PARENTS DEAREST

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Lao Tzu

Day Four

"We want you to plan our wedding"

I look back and forth from my mom to my dad, each of them passing googly irritating looks at themselves, behaving like teenagers. I blame myself for this mess sometimes. Why didn't I figure out that they were thinking about getting back together? They looked so very happy.

"And why would I do that?" I cut back in reply.

It was a really windy afternoon and the autumn leaves scattered the grass decorating it in red brown and yellow carpet. My hair was flying everywhere including my face and I had to search for my scrunchy in my bag to tame it.

Mom and dad looked put together for their 'picnic' though, with only coffee and some blueberry muffins, it was obvious it was an impromptu thought.

My mom called me and Adrian for a picnic at the park after I was done with my work in the morning but Adrian wasn't ready to face dad so he skipped, the boy basically planned a sleepover faster than I could ask him a second time.

I scrunched my hands together and sat back down. I should have worn something warmer today, my turtleneck and pants were not cutting it.

"Because you are our daughter," mom said.

"The product of our love", dad completed, equally starry-eyed.

Ok. Disgusting.

"Look mom, dad, I'm happy for you guys, I really am busy this month, it is really tight for me. I have a lot of things to catch up to, I got work. I got promoted remember?. And it's probably right for you to call an event planner to do a proper job."

"But we want you", mom insisted.

"You guys are really doing too much"

I shivered a bit against the cold. Curse you, Stephan, for being right about the weather. He had tried to warn me about the cold this morning but I was too stubborn to hear it. Every time I look at him now, all I see is Jasmine and him smashing lips, if I am being honest with myself, I used my parents as an excuse to leave the house. He did say he was going to see Jasmine today too. I pick up my coffee and take a sip, trying to soothe the shivering in my insides.

"Elizabeth", my dad starts trying to persuade me.

"Look no, if you guys loved each other so much maybe you should have stayed married in the first place" I retorted back and almost bit my tongue.

Mom looked a bit heartbroken.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that", I apologize.

Dad looks at mom and kisses her forehead.

"It's okay if you did. I deserve it"

I pick up a muffin and stuff my mouth.

"This is really important to us, Eli", Dad said, his blue eyes boring into my hazel orbs, "I am really sorry for the mistakes I made to you and your mom. Time taught me that everything was not about money and I really failed you as a father. I want to make it to you and your mom. And Gabriella and Adrian. Please."

I look at my dad and my mom. I muttered a curse under my breath and slipped my hands into my pocket. "Fine, I'll do it, but I'm calling for backup"

I got back to my house with relief. It was ten degrees outside today. I should have been more vigilant about the weather. Stephan wasn't home, I guess he carried out his threat in seeing Jasmine. I wonder what she called him out to do, or what she actually plans on doing to him.

I felt like a damp dog as I slumped on the couch. The bell buzzed and my door opened receiving a tall figure.

Noah removed his hat revealing a sandy blond hair I liked so much.

"Noah", I lurch to hug him.

"Hey, careful there I have two hot chocolate in my hand" I take a good look at him. Of course, Noah dressed warmly. I take a cup. "You know me so well", I sigh.

"Where's tall dark and brooding?" Noah looked around my house.

"I don't know, I'm not his keeper", I retorted back taking a quick sip of my drink. It was too hot and I jerked my hand, causing me to spill it on my body.

Noah howled in laughter while a screamed a string of curses.

"Are you ok? You can have my hot chocolate", Noah asked calming down a bit.

"No, I'm good. I'm just going to clean up. I'll be right back"

I take off my clothes and I put on my sulking clothes; a gray sweatshirt and its matching sweatpant. I put my hair in a bun and go back down. Noah was caressing Sniffles, who was clearly enjoying the attention. Noah looks up at me and tsked.

"I know that outfit"

I pick out a strawberry ice cream from the freezer and proceed to jump on the couch, next to Noah.

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Okay, you know you can always tell me who broke your heart" Noah tried to touch me but Sniffles wasn't having it.

I scarf down a glob of ice cream and damaged my fragile brain with a brain freeze for some seconds.

"Noah", I say in my cutest voice possible. Noah never says no to me when I beg him sincerely.

His right eyebrow piqued.

"Would you and Hailey help me plan my parent's wedding?"

Noah looked a bit relaxed. "Sure, that's no problem" Sniffles finally had enough and jumped out of Noah's arms.

"Is Hailey coming?" I ask Noah.

"Nah, she's with Cole tonight"

"I swear that girl spends more time with Cole Harper than with me these days"

Noah chuckled and puts his arms around me. "That's how it's supposed to be Beth. They are dating. But don't worry, I'm here, we could watch something" I look into Noah's green eyes and I felt like he was leaning in for a kiss. Am I imagining it or is my heart actually beating fast?

The door cracked so fast, I yelped.

Stephan comes in.

"What are you two doing, making out?", his voice sounded a bit deeper. I pull out of Noah's grasp and stood in front of Stephan

"What? Did you drink?"

"So what if I did? At least Jasmine knows how to have fun. Been a ghost for five years, let a man breath will you?"

Yes, I remember Stephan was always like this. One day he's an angel the next it's like he has all these demons chasing him.

"You can't be seeing her if you are just going to be doing this all the time"

"Oh yeah sure mom" Stephan laughed as if he said something really funny. "Yeah, I don't remember my mom. Do I even have a mom?"

A picture of Catherine's face flashed in my vision.

"Yeah, she will be really horrified to see what her son is doing"

Stephan scrunches his face into an angry mask and grabbed me so fast, "What did you just say?" He was shaking me hard.

"Let her go your dick", Noah threw off Stephan from me and landed him a punch so hard, it knocked him out.

"Is he alright?", I asked rubbing my arm.

"What about him? Are you okay?", Noah came to my side quickly.

"I'm fine, it's nothing", I try to glance at Stephan, who was passed out cold on the floor."You didn't have to hit him that hard though"

Noah scoffs, "Yeah so I was supposed to watch him do that to you. Remind me why you have this drunk in your house again?"

"He's not normally like this", I defend Stephan, scuttling to his side to pick him up.

"Oh, so what does he do other than abusing the person doing him a favor? oh yeah and also drinking"

"Would you help me lift him, we can take him to Adrian's room for now. He went for a sleepover."

"Ok then, ignore me", Noah grumbled, roughly lifting up Stephan and laying him on the bed. I rush forward to tuck him.

"Why?", Noah asks again.

I sigh.

We both go to the living room to sit down.

"I don't want to lie to you because you are my best friend and I love you. But you won't understand, at least for now. Nothing makes sense. Even to me. I'm so confused right now and I really don't know how to get through this or even take care of someone who's as broken as Stephan. I don't know why he is like this and he doesn't know who he is himself. But I need to help him because I'm the only one who can."

We looked at each other for a while before Noah lets out a shaky breath.

"Okay, I trust you. But I swear to god, if he touches you again, I'm knocking him out flat"

I smile a bit ruffling his hair.

"My hero"

After entertaining me for about three hours, Noah clocks out although he didn't leave before reminding me that he was going to knock Stephan's teeth out. Why do I have a feeling both of them would be friends if they tried to know themselves?

I locked up after Noah and my heart almost came out of my mouth when I heard a calm voice at the back of me.

"What an interesting guy", Thanatos was sitting on my couch in his famous 'all black' theme; black jeans, black tee shirt and leather jacket with his legs crossed.

"You cannot be coming in and out of my house however you please"

"I'm a god. I do whatever I please. And tell your friend when he wants to swear he should specify which god he's talking about, we are quite a lot."

"Is there a way I can uninvite you from coming into my home", I was standing well away from him. Thanatos gave me the creeps. He's the god of death, no surprise there.

"What do I look like,a vampire?"

"Do those exist?"

"Yes, but not in your dimension"

"I don't understand"

"You are not meant to understand"

Silence.

"You seem - different, a bit too calm today"

"I just finished reaping a soul or two, so I'm at peace - for now"

"Oh"

I shuffled my feet.

"How's lover boy?"

"Look death, I don't know if I can do it. He's difficult. And I actually don't know him-"

"That's not true", Thanatos said sticking his hand into his ear as if he was bored.

"I don't"

"You are the only one that knows him now. No one else but you. Not even him. You have to help him discover who he is."

"But", I look down.

"Ugh! Stop saying 'buts', I didn't watch you for five years without thinking you could do it"

Wait. What?

Thanatos read the confused look on my face and rolled his eyes, "What? Did you think I just dumped him in your house without doing my research? It's only you. Not his mother, not his sister but the person that can understand him completely and he will end up loving completely and well a little of the fact that you are also the person that has the mental stability to take all this that's going on"

Sniffles walked into the room, saw Thanatos, and left immediately.

If Thanatos was not the god of death, I'd have laughed my eyes out.

"The point is that you are the only one who can help him and who can love him completely. Like a mother, a sister, and a lover. That's what he needs. That's what he's would cry for. Now do your job"

Death stared into my eyes and before I knew what was going on, he disappeared in a flash.

I felt a bit weak and I crumpled to the floor. Only me.

Me.

Alone.

I have to bring him out of the hell he's facing. Whatever it is.