Dandruff

“What kind of fucking question is that?!”

There was no way in hell Pilot just asked him what he thought he’d asked him. It was simply impossible. Phoenix had barely acknowledged his presence so far; there was no slip-up to cause suspicion. Maybe Pilot was psychic...or psychotic. Either way, this couldn’t end well. How was he supposed to react without seeming guilty? He knew this weekend was going to be horrible, but he hadn’t anticipated anything like this. If his heart kept pounding as sporadically as it was, he would surely end up having a massive heart attack.

“Don’t give me that look. I’m right, aren’t I? You look like his usual type; pretty, skinny, dumb as rocks...” Pilot released his chin, the evaluation apparently over.

“...As flattering as that is, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Phoenix is married to Felicity. I guess you and your mother haven’t noticed that.”

“What’s your point? It’s never stopped him before.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can we just get the drinks and go now?” Jacob tried to move, but Pilot pushed him back against the counter.

“You know why Phoenix doesn’t like me? I’ll tell you why; I walked in on him fucking the hell out of one of the caterers an hour before his wedding. I knew he was always a horny, selfish prick, but that took the fucking cake. I confronted him about it, and he told me it was none of my business, amongst other things. I didn’t say anything to anyone else... I knew it’d blow up in his face eventually. Felicity’s a good woman; she’ll move on, but karma will rip Phoenix to shreds and I want front row seats.”

“What are you; some kind of villain revealing his evil plans? Look, this really has nothing to do with me, and quite frankly, you make me uncomfortable,” Jacob’s effort to get away proved to be fruitless once again.

A lazy smirk stretched across Pilot’s lips. “I guess I can see why Phoenix likes you. You’re a mouthy, little brat, aren’t you? But what’s so good about you that would make him do something as crazy as bringing you to live with him?”

“The goodness of his heart?” the sarcasm couldn’t be helped there.

“We both know that’s bullshit.”

“I blackmailed him, okay? Now that you’ve gotten your answer, you should let me go because I’m really close to kneeing you in the balls.”

Before the testicular injury could occur, Owen waltzed into the kitchen. He looked startled at the scene he’d stumbled into. Jacob could imagine how wrong it all looked; Pilot pressing him into the counter, barely a centimetre between them as they gazed intently into each other’s eyes. Oh God. Could this day get any worse? Pilot tore his eyes away from the stunned butler and returned his intense stare to Jacob.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he whispered gruffly as he pulled away.

“Sorry for interrupting, Mr. Scofield. Your mother requested I look for you since you were taking such a long time...If I’d known you were busy, I would have alerted you of my presence before entering...” Owen spoke slowly, as if he were trying to be as inoffensive as possible.

Pilot waved dismissively. “You weren’t interrupting anything. The drinks are still in the fridge if you want to carry them out.”

“Yes, sir,” Owen gave a slight nod as he hastily went about his task.

Jacob felt incredibly awkward; there was a noticeable tension in the room and no one was speaking, and then there was the fact that Owen was sending him disapproving glances when the man thought he wasn’t looking. Great, even the butler didn’t like him. He was already the pariah of this house, although Felicity might’ve given him a run for his money if Vanessa had anything to do with it. Pilot tried to corner him again when Owen left, but Jacob was quicker, darting out of the kitchen hot on Owen’s heels.

Back on the deck, things seemed to have improved a smidgen. Owen laid the champagne flutes on the small table and left. Jupiter and Felicity were chatting away like old friends whilst Phoenix conversed with his parents. Jacob sure as hell didn’t want to get in the middle of Phoenix’s little family reunion, and he definitely didn’t want to get stuck with Pilot, so he darted over to Jupiter and Felicity’s bench, plopping down next to the blonde.

“Oh, you’re back! Had fun with Pilot?” Jupiter leaned over to get herself a glass of champagne. “Felicity, you want any?”

The blonde shook her head quickly. “I don’t hold my liquor well—Jacob get that grin off your face and answer Jupiter’s question.”

Jacob snorted amusedly, “It’s not my fault you got drunk the first day we met. Anyway, is Pilot always so cheerful? I swear he and Phoenix are the same person…”

“Oh please... They’re nothing alike. Pilot is much more approachable,” Jupiter had somehow managed to gulp down more than half of her champagne already. “He’s just on edge right now because he and Phoenix don’t get along. They’re doing a very subtle dance in order to directly avoid each other. Over the years, they’ve really perfected it.”

“I wish they’d get over their stupid feud; it’s ridiculous. They’ve been carrying this on way too long,” Felicity sighed.

“I know, right? They’re still so tight-lipped on what the problem is, too. I bet it isn’t even that big a deal. They’re acting like children,” Jupiter drained the last bit of alcohol and then reached for another glass. Damn, she sure knew how to knock those back. It was like she was drinking water or something.

Their gazes drifted over to the other side of the room, seeking out the aforementioned brothers. It was human nature to subtly peek at people when gossiping about them, and this was no exception to the rule. Phoenix and James were carrying on an animated conversation as Vanessa sipped a glass of champagne with a disinterested air. Pilot was once again propped up on the banister, a cigarette between his lips as he stared at the random ripples forming on the pool’s surface. Pilot looked very much like the black sheep of the family, mingling with no one but his cigarettes. It was obvious his parents favoured Phoenix for whatever asinine reason. It was kind of funny how he and Phoenix had been at war for the past two years and no one knew why, yet Jacob had been there for less than an hour and was already privy to what was really going on. He had to admit that he could see why Pilot was disgusted and upset. What kind of jerk cheats on his wedding day with a fucking caterer? Oh, right, the kind he was head over heels with. He sighed dejectedly. Even if Phoenix and Felicity divorced due to some bizarre act of nature and Phoenix hooked up with him, there was no way the lawyer would be faithful. Not that Jacob was a beacon of loyalty himself. With all the shit he’d done and was still doing, he didn’t even deserve someone being good to him. And that was how his thoughts landed on Russell, and his chest panged guiltily. What the fuck was he doing with his life?

“Jacob, are you alright? You don’t look so good,” Felicity frowned worriedly.

He shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m a little tired, I guess.”

“Maybe a dip in the pool would help... Or a walk on the beach; the sea breeze is really refreshing,” Jupiter suggested.

“I think I need to lie down or something,” Jacob said.

“I can take you up to your room if you’d like,” an all too familiar voice came from beside him, almost causing him to jump out of his skin. He turned to Pilot with wide eyes, wondering when the jackass had even sidled up behind him. Telling him off would’ve created a scene, and he didn’t want any unnecessary attention from these people, so Jacob just glared as inconspicuously as possible. Pilot returned the glare with an unimpressed, downward tug of his lips.

“You don’t have to do that,” Jupiter intervened, “Stay out here and enjoy the fresh air. Owen or Ingrid can show him where his room is; Lord knows they haven’t done a goddamn thing all day.”

Jacob sighed in relief.

“I’m getting bored out here. This is much more interesting than overhearing Dad kiss Phoenix’s ass for being the ideal son,” Pilot deadpanned.

“You know it’s not like that. When are you two going to grow up? Honestly! You two used to be so close when we were kids,” his sister shook her head in frustration as she reached for yet another champagne glass. Alcoholism apparently went hand in hand with being rich. Jacob almost wanted to stay longer in order to see if she’d finish the entire tray by herself.

“I’m not the one who’s wrong, Phoenix is. Why should I kiss his ass?” Pilot took one last drag on his cigarette before flicking it over the banister where it landed somewhere in the yard.

“Jacob isn’t feeling well; he doesn’t need to hear all this right now,” Felicity patted the teenager’s back sympathetically.

“I can stay down here. Don’t worry about me; I’ll be as good as new in no time,” Jacob forced a smile. Being alone with Pilot was right under dropping his dick in a piranha tank on his to-do list.

“Well, I think you should rest. You look tired. Doctor’s orders!” the blonde’s tone left no room for argument.

“Come on, kiddo,” Pilot smirked smugly at him, obviously pleased with his minor victory.

“We’ll make sure you’re up in time for dinner. Have a good nap, sweetie,” Jupiter leaned over and gave Jacob a peck on the cheek.

His very own big breasted Judas betrayed him with a kiss. Couldn’t his downfall at least have unique symbolism?

Pilot announced loudly enough for everyone to hear that he was taking Jacob to bed. James barely spared a second to wish Jacob a speedy recovery before he went back to discussing the stock market with Phoenix.

Vanessa gave a cryptic message of, “I hope you’ll feel better soon, dear. It’s a pity we don’t have a real doctor in the house, but a nap should do you some good, no?”

If the nasty look Felicity shot the older woman was capable of killing, Vanessa would’ve burst into flames ignited by the alcohol in her overpriced perfume.

“I’ll be up to check on you soon,” Phoenix’s tone was strained. His jaw was squared with controlled anger, glaring at Pilot and Jacob with equal ire. Jacob had to wonder what he did to deserve that look. It wasn’t as if he begged Pilot to pull this little stunt. Oh right; everything was his fault in Phoenix’s eyes, and that Pilot was apparently his arch nemesis…

He was determined not to say a thing to Pilot as they trekked through the house and up the stairs. It was going pretty well so far; Pilot was being surprisingly quiet. The guest bedroom Jacob was staying in was the last door before the dead end, far away from the other bedrooms because it was separated from them by an impressive home theatre. It figures he’d be exiled... He supposed on the off chance that Felicity and Phoenix decided to fuck, he wouldn’t hear it… Or even worse, hear Phoenix’s parents. He doubted Botox Barbie was even capable of sex anyway; her vagina was probably paralysed because so much skin was pulled back for her face lift.

Minimalist furniture was the order of the day. An odd, white, angular bookshelf sat in one corner; the low bed and equally low table were facing it in the opposite corner. There was a flat screen television mounted on the wall above a white, floating shelf. A rectangular pillar was in the centre of the room, two wooden boards jutting out on either side to provide seating. Jacob raised an eyebrow as he took in the all-white theme. Once again, he affirmed that rich people were into some weird shit. The bedroom itself was rather exposed, surrounded completely by glass walls without any blinds to offer privacy. It offered a perfect view of the backyard and the currently uninhabited beach and its wooden jetty.

“Are you people exhibitionists or something? Anyone can see in here,” Jacob winced when he realised he broke his vow to blank Pilot out.

“That’s the basis of the design. You get used to it,” Pilot replied calmly as he sat on one of the weird, wooden bench things provided by the pillar.

“Why are you sitting? Your job was to take me to my room. I’m here now. You can go,” Jacob pointed to the door which he hadn’t even noticed had been closed. Pilot must’ve done that while he was busy observing the room... Fucking sneaky prick he was.

“We aren’t done talking yet.”

“There’s nothing left to talk about. I already told you I’m not sleeping with Phoenix, what more do you want?”

“You said you blackmailed him.”

“I’m not about to tell you anything so you might as well leave.”

“Oh, I don’t wanna know what dirt you have on him. Trust me; I have enough of that as is. What I want to know is why he let himself be blackmailed by some punk. You must have something he wants.”

“You’re a real pervert, anyone ever tell you that? For the last time, Phoenix is not fucking me!”

“He’s only going to hurt you, you know. Both physically and emotionally, although I’m sure you’re aware of the former. Kinky little boy.”

“Fuck you. I’m gonna lie down. You can stay here and talk to yourself if you want,” Jacob started to walk away, but found his wrist trapped in a vicelike grip. He found himself drowning in the intensity of Pilot’s gaze.

“You’re going to get burnt if you keep playing with fire. Phoenix will never be more than what he is now; never has been. He destroys everything he touches. He enjoys playing with people.”

As much as Jacob hated to admit it, Pilot’s words were affecting him. He knew they were all too true. He didn’t want to hear them and he didn’t need to, because his conscience had been telling him all this from the start. But hearing them out loud from someone else was another thing completely. He could feel his stomach twisting with hopelessness and sadness. He had to fight to rein his emotions in; crying in front of Pilot was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Why don’t you tell all this to Felicity? She’s the one who needs to hear this.”

“She needs to see who he really is for herself. God, I warned her when they started dating. Although if I’m going to be honest, I just wanted her for myself back then, but my intentions were still good...”

Jacob’s eyebrows mad a formidable attempt at reaching his hairline. “You had feelings for Felicity? Did I get stuck on the set of Days of Our Lives or something? Where are the cameras?”

Pilot chuckled lightly. “It was a long time ago. I don’t know what I was thinking; she’s been head over heels for Phoenix since high school.”

“So is that why you won’t tell her what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“You want her to suffer for not picking you over your asshole of a brother.”

“I never outright told her how I felt. She knew where it was heading, though, and that’s when she put polite distance between us that exists up to this day.”

“You’re avoiding my question now.”

“I’m only human, Jacob. Vengefulness is a side effect of the Scofield bloodline.”

“May you fuckers never reproduce,” Jacob tried to free himself but Pilot wasn’t prepared to grant him freedom just yet. “Don’t tell me this conversation isn’t over...”

“I suppose it is. I’ve got my answer even though you’re not being honest.”

“Believe whatever you want. Can you let go of my wrist now?”

“Why should I? I’ve grown to like it; very dainty and pretty,” Pilot raised Jacob’s wrist pressed his lips to Jacob’s pulse, drawing a startled gasp from the boy.

“Dainty?! Ugh, never mind that, what the fuck are you doing?” Jacob’s eyes were bugging out his head.

“You said there’s nothing going on between you and Phoenix, so what do you have to be afraid of? I saw you checking me out earlier,” Pilot’s tongue trailed down his wrist to his palm and he couldn’t repress the shudder going down his back. He had no idea such a nonsexual area was capable of awakening such feelings.

“I have a boyfriend person,” that sounded slightly less stupid in his head.

“I bet,” Pilot finally released his wrist, only to yank him into his lap instead.

Jacob’s eyes widened comically when he felt a rather hard erection pressing into the cleft of his buttocks. Pilot’s grey eyes peered back at him with both amusement and self-satisfaction.

“This is rather sudden. We’ve just met—is that your hand on my ass?!”

“Just relax and go with it...”

“Did you learn all this at a sexual harassment seminar?”

“You want this; you’re not fighting it.”

And just like that, Pilot was kissing the life out of him in a room made of fucking glass. This was certainly not the best idea ever. Why was he kissing back? Damn his not-so-inner harlot. He always ended up in stupid situations like this, losing the ability and desire to say ‘no’. Was it so wrong to enjoy feeling wanted, even if it was for something like this? How was he even psychoanalysing himself with another man’s tongue down his throat? Amazing multitasking skills, if he may say so himself. Pilot kissed with a ferocity that was so reminiscent of Phoenix’s, domineering and sensual. But at the same time it was different, more gentle and capable of lulling him into a false sense of security...or lulling him into a state of oblivion, because no one was more surprised than him when his back hit the bed.

“This is going too far,” Jacob attempted to be the voice of reason.

Lips were moving against the crook of his neck, alternating between light kisses and sucking. Pilot was busy humping his thigh, for lack of a better term. He could feel the man’s cock through his pants as he rubbed against him. It was safe to say that Pilot was most likely going commando.

“Are you even listening to me?” Jacob scowled as one of Pilot’s hands drifted under his shirt in order to play with his left nipple. Distracting, but he would not be moved. “I said stop it!”

“I can feel how hard you are. Why fight this?”

“If that’s the kind of logic you function on, I’m sorry to say you’re probably going to end up in jail.”

“I’m only doing this because I know you want it,” and with that, Pilot returned to rubbing off on his thigh as he pinched his nipple and kissed his neck.

“That’s a really persuasive argument...” Jacob rolled his eyes. “The others are going to notice you’ve been gone for so long.”

Speak of the devil. Someone was knocking at the door.

“Who is it?” Pilot called out.

“Open the fucking door,” Phoenix growled from the other side.

“You locked the door?!” Jacob whispered harshly. Son of a fucking whore. He was screwed. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it, he was fucking screwed.

“You’re really going to hate me right now,” Pilot said, and then he sank his teeth into the junction between neck and shoulder. That was going to leave quite the mark.

To say Jacob was livid was an understatement. He was so fucking upset that he couldn’t even form a sentence as Pilot slithered off him.

“What’s wrong? Afraid Phoenix is going to see my little love bite?” Pilot’s grin was positively devious. “Then again, that shouldn’t matter seeing as how you two have a nice, normal, platonic relationship it’s not like he’ll see you without your shirt covering that.”

Jacob got to his feet as Pilot swung the door open. Phoenix barged in like he owned the place, glaring at Pilot as if he were the most disgusting thing on the planet.

“You don’t have to be so rude,” Pilot chastised his brother tauntingly.

The scowl on Phoenix’s lips would make a sunflower wither. “Goodbye, Pilot. I can take it from here.”

“Phoenix, we used to be so close. Don’t tell me you don’t miss that! We used to share everything!” it was painfully obvious that Pilot was trying to rile Phoenix up. Jacob desperately wished he was anywhere but here. He heard Hell was nice this time of year...

Phoenix refused to take the bait. He just sighed in that ‘I pity you’ way.

“I know when I’m not wanted,” Pilot raised his hands in mock surrender. “By the way, that’s a nice fuck toy you’ve got there. Send him my way when you get bored with him. Maybe we can share him, just like old times!”

Pilot flashed a cheeky grin as he slammed the door behind him, leaving Phoenix and Jacob alone, well, unless one counted potential peeping toms down on the beach.

“What was that all about?” Phoenix frowned.

“I didn’t know you were cheating on Felicity before you guys were married,” Jacob found himself saying.

“So Pilot gave you my life story? Warned you about me, too, didn’t he?” Phoenix stalked over to him like a panther.

“He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re on his side now?”

“I don’t want to talk to you when you’re like this.”

“When I’m like what?”

“Is there something you wanted? I need to lie down for a little while...”

Phoenix grabbed Jacob’s arm and pulled him close. “Actually, there is something I want.”

Jacob gulped noisily. “And what would that be?”

“See this?” Phoenix tugged on the chainsaw necklace, the force used breaking the links and successfully ripping it off Jacob’s neck. He dangled the broken piece of jewellery in front of the teenager’s shocked face. “I don’t want to see you wearing this again. It’s a mockery of my ownership and I will not tolerate that kind of disrespect from you.”
He carelessly tossed the necklace aside where it skidded on the hardwood floor and came to a halt beneath the table.

“Is that all you wanted?” Jacob tried his best to sound neutral, but the truth was that he was elated, afraid, and pissed off all at the same time. Elated because he got a sick thrill whenever Phoenix displayed possessive tendencies; it made him feel special, afraid because when Phoenix was in one of these moods he was downright frightening and insanely unpredictable, and of course pissed off because he happened to like that necklace and he knew Russell would be hurt if it suddenly disappeared.

The lawyer opened his mouth to say something, but then he closed it abruptly. The slightly oversized neck of Jacob’s T-shirt revealed a reddish discolouration that he didn’t remember seeing before. Wordlessly he tugged the shirt out of the way, ignoring Jacob’s startled outburst. He was greeted by what was clearly a hickey, an extremely recent one that couldn’t possibly have been put there by him. For fuck’s sake, he could even see the final traces of saliva glistening on the pale column of the boy’s neck. His hold on Jacob’s arm tightened, and the pained grimace the pressure produced was satisfying, if only by a negligible amount.

“So that’s why the door was locked…?” he sounded calm, too calm.

“It’s not like that. He just did it to piss you off. He knows we’re having sex,” Jacob said quietly.

“He just did it to piss me off?” Phoenix laughed wryly. “And I guess he would’ve fucked you to piss me off, too, if I hadn’t interrupted. Like the shameless whore you are, you just went along with it, right? Doesn’t matter that this room isn’t even the least bit hidden, does it?”

“Nothing happened! What are you getting so upset about?” Jacob spat. He was allowed to be angry, wasn’t he? Phoenix did whatever the fuck he wanted and that was fine, but he was ready to tear Jacob’s throat out because Pilot took advantage of him? No, that wasn’t going to sit well with him this time.

“You know what? I can’t deal with you right now,” Phoenix pivoted and started for the door.

Desperately, Jacob grabbed for his hand, not knowing why he had the compulsion to do that. “What’s your fucking problem?”

“Jacob, just let me go. If I stay near you any longer, I am seriously going to throw your ass through one of these glass walls, and there are too many witnesses for that.”

Not bothering to comment, Jacob released his death grip on the barrister’s hand and watched him leave. The loud slam of the door seemed to rebound in his chest. Even though he and Phoenix fought like cats and dogs all the time, that fight felt different, not in a good way either. Getting hit didn’t hurt nearly as much as Phoenix turning his back on him did. The sheer disgust and loathing in Phoenix’s eyes was enough to make him want to dig a hole in the floor and bury himself there so he could rot in his depression for all eternity. As you could see, it was pretty bad if he was spewing poetic words over it. Russell’s necklace glinted in the sunlight, garnering his attention as if it feared it would be forgotten. Sluggishly he went to retrieve it, slipping it into his pocket for safe keeping. He had other necklaces to attach the pendant to knocking around at home, so all hope wasn’t lost there.

He sank into the irritatingly low futon, and peered out at the beach where he could make out a couple was walking their dog, holding hands and whispering to each other. Why couldn’t he be happy like that? It wasn’t fair. He closed his eyes, but it couldn’t block out everything; the bright sunlight poured in like crazy. He wouldn’t be surprised if he got a tan/sunburn just by being here. He sighed heavily and buried his face into the white pillow, not at all surprised that he could feel it dampening with tears. His phone chose that moment to vibrate in his pocket. Blindly, he fished it out and released yet another sigh when he saw Russell was calling him.

He pressed ignore, turned the phone off, and tried to sleep. He’d feel better when he woke up.


==

Later that night, Felicity woke him up and told him to get dressed because the anniversary party had started. He had no idea how big the party was going to be, but he sure as hell didn’t expect all the people he found downstairs. There were even caterers walking around with drinks and finger food. He wondered if Phoenix fucked any of them yet. A table had been set out on the deck, complete with prawns, caviar, punch, and all sorts of other shit Jacob had never seen before. Phoenix’s parents were in the middle of the affair, telling witty jokes and being generally rich and irritating as they accepted expensive gifts they didn’t need from friends and business partners. Vanessa donned a formfitting, sequined dress which Jacob overheard her saying was from Paris to another vain, old bint. He was pretty sure that unlike Jupiter, Vanessa had breast implants. The damn things looked about twenty years younger than the rest of her! Jupiter had her own small army of male suitors fussing around her as she nursed a glass of brandy with a coy smile. Felicity stuck to Phoenix’s side as he schmoozed through the crowd, playing the role of pretty, supportive trophy wife down to a T.

Phoenix still refused to grace him with even a glance. He took another swig of his champagne. No one seemed to care about his drinking, so why not get trashed and have a good night? There was no one there his age, save for the annoying blonde bitch he got stuck with. Her father was the head architect at James’ construction company. Her name was Georgia, she was eighteen, freakishly tanned, and wearing more makeup than a circus clown. She stuck to him like glue, trying her best to flirt all night. When she realised it wasn’t getting her anywhere, she still kept following him around, talking about what university she wanted to go to, the Britney Spears concert she attended, the pink sweater she bought for her Chihuahua, Steffie… She wouldn’t shut up.

Then her blue eyes landed on Pilot, and the blabbering only got worse. She proclaimed that she wanted to ‘take a ride on his disco stick’ and then giggled. Jacob called her a fucking idiot. She informed him that it was a line from hot new song. Jacob called her a fucking idiot. She finally built up the courage to talk to him after snapping a photo of Pilot with her cell phone and sending it to her friends to ask if she should try to ‘tap that’. Her most likely equally foolish friends said she should, and so she flounced over to Pilot, swinging her hips like she had a health condition. He was mildly surprised when Pilot led Georgia somewhere more private, i.e. upstairs to the bedrooms. Pffft. Pilot must’ve fucked everything that moved, too, if he was anything like his brother. He was still angry at the man; he hoped Georgia gave him herpes.

After growing tired of the ‘festivities’, he wandered onto the beach with a bottle of Malibu rum he nicked from wine cooler in the kitchen. Suffice to say, being drunk on a beach was not one of his brighter ideas. He stumbled up on a bunch of college kids holding a bonfire and singing folk songs around the flames. For some reason, they welcomed him with open arms. He didn’t know their names, they didn’t know his, but they decided to skinny dip to show white, Christian America that they didn’t give a fuck about their capitalist ways. And that’s how he ended up running back to the beach house in only his shirt, which was luckily long enough to cover his genitals, because the cops showed up.

He hid out under the deck, hoping no one would find him and ask where the hell his pants were. Unfortunately, Georgia found him again. This time she was crying because Pilot came on her face and told her to get out and she felt like ‘such a whore’. And then she asked him where his pants were. He told her to fuck off. Then she asked for some of the rum he forgot he was holding. It was funny how he forgot his pants and underwear, but not his alcohol. He gave her the rum and hoped it’d keep her quiet for however long they were stuck there. This certainly was not the best night he ever had.

Sunday passed pretty quickly. After having lunch with Phoenix’s family, they left for home, but not before Vanessa could give Phoenix some wealthy spinster’s number. Whatever; Jacob was just happy to leave that glass hell hole. Pilot slipped him his cell phone number with a suggestive smirk. He hated himself for not ripping it to shreds in the bastard’s face, as opposed to putting it in his pocket. Phoenix still wasn’t acknowledging his presence, though. He spent the car ride sleeping off his hangover, trying his best to block out Felicity complaining about how Phoenix never defended her when his mother took jabs at her. Phoenix gave some half-assed reply, and Felicity got even more upset. It was the first time Jacob had ever seen Felicity so angry.

Things didn’t get much better afterwards. Phoenix was being even more of a douche bag than usual. He left early for work, and came home whenever he felt like. He didn’t speak to his wife unnecessarily, and he just acted like Jacob didn’t exist. Hell, he’d even stopped taking him to school, and seeing as how Felicity was always working odd shifts at the hospital, most of the time Russell or Trent would play chauffer. They were definitely going through a rough patch. He had no idea what was making Phoenix act this way. He’d even gone as far as trying to make conversation with the lawyer, only receiving a glare for his efforts. Pilot’s warning played over and over in his head, proving itself to be more true with each passing day.


==

The Munez Feed:
What the hell happened to the update schedule? I don’t know, either. I was sick last week; ear infection and frequent migraines. But I’m better now. So maybe there will be smooth sailing from now on? Thank you for so many reviews, I’m overwhelmed. You guys make me smile. And in return, I write a shitty, dramatic chapter. You’re welcome.

Munez