"Hello, BuBushski. Miss me?"
"Why are you calling me and where have you been? You just left me like that!"
"Oh, grow up! You're a grown ass adult, you don't need your mother. Now, listen! I'm trying to make amends so I can return but I need money and not just a couple of thousand... Hundred thousands!"
"What? No! I was almost killed today because Lance thinks I killed his sister and here you are asking me for my money,"
"Honey, I didn't mean to kill her but she was close to busting my ass and I couldn't go down when I'm already in deep. Now, are you going to help me or not?"
"Oh my gosh! No. You killed his sister even though she is innocent! Urgh! Fuck you, mom!"
"You nasty little bitch! After everything I did to help you get where you are and this is how you repay your only freaking mother."
"GO TO HELL."
"Already there, motherfuc-"
Jessica hung up.
She couldn't believe her mother after disappeared came back just to get something out of her despite her informing her that she was about to be killed. Jessica closed the door shut and walked away, eyeing every corner for a sneaky lance.
Anna jumped from the bed when her annoying ringtone woke her up. She grabbed her phone, not seeing Sam who was covered with a blanket over his head, answering it with a yawn.
"Hello?"
"Is this Anna? Current Guardian for Micheal?"
"Yes, this is her? What did he do?"
"Ma'am, he's free to go. He's at Mallway prison awaiting your pickup."
Anna dropped the phone as her mouth opened wide. She instantly grabbed her clothes and got dressed, packing up her stuff as she caught a glance of the boy in the bed. She tried to take a sneak but avoided him after seeing a specific mark on his neck. Rushing through the hotel, she found Steve devouring a girl's mouth as she pulled him from her and dragged him to the nearest car.
'Where are we going?' he asked. 'Michael, Steve. He's been released,' and Steve, who was flabbergasted, let out a little smile, heading to the only brother he felt he had left in this world.
Arriving at the juvenile centre, Steve barged through the car door as his brother's handsome features called him. Michael had lost a lot of weight but somehow gained some muscle with some scars across his biceps and a stitch across his chin. Upon hugging his brother, Michael didn't know how to respond with his hands staying close to each of his sides.
'I've missed you so much, bro,' Steve said, crying on his brother's shoulder. Michael was hesitant but hearing the sorrow from Steve, he gave in and hugged his brother back. A moment he would never forget.
Anna joined later as Steve helped his brother carry his luggage to the cab.
'I'm glad you're back,' she said, tears flowing down. Michael was silent but he hugged Anna and pushed away, making his way to the cab. On the way home, Michael looked through the window as the mexican guy looked at him but with a death stare, Michael's smile fading away. "My brother's back!" Steve said, filled with joy.
Lance waited outside fretting about what could have happened to Angela and the baby. The flashing feedback of her getting shot kept haunting him as he saw the blood on his hands and almost had a panic attack just as the doctor grabbed his shoulder. "I DIDN'T KILL HER!" He shouted. 'Uh, I never said that. I wanted to say that the baby is doing okay and she will be fine. Just going to prescribe a couple of medications to help with the pain and prevent any blood loss that can harm the baby. But rest assured, the baby and your wife are fine-' '-She's not my wife,' 'Pardon me, I assumed she was. She'll be ready to see you, Mr Miller,' The doctor said, leaving the hallway.
Lance walked in as he smiled seeing Angela chuckling to the program playing on the Television. 'Are you okay?' 'I'm perfect. I could ask you that question?' 'I-I wanted to kill Jessica because she killed my sister. I know, that's very wrong of me to choose that outcome but I was frustrated and when... When you denied that we could be a couple and just co-parent, I was heartbroken. I guess it was just difficult to accept that reality and knowing that my only sister that I ever had was killed unfairly and the girl I loved the most is in the hands of someone else... It pisses me off. Why am I going through all of this? Why me,' Lance said, crying on Angela's belly.
She was stunned to speak as she couldn't process all he said.
'To be fair, Lance. I did have feelings for you but I don't want to let that be the result again when we raise this child. Over love, our feelings and emotions are this baby and together we can take care of it. What happened in the past is the past... For now, we move on. I'll always be there for you but I don't want to go through that same pain I went through when I was deep in love and you were gone. Not again,' Angela said, Lance nodded, wiping his tears.
He left his head to rest on her stomach as the television program continued.
He left his car and eyed the tall building with the sign
ST. MARY'S REHABILITATION CENTRE
Sam walked to the door as the yellow place filled with an elegant scent of perfume mesmerising his nose. He got to the receptionist as someone had bumped into him. 'No way, Sam Lopez?' the woman said. 'Uh, hello?' 'My dear, you look just like your mother,' 'You knew my mother?' 'Of course. Have you heard the stories she's told about you? During our conversations, she would brag about you and the company and how she wishes to see you and your siblings,' 'Is-is she here?' 'No, she left a while back... She did call someone before she left, I believe it was her mother or something... I don't know,' the woman said as she left Sam curious.
'How can I help you, Sir?' 'I'm here for my mom's stuff... Do you know anything or have anything like her number or where she went?' ' Unfortunately, once our patients leave, we are not allowed to know about their whereabouts but I can give you her number,' 'Yes, please. That would be helpful,' Sam said, taking a sip of his alcohol.
About to leave, the same woman stopped him, handing over a box with a picture and a sunset frame. 'She forgot this. I figured you should have it,' she handed it over and walked away, Sam looking at the picture of him and his mom when he was little.
Entering the car, he dialled the number and reluctantly called the numeral. It immediately hung up as an automated voice said as following
"The number you've dialled doesn't exist or seems to be busy. Please try again later,"
He repeatedly attempted to call the number but when it didn't go through at all, Sam furiously punched the steering wheel and began to cry. He held the picture frame near his chest and remained sobbing.
Michael walked into the house, smiling, making his way to his bedroom, locking the door and instantly going to sleep. While Anna unpacked, Steve made his way to Bella who was struggling to get the cookie jar. 'Oh dear, do you mind helping me?' 'Yes, I do mind. Lying skank!' 'Excuse me?' 'You're excused, lying cunt. I know about that fake baby belly,' Steve said, Bella slamming the door behind him.
'You've got claws, Stemen,' 'I think you should leave and never come back or else I'll expose you,' 'Oh, how sweet. I'm not scared of you, Stanley. Because if you rat me out, I'll fake a miscarriage and blame it all on you and how you made me stress and go on a stool just for a jar of cookies and then I'll use that excuse to make Anna spoil me and treat you horribly. I'm sure you saw how she looked at Michael when he was sent to jail, right?' 'You wouldn't!' 'Try me, son of a bitch,' Bella said, Steve with no response.
'Now take the damn cookies, you're brother just got home,' she said, Steve obeying her.