Not Him...Please
Chapter 7
By: Punk Lover
Marshall slowly closed the door so his mom and Joel didn’t know he was listening. He sat on his bed and started thinking why his mom wouldn’t tell him that Joel might be his dad instead of Cody. He was getting angrier at the thought that his mom didn’t tell him everything like they were supposed to. He sat in his room just thinking about the situation. He thought about the fact that Cody was never around and Joel was. Being a young little guy he got really upset at Candy because he thought that she was just throwing excuses at Joel to be the father instead of Cody because Cody was never there and Candy wanted Marshall to have a father.
“Ok so…when should we being doing this DNA test? Soon?”
“Well as soon as possible because I just want to find out so then I can sort out my life.”
Joel just nodded his head. He couldn’t believe what was happening. He didn’t know how he was going to react if Marshall was his son…or if he wasn’t. He didn’t know if he could be a good father since his left him alone in the first place. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen between him and Candy. Where they going to get back together? Or were they just going to leave it at this? All these questions burned Joel’s mind and he started getting kind off scared of it all. Eventually he left Candy and Marshall to go back to his hotel room with the guys. Candy wanted to offer her place for the night but thought that it would be way to awkward for them so she just let him go.
Candy sat at the kitchen table trying to sort things out. She wanted it done soon so she was figuring out a date in which Candy, Cody, and Joel would be available. Thinking it was way to late to think about such a big issue she decided to check on Marshall and tuck him in for the night then go to bed herself. She went to the bathroom first to wash her face and put her pajamas on. She then walked into Marshall’s room to say good night. The lights were off and it was quiet so she thought he was sleeping. She walked over to the bed to kiss him good night…but there was nothing there. Candy panicked a bit and turned on the lights. She looked in the bed again and Marshall still wasn’t there. She looked all over the room, in the closet, and under the bed but he was nowhere to be seen. Candy then ran all around the house called out Marshall’s name and looking in every little place that Marshall could fit in.
“Marshall!? Marshall!? Where are you honey”
Candy started crying because she just had no clue where he was. She decided to call Cody and Joel to ask them if they saw him walk out with them or if they saw him walking down the street or something. When she talked to them and they had no clue where he was she begged them to come over and help her find him. She then called the police. The guys showed up at the same time ready to help Candy. A few minutes later the police showed up and asked questions about what he looked like, his age, etc. The police then left to look for him. Candy broke down crying feeling helpless to find he boy. About 3 hours of passing around the house and tear falling down the phone rang. Candy ran to it and picked it up with fear in her voice.
“Hel-hello? What? He is? Oh thank God. Thank you so much I’ll be there in 10 minutes. Ok bye bye.”
“Well, where is he?” Cody asked eyes wide open.
“That was Benji he went was going out for a walk when he saw Marshall down the street. He brought him to the hotel then called me.”
“He was near our hotel. That’s an hour and a half walk from here!”
“Ya well, he’s Okay so that’s all I want. Come on guys.”
“I’ll stay here for when you come back.” Cody said while sitting on the couch.
“But we might not be back for a while because I want to know why he left and we just need to sort things out.” Candy said grabbing her keys and a coat, Joel doing the same.
“That’s OK I just want to be here when you guys get back so I can see him.” Cody then switched on the TV and started channel surfing.
Candy didn’t say anything she put on her shoes and was out of there running down the stairs with Joel close behind. They drove there and ran up through the lobby and into the elevator where they waited impatiently to get to the 5th floor. They hadn’t said a word since they left which wasn’t a big deal to them they just wanted to see Marshall. They finally got to the 5th floor and into the room in which Benji and Paul were sharing and ran inside looking around like crazy.
“Where is he?!”
“Shhhh. He’s sleeping in my bed. I brought him here but as soon as he watched 5 minutes of TV he fell asleep so I put him under my covers. He looks fine I didn’t find any scratches or bruises or anything that might look suspicious.”
“Thank you so much Benji.” Candy ran towards the bed in which she saw Marshall’s head sticking out a little. Candy decided that she should just leave Marshall here because she was afraid that as soon as she brought him home he would try to get away again and she really wanted to talk to him one on one. She called up Cody at her place and told him her plan. He wasn’t that happy but he said that he’ll stay at her place that night so that when she decided to bring Marshall home he’d be there. Candy agreed and said to help himself to the food and drinks. Candy left Marshall in Paul and Benji’s room and went to sleep in Billy and Joel’s room. She thought it might be a little awkward but since Billy was there it might be a bit better. Candy walked into the room and fell onto a random bed and fell straight asleep.
The next morning Candy woke up under the covers and by herself in her bed. She turned to her left and there was Joel and Billy sharing a double bed. She let out a little giggle at how cute they looked sleeping together. She got up and went to take a quick shower. Then she came out to see the guys were still sleeping. She walked out of the room and into the hotel hallway next door to see if the other two and Marshall were awake. She knocked lightly on the door and a few seconds later Paul answered. He let her in and pointed at the bed in which Marshall was still sleeping in. He was sleeping in the same bed as Benji and Benji was holding Marshall, which looked like he just didn’t want him to run away again.
“I’ve been awake since 6:30 watching TV. Knowing Benji he wont get up for another million hours so just incase Marshall woke up I was here to keep him company.”
“Thanks Paul.” Candy sat on a chair a few feet away from Marshall and Benji and watched how cute they were. Paul went straight to bed and falling asleep right away. A few minutes later, like it was on queue, Marshall woke up and looked directly at Candy. Marshall sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” He asked Candy in a voice that had no emotion at all.
“Well when you disappeared I looked for you and then Benji called me and said you were here. What were you thinking she leaving like that? Something horrible could’ve happened to you, you know that. You could’ve been kidnapped or killed or something! I can’t believe you would just leave me. Your seven years old and you walked so far away just to end up here. I can’t believe you!”
“Well I’m not the one who can’t figure out who her son’s real father is!”
Candy opened her mouth but closed it just staring at Marshall and repeating the last comment he said over and ever again. How did he know that she didn’t know who his father was?
“How do you know that?”
“I heard you and Joel talking last night. When he came in he looked really sad so when I went to my room I left a bit of the door open so I can hear what was wrong but then after he told you everything you told him that Cody might not be my dad. After all that Joel said you shoved that right into his face. Like he didn’t have enough problems already.”
“Wait, your blaming me for everything?”
“Well you’re the one who can’t figure your own life out.” Candy’s eyes started to water. She couldn’t believe that her 7-year-old son was saying these things right to her face.
Benji woke up as soon as they started talking but didn’t want to say anything. He listened to the whole conversation and was shocked to hear that Joel could be his father. Paul on the other hand was sound asleep and didn’t know what was happening. Candy left the room and went back to Billy and Joel’s room. She went into the bathroom and started softly crying so not to wake up the boys.
Benji then sat up and looked at Marshall. He could see all the anger in Marshall’s eyes and also all the sadness probably regretting what he had said to Candy.
“You can’t blame your mom for everything. She’s trying her best to fix her life and also give you a really good one. She can only do so much at a time.” Marshall didn’t say anything he just turned on the TV. Benji didn’t push him any farther so he just got up and toke a shower.
Call me out, you stayed inside
One you love, is where you’ll hide Shot me down, as I flew by
Crash and burn, I think sometimes You forget where the heart is
Answer no to these questions
Let her go, learn a lesson It’s not me, you’re not listening now
Can’t you see, something’s missing You forget where the heart is
Take you away, from that empty apartment
You’d stay and forget where the heart is
Someday, if ever you love me you’d say it’s ok
Waking up from this nightmare How’s your life? What’s it like there?
Is it all that you want it to be? Does it hurt when you think about me?
And how broken my heart is
Take you away, from that empty apartment You’d stay and forget where the heart is
Someday, if ever you love me you’d say it’s ok It’s ok to be angry and never let go
It only gets harder the more that you know When you get lonely and no ones around
You know that I’ll catch you when you’re falling down
We came together but you left alone And I know how it feels to walk out on your own
Maybe someday I will see you again
And you’ll look me in my eyes and call me your friend
(Yellowcard “Empty Apartment”)