Chapter 28

Boiling frog
A problematic situation that will gradually increase in severity until it reaches disastrous proportions, such that the people involved or affected by it will not notice the danger until it is too late to act.

 • o 🦋 o •

“MICA!” George roared. His voice was like thunder. 

I immediately rolled off him and Mica got out of bed. 

“Dad!” He said terrified. 

“What the hell is going on here?!” George snared. He grabbed Mica’s wrist and yanked him forward. Mica gasped in pain. 

“Hey, stop!” I screamed. “It’s my fault, okay? It’s my fault!” 

“Yes, of course it’s your fault!” George raged. “I leave you alone for one weekend and you..” George looked at his son as if he was worthless. He looked disgusted and hateful. “I knew something was going on when Charles told me you’d given him the weekend off. What were you thinking?!” 

Mica was quiet and ashamed. Before I knew it George had raised his hand and slapped Mica hard across the face. 

My mouth fell open and I stared in disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. Please, let this be a nightmare. 

George raised his hand again. 

“STOP!” I screamed. I felt tears in my eyes. “Stop it!” I cried. 

George looked at me now. “And you must be out of your mind!” He took a threatening step forward. 

“Dad..” Mica said softly. 

“I warned you to keep your distance.” George ignored Mica. 

“And I didn’t listen. That’s my fault.” I said. 

“Yes it is. Leave.” George said coldly. 

I glanced at Mica. He had a tear running over his cheek. He wouldn’t look at me. 

If I left now what would happen? He was going to hit his son. He was actually going to hurt him. 

“No.” I said. 

“Excuse me?” 

“I said NO! I’m not leaving him alone with you.” 

“If you won’t listen,” George took another step closer. Anger burned in his eyes. I knew he was going to hit me but I didn’t care. So long as it was me and not Mica. 

Mica jumped in and held his dad back. “Please don’t. Don’t hurt him.” He begged. 

George stared at me, hate in his eyes. 

“Go.” Mica said to me. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t turn around. 

George stood tall again, no longer lunging towards me. 

“What?” I said softly. 

“Go. Please, James. Just go.” Mica said softly.

I was so confused. Why wouldn’t he just come with me? We could get out of here together. 

Charles came in right at that time. 

“Ah, right on time. Charles, show him out. He’s no longer welcome here.” George said icily. 

“You can’t do this!” I yelled. 

“Mica, do you want him around?” George asked his son. He gave him a chilly look. 

Mica slowly shook his head. “No.” He whispered. 

I couldn’t believe this! Why would he stay? 

“We can leave together!” I said. 

“Come on.” Charles spoke softly. He looked worried and apologetic. He took my arm.

“No! Mica!” I called his name again but he was like a statue, frozen in place, keeping his eyes on the floor. 

Charles grabbed my bag and escorted me out. 

I heard Mica’s door close with a loud bang that made my heart race with fear. Another tear escaped my eye. Charles opened the front door. 

“We have to do something! We have to call the cops or- something!” 

“That’s not a good idea.” Charles said. 

“Why not!” 

“Mica and Mr. Walters.. This is something they need to work out among themselves..” 

“How could you say that! He’s going to hurt him!” I screamed. 

“You have to think about Mica. How would he feel if his dad was taken from him?” 

I shook my head. I couldn’t understand what he was saying. Sure, George might’ve been a good man in the past but that time was over. Mica needed to be away from him. He needed to be safe!

“I know it’s hard to understand. But that boy has already lost so much..” Charles frowned and looked at the ground. 

Of course he had a point but I just couldn’t leave and pretend everything was fine!

We both flinched when we heard George scream again. 

“You really should go now.” Charles insisted. 

“He’ll be okay, though, right? You’ll watch him?” I grabbed Charles’ arm.

Charles mustered a smile even though I could see in his eyes he was scared for Mica too. 

“H-he’ll be okay.” Charles nodded. He didn’t look or sound convincing. And I was even more afraid. 

He closed the door. I stood there for a long time before I finally grabbed my bike and left. 

• o 🦋 o •

On my bike ride home I tried to make sense of everything. I tried to explain  things away but I just couldn’t. It was clear. George hurt Mica. And judging by Charles’ response it wasn’t the first time. 

Dammit! I knew it! I knew something was massively wrong! I felt like I had to do something! But Charles probably knew better. Maybe… Maybe it wasn’t that bad. Maybe it was just an antiquated, corrective slap. Maybe Mica wasn’t in danger. His dad would never really hurt him, right? I had to believe that!

When I got home I paced around my room restlessly. I texted Mica a thousand times. 

Jay: please tell me ur okay

Jay: call me when u can

Jay: u can come stay with us if you need to

Jay: please just say something

Jay: mica!

It was no use. He didn’t reply. And when I called all I got was voicemail. 

• o 🦋 o •

I went to Mica’s school on Monday. I was sure George was monitoring his phone or something. 

I sighed of relief when I saw Mica walk towards the gates. 

“Mica!” I called. He looked surprised to see me. I ran up to him and pulled him into my arms. I smiled uncontrollably. “I’m so glad to see you, you have no idea how worried I was!” I pulled away and held Mica’s cheeks. 

He removed my hands from his face and looked around self-consciously. 

“Right. Sorry.” 

Mica nodded. He stared at the floor. 

“How did things go with your dad? Did he.. Are you okay?” 

Mica nodded again. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

He looked very sad. It made me so angry. Our weekend was perfect until that monster showed up!

“You can stay with me for the time being if things are hard with your dad right now. We can work this out somehow.” 

Mica didn’t respond. He just kept staring at the ground. 

“Mica,” I reached for his shoulder but he pulled away. I frowned. 

“James, I meant what I said.” He spoke quietly. 

“What? What do you mean?” 

“I don’t.. We can’t see each other anymore.” 

“No.. You’re not gonna let him come between us!” 

“You can’t come here anymore, okay? And you need to stop calling and texting.” Mica said.

“Why are you doing this?” 

“I’m serious.” Mica finally met my eyes. He looked detached for a moment. Almost as icy as his dad. Then he saw my expression and frowned to himself. 

“Mica!” A voice like thunder roared. We both flinched. 

Mica’s dad stood by a black car watching us. 

“Don’t go with him, please!” I grabbed Mica’s arm but he pulled away. 

“Please just leave me alone.” He said as he made his way to his father. 

His dad yanked him by his arm and spoke to him angrily. I couldn’t hear what he said and soon enough all I saw was the blur of my tears. 

• o 🦋 o •

I spent at least a week straight crying every single day. My parents were worried. Even Kyle and Lila were.

I’d told them Mica and I broke up but not why.

I just couldn’t believe Mica had cut me out of his life like that. Without even so much as an explanation or an apology. But still I couldn’t hate him for it. Like Charles had said, he only had his dad. And I knew how much family meant to him. He was loyal to a fault. Just not to me. 

I wondered how things would go with Riley’s party. Of course it had to get cancelled. There was no way Mica’s dad would still allow him to throw that ‘ridiculous party’ as he’d called it. 

Kyle burst into my room. 

“Brotha!”

I couldn’t bring myself to smile at my brother. 

“Look what I found in the mail.” Kyle pulled out a golden envelop that said: open alone. 

Mica?

“Get out.” I said. 

“Sheesh.” Kyle grumbled as he made his way out of my room. I waited till he’d closed the door. 

I ripped the envelope open. 

You have been invited to Riley Heart’s 17th birthday party! But don’t tell anyone, it’s a surprise!

The date, location and dress code all followed. So I guess the party was on. And Mica invited me because I was Riley’s best friend. He basically had to. I don’t know why it felt so cold. To get an invitation like this. Not even a text or anything personal. I was sure everyone got a card like this and that hurt more than I thought it would. 

It was hand written but not by Mica. 

A/N~

Sorry about the sad(der) update~
I know this is supposed to be cute story but this reaalllly needed to happen. Please don’t be sad. What goes up must come down.

But what comes down, must come up too!! 😀

Um.. The story is nearing it’s end o.O 

Do we want some cutie uwu fluff chapters as ‘extras’ or no? 

Also.. if you like emos.. or late 2000s vibez, check out my new story: I Fell In Love With An Emo Boy. It’s very different from this one though!

Thanks for all of your support! It means a lot to me!