Reese's POV

Being grounded during the summer sucks.

It's already boring but now I'm stuck in the house. I'm only allowed to leave to see my stupid therapist.

On that topic she just had to psycho analyze the fact that I got tattoos. She called it, 'finding an outlet to release my pain.'

It's just ink lady, it's really not that deep.

With nothing else to do I was forced to do stuff I wouldn't normally do. Like read. And re-organize my room even though it was already pretty neat. I wasn't a messy guy.

On my fifth day of being grounded my mother came into my room while I was color coding my socks out of sheer boredom.

She sat on my bed and patted the spot next to her. I sat down.

"Let me see," she says simply and I hold out my arms for her to examine them. When she sees the Val tattoo her eyes water.

Sometimes I wonder if my parents even remember they had another son. It's been four years since he died and as time passed they talked about him less and less until they didn't mention him at all. His room stayed untouched and no one ever went inside. They never even visited his grave. Only I do.

I wish they didn't act like he'd never existed.

She wipes her eyes before a tear can slip and clears her throat. I frown.

"It's okay to cry mom."

"There's nothing to cry about," she replies. I feel frustrated. Stop pretending like nothing ever happened!

"Whatever," I say curtly.

She stands up. "Your punishment is over. You can have your privileges back. I left your phone on the kitchen counter."

Then she leaves shutting my door softly behind her.

I get dressed and grab my phone and keys before heading over to Marcus's.

*****

"Looks dope," Marcus says when he sees my sleeves. "I take it you were grounded since it seems like you've dropped off the face of the earth."

"Yeah but I think my parents are over it now," I light up a blunt. 

Marcus lines up to take his shot at the pool table. He sinks it and straightens out looking satisfied.

Since Marcus's mom is hardly ever home and his sister is AWOL ninety nine percent of the time he has free run of the house. The room we're standing in right now is called the purple room due to the fact that the lightning is always purple in here. So are the walls and carpet since his sister liked the color so much. It's his sisters old room that he turned into a hangout spot for himself. There's a table with a hookah machine, a couch, a pool table, and fridge.

Krystal would probably love this room since it's her favorite color.

"So how is your latest conquest going?" Marcus asks.

"She's not a conquest," I snap feeling irritated at his words.

He holds up his hands. "My bad. But if she's not then what is she?"

I shrug. "I don't know," I pause. "I told her about Valentino."

His eyes widen. "You did?"

"Don't know why," I blow out smoke.

Marcus seems to be thinking. "Dude I think you-"

I cut him off because I know what he's going to say and I don't want to hear it.

"I don't," I say.

He looks skeptical. "Okay."

I let the high take over so I don't have to think about death, or sadness, or Krystal.

Krystal's POV

I'm watching a movie in our home theater when I get a text message. When I see who it's from the movie is completely forgotten

Reese: got my phone back

Me: finally. I miss my late night texting buddy

Reese: well we can just get right back into it like we never stopped

Me: twenty questions?

Reese: actually there's something I want to ask you

Me: so twenty questions😂

Reese: no... remember when we first started texting?

Me: yeah

Reese: well before you had to go you said your dad was being a dick? What'd you mean by that?

I stare at his text. He still remembers that?

Me: it was nothing

Reese: you can tell me you know. I thought we had a real bond. Besties for life and all that girly shït

Me: wow😶

Reese: what? Isn't that how it goes?

Me: no...just...stop

Reese: fine😂😂 but I just want you to know you can trust me

Me: I already trust you

And it's true. Getting to know Reese has really changed my view of him. He confided in me with one of his deepest secrets, someone he didn't know all that well. It really touched me that he trusted me that much.

And I want to be able to confide in him as well. I never talk about my parents with anyone else, not even Rosie or Alexis. But with Reese....I want to tell him everything.

So I pour everything out.

Me: it's just like what I said. My dad was being a dick. He is a dick. He doesn't care about me at all. Honestly he's more like a sperm donor than a father. He makes me feel like shit, like I'm nothing. All the time it's always about his stupid image. The only time he pays attention to me is when I make a mistake. Other than that I'm invisible him. And my mother is no better. She's such an airhead honestly. She never defends me or anything. She just nods like a bobble head and agrees with him. She never berates me or anything but she's just as bad as him. All she cares about is fashion and living the lavish life. It's like I don't even have parents. Ones an asshole and the other is just there. And it just sucks because I feel like they don't love me. I feel alone. It's like they only gave birth to me so they could boost their image and look like 'family people'. They think just because they give me anything I want that I'll just sit pretty and happy and let them treat me crap. And I do enjoy being able to live a nice comfortable life but money doesn't buy everything. It doesn't buy happiness or love

After I send it I take a deep breath. Am I being shallow? I know what I'm going through is nothing compared to Reese's situation but it still hurts all the same.

I stare at the screen waiting for his reply. Finally it comes.

Reese: wow.... I'm honestly shocked. I'm sorry that you have to go through that. But I care about you Krystal and you're not nothing. You're funny, smart, beautiful, and an amazing person. And any time your dad is making you feel like shït always remember that. And if you ever feel alone I'm here. I know what it's like to feel like nothing, to feel useless and it sucks. It sucks ass. But I'm here to talk. I'm here for you

Tears drip down onto my phone screen and I realize I'm crying.

Me: thanks Reese. That means a lot to me. Wish I could hug you rn

Reese: virtual hug

I laugh through my tears.

Me: you're such an idiot

Reese: 🖤

My heart skips a beat.

Me: why a black heart?

Reese: because that the color of my heart. And my soul

Me: 🙄 bye Reese

Reese: 😂 bye hermosa

I google what that means before bed and fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Yoooo I'm so in my feels rn❣️❣️ ik I created Reese, like duh he's my character, but he's just so sweet and ahhhh😍😍😍 I love him. Is it weird I'm in love with my own character?

I want a Reese 😭😭😭

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