Unwrapping The Throne

CHAPTER NINETEEN

'Who wakes who up for school on their own birthday Amber, thats just plain rubbish, like why do you have to wake me up that early' complained Dylan while driving them to college, laughing at his predicament, 'You're such a baby bro, it's my birthday too and you don't see me being sad about school' replied Amber, 'Okay, I'll drop you off and head back home then, I need my beauty sleep' added Dylan.

'No, you'll suck it up and attend your classes like a good champ, got it?' said Amber.

'I don't know why you're acting so mature today though, you sleep good?' mocked her brother and with a roll of her amber eyes, she popped some music on the radio and sang out loud to further annoy her brother who turned the radio off before she proceeded with her plan.

'Whoever added this crappy sandwich to the menu is full of s**t' complained Dylan for the nth in the cafeteria time that day, 'Dylan, no one asked you to order that, you know what just have my food instead' said his sister.

Swallowing her whole meal in five minutes, she shaked her head at him but this was cut shut by a hand covering her face from behind. Inhaling the woody and misty cologne, she breathed a sigh of relief realizing it was Javice's hand on her face.

'Happy birthday to you Amber!' said Javice with a quick kiss on her forehead. Coughing out loud to himself, Javice laughed a little while pulling out a package from behind, handing it over to Dylan, he muttered a happy birthday.

'How did you get me this, you must be packed with some dirty cash or something' Dylan asked him excitedly, 'well, it's just a watch and it didn't cost that much too' said Javice dismissively. Looking over to his hand for several minutes upon realizing Javice bought her brother a birthday gift, as if sensing her question, 'I didn't bring your gift to school baby girl' said Javice and in an attempt to cover up her embarrassment, 'I didn't expect nothing from you either since I didn't even inform you of my birthday' said Amber, with a small frown, kissing her on the head again, Javice pulled out a seat beside her and just muttered an okay while eating out of his food plate, feeding her some fries not noticing the blush that was on her face, 'y'all make me sick' said Dylan who was still overexcited about his new Rolex watch, 'shut up i***t' replied his sister.

'Dylan, I'm sorry it isn't a play station like you wanted' said Javice 'it's fine bro, I wasn't even expecting nothing like this, this is just as expensive, I appreciate it' thanked Dylan. With a sigh, Amber rose for her next class.

'So, is there a party or something for you guys tonight or what?' asked Javice, 'well, mum said something of such but because Amber wasn't cool with it, were having a family dinner' said Dylan 'but, you can come, I'm sure our parents won't mind plus my girlfriend is coming too', 'okay, but I'm not her boyfriend though' said Javice and while snickering to himself and smirking like he knows something Javice doesn't, Amber muttered a 'not yet' to herself which was unheard by the two boys.

'Are you cool with me coming over?' asked Javice after school, 'yes Javice, you already asked me before, it's still a yes' said Amber, 'I have to go now, its by 6, don't be late' and with that she left with Dylan who all through the ride back home raved about his new watch.

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'Honey, get the door for me please' said Valentina, Amber's mom from the kitchen, with an okay from her husband Francis, the door was open and Javice was let in. 'Evening sir' greeted Javice but with a shake of his head, 'call me Francis on, you'll be dating my daughter very soon anyway' said Francis while leading him to his study.

'Honey, who is at the door asked' Valnetina who was in the living room now and upon seeing Javice, she brought him into a hug and seeing his uncomfortable reaction, Francis came to his aid and dragged him out his wife's embrace, 'I need to have a chat with Javice here, we'll be in my study' said Francis and with this new information, Javice said his greetings to Valentina and left the room with her husband. What they didn't know was that minutes after, she tiptoed down to his study to listen in on their conversation having noticed herself how put off Javice was about the embrace, she thought how messed up is his life really, and which bastards are responsible for his brokenness

'You can have your sit Javice' said Francis and with a okay, Francis brought out a photo album of him in his teenage years, passing it on to Javice, he said 'everyone has their secrets son, I know you have a lot that you're scared to share and I also know you're fighting too much a battle for your shoulder, let me help you Jave, let me in on who you really are' with this, Javice rubbed a nervous hand on his face and took a deep breath but said nothing. Noticing his reluctance, Francis added 'when I was 12, I started doing drugs, not because my parents were bad or anything but because of peer pressure and by the age of 16,all I cared about was quick f***s and my weed or cocaine, by 19, I overdosed on cocaine but I luckily survived and that was when I met my wife, her mother was my doctor and she so happened to be around on my discharge day, ran into her and ever since with her support and much of therapy sessions, I am a better person today Jave, I'm not telling you this to compare my past to yours, now, my daughter is really fragile and though she doesn't judge anybody for their past actions, she might not be able to help you when you finally open up to her. If it's a legal issue I promise to help but having being a youth with a lot of weight on my shoulders before, I recognize another when I see them and I want to help you son' seeing the look of pure acceptance and admiration on Francis face gave Javice some assurance he wouldn't be judged for his past if he opened up to Francis but not knowing where to start, he stood up and began pacing round the room.

'Take your time son but I'll always be here for you when you decide to open up' with a resignation from Francis who was about to head out the door, an 'I'm suing my parents for child abuse' made him halt in his steps and emanated a gasp for Valentina who opened the study door out of anger and sympathy for Javice. Seeing his wife's angry face, Francis and Javice kept mute and waited for her to leave but with a tear rolling down her eye, she moved closer to Javice and patted his now stiff back, 'you can talk to us' she said.

'Where's mom and dad Dylan?' asked Amber, with a shrug from her brother, she looked out the living room window and noticed Javice's car.

'Javice's car is here, and he isn't, you know where he is bro?' asked Amber again and with this new realization, Dylan's mouth muttered an 'what if those lawyer parents of ours are busy interrogating him?' digesting the possibility of this, they both ran up the stairs, Amber because she didn't want her father forcing Javice's past out of him and Dylan because he didn't want Javice, who was like a brother to him now being in an uncomfortable situation with his parents. What surprised them however was the total silence from their fathers study.

Looking at each other for answers, Amber thinking the worst has happened to Javice opened the study door, met his father looking rather angry, the mother tearful and Javice looking quite unstable and lost in the past.

Moving swiftly to Javice's side, she held his hand and looked at him for answers she didn't get. With the whole of the Crooks family now in the study in silence, Javice felt his hand being held and sure of the peace and assurance he got from this hold, he was sure the hand belongs to Amber, biting his tongue because he didn't want her to find out about his past this way, he remained unspeaking.

'Is everything okay here?' asked Amber after several minutes of silence, 'yes, is everything okay, you guys weren't making Jave feel uncomfortable now were you?' continued Dylan. With another tear rolling down Valentina's eyes, Ambers confusion heightened and so did her father's anger who drew his wife closer to him to console her. 'No, Javice was about to tell us something, that's all darling' said her father.

Now waiting on Javice to say something, Amber started rubbing his hand in order to create some assurance for him and after much deliberation, 'you don't have to say anything baby' said Amber, with this nickname out of her mouth, Javice remembered how Alvin had always told him, 'when you find a woman who loves you, she will give you time to open up what's left of you is to minimize this time, don't keep her waiting and guessing for so long.'

Progressively progressing.

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