(Ravine POV)

"This will be your room from now on. This was originally the guest room but since you're staying with us for good now, we converted it into Ravine's room." Sylvia said generously.

"Thanks."

"Do you like that sweetheart? Ravine will be staying with us now permanently." Sylvia said to little Milo.

Milo is just smiling from ear to ear like the Chesire cat from Alice in Wonderland.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to unpack my belongings and freshen up a little before dinner." I told Sylvia.

"No, not at all. Come on, Milo. Let's give Vinny a little privacy." She said before walking out while holding her son's hand and closing the door.

After finding out Troy's death, I have no choice but to leave home. There's no way I am going to stay with that nut job while mourning my friend's death. I have enough problems as it is. I don't have time to deal with her insanity and mood swings so I made the executive decision to live with Dad and Sylvia from now on. The most shocking part about what I did is that I didn't even tell mommy dearest at all about this plan of mine so she thinks I am still coming home tonight and she's going to have to wait for nothing. I blocked her number so she wouldn't be able to call me anymore. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

After gathering my clothes and putting some in the drawer and fixing up a few of my belongings, I heard Sylvia's call for dinner. With that, I went downstairs straight to the dining room to join my new family.

I sat at the table, and inhaled the heavenly aroma of Chicken Tikka Masala cooked by Sylvia.

"That smells so good, Sylvia." I said.

"I try!" She giggled.

She took the delicious plate of Chicken Tikka Masala and scooped a handful for little Milo and herself, then she passed the dish over to dad. After Dad scooped some and placed it on top of his grilled Naan bread, he passed it over to me and I eagerly retrieved it from his hands. I scooped some and made sure to spread it all over my Naan bread. Afterwards, I folded it like a tortilla and took a bite and my God, it's like the angels descended from the heavens above and sang an Alleluia chorus due to how flavorful it is. It's spicy, it's pungent but in a really good way. I am definitely going to immerse myself more in different cuisines.

"It's delicious, Sylvia." I said.

"You hear that? My son loves your cooking." Dad said.

"I'll take that any day, Vinny." She smiled.

I looked over to Milo who is enthusiastically eating his meal as well.

"I'm surprise Milo is into spicy food." I commented.

"Oh my gosh! He loves spicy food. I don't know where he got it, honestly. "Sylvia told me.

"Just the right amount." Milo said.

"You mean just the tolerable level of spiciness?" I asked.

"Yup."

"We're the same, bud." I winked.

"Here, I want to propose a toast." Dad said. "To Ravine moving in with us."

"To Ravine moving in with us." Sylvia and Milo said as they raised their glasses.

I am finally free from that hellhole. I said to myself.

During midnight...

"Vinny! Vinny!" I woke up to the sounds of yelling from outside the house. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock. Who could it be at this hour?

Lo and behold, it's Anita Bryant/mommy dearest.

Some neighbors are now gathering outside to see what the commotion is all about. Sylvia and Dad already exited the house in order to calm her down. I wore my jacket and quickly headed downstairs to confront this batshit crazy woman. I saw little Milo, peeking from the curtain.

"Milo, it's late, go to your room." I said.

"Isn't that your mom?" He said.

"No, she's a mad woman who escaped out of an insane asylum and she will get you if you don't return to your room now." I said. He then scurried all the way back to his room.

After waiting for Milo to close his bedroom door, I made my way out of the house to confront this insane Jesus freak without any fear.

"What do you want from me?" I asked.

"You will get your ass in the car right now and go back home." She said with a piercing glare.

"I'm not going back home anymore. You pushed me away with your own behavior." I said while Sylvia and Dad can do nothing but just watch us go at it.

"Get in the car right now!" She said as she tried pulling me.

"Let go of me, I won't go back there anymore." I said as I struggled with her.

"Janet, he said he doesn't want to be with you anymore so please, just let him go. He's old enough to make his own decisions." Dad said.

"You're not going to take him away from me too. Do you understand?" Mom was seething with anger.

"But I am not the one driving him away. You are with your volatile nature." Dad said.

"Ever since the day you left us for your whore, you had let go of your responsibility as a father to Ravine so you have absolutely no right to claim him whatsoever." Mom said.

Dad slapped mom across the face and it was so satisfying.

"First of all, do not call her a whore. Second, I am not the one abusing him, Janet. You are. If Ravine made the decision to leave, that was his choice. I had nothing to do with that. Maybe if you would have been a better and a more trustworthy mother, then maybe he would still be with you but you are toxic. Did you ever look at yourself in the mirror and wonder why people are leaving you left and right? You're hard, you're cold, you're insensitive and it's a pain to be with you. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe you are better off being alone. That way, you can harm no one but yourself. You deserve everything you get. I am not the one to blame. You did all of this to yourself." Dad said as he dropped the truth bomb to Janet's face.

All mom could do is to look at Dad in the eyes before finally breaking down in front of so many people.

"Go home, Janet. You're embarrassing yourself."  Dad said.

"We can't just leave her here like this." Sylvia said to dad.

"Don't mind her. She's just trying to gain people's sympathy. Let this be a lesson to her. Come on, Ravine. Let's go inside and get some sleep. It's late." Dad said before I joined him and Sylvia in entering the house with a smirk on my face. Karma is such a bitch.

"Ravine!! I'm not done with you, you little fag!" Mom called out again, which pissed the fuck out of Dad.

He stormed out one last time and threatened her.

"If you don't stop, I will call the police and you will spend the night in jail right now." He said as I was looking through the window.

"Burn in hell, all of you!" Mom said before getting in her car and driving off.

"I'm so sorry about that, folks. Go home, there's nothing to see anymore." Dad said to the crowd of people in pajamas and night robes.

That's what she needed. What can I say? Karma is such a bitch. I am definitely going to sleep well tonight.