Biggest Family Secrets

Marnie “What am I going to do with you Marn!? This is the third time you’ve come home off your face, stumbling through the door at 5 in the morning with not a care in the world this week! You’re 20 years old, you have no job, no prospects, no qualifications and no interest in the family business. What do you have to say for yourself!?” Wow he was angry this time. That little blue vein in the side of his head was bulging, it's quite funny to watch. “Can you stop shouting? My head hurts and I have the hangover from hell. I know you're angry Al, but you never gave Marco this hard a time when he was my age. Hell, you don’t give him this hard a time now and he’s ten times worse than me!” I feel like there is a little marching band in my head growing with every syllable that comes out of that man's mouth. “Would you please call me dad, show me at least a little bit of respect. And the reason I'm easy on Marco is because one, he’s not my little girl and two, it's not illegal for him to go out and drink.” “Oh, because you’re such a law-abiding citizen? don’t make me laugh!” He can’t be serious, if he wants another blow up, he is going to get one, I can feel my blood starting to run hot. “You think you can throw the daddies little girl thing at me, but truth be told daddy, I haven't been that little girl for the last 8 years. Now Al I have monster hangover, all I want is to curl up in my bed, watch some shitty Netflix show and forget all about last night. However, if you want to keep this argument going, I am more than happy to keep it going because you can’t just expect me to listen to you when you’ve been absent for the last 8 years!” I’ve had it this time. He can’t tell me what to do, I’m a grown woman and I can do what I want. “Marnie... just go to bed, I am not arguing with you about this, but we will speak about it once you’re sober. I have something big I need to talk to you about.” I can tell he’s stressed; he’s always stressed these days and to be totally honest I am really not feeling like arguing today, maybe it’s because I can tell he’s tired, maybe it’s the 15 shots of tequila still running threw my body or maybe I just can’t be bothered with the hassle it's going to cause to keep this argument going. I didn’t even say anything to him, I turned on my heels and headed straight back to my bed. Not because he told me to, not because he scared me because if there’s one thing he doesn’t do, it’s that. It’s because at this moment in time I feel like my head is about to explode and my brain, in all its mushy glory will come pouring out. My pillows are like massive marshmallows and my duvet is so warm and my room is so dark. Maybe I should just shut my eyes for a few minutes. Maybe it will be the only way I feel better. “Marnie get up.” who is shaking me “Marnie! Get out of bed!” Wow, what's going on. I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes. “Why are you in bed?” who is that. God my head hurts. “I’m up!” I swatted the person away from me. “What do you... Marco?” what does he want. God I am too hungover for this. “What do you want?” I really can't be bothered with this s**t. “I need some help. I need you to go buy me a... have you been drinking? You stink!” God, I wish this was a dream, I really can't be bothered with this. “Yes, and I’m very hungover, what do you want? Make it quick please.” “I thought you told Uncle Vinny you were going to stop drinking? You know how much you’re stressing dad out right?” “How do you even know what me and Vin talk about? Marco, you haven't spoken to me in about a week and before that it was to shout at me for driving my own car because I was alone. What the hell are you doing in my room and what do you want? If it's to lecture me about my own decisions, can you shut the door on the way out because I really don’t care.” “Do you have to be a little b***h 24/7? It was to see if you would go get me the morning after pill? I have a girl over from last night and she wanted me to go get it for her, but I went, and I tried, and they wouldn’t sell me it.” I swear he’s a pig. “So, you want me to go to the pharmacy and get you a morning after pill because your f**k buddy is too embarrassed to?” I am really hearing this? Is he really asking me this? “Why should I? What's in it for me?” I am not getting out of this bed without getting something in return. “I'll stop at taco bell, or McDonalds or chick-fil-a. Anything you want; I just need this girl out and she's not leaving unless she gets the pill.” Wow he must be desperate. Hes going to force himself to spend time with me because of this. “Fine but you’re paying. Now leave so I can go for a shower since I stink so bad.” Is he smiling? Smiling? “Thanks, Marn, I'll pull the car round don’t be too long.” Hes actually smiling at me, I’ve not seen him smile in so long. I really do stink. God, I need a shower. I turned on the shower and while that’s heating up, I brush the taste of tequila and regret out of my mouth. I run to the car with my hair still dripping wet, my curls beginning to form around my hair line. I don’t wear my hair curly often anymore, I didn’t even think it could still curl with how often I straighten it. I open the door to Marcos's brand new glossy black Jeep to be met with a flicker of bright blonde cheap extensions, of course she's a blonde, to say my brother has a ‘type’ would be an understatement. Every one of his exes or hook-ups look the same, blondey, boobie, leggy girly girls usually with a generic white b***h name like Britney or Sarah. “Oh ... I guess I'll take the back.” I say a little disappointed that it's not just me and Marco, we used to be so close, and he only speaks to me if he wants something. “So much for won’t leave” I mutter closing the door, making sure I am loud enough for them both to hear me. The drive to the pharmacy was a long and quite one, filled with uncomfortable glances from Marcos's bimbo and scowls in the mirror from Marco himself. Trying to ignore them both I pull out my phone to mindlessly scroll through the endless posts from people I don’t know or don’t like. We pull up outside and Marco hands me his wallet. “Just the pill Marn” he growled at me “Don't go spending what's not yours.” He didn’t even bother turning around, he looked at me threw the mirror wow he looks like dad when he’s pissed. I roll my eyes and take his wallet and leave the car without a word. Around 10 feet from the car I hear a faint but stern “Marnie-Grace, I mean it!” That one took me by surprise, no one calls me by my full name anymore, well except Uncle Vin but hes basically my only male role-model so he is aloud. Once inside I b-line to the pharmacy the sooner this trip is over the better. As I approach the counter, I pull Marco’s wallet from my pocket, inside is a wad of $20 and $100 bills at least $1000 worth. “Can I speak to a pharmacist?” I ask the teenager on the till. She looks me up and down twirling her hair “um sure” and with a pop of her gum she disappears behind a door, a few moments later a man probably the same age as Al appears, he is a lot more handsome than my father, the only thing giving his age away is the sea of grey and white waves on top of his head. “How can I help?” His voice was kind and soft, not what I expected at all. “Um can I have the morning after pill please?” I say sheepishly, this is harder than I thought, it's not something I have had to do before. “Sure thing, can I get you to just fill out a small form first?” I nod in response as he produces a sheet of paper with no more than 5 questions “Just take a seat over there, fill this out and hand it back when you’re done” he smiles, and I slink off to the seating area and begin to fill out the questionnaire for the pill that isn't even for me. How do I answer these questions? Question 1: When did you last have intercourse? Well, that is an easy one, they banged last night, surly that’s why it's called the morning after pill. Question 2: Are you on any contraception at the minute? Um I am assuming not if she needs the morning after pill so let's put no Question 3: Does your insurance provider cover emergency contraception? Well considering the fact my brother is paying for it I think it's easy to assume not. Question 4: Do you give us permission to contact your insurance and or family doctor if required? Definitely not because this is not for me so I can't have them contact anyone. Name: Marnie-Grace Russo DOB: 7/24/2003 Address: 273 Jackford Street, Boston Well, that was way to uncomfortable and personal. I walk to the counter and return the form to the pharmacist. He checks the form and enters some details into his computer. “Okay Miss Russo here you go that will be $45” I hand him the money and take the pill from the counter muttering thank you under my breath. On my way out I decide to grab some chips and twizzlers. I know he said not to but he can't stop me, he’s not here. I throw the wallet and pill box in the window towards my brother and jump in the back. “i told you not to spend what's not yours” I roll my eyes ready for the lecture in front of his new friend but instead he sighs “Thank you for going in for us, it means a lot Marn.” I look at him shocked in the mirror. “Yeah thanks” the girl in the passenger seat mumbles sheepishly. “Yeah, no problem, so taco bell?” I smile taking a bite of my twizzler. Marco decided to drop his ‘friend’, who's name happened to be Yvonne, home before we got food. I could tell he wasn’t that interested in her; she was more into him, and it showed. Marco was never a man of much emotion but when Yvonne leaned in to kiss him, he turned away, so she got cheek. Ouch, rejected. After she left the car, I hopped over the seat into the passenger side. “HEY! Watch the leather don’t get your filthy shoes on the interior.” Marco laughed, he really did love his cars, I didn’t get it, but he made sure dad bought me a nice car every few years and made sure everything was up to date and in running order. He would have made a fantastic mechanic if he had gone to a technical school like mom wanted but hey, he said it wasn’t for him. “I really am grateful Marnie; I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important.” “I know, but why was it so important, who even is she? You’ve never regretted them THAT much that you had to get me involved.” “She’s no one, it doesn’t matter” he murmured “Just leave it” “I think I should get to know who I am buying pills for don’t you? It can’t be that bad. Just tell me, its not like I will tell anyone.” He sighed and stared at me “You promise, dad can’t know” I nodded in agreement holding my pinkie up “okay, well... she is Henry Collins daughter” why does that name seem so familiar, I have heard that name before. I wrack my brain for a few minutes and then it hits me “Henry Collins as in dads biggest rival? Collins as in the guy who shot dad 20 years ago? Collins who got...” “Yes... that Collins. Please don’t tell dad. I am begging you; he will kill me and not just figuratively. He will literally kill me.” It's hard to see him beg like this but I am so mad at him. I turn with tears filling my eyes and settle into my seat. “Can you just take me home? I can’t even look at you right now” And with that we drove home in silence. No music no chatting, complete silence, how do I not tell Al this. He will be livid.