Chapter 3

》》Jason Dutton《《

It's been two weeks after my father was hospitalised and Roxy and I haven't been the best of siblings.

We hardly see each other even though we live in the same apartment, she leaves early in the morning and returns late at night. Sometimes she doesn't return at all.

When we see each other we argue, she didn't take part in her favourite heist, ATM bombing, and she doesn't talk to me or annoy me like before.

I was in the kitchen making breakfast when Roxy walked in.

"Good morning," I greeted.

She ignored me and put her keys on the shelf. She took off her coat and sighed.

"Where were you?"

She ignored me again and was about to head for her room when I stood in her way.

"I was out Jason," she said before trying to go past me.

I stood in front of her again, "That ain't valid."

"I was at the hospital. Happy now?"

"How's he doing?" I asked standing in her way once again.

"Why would you care?"

"Cause," I mumbled heading back to the kitchen.

"Cause?" I heard from behind me.

"I hate the fact that I still love him," I sighed.

"Then go see him," Roxy suggested.

"No. He doesn't deserve it," I said bitterly.

"Jason, I don't understand. You love him but you act so sour around him. You show care to everyone else you love, to all our friends but you don't care this much for your own father?!"

"Because he was the reason we lost our mother! Ok?! It was his fault! I didnt want you knowing this but it's time you opened your eyes!

"Mom was hospitalised for three months! Wanna know why? Dad refused to pay for her heart transplant! That's why!! He was a millionaire but he refused to save his wife and children's lives.

"While he was out living in luxury, we were living in Bedford in complete poverty!! He never called! He never cared about us! So why in hell should I care about him?!"

I turned around to look at Roxy. She was slowly heading to her room, head down and eyes to the floor.

"Roxy... Roxanne, I'm sorry," I apologised. But it was no use, she went to her room without saying a word or even looking at me.

I sighed in frustration as I heard the door close.

~~~~~~~~~~

I walked out of my room and was walking past Roxy's room when I stopped in my tracks. She had been in there all day and I was starting to get worried.

I went back a few steps and knocked on the door.

No answer.

I knocked again. "Roxy? You good?"

Nothing.

I knocked again with a bit of anxiety rising within. "Roxanne? Could you open up? I needa talk to ya."

Silence.

"Roxanne?"

Jack came up to me. "Whats up? We needa be outta here in ten."

"I need to talk to her but she won't open the door," I whispered trying to conceal the pain I was feeling.

"Ok lemme try."

I stepped aside and let Jack give it a go.

He knocked in the door saying, "Ayo Roxy, may we have a word or two? Please."

I heard the door open followed by soft voice, "What do you want?"

I turned around to see Roxy standing by the door her face drenched in tears.

Jack left and I walked up to my sister.

"What do you want Jason?"

"I...I uh just wanted to ask if you wanted to join us at the mansion. We were gonna uhh just chill under the stars and roast some marshmallows and uhhh sing some songs ya know," I explained.

"Why are you really here?" she asked knowing I would never invite her in such a manner.

"I...I uh...I was worried about you. You haven't been outta your room. I just wanted to make sure you ok, ya know. Just check in on ya. You okay?"

She looked down at the floor and sighed, "Yeah, I'm ok."

"Are you sure?" I asked putting my hands in my pockets and looking down.

She took a sharp breath before blurting out, "No. I just...how could he?" I looked up at my sister who slowly sat on the floor tucking her knees to her chest.

"He left us there... suffering! Struggling to get a loaf of bread... while he was out there? I don't understand," she cried.

I went on my knees by her side and held her in my arms for comfort.

"I don't understand Jason! How could one do such a thing and still say he loves you? How? You didn't even finish high school because you were trying to ensure that I did, but he all along could've prevented that!

"All this time he has told me that he loves me and would do anything for me but that was just an empty promise! I don't understand Jason! I don't understand. Why only try now when you're dying?! Why only now and not when we needed him most?"

"Its ok... it'll all be ok. I promise. I'll make it better. I'll fix it for you," I stated in comfort as I felt myself melt inside.

Roxanne was my weakness. You could do anything to me but once you touched my baby sister, I would break down inside out. She's the most important in my life. That's why I dropped out of high school. I did it so I could get a job and keep her in school.

I nearly killed for her and I'd do much more for her. But when I see her hurt I just break down cause it makes me feel like I've let my mother down.

Take good care of your sister.

Were her last words, so that's all I do. Take good care of her is all I do.

"But that's what's wrong you're throwing your life away taking care of me. You won't get a grilfriend, you don't get drunk, you do this all for me and by doing so you don't have the time to live your own life!"

She was right. But what else could I do?

"I know, but right now my first priority is you. You mean the world to me and I will never risk losing you so... imma take care of you and if I throw my life away I know its for a good cause. So let me take good care of you. Alright?" I said trying not to burst into tears.

She nodded causing a bit of relief to the tension in my chest.

"Ok," I kissed her hair and helped her to her feet. "So you coming with us?"

She nodded with a small smile playing on her face.

"Alright. Go get a jacket, Jack and I are waiting, okay?"

She went into her room and I made my way to the kitchen for a glass of water.

"That sounded tense," I heard from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Jack leaning on the counter.

"Yeah," I replied after clearing my throat.

"You okay? You sound like you could break down any moment now."

"Nah, I'm alright."

Roxy joined us and said with a little more enthusiasm in her voice, "Let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We arrived at the mansion. I walked with my arm around Roxy as we made our way to the fire pit where the rest of our friends sat.

"There's our lead singer!"

Every end of of month we have a little get together around the fire pit, tell some stories, roast some marshmallows.

We sat on a log and were handed a bag of marshmallows, rods and some drinks.

Roxy went ahead roasting a marshmallow. "You alright?" I asked her.

She nodded and went back to staring at the flames.

"Remember when Jason had braces?" Jack called out glancing at me for my reaction.

I laughed to myself quickly thinking of a good come back, "I'm not the one who scared off his first girlfriend cause he couldn't chew!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Says the one who is still a virgin to dating," Jack laughed ending the argument.

"Ooh roasted!" Tyler exclaimed covering her mouth while looking at me.

I just laughed to myself and took another gulp of my beer.

I looked at the fire as it burnt the embers in the pit and it reminded me of a song we used to sing in a cappella.

Oh misty eye of the mountain below

I began causing silence among us.

Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls

And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke

Keep watching over Durin's sons

Then they joined in creating different sounds to create a new song without any instruments, just the sound of our voices in harmony.

And as the sky's falling down

It crashed into this lonely town

And with that shadow upon the ground

I hear my people screaming out

I see fire

Inside the mountain

I see fire

Burning the trees

I see fire

Hollering souls

And I see fire

Blood in the breeze

I see fire

Oh you know I saw the city burning

I see fire

Feel the heat upon my skin yeah

Now I see fire

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

And I see fire burn auburn up on the mountain side