 am

Aaron: :)))) Today, 3: 41 am

You removed Aaron from this group chat

Owen: LMAO Today, 3: 42 am

Today, 3: 43 am He was annoying

Ethan: He's texting me rn Today, 3: 44 am

Ethan: He wants to be put back in the group Today, 3: 45 am

 Today, 3: 45 am Bad luck for him :)

Elijah: Taking notes; never annoy Scarlett Today, 3: 46 am

 Today, 3: 46 am That's right, my dear

Today, 3: 47 am So everyone just stays up every night?

Elijah: Nah, I was awake just bcs I couldn't sleep Today, 3: 48 am

Ethan: And I woke up from my phone. Not that I mind tho Today, 3: 49 am

Owen: I was drawing moustaches on Aaron Today, 3: 49 am

Elijah: AGAIN??? Today, 3: 50 am

Owen: Hell yeah Today, 3: 51 am

Owen: He was so mad last time lol Today, 3: 52 am

Today, 3: 52 am Oh, pics???

Owen: *three attachments* Today, 3: 54 am

 Today, 3: 55 am OMG

Today, 3: 55 am He looks so pissed

Ethan: Oh believe me, he was Today, 3: 56 am

Elijah: Scarlett, go to sleep Today, 3: 56 am

Today, 3: 56 am No, I like this

Elijah: It's school tomorrow? Today, 3: 57 am

 Today, 3: 58 am Yeah, so?

Ethan: I think it's better if you go to sleep Today, 3: 59 am 

Owen: Gn x Today, 4: 00 am

Elijah: Gn x Today, 4: 00 am

Ethan: Gn x Today, 4: 01 am

 Today, 4: 02 am Fine. Gn x

I giggle as I see I have a few unread texts from Aaron.

Aaron: Scarlett. Today, 3: 42 am

Aaron: Scarlett Today, 3: 42 am

Aaron: SCARLETT Today, 3: 43 am

Aaron: I want back Today, 3: 44 am

Aaron: DON'T U DARE SKIP ME Today, 3: 50 am

Aaron: Hello? Today, 3: 51 am

Aaron: What are you guys talking about? Today, 3: 56 am

Aaron: Fine. Today, 3: 58 am

Aaron: Gn x Today, 4: 02 am

Today, 4: 03 am*three attachments*

Today, 4: 04 am Gn x

Aaron: WTF Today, 4: 05 am

Aaron: I'm gonna kill Owen Today, 4: 06 am

I smile and put my phone on the nightstand. I fall asleep.