At 2AM (so far)

10:45 am

“I’m here.” He said in a low voice as he walked through Newark airport, his bag dragging behind him with a duffle bag strapped onto his shoulder. “Where is here?” Hayley asked on the other line. Remy began to roll his eyes as he stepped outside of the large terminal and glanced at the cars than zoomed past. He sputtered and wiped the sweat from his brow. “I was on a plane for five hours, please don’t fuck with me? Thank you. I’m in Newark, if you don’t want me to miss your stupid graduation you should tell mom or dad to pick me up…” He grumbled, putting his thick hair into a pony and sighing with relief.

“I’ll tell them!” Hayley’s voice cracked through his phone speaker. Remy nodded his head and leaned against a half pillar.

“That’s great, please get me out of this fucking heat. I’ll see you soon.” His voice hoarse as he slid his thumb against the screen to end the call.


11:20 am

Remy got into his dad’s Honda CRV and slid into the passenger seat, instantly slamming the door. “Son.” He heard Sasha say. Remy turned his head and wiped sweat from his own forehead. “Jew Dad.” He responded. Sasha chuckled and put on his turn signal and drove away from the airport, merging onto the Garden State Parkway.

The two sat in silence while Kanye West played on the speakers of the vehicle. Remy’s top teeth sunk into his lower lip as he stared ahead. His thin fingers switched the A/C on and turned the vent to direct his face.

“This guy isn’t half bad for a rapper.” Sasha said while his eyes remained on the road.

“Yeah, he’s uh… He’s pretty okay.” Remy chimed in uncomfortably, crossing his arms over his chest.

“He really pisses off white people, huh?” Sasha stated additionally then honked his horn. “Hey come on asshole! Some of us actually have places to be!” He shouted after rolling down his window. The Jersey accent was prominent in his yell.

“Blow it out your asshole, fucker!” The passenger of the person ahead of him retorted.  Remy’s slanted brown eyes seemed to widen at the display.

“Yeah uh- white people get pretty pissed at him.” He whispered with a slow nod.

“It’s hilarious.” His father laughed.
“It’s pretty hilarious.” He fought the smirk that had formed on his lips. Remy uncrossed his arms and leaned an elbow near the passenger window, looking out at the woods they had passed.

“So uh-how’s camp?” Sasha inquired before turning off the highway into a suburban area. Remy shrugged his shoulders, glancing at his dad for a moment.

“It’s alright, I don’t hate it or anything.” He answered him. “The kids really like me.”

“Just like your old man, huh? I love kids. Always have, we have an inexplicable rapport. Then they grow up and start to hate me. Sound familiar?” He teased. Remy shook his head and attempted not to laugh. “So this Connor guy, do you know him? He goes to Farleigh Dickinson apparently.” Sasha tried to pry.

“I don’t really know him to be honest, I don’t know where Hayley met him.” Remy had spoken with raised brows.

“He’s your age, you know that right?”

“Yeah, I heard about the whole car sex thing.”

“Why can’t she be with the other guy? Treyvian I think his name is. He’s a nice dude, what’s wrong with him?”

“He’s a nice dude.” Remy said flatly then looked to Sasha. “Is Trey the one with the glasses?” He countered.

“Yeah, glasses, just got out of high school last year, works at the 7-11 in Englewood? He was the valedictorian of his class did you know that? He’s a good kid, and I’ve only seen him once or twice in our house.” Sasha listed with a bit of pride.

“Sounds like he’s you, Sasha.” He said in a monotone. “He’s you if you were black and born in the nineties.” His eyes spotted their house in the distance, becoming larger and closer the further they drove down the street.

“Well what’s so wrong with wanting her to be with somebody who’s like me?” Sasha asked loudly. “Huh smartass? What? Should we keep her with the Irish version of you or the black version of me?”

Remy stared blankly at Sasha. “Connor is not the Irish version of me.” He retorted dismissively.

“He is, and Street Sign? He’s just like your mother. I swear to god.”

“His name isn’t fucking Street Sign! How can you encourage this bullshit?” Remy’s voice rose with frustration. “Who the fuck names their kid ‘Street Sign’? No one, you’re all just fucking with me I swear. I don’t care how deep in the ghetto you live, that isn’t a name.”

“We’re here.” Sasha replied, stopping short before parking the SUV. “Get your stuff out of the back.” He instructed then hopped out of the car. He lingered in the driveway while Remy went into the back seat and grabbed his bags. He sighed and stumbled up the stairs of their porch and waited on his dad to open the door.

“Your sister is caught in a love rectangle with our reincarnations.” Sasha argued as she stuck his key into the slot.

“You have to die to be reincarnated, Sasha.” Remy said in a monotone while staring at him.

“Sure our bodies are here but we all have been dead inside for years now. Correct?” Sasha’s eyes lifted after he pushed the door open and tossed his keys in the bowl by the stairs. “We’re home!” He shouted upward.

“Touché.” Remy whispered as he struggled up the steps towards his room. “No, don’t help me or anything. I’ve got this.” He said loudly and sarcastically. “No no it’s perfectly fine. Don’t even dream of offering to help me.” Remy continued to sass just as he exasperatedly reached the top of the stairs and opened the door to his room.

He threw his things down and looked around skeptically. “Who was in my room while I was gone?” Remy shouted.

“No one.” He heard Sasha reply boisterously from afar.

“Bullshit!” Remy shouted right back, he sighed and dropped onto his mattress on his back. He stared up at the ceiling and heard barking and scurrying in the hall. “Petey no.” He whined just as the large dog hopped onto Remy’s lap. His hands lazily reached to pet the canine and he excitedly barked. “Yes, I missed you too.” He grumbled.

“You need to get dressed.” The stiff monotonous voice startled him as he sat up, seeing his mother in the doorway.

“Mom, don’t do that.” He shivered as he pushed Petey out of his lap and stood, he walked over to the older woman, hovering over her.

“Sorry.” She said, though there was no sense of apology in her voice. Her hands reached up to his head and pulled his hair out of its man pony. She shook her head and raked her finger’s through Remy’s raven locks. “Why didn’t you fly in last night?” Jacqueline asked quietly.

Remy pouted and shrugged his shoulders. “I had work, mom. I couldn’t just leave.” He explained as if he were ten.

“Why didn’t you just take one of the late night flights?”

“I’m here. Why does it matter?” He whispered as he placed both of his hands on her shoulders and stared her in the face.

“You were just cutting it very close and I didn’t want Hayley to be disappointed if you didn’t show.” Jacqueline’s eyes remained stern and focused. Remy let out a groan and let go of his mother and turned to walk away, opening his suit case. “Remiel Allen Berkoff.” She said angrily.

“What? What! What?” Remy asked irritably. He turned around to face her yet again.

“I missed you.” She murmured indignantly. His face went blank as he draped his arms around his mother.

“I missed you too but I have to get ready, remember?” He counted as he let go of her.

“Good, shower as well. You smell like B.O.” Jacqueline whispered and speed walked out of his room.

“Thanks mom.” He sighed heatedly, hearing Petey bark behind him.


1:02 pm

Remy toyed with his tie as he stepped down the stairs, heading into the kitchen where the rest of his family had been. He passed one of their cats that had been heading to the living room. His eyes constantly looked downward at the jet-black suit he’d been wearing. His gaze went to Jacqueline who had straightened her normally coiled hair and put it in a bun, she had been adorned with a silver sleeveless dress, very mom, very classy. She had a wine glass in one hand and a wine bottle in the other. She sighed at the sight of him.

“Remiel, no ponytails.” She slurred and put her things down to walk over to him, snatching the hair tie out.

“It’s too hot to wear it down.” He whined then smoothed it back. She shook her head and motioned for him to sit and he obliged. Remy pulled his thick rimmed glasses off his face and sat it on the counter. Jacqueline came up behind him and began to part his hair then gathered the top half.

“You won’t have to worry about that in a few years.” Sasha’s voice rang throughout the kitchen as he stood near the two.

“No.” Remy said dismissively. Jacqueline’s eyes went from Remy’s head to Sasha’s face and she shook her head.

“You can’t wear a trucker hat to our daughter’s graduation.” She declared contemptuously.

“This is Hayley’s graduation, why do we have to dress up?” Remy grumbled as his mother’s hands twisted his head roughly.

“Because you were homeschooled.” Sasha said, taking a seat across from Remy at the counter and took out his pack of Newports. He slid the ashtray closer to him and placed one in his mouth. Remy held his hand out to his dad and in turn he begrudgingly handed him one.

“Babe?” Jacqueline whispered and Sasha took out an extra coffin nail for her as well.

“Not while you’re doing my hair please.” Remy whispered after lighting his own cig, releasing the smoke as he spoke.

“Yeah, I just realized…” She whispered, her hands twirling. She picked up the hair tie from earlier to fasten the bun she fashioned on with Remy’s thick hair. He replaced his glasses on his face.

“I’m ready!” Hayley said in a loud singsong voice. Her heels were audible as she approached the kitchen.  She appeared with her white graduation cap on her purple head. She spun around in her skin tight, deep V-neck, backless peplum dress. Her tawny hand reached for her father’s resting cigarette in the ashtray. “No.” Remy smacked her hand, keeping his own cig tightly held between his lips. He stood up and buttoned the middle button of his suit jacket.

“Slut wear for teens.” He murmured while observing Hayley’s outfit, blowing smoke from the corner of his mouth. Jacqueline sighed and grabbed up wine bottle all over again.


1:30 pm

“Daddy! We have to hurry, the ceremony starts at two thirty!” Hayley had whined as she walked out onto the porch with her graduation gown over her shoulders. Sasha came out behind her and went down the steps with his digital camera. “Alright but a few pictures first! Jacque, Remy get in there with Hay.” He directed.

Remy walked outside and pushed his glasses up his protruding nose and stood beside Hayley with one hand in his pant pocket. Jacqueline came out after them all with a flask and sunglasses on, she took a long sip and stood on the other side of Hayley. Neither of them cracked a smile but Hayley grinned from ear to ear.

“Beautiful, big happy family.” He said then snapped the picture. “Alright. Now one with just Thor and Loki-“

“Hey Mista Bee, Misses Bee!” Sasha was interrupted by the deep feminine southern droll.

“Pumpkin! How nice of you to join us?” He said sarcastically. Pumpkin strolled onto the porch beside Remy. She wore her grad cap over her Sharon Stone blonde haircut and held her gown in her ghetto clawed hands. Her thin body covered only by a white sheer mesh banded body suit with a cheeky cut reminiscent of a thong.

“Bitch, you on fleek.” She whispered to Hayley then grinned, exposing her pearly whites for the next picture. “I know.” Hayley replied in a boastful whisper, scrunching up her face to grin as well. Remy’s head remained turned to stare judgingly at the two younger females.

“Remy look at the camera.” Sasha had yelled. His head faced forward and cleared his throat and pretended to smile for the next picture. His father fanned himself and exhaled. “Okay, let’s get down to the school. Any other surprise guests who we’ll see Hayley?” He asked as he unlocked the Honda. Jacqueline made a ninja like beeline for shotgun.

“Connor is coming but he’s coming on his own.” She answered, sweeping her hair over her shoulder. “Daddy, do I look pretty?” Hayley asked excitedly as she ran over to Sasha.

He opened his mouth as if he was about to speak about Connor but instead he waited. “Oh, you look beautiful princess.” He decided to say with a confirming nod then got into the driver’s seat.

“I look pretty. Right, Mommy?” Hayley bounced as she craned her head to look at Jacqueline, whose response was to sip from her flask and get into the vehicle. She shrugged and got into the seat behind her father. “Remy, Pumpkin! Come on!” She demanded.

His brown eyes rolled in their sockets as he stepped off the porch. Pumpkin sashayed in front of him with a smirk. “Yo Remy, you looking good.” She whispered sensually. He shook his head angrily and quickly went into the seat behind his mother’s. “How does anybody get anything done with that thing around?” He grunted to himself. Pumpkin climbed in after him, propping herself in the middle of Hayley and Remy.

Sasha pulled out of the driveway and swerved for a moment then remained on the right side of the street, heading to the high school. The radio played loudly while he drove. Remy sat at the edge of his seat, watching his mother sip from her flask.
“Can I have some?”

“No.” She replied curtly. Remy sat back, sucking his teeth and crossing his arms.

“That’s not fair, I don’t want to be sober for this…” He complained. Sasha turned his head slightly and went back to looking at the road.

“Your mother isn’t drinking to be drunk, she’s drinking so she can function like a normal person.” Sasha corrected Remy then turned the wheel. Jacqueline slowly nodded her head in agreement and leaned her head on her window. “Put on your goddamn seatbelt.” He insisted, turning up the radio even louder.


3:20 pm

Remy stood up and applauded, knowing Hayley would be called up soon. His face remained stoic. On his left were his parents and to his right had been Connor, a curly haired male who looked to be about his age with brilliant green eyes. He would glance at him grouchily intermittently. “This has been the longest fucking day ever.” He scoffed under his breath.

“Hayley-Trinity Iris Berkoff.” The principal said into the microphone and the crowd of adolescents roared. Hayley skipped onto the stage and made devil horns with her fingers, winking at the audience before she took the rolled up paper that probably wasn’t her real diploma. Remy raised his hands to clapped loudly as he watched her turn around and show her grad cap she had decorated to say “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”. He smirked a bit.

“Woo! Hayley! Yes!” Connor shouted over exuberantly. Remy turned his head to glare at the other male.

“Hey, calm the fuck down, alright?” He ordered quietly then looked to the stage once more. He sensed Connor’s peeved glower on him as he did so.

“That’s my little girl!” Sasha said with a proud grin, snapping more pictures. Jacqueline subtly wiped the tears from under her sunglasses. “Hell yeah! I love that chick!” Interrupted their sentimental moment. Remy, Jacqueline and Sasha turned their heads to see who had said such a thing. “Best hand job I’ve ever gotten!” Another voice called out.

Remy let out a sigh and lowered his head into in his hand. He heard more hecklers as Hayley scampered off the stage. Instinctively, he sat down and sank into his seat for the rest of the ceremony.

Connor sat down beside him and leaned towards Remy. “They’re not talking about our Hayley, right?” He asked warily. Remy let out a loud groan.

4:05 pm

The courtyard had been littered with seniors and their families. Remy stood amongst them with his arms crossed beside his mother who seemed about as amused as he was. Hayley ran back and forth between groups with Pumpkin running along behind her. Connor awkwardly congregated with the Berkoffs. Sasha took out his cellphone and attempted to take a few more pictures for great justice. Remy’s black eyebrows remained furrowed for the duration.

“When are we leaving? I paid three hundred bucks to watch Hayley walk across a stage and grab a paper.” He finally said. Connor looked to him with saddened eyes.

“You know, as her big brother you really should be more supportive.” He chimed in. Remy didn’t even look at him as he scoffed.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?”  He griped in a monotone, shutting him down immediately. His gaze travelled to Hayley and Pumpkin who both had gathered a group of senior girls. “What the hell?” Remy whispered. The girls kicked their legs back in unison and whipped their fist in front of them. They all lowered their hands and swayed with one hand in the air, stepping back in unison then returned their prior dance move.

“Now watch me whip! Now watch me nae nae! Now watch me whip-whip!” Hayley sang loudly as the leader of the pack. He glanced away to prevent himself from dragging his younger sibling by her purple hair and shoving her into their dad’s car. He eyed Jacqueline. She threw back her head with her flask in her mouth and a cigarette in her other hand. She turned the flask upside down and shook it, confirming its emptiness. Jacqueline let out a disappointed sigh then took a drag of her cigarette.

“Oh I know this one! She and Pumpkin do that one in the house all of the time. Remember honey?” Sasha nudged Jacqueline and turned his camera to face them to record the girls. Remy let out an audible groan. “Can we go!?” He asked loudly. Hayley rolled her eyes and walked over to them, her white graduation grown had been opened now to show off her little dress. Pumpkin wasn’t far behind.

“Do you always have to be a grumpy old man?” Hayley asked Remy. He rolled his eyes instantly when he watched her hand her belongings to Connor.

“What’s for dinner Misses Bee?” She asked loudly. “I’m hungry as hell.” Pumpkin laughed obnoxiously. He grumbled under his breath and reached deep into his suit pants pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. Remy shoved it into Hayley’s hands amidst her running her mouth.

“What’s this?” She asked him softly. Remy shrugged his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest.

“You needed a graduation present.” He answered her with a shrug yet again. Hayley furrowed her eyebrows in puzzlement. Her swarthy hands opened the box and she parted her lips to gasp.

“Remy what the hell?” She whispered, pulling out the silver chained black locket from the box. “What is this?” Hayley continued with her rhetorical questions. The exterior of the locket engraved with a rose. She unlocked it and observed the pictures on the inside carefully. Remy stepped behind her so he could take a peek at them as well. On the left was a picture of a very young Hayley with a large head of black tight curls and a large tooth filled grin, beside her in the picture had been a younger Remy with much shorter hair and a bare face. On the right was a more recent picture of the two of them. Hayley’s hair still wasn’t purple but it had been an ombre brown, her thin arms wrapped around a Remy whose hair had been longer but his face had still been lacking a beard. “Oh my gosh Remy, it’s us.” Hayley said with a pout and turned around to look at him. She flung her arms around his waist and hugged it tightly.

“Shut up, I hate you.” Remy said under his breath then formed a smirk, returning the hug.

“I hate you too. I missed you so much.” She sniveled as she rested her head against him. Something told him she didn’t mean it just literally. The moment was interrupted by the sound of the flash on Sasha’s camera. Hayley tore herself away from him.

“How’d I get such a divine family?” Sasha asked gently, lowering the camera. “I’m so proud of both of you, you know that right?” His words made Remy lower his head; he lifted it once more at the feel of his mother pecking the side of his face. He wiped his cheek instantly.

“Ma, it’s too hot for this shit.” He whined, she ignored him and placed a kiss on Hayley’s purple head.

“Auntie Jacque! Uncle Sasha!” Remy and Hayley whipped around to see who had spoken. In the distance his mother’s brother and his children seemed to be approaching them.

“Ayeee it’s the Cheongs.” Pumpkin threw her hands in the air, Remy immediately glared at her.

“No, no, no. No, don’t come over here. Stay over there.” He started to whisper as he covered the side of his face and looked away.

“Look father, Remy is here.” He heard the voice of his cousin, Grace, gaining in proximity. His heartbeat went swifter, everyone’s words around him reduced to murmurs.

“Remy, we haven’t seen each other since when? Christmas?” His Uncle James asked before giving him a firm slap on his shoulder.

“Ow…” He whispered, his eyes wide. “Yeah I’ve been up in Portland at school.” Remy said uneasily.

“Uncle James!” Hayley yelled as she ran into his arms, causing him to laugh. “Where’s Eugene!? I cheered so loud when his name was called.” She continued. Remy turned away and exhaled in relief.

“Oh thank god.” He sighed. Two of his three cousins rolling up behind him, he felt Grace tap his shoulder. Remy begrudgingly turned around to face them. “Hi.” He said in a monotone.

“We heard about your problem with cocaine.” The tallest said, James, who had been the same age as him. Remy began to frown instantaneously. “We prayed for you, we trust you’ve been cured.”

“Yeah, I went to rehab.” He whispered bitterly.

“Again?” Grace commented before giggling. “Uncle Sasha doesn’t mind wasting money, does he?” Remy narrowed his eyes at the shorter female, nodding his head angrily.

“Yeah well, your fucking mom is dead so...” He retorted in a whisper so only they’d hear. Grace’s expression turned sorrowful and she walked away. James Jr. seemed to be unfazed, still standing in front of him. “You already know I fucking hate you, so I don’t need to say anything else to you.” Remy said to him. James smirked and turned away. He whispered to Grace in Korean before looking back at Remy with a smug grin. Remy grumbled and frowned widely. “Okay, who’s ready to get the fuck out of here?” He asked forcefully.

“Hang on a second Remy-“ Sasha said then turned to the youngest child of Uncle James: Eugene. His hair was long and practically covering his eyes. “You must be so excited to have finally graduated.” Sasha continued.

He shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head, pulling off his graduation cap. “I guess I am.” Eugene replied before Hayley went to stand beside him, leaning on him. He smirked for a moment.

“It’s alright, he just didn’t graduate as valedictorian like Grace and I.” James rambled on condescendingly in his deep voice, pointing between him and his sister. Remy couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“But we’re still proud.” James Sr. cut in with a semi-embarrassed laugh. “We should celebrate. This is an amazing occasion, perhaps we should come over for dinner tonight?” He turned to ask Jacqueline. She brought her hands to her now frizzing hair and waved her hand at him then leaned her head against Sasha’s shoulder. “Oh, yes I almost forgot. Its after twelve, you’re bombed. Sasha, should we come over later?” He turned to ask Remy’s balding father. Sasha grinned at him and gave him a nod.

“Of course, any time is fine!” He exclaimed. Remy face palmed. Hayley let out a whining noise and tugged on her father’s suit jacket.

“But Daddy! The seniors are having a graduation party and Pumpkin and I are going.” She moaned. Sasha shrugged his shoulders at the younger girl.

“We’ll eat dinner, then you two can go. You can bring Remy and Eugene.” He suggested. Remy lifted his head yet again and let out a grunt.

“ What? I don’t want to fucking go, why am I involved in this!?” He shouted with his hands raised.

“You have to watch out for you sister…” Sasha whispered to him eyeing Connor then looking back to Remy. His eyes widened again as he groaned, throwing his head back in frustration.

“I don’t even give a shit anymore, we’ve been here for way too long. I just want to go fucking home.”


7:35 pm

“Wash your hands, dinner is almost ready.” Jacqueline demanded quietly, her now mitted hands gripping the pot of food and setting it on the counter. Remy glanced up at his mother while he took a drag off his cig. He exhaled the smoke through his nostrils.

“I’m twenty two.” His deep voice countered. He tapped the residue off the end of his cigarette into the ashtray. Remy looked to Jacqueline once more when she retrieved the steamed vegetables from the microwave. “Careful.”

“Shit.” She hissed when she staggered forward, almost dropping the bowl.

“You’re drunk.”

“Don’t make the mistakes I’ve made.” She sighed as she pulled her oven mitts off and placed a hand on her hip, leaning on the counter with the other.

“I’m gradually picking up that lesson.” He replied in a monotone. He smashed the rest of his cigarette into the ashtray and got up, picking up the largest pot and taking it to the dining room table for her then sat down.

“You is a stupid bitch ohmagawd.” He heard Pumpkin shouting in the distance. He was already sighing. The blonde took her seat beside Remy. She smirked at him and slid closer to him. She had been audibly chewing gum. “Remy.” She said deafeningly. He slowly turned his head to look at her.

“What?” Remy murmured.

“Don’t front, I know you think I’m sexy.” She chuckled. He blinked sluggishly at her.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty.”

“And you’re just now graduating high school?”

“Chill, you trynna play me.” Pumpkin clapped her hands and turned away from him.

“You know you’re white, right? And your name is really Katie.”

“You trynna make me mad so I won’t fuck you, das not how it works boo boo.” She lifted her hand to his face and pursed her lips. Hayley entered the dining room and sat beside Pumpkin.

“P, you totally made Grace cry. You’re fucked up.” She whispered with a giggle.

“She shouldn’t have been saying that dumb shit.” Pumpkin laughed as well. “Like, fuck outta here. I’m not going to hell cause I suck dick. God don’t care if you suck dick.” She ranted. Remy stared straight ahead with his eyes widened.

Everyone began to gather around the table, Eugene, for some reason sat on the other side of Remy. Of course his siblings and father sat beside him. On the other side of Hayley had been Connor and Remy’s parents. Jacqueline sloppily prepped her own plate of casserole, spaghetti and veggies and stabbed her fork into it.  The rest of the table filled their plates with food, just as everyone was about to dig in Uncle James and his kids lowered their heads and laced their fingers. Remy cleared his throat and they cumbersomely terminated their prayers.

“You don’t pray over your food?” Grace asked in a matter-of-fact tone. Remy stared blankly ahead.

“Well last time I checked, I was Jewish. And you knew that already.” He answered irately. She heard her and James whisper amongst each other in Korean. He tried to ignore it while he ate.

“Sooo uhh-“ He heard Eugene murmur beside him. He turned to him and raised a brow.

“Hm?” He hummed with his mouth full.

“You went out of state for college, and so is Hayley right?” Eugene finally said. Remy nodded his head before swallowing.

“Yeah, in Portland. It costs a shit ton more but I needed to be away.” He replied. “Where are you going in the fall?” Remy enquired with a glance.

“Well, I got accepted to a few places in New Jersey but I really wanted to go to Columbia for theater. Dad said that wasn’t a good profession, though. I’m probably going to Fairleigh Dickinson.” He answered.

“I go there.” Connor piped up. Remy threw down his fork and sat up in his seat.

“Here we fucking go.” He murmured. Eugene looked up awkwardly and glanced between Connor and Hayley.

“Oh wow, maybe we’ll see each other on campus?” He let out with a hopeful smile. Hayley placed her hand over Connor’s with pride as she looked up at him.

“He’s an English major there.” She said for him then bit her lower lip. “He’s going to be a writer for Saturday Night Live or some shit like that.”

“Isn’t he like four years older than you?” Remy sassed.

“Yeah but, so are you.” Hayley retorted just as quickly, staring Remy right in the eyes.

“Yeah but I’m not fucking you.” Remy seemed to hiss at her through his teeth. Connor scoffed.

“Okay, I’m tired of pretending to be nice. You’re an insufferable dick.” He let out, pointing in Remy’s direction. The rest of the table fell silent. “There’s no sugarcoating it, you’re a complete and utter miserable fuck. I’m pretty sure you can’t be happy for anyone or anything.” He went off on his rant.

“He’s definitely onto something and he’s only known you for what? A day?” James Jr. chimed in and glanced at Remy as well.

“Oh and you’re such a fucking amicable person you closeted prick.” Remy squinted his head and yelled down the table at James.

“Shit, I forgot the iced tea. Does anyone want any iced tea?” Jacqueline asked drunkenly as she stood up.  Sasha shook his hand and clutched her wrist, forcing her to sit again.

“I want some?” Pumpkin said, raising her hand, causing Sasha to glare at her.

“You’re always talking about what I shouldn’t and should be doing and who I shouldn’t and should be doing but you’re probably the biggest fucking slut I’ve ever met. I’ve lived across from you my most of my life, you think I didn’t see every stupid girl you drunkenly would fall into bed with?” Hayley shrieked. “You’re not being fair. All you do is treat me like a kid!”

Remy raised both of his hands with his brows furrowed. “Whoa whoa whoa, when the fuck did this turn into ‘I hate Remy’ hour?” He questioned loudly. “Just because I’ve made mistakes doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to try and put you on the right fucking path, first of all. Somebody like you shouldn’t be fucking anyone because you barely understand the concept. How do I know that you ask? I can tell you. Or do you not want me to explain it in front of your ‘boyfriend’?”

“Atta-boy, that’s my son.” Sasha said with a nod. James Jr. sucked his teeth.

“You shouldn’t give anyone any advice, you’re a drug addict. Among other things.” James Jr. said with stoic face.

“One of them? Being a sexual deviant since childhood.” Grace added a few words into the shit fest. Remy stood up abruptly, his chair falling behind him.

“Fuck you! I was NEVER a sexual deviant. That was a fucking lie he started on me when we were kids.” He screamed, pointing at himself then at James Jr. “I was seven, I didn’t even know what the fuck ‘sex’ was!” Remy argued.

“Then why did you rape that girl, Remy?” James Jr. queried just as loudly. He stood now.

“I never raped her, that didn’t happen. Nothing happened! I was a fucking kid!” Remy’s face went red.

“It does sound like you have no place to talk about what people should be doing, you fucking rapist. Hayley makes me happy and I make her happy, so I’m four years older than her?  So fucking what? Does it matter?” Connor stood up and tossed his napkin down. “Thank you Mrs. Berkoff, the food was delicious.” Remy instinctively sucked his teeth and waved his hand at Connor.

“What-the-fuck-ever, fucking bye!” Remy shouted as the curly headed male walked out of the house. “Nobody knows why you were here anyways, this is my family. Get the fuck out!”

“Who just left?” Jacqueline asked her brother subtly.

“Your daughter’s college aged boyfriend.” James Sr. answered for her with a pat.

“Which one?” She sighed, pulling her hair out of it’s bun. “Babe?” Her head turned to Sasha who placed a cigarette in her mouth and lit it for her.

“Fellas, sit down.” Remy’s father interjected when he put his lighter down. “I’m pretty sure this isn’t proper dinner conversation-“

“He made him leave! Because he can’t stand anybody to have anything because he hates himself!” Hayley sniffled, watching Connor exit. She was standing now. “Not just you, fucking you too!” She pointed between Remy and James Jr. “You guys are the same type of fucking person! Why don’t you stop hating each other and fuck each other already!” Hayley screamed. Remy and James simultaneously raised their hands into the air.

“Whoa.” James Jr. whispered.

“Hold it right there, our rivalry isn’t about us wanting to fuck each other.” Remy explained quickly.

“Yes, I just hate him. That’s all.” James nodded his head in agreement.

“Exactly, This is strictly a Hades and Zeus type of relationship, me being Hades of course.”

“You would be Hades, you heathen.”

“Fuck you!” Remy turned his head to James Jr. again.

“Everyone! Do you want to stand around and yell, or do you want to eat?” Sasha asked, motioning between the younger people then down to the food on the table. Remy shrugged his shoulders and Hayley took her seat once more.

“Well… I really fucking hate you.” He pointed in James Jr.’s direction. “But I really like eating.” Remy trailed off then picked up his seat, reclaiming his spot at the table.

“We um, didn’t eat anything before the graduation ceremony.” James Jr. seemed to murmur before taking his seat again. The table fell silent once more and Sasha welcomed it.

“Shiiit, Remy should come home more often. Is every dinner like this?” Pumpkin giggled as she looked between the faces of the people seated at the table, a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.


10:00 pm


“Just be safe.” Sasha called out from the porch. Remy begrudgingly passed him and glowered at him.  “What?” His dad asked.

“I don’t want to go.” Remy responded.

“Do you think you’re going to relapse?” Sasha questioned him with apprehension.

“Well I didn’t before but now I do!” He moaned angrily. His father presented a sympathetic look, putting his hand on his shoulder.

“If you feel like you are, you can stay home. You know that right?” Sasha whispered then looked out at Hayley who was sitting in the backseat of his Honda with Eugene. His brown eyes went to Remy’s face again. “I just don’t want her to meet up with that Connor guy… You understand what I mean.”

Remy lowered his gaze to his shoes and lifted his shoulders lethargically. “Yeah, I get it.” He replied then tossed his father’s hand off him. “I’ll go but we won’t be gone for long. I want to come home, jerk off then sleep.” He said dismissively as he went down the steps and got into the driver’s seat of the SUV. Remy’s boney fingers reached to buckle his seatbelt then turned the key. His hands travelled to the wheel and he gave Sasha a nod and pulled out of the driveway.

“Where’s this stupid party at anyways?” He requested lowly while revolving the wheel all the way then back to go down their block. Pumpkin sat in the passenger seat by him. She had been slurping on a tootsie pop.

“Englewood.” She answered with a suck of the lollipop following. Remy respired angrily from his nostrils.

“Okay, but where?” He tried to ask calmly through his teeth, his hands fixed to the wheel.

“Englewood Cliffs.” Pumpkin replied with her mouth full. She procured her heeled feet to the dashboard. “Some rich kid is throwing it, what’s that kid’s name again?” She crooked her head to gawk at Hayley and Eugene.

“I just hope Connor is there.” Hayley sighed babyishly. Remy blinked unhurriedly, trying to focus on the road.

“Englewood Cliffs… That’s not that bad.” He whispered to himself. “Twelve minutes from here, tops.”

All of them had still been dressed up, which was to worst of it to him. He had to shift in suit pants and a tie for the rest of the night. Not to mention the stares Hayley would get for her little outfit. When they turned down the winding road Remy made it near the shore, a row of large lavish houses hand been ahead of them.

“Which one?” Remy probed then sped up, almost hitting one of the presumed graduating seniors who were drunkenly stumbling down the road.

“Ten Cambridge Place.” Eugene answered from behind him. Remy nodded his head and hit the gas speeding ahead.

“All the way down the fucking block-“ He grunted. He caught the sound of Hayley’s head hitting the back of her seat. Pumpkin’s feet had flown upward off the dash from his speed. Remy came to a hard stop, resulting in his nose banging against the wheel. “FUCK!” He shouted as he held his face. His brown hues immediately spotting the pathetic fuck: Connor.

“We’re here…” He announced in a nasally voice. Hayley sprang from the car and ran into the older male’s arms. Pumpkin made her way into the large manor, leering past Connor and Hayley. Eugene awkwardly stayed behind.

“Are you okay?” He enquired Remy weakly.

“Just find me some fucking ice.”

11:15 pm

All of the partygoers had been dressed in their graduation outfits. Remy lingered in the living room with a cigarette between his index and middle finger, reveling in being a wallflower. He probably had been the only other college junior besides Connor in the whole party.

“Yo.” His head turned at the all-encompassing voice of the southern broad that drew closer to him. He rolled his eyes at Pumpkin and took a long pull of his Newport. His gaze had been focused on something more important. Across the vast room had been Hayley and Connor laughing at… probably something stupid. All the while Eugene stood behind them like a weirdo, which would’ve been hilarious if he wasn’t Remy’s blood relative. He lowered the coffin nail from his mouth and narrowed his already slanted eyes.

“You drive so rough man.” He heard her say as she slinked up beside him, her long fingered nails tracing the length of his thin black tie. “I think I pulled something.” Pumpkin’s voice dropped to a whisper. Remy’s eyes remained on his sister and her pedophile boyfriend. He responded to her with an uncaring grunt. “You should check and see…” She came dangerously close then grabbed his free hand. Pumpkin brazenly placed his fingers between her legs, in front of god, these rich kids, and everyone else who’d been in the rooms. Luckily they didn’t seem to be engaged in what the old guy and the trailer trash had been up to.

His head turned now and he raised his brow. He put his cig in his mouth then turned around, swinging Pumpkin against the wall behind them. Remy didn’t remove his fingers, using his other hand to lean on said wall while he hovered over Pumpkin.

“Oh really?” He enquired with faux interest. His thin fingers slid between her lips as her insides seemed to moisten in sexual excitement. He used his ring, middle and index finger to massage her clitorous. “Hm, not feeling anything…” His muffled words feigned concern. Her inaudible whimpers beckoned more so he obliged. Remy’s digits glided quicker on her clit and when her breaths began shallow and his fingers became soaked he ceased. He pulled his hand from betwixt her thighs and forced his three fingers into her mouth. Pumpkin moaned delicately, sucking on them hungrily. Neither of them broke eye contact during the whole exchange. Remy exhaled smoke from the side of his mouth and tore his digits from her lips. He leaned his back against the wall again, drumming the excessive ash off his cig with his index finger.

“Get the fuck out of here, I’m doing something.” He said indifferently. His eyes went back to Connor and Hayley. In an instant Pumpkin had been gone and he could focus on the two. He spied Hayley sashaying away from Connor and Remy treaded across the room to him before he could go anywhere.

“Hey. Let’s talk outside.” He nodded his head in the direction of the front door. Remy took a final drag and let the cigarette butt drop wherever, stomping it out with his dress shoes.

“Uh, okay?” Connor replied as he led the way. Eugene remained in his spot.

“What about me?” He called out over the blaring music.

“Just find Hay.” Remy answered without looking back.


12:04 am
“Just tell me you didn’t screw her while she was still seventeen.” A fresh cig sat between Remy’s lips while he stood adjacent to Connor. He didn’t bother to look him in his face. “Then I won’t hate you completely.”

“Well…” Connor trailed off uneasily.

“Oh fuck, are you serious?” Remy groaned and put his hand over his face.

“I can explain! She told me she was eighteen when I asked her if she wanted to, then she surprise sprung that shit on me.” He argued, pointing his finger in Remy’s direction. His head curved to look at the curly headed male. The words had sounded oddly familiar.

“I know it’s none of my business, even though it is cause she’s my sister but, get out while you still can. Like, don’t catch feelings or anything because she’s going through this phase where she’s just trouble.”

“What makes you say that? I know Hay-bear more than anybody.”

“You really don’t.” Remy corrected him flatly then hesitated. “Listen, she fucked my best friend while I was in rehab… Several times. She has three other dudes she’s dating and I don’t know if you’ve caught on but she’s given most of the guys she knows a hand job at some point.” He reluctantly confessed. “Now, I don’t know how long you guys have been together but I went into rehab three months ago if you needed a gauge of how long this has been going on.” Connor’s