Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland 2)

“You’re un-fucking-believable… Mum,” Brandon said, folding his arms over his chest and doing a really good job of keeping himself in check.

“You’re a fucking disgrace,” Liv spat at her.

“You need to leave.” Emily went to move forward, but Ryan held her back.

“Fuck off, Pam. Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage for tonight?” Ryan said, snaking his arm around Emily protectively.

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want,” Brandon’s mother sneered, but she wasn’t smirking for long. Liv lurched forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her off the table.

“You’re upsetting my friends. Grow up, bitch, and get a fucking life.”

Brandon’s mother just swayed on her feet and cackled at the way Liv was manhandling her.

“Worst thing I ever did was have him. I should’ve aborted him when his dad gave me the money for it. I could’ve done us all a favour.”

The next thing I knew, I was standing in front of her and my hand connected with her face. She reeled backwards and covered her cheek, scowling over at me.

“What was that for?”

For being the biggest piece of shit as a human and a mother.

For destroying your son’s life.

For ever showing your face in Sandland.

For still breathing.

I didn’t get a chance to say my piece though. The girls, Ryan, Brandon, Zak, and Finn stood in front of me like they were my protection, and a doorman marched over, ready to read us all the riot act.

“Okay, Pam. Party’s over. Come on. I’ve got a taxi waiting out the back for you,” the doorman said, giving Brandon a sympathetic look.

“Why the back? You’re such a spoil sport,” Brandon’s mother slurred. Her eyes were glazing over, and I felt sure she’d probably already forgotten the scene she’d just created, she was that drunk.

“’Cos I don’t want you putting off any more of our customers.” The doorman sighed, and as he started to lead her off, she stumbled into him and he caught her as she almost fell to the floor.

“You could take me back to yours,” she said, grinning up at him as he held her up by his side. “I could do that thing you like with my tongue.”

He just turned to look at Brandon and said, “I’m so sorry, man.” Then, without waiting for a reply, he carted her off and left us all to deal with the aftermath of what’d happened.

Brandon didn’t stick around for long. His mother wasn’t even halfway across the room when he said, “Fuck this shit.” And stormed off out of the bar. The rest of us stood there stunned into silence. No one knew what to say or do for the best.

“I should go after him,” Finn piped up, and Ryan went to go with him, but I shocked even myself when I jumped in front of them.

“No. I’ll go,” I said, leaving the rest of the group gawping at me, speechless.

I darted to the exit, and when I got outside, I looked left and right, but I couldn’t see him.

“I think he went that way,” one of the doormen said, pointing down the road.

I thanked him and started to walk the way he’d suggested, but I couldn’t see Brandon anywhere and it made me feel anxious to think of him out here alone with his demons.

I stopped next to an alleyway to gather my bearings, and when I peered down into the darkness, I saw him, leaning against the wall with his head hung low. He looked lost and broken, and it made my heart hurt to see him like that.

I stalked towards him like I was approaching a wounded animal. I didn’t know what frame of mind he was in and I felt like I needed to be cautious. When he heard my footsteps, he looked up and the way he sighed so deeply made me want to reach out to him and make it better. I don’t know when it’d happened, but Brandon’s happiness seemed to be tethered to my own. His feelings affected mine.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said, shaking his head and staring at the floor like he wished it’d open up and swallow him whole.

“You don’t have to apologise for anything.”