So Long Soldier

"No no no," I breathed as I walked up and stood next to Alex. His hand found his way to mine and our fingers slightly intertwined. "G-good evening Officer Lewis," I stammered. He was the same police officer that had helped me sort out all the technical stuff and paperwork after Mom died. And he had helped me out in the past with some issues...
"Nebraska, how are you?"
"Uh, could be better I guess..." Jesus, I could scream right now. Why was he here?!
"Understandable." His sympathetic smile then turned down. "Is this yours?" He reached to the side of him and pulled Cody into view.
"Oh my God Cody!" I screeched and held my hand over my mouth. The amount of shock I possessed over the fact that he was alive, and that I wasn't being told that another one of my family members was dead, was ridiculous. I nodded. "Mhmm."
"He was caught up in a fight at a party down the road. Thought I'd bring him here seeing as your father's not home."
I exhaled loudly. "Thank you officer..."
"I'm giving you a warning this time," Lewis said to Cody. He just nodded and I pulled him inside.
"Alex, take him to the kitchen," I said and leaned against the doorframe in relief. Alex and Cody walked quietly down the hall and out of view without words.
"You know this isn't good."
"I know, I'm trying as best I can."
He simply nodded. "Well, good luck and stay safe Nebraska."
"Good night officer." I closed the door gently and tried to stay calm. It didn't work. "Two times in one day!" I screamed before I even got into the kitchen. "Cody, what the actual fuck!" I said as I sat down on a stool and crossed my arms.
"You don't unders-"
"Don't tell me that I don't understand because you fucking well know that I do! Have you forgotten what I was like at your age? When Mom and Dad divorced?!"
He bit his lip and shook his head, shrinking back into his chair. "You were exactly like me..." He mumbled.
"Worse. And look at how far that got me! Look how it turned out! I don't even have a proper job and I'm living with two band members." I looked apolagetically over at Alex who was sitting on the bench. Shit I almost forgot he was there.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry Nebraska, I really am."
"No, don't be sorry to me, be sorry to yourself. Be sorry to Mom. I just don't want you to turn out like me," I hissed and walked out of the room, leaning against the wall.
I heard a small "You're not all that bad," from Cody, but ignored it. I calmed myself and just slumped down to the floor, my head in my hands. I didn't want to have to remind Cody of how low I was when was his age, but I guess that's what it took. And sadly, Alex was there to hear it. My ears pricked and I listened quietly, as I heard Alex speaking.
"Cody, you're better than this. And if you're anything like your sister, you'll sort your shit out and pull through. Please." I heard foot steps and Alex appeared above me. He held out his hand and helped me up, pulling me into a hug. "He's going to sleep on the couch. Come on," he said and led me back into his bedroom. We got into bed silently and lay down facing eachother.
"I heard what you said to him. Thank you."
"He will be okay Neb. He will," Alex assured.
I sighed. We didn't say anything for a while until I broke the silence. "I'm sorry you had to hear the shit about what I was like when I was 16..." I said quietly. "I tried to avoid that."
"Why?"
"Because you'd think differently of me."
"Don't be silly."
"Seriously. I was the worst kid." We laughed a little about it but fell quiet after a while.
"What'd you do?"
"More like what didn't I do. Dropped out of school, drugs, alcohol, partied. I was probably home rarely 4 nights a week at maximum. Fucked pretty much all the guys in my year at school... I really was a shit kid."
"All to get away from your parents?"
"...Yeah."
"Broken families are hard. I get it, I partied loads, was a pretty big manwhore. Nothing's changed really," he chuckled. My stomach twisted at his words. I understood now that maybe that's why we hadn't gone any further than that one night. It was definitely a one night stand and our relationship now was more or less like brother and sister or best friends.
I sighed and rolled over. "Life sucks."
"I know... And just so you know, I'd never think any different of you." He kissed my shoulder and we fell silent for good.

-

Cody and I walked inside the quiet house. "Dad?!" I called. No answer. Of course he wasn't home when I needed to speak to him. Suddenly the door opened behind us and I turned to see dad and Elise stumbled in.
"Nebsy, Codes!" He greeted us. I pulled away and stood back. "What? What's wrong?" He said, aware of my serious face.
"Where have you been?" I said sternly.
"Oooh sorry Mom! Sorry I didn't get your permission! Little bitch," he mumbled as he strutted past me and into the kitchen. Elise disappeared upstairs.
"Cody, go up to you're room okay. I'll deal with him. And remember that you can stay with me and Alex any time."
"Thanks for everything Nebs. I love you." He pulled me into an unexpected hug.
"Love you too," I said as Cody trudged upstairs.
"Dad, I need to speak to you!" I yelled. "Don't walk away from me!" He turned and came back to me.
"What?"
"Do you even care? About your children?"
"Of course."
"Tell me, did you know that Cody has missed four days of school? That he got caught with drugs? That he was in a fight last night?!" He just stood there blankly. "No, because you don't care! You're just going to watch your son ruin his life then?"
"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" He raised his voice and I shrunk back.
"I will stop telling you when you take responsibility for your own family!"
And with that, his hand struck me across the cheek. I gasped and held the side of my face in my hand. I shook my head and started for the door. "You can abuse me all you like, but please, Dad, just look after Cody, for fucks sake!"

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