Don't You Go and Carry On With Your Life

Jack

I angrily drove Kellin and myself to my mom's house. She only live a few blocks away so it took us no time to get there. I was dreading having to come over and stay with her. She was going to want to hurt Alex for making me leave our house. To make matters worse, my brother and sister's car were outside of my mom's house.

"Shit." I said to myself.

"What?" Kellin asked.

"Joe and May are here and they're definitely going to be pissed when they find out we have to stay here."

"That's good. Maybe they can talk some since into dad." He said and I chuckled.

"Joe isn’t going to want do any talking." I joked.

We got out of the car and grabbed our bags out of the back. Then we slowly made our way to the door. I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.

A few seconds later May opened the door for us. She looked at us confused with our bags in our hands.

"What's going on?" She asked as she let us in.

"We need to stay with mom for a couple of days. Is she here?" I asked her.

My mom came around the corner with Joe right behind her.

"Jack what happened?" She asked.

"We need to stay here until Friday when I win custody of the house." I grumbled.

"Alex kicked you out?" Joe asked angrily.

"No no I just didn't want to stay there with him until Friday that's all." I told him.

"Where's Kylie?" My mom asked.

“My dad wouldn't let us bring her with us." Kellin told her.

"He said that since I have Kellin, he should be able to keep Kylie." I added.

"I'm going over there." Joe said and I stopped him at the door.

"Joe, no it’s okay." I said and he stopped and thought about it.

"Jack I've been wanting to beat him down since you told us he cheated on you. Just let me go get it over with." He tried to push past me and I grabbed his arm.

"Joe I'm serious. If you go over and hurt him it's going to look like I asked you to which might hurt my divorce case. Just let it go for now. Please!" I begged.

"Fine." He huffed.

"Kellin, Sweetheart, go sit you things down in May's old room." My mom told Kellin.

"I'll take your stuff to our old room." Joe told me. I thanked him as he left with my bags.

"Are you going to get custody of the kids?" May asked and I shrugged.

"We have to talk about it in court. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to keep Kellin since he's old enough to decide for himself, but I'm not sure about Kylie. I really want to keep both of my kids but I know that's kind of unfair to Alex."

"Fuck Alex." Joe said as he walked back into the living room.

"Joseph, language!" Our mom scolded him and turned back to me. "Joe's right. You shouldn’t care about what's fair to Alex right now. He didn't care what was fair to you when he cheated."

"I know mom, but he's still their father and so he should still be able to see them." I said. I still hated Alex for what he did, but it didn’t mean I didn’t want him to be a part of our kids’ lives.

"Well yeah he can do weekend visits or whatever of course but I don't think you should do split custody. It might be confusing for Kylie having to go back and forth between you two."

"Yeah, I'm still going to ask for full custody of them both and the house."

"Did you apply to some jobs?" My mom asked.

"Yeah I found a few office jobs that were hiring. Hopefully I'll get a call back. I'm pretty sure I’ll be able to pay our bills if I get a job, use my alimony check, and some of the child support Alex gives us."

"You can always borrow from me if you need to." May told me.

"And me." Joe agreed.

"Thanks guys, but I don't want to be a bother. The kids and I will be fine." I assured them. I didn't want to take their money, it was bad enough I had to take Alex's to survive. "I'm kind of afraid that they'll use the excuse of Alex making lots of money to take Kylie. They can say that he would be the best fit parent because of his income." I said worriedly.

"They might use that argument, but your lawyer can use his affair as an excuse and say that he is emotionally unattached from his family." My mom said.

"I don’t know.” I sighed. “I have to meet with my lawyer in the morning to go over some more stuff."

"You guys go to court this Friday right?" May asked.

"Yeah it starts at ten am."

"Okay I’ll call in sick to work so I can make it." She told me.

"Alex better be glad I can’t get off of work to go." Joe grumbled.

"Yeah thankfully." I laughed.

"I'll be there too to support you." My mom said.

"Thanks mom. My lawyer told me that it should be pretty straight forward so it shouldn't take long."

"All that matters is that you get custody of my grand babies. You can move in here with me if you don't get the house." My mom told me and May, Joe, and I laughed. I did not want to move back in with my mom and be treated like a child again.

"Okay, thanks mom." I told her. "But I'm gonna call it a night. I'm pretty tired."

"But it's only eight." May said.

"Yeah but I've had a long day." I said.

They all told me good night and I went to my old room. My mom had changed it into a guest room after Joe and I left so it looked nothing like it used to. I had just begun unpacking my suitcase when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in." I called out and the door opened. Kellin walked in and sat on the bed.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah I'm fine, just tired." He mumbled.

"Me too. We both had a long day." I said and he nodded.

"So I kind of overheard the conversation you were having." He said and I playfully rolled my eyes at him. "I can help out with some of the bills by getting a job. Vic works at Hot Topic in the mall and I'm sure-"

"-Kellin stop. You don't have to get a job. We'll be fine." I said.

"But you have to pay the bills all by yourself."

"Yeah and I'm going to get a job so I can do it. Plus your dad will have to give us some money so we'll be fine like I said." I assured him.

"Okay, but don't hesitate to tell me if we're having money problems." He said making me laugh.

"I won't."

I finished putting my clothes up and laid in my bed next to him. We both laid in bed just thinking, neither one of us falling asleep. I was thinking of how much money I needed to make an hour in order to pay for our groceries and other necessities each month. I also need needed to pay our electricity and water bill. Plus Kylie was going to have to go to daycare while I went to work so that was extra. I wasn’t going to ask my mom since she already had to watch May and Joe's kids after school. I didn't want to add a two year old to her list.

"Daddy, are you awake?" Kellin asked after a while.

"Yeah." I answered.

"Do you think Kylie misses us?"

"Yeah I'm sure she'll become upset if she doesn't see us tomorrow." I said.

"I will too. I miss her annoying me." He sighed.

“I miss my little Lovebug too. I'll stop by tomorrow to see her. Hopefully your dad will let me bring her here with me tomorrow."

"He better." He said angrily. "He called me an hour ago but I didn't answer. Then he texted me goodnight but I didn't text him back. I don't feel like talking to him ever again."

"That's because you're angry right now. You won't feel this way forever." I said.

"It feels like I will be. Is he still with the lady that he cheated on you with?" He asked. I thought back to Alex's phone call that I overheard.

"I'm not sure." I lied. I didn't want to make Kellin angrier by telling him anymore bad things about Alex. Alex would have to tell him sooner or later if he was still with her.

"Ugh what if he gets remarried or what if he has kids with her?? I would never talk to him again if he had more kids." He thought out loud. I didn’t want to think about that tonight.

"Let's just forget about it for now and go to sleep." I suggested and he nodded.

We both laid back down, but neither of us fell asleep any time soon.

*Alex*

Friday morning

I had to be at the courthouse at ten today so I woke up at eight to get myself and Kylie ready. Rian and I spent all week preparing for today so everything should go perfectly. I hadn't talked to Jack since he left at the beginning of the week. He came by to get some more things for himself and Kellin and to see Kylie but we didn't say a word to each other. Kellin stopped by my parents' house after school a few times to see them and Kylie but he still hadn't talked to me since he found out. I was hoping to talk to him after court today since my mom told me that Jack was letting him miss school to come.

I drove Kylie and me to the courthouse once I was finished getting ready. Rian was in the lobby waiting for me when I got there.

"Hey you ready to get this over with?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I said and he smiled.

We took a few steps towards the courtroom and I saw Jack sitting on a bench with his lawyer. He looked at me and then looked away. Kellin was next to him but he wouldn't look at me. Kylie practically jumped out of my arms and ran to Kellin when she saw him. He picked her up and cuddled her to him.

"Look who his lawyer is." Rian chuckled. It was this new lawyer at our competitor law firm named Tyler Joseph. He only had a few cases so far, but he lost each one of them. Good thing for him there was no losing or winning in this case.

"I wonder if he knows how bad Tyler sucks?" I joked and we both laughed to ourselves.

"Both of you stop." Zack, Rian's husband, scolded from behind us.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I came to support you and Jack." He said.

"You can't support both of us." I joked and he rolled her eyes.

"Then I guess I came to support him." He left us and went to say hi to Jack.

"Don't worry about him, just focus on what you're going to say to the judge." He said and I nodded.

Jack's mom and sister walked in a few minutes later. They both avoided looking my way and went to sit with Jack. It was hard to believe we were actually family at one point. I was just relieved Joe didn't come with them. He probably would have actually said or done something to me.

My parents came a few minutes before it was time to start our case. They stopped to tell me hi and went to go say hi to Jack and our kids. My parents knew I cheated on Jack and were very sympathetic towards him. I got so many lectures from both of them over the meaning of marriage and how I broke the sanctity of it. I didn't want to hear anymore lectures, so I hadn’t told them about Tay being pregnant yet.

"Both parties can step in the court room now." A security guard told us.

Jack, his side of his family, and our kids walked in first and then Rian, Zack, my parents, and I went in. We both went to our separate sides and stood before the judge.

"Case number 37890. This is the divorcing of Alexander Gaskarth and Jack Gaskarth correct?" The judge asked.

"Yes your honor." Rian and Tyler said.

"Alright let's get started. Do you all have your divorce papers?" She asked.

"Yes they're right here." Tyler said. He handed them to the security guard, who he handed the papers to the judge.

"And do both parties agree they willingly signed their own names?" She asked.

"Yes your honor." Rian and Tyler both said.

"Good, let's go over who gets what. Do both sides have request?"

"Yes your honor." Rian and Tyler handed the security guard a copy of our list and he handed it to the judge.

"Okay so both parties are okay with splitting the joint account?"

"Yes your honor."

"And Jack would like to change his last name back to Barakat." The judge said. I looked over at Jack after hearing that, but he was looking straight forward.

"Yes your honor." Tyler said.

It kind of caught me off guard that he wanted to change his last name back. I thought he would keep it so it would match with our kids.

"And for the house, both parties put down they would like to keep the house?" She asked.

"Yes your honor." Rian and Tyler said.

"And Jack would like sole custody of the kids while Alexander would like joint custody?" She clarified.

"Yes your honor." Tyler said.

"Can I just add, your honor, that Jack has been the primary care giver for both kids. He has taken care of them day and night while Alex worked, among other things. And their oldest son Kellin, who is sixteen, has already stated that he would feel more comfortable living with Jack." Tyler said, making me roll my eyes.

"And if I can just add, your honor, Alex has been the primary source of finance for the family. He was not able to sit at home and take care of the kids all day because he had to work to support his family." Rian said.

"Let's not forget that Mr. Gaskarth affair is the whole reason for this divorce and the reason the children have to be split from their parents in the first place." Tyler said and I opened my mouth to counter his argument, but luckily Rian beat me to it.

"Objection, your honor, he's deflecting from the topic at hand." Rian called out.

"I'm not deflecting. That's a very important piece of information that should be considered." Tyler shrugged.

"I make the final decision." Judge Harrison called out, stopping them from going back and forth. "Seeing as the primary caregiver is seen to have more of an effect on their children well being and taking in consideration that Mr. Gaskarth did commit adultery, I will grant Jack sole custody of the children."

"Seriously, you're going to rule in favor of them." I spoke out of turn, without thinking. "He’s the one that asked for the divorce, plus he doesn't even have a job to support our kids."

"Alex shut up." Rian warned me.

"I would appreciate if your client didn't speak in an ill-manor towards my client." Tyler told Rian.

"Tyler go fuck yourself!" I told him and he gasped. I wasn't trying to speak bad about Jack. I was just frustrated because I didn't want to get a divorce, but Jack made it clear he was done with me.

"Mr. Gaskarth you are out of order!!” Judge Harrison scolded me, while hitting her gavel. You only speak to your lawyer or to me. Do you understand that?"

"Yes your honor." I mumbled bitterly while staring at the ground.

"I am also going to grant Jack custody of the house since he will have the kids for majority of the time. Kellin and Kylie will stay with Jack through the week and with Alexander two weekends out of the month." She ruled. That was probably because of my outburst.

"Alexander, with Jack having sole custody you will be ordered to pay child support, do you understand that?"

"My client understands." Rian answered for me.

"Also seeing as Jack worked while you obtained your legal degree, the one that allowed you to make so much money to support your family with, I'm ordering that you pay him reimbursement alimony. This will serve as payment for the work he did to support the family while you went to school. With the annual salary that you have, you are ordered to pay . . . one-thousand eight-hundred dollars in child support for each child and one-thousand two-hundred dollars in reimbursement alimony. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, my client understands, your honor." Rian sighed and I sighed with him. That was going to be four-thousand and eight-hundred dollars taken out of my check each month.

"Does Jack understand that refusal to let Alex have their children on his appointed days might result in disciplinary actions?" She asked Tyler.

"Yes your honor."

"Does Alex understand that refusal to pay child support, alimony, or refusal to return Kylie and Kellin at the set time will result in disciplinary actions?"

"Yes your honor." Rian said.

"Okay now that both parties are in agreement I will finalize the divorce." She signed and stamped it. "We're finished here. Court dismissed."

Tyler shook Jack's hand and they both walked out of the court room.

"I know there is no such thing as winning or losing this case, but I feel like we just lost." Rian said and I nodded.

I couldn’t believe Jack actually got custody of both of our kids and the house. Not only was he leaving me, but he was practically taking our kids with him. Now I only would only see them two weekends out of the month and I had to find a new place to stay. I stormed out of the court with Rian right on my heels. We went outside while everyone else went to the lobby to talk. I needed some fresh air and to process what just happened. Rian followed behind me with my parents.

"Alex, dude, look I'm sorry I couldn't get you everything you wanted." Rian began apologizing but I stopped him.

"You don't have to apologize, Ri. It's not your fault."

"I'm sorry you didn't get custody of the kids, Alex." My mom came over to hug me. I hugged her back just as tightly.

"I'll be okay mom. I still get them two times a month so I guess that's better than nothing." I told her.

"Well you're welcome to stay with us until you find a new place to stay, son." My dad told me.

"Thanks dad, but Rian agreed to let me stay with him and Zack for a little while." I said.

"Okay well we're here if you need us." My mom kissed me on the cheek and my dad hugged me before they left.

I sat down on a bench outside and placed my head in my hands. It felt like so many bad things were happening to me at once. I just felt like crawling to my bed and sleeping for the next few days, but our bed belonged to Jack now.

“How are you holding up?” Zack asked as he took a seat next to me.

“I feel like shit. I just lost my husband... well ex-husband, for good and basically my kids. Plus I still have to find a way to tell my son that I got Tay pregnant.” I complained.

“I’m sorry you did what?” Zack asked, shocked.

“You didn’t tell him?” I asked Rian.

“I’m honestly still waiting for you to tell me that you’re just kidding.” He said and I rolled my eyes.

“I really wish I was.” I sighed.

“You’re making it really hard for me to feel any sympathy for you.” Zack said and I nodded understandingly. I didn’t deserve sympathy, I really did fuck up badly. I ruined my used-to-be perfect marriage with Jack all because I cheated instead of trying to help him fix our marriage.

“Don’t feel bad for me. Feel bad for Jack, he’s the actual victim.” I told him.

“Yeah I know.” Zack said while pointing to a window inside of the courthouse. I looked in and saw Jack's mom wiping away tears from Jack’s eyes while May rubbed his back.

I guess neither one of us really won anything from the divorce.

Notes

I really like this chapter for some reason. Feel free to tell me if the story doesn't make sense. It's hard for me to tell since I'm writing the story, but I don't want to confuse any of you! Also I have no knowledge about divorces or court in general so I just followed what I've seen on TV lol