Chapter three: What responsibilities?

**Nudity and sexual references below

Veronica had made her way down to her favorite joint, Eugi's. It wasn't too full, but that was alright with her. As long as the bartender was behind the counter that's all that mattered. She motioned for the bartender's attention and ordered her first of many drinks. 

"Coming right up." The bartender responded. 

As soon as the glass made contact with Veronica's fingers, it was brought quickly to her awaiting lips. She sighed happily as the liquid slid down her throat. She finished in no time and called for another. The lady honored her request and a new drink was made for her. 

Patrons were starting to come in more by Veronica's fourth drink. She didn't want to be swarmed by the crowd so she made her way to the dance floor on the other side. The area was pretty empty except for an older gentleman sitting by his lonesome. She noticed his eyes kept darting back and forth to her. She smiled his way and continued to dance.

She could tell he was a bit of a loner and obviously was here for the first time. She wondered if she should approach him or just continue to dance. The alcohol in her system pretty much turned off her logical thoughts and she found herself walking towards his table.

"Did you like what you saw?" She asked seductively as she leaned down to his level. The guy opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. He reached his hand up to adjust his glasses nervously.
"Come here often?" She asked. He shook his head telling her no.
"Well how about we get out of here?" She asked boldly. The guys eyes almost doubled in size. The reaction didn't bother Veronica. She just fluttered her eyes at him.
Say something! She thought impatiently. At last he answered her question.
"Sure" He squeaked out.

Veronica reached down and slid her hand in his. He gently wrapped his around hers and the duo left the club. Veronica hailed a cab and asked her new friend to give the Cabbie directions to his place. She couldn't take him home with her children there. They pulled up to a small home which was practically half way across town.

He nervously opened his front door and lead her inside. She followed his lead and her eyes took in the interior. It was plainly designed, but not surprising for such a lonely man. They didn't take much time talking. Veronica tried, but the man's lips were practically sealed. He nodded or shook his head in response 90% of the time and when he actually spoke it was in a mumble. 

Veronica quickly grew tired of the dead-end conversation and quit trying. She began to undress herself and the guy watched her with hungry eyes. She smirked. She stopped once she got down to her underwear. She instructed the man to follow suit and he did with shaky hands. 

She guided the man's hand over to her body and he began to explore it. Shortly after he brought his other hand into the game. Veronica noticed the bulge forming in his underwear and so she stopped him and asked where the bedroom was. He pointed towards the door and they walked inside. 

Their clothes were completely shed and the man must have shook away his nerves because he took the lead. By this time Veronica's buzz was fading and she was coming back to reality. It was a little too late though. She tried to hide the disgust in her face as she watched the man make one final grunt before collapsing onto her. She felt as if all the air was taken away from her body as he began to slip off of her. He kissed her one final time and held her close to his body. 

I guess I'll have to wait until he's sleep. She thought. She placed her hand on his chest and watched as his eyes closed. She tried to focus on his breathing and wait until she could remove herself from him and leave. It was pretty hard to do when all she could imagine was watching him thrust into her and saying "Ohh and ahh" as if that turned her on. It was sobering times like this when she really regretted drinking. Nevertheless she always found herself with a drink in her hand. 

Chapter Two: Sober Thoughts

**References to drugs and alcohol ahead**

Veronica groaned as she began to wake. She should be used to waking up on her bedroom floor but she wasn't. And her body was screaming at her to get up.

How much had I had to drink last night?
What did I drink?
What did I smoke?
Snort?

The questions bounced across her Brain like a ping-pong ball. And it was making her already hurting head, much much worse. She had to get up. Now.

Using all the strength in her body, she made her way to the hallway. Her plan was to go to the bathroom, but she didn't know if she'd make it without stumbling along the way.

She successfully reached her destination. The first thing she wanted, no needed to do, was to brush her teeth. The taste of beer and other alcoholic beverages were now sour in her mouth. She could probably kill an entire garden right now if she only just breathed on it. She scrubbed and scrubbed. Her head throbbed even more as she moved. 

After rinsing she pulled some pain killers out of the medicine cabinet. Although the pills were prescribed to a Mr. David Banks, it didn't mean she wasn't going to take them. What was the saying? Finders keepers losers weepers? 

She swallowed the Hydrocodone pills down with a cup of water. It wouldn't take long for her pounding headache to be gone now. She grabbed a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out to light.

Her kids? Where were they?! She panicked. She was suppose to wake them up this morning! She pushed past the last round of nausea threatening to escape her body and went to Jeremy's room.

Upon entering her eldest's room, she discovered only a neatly made bed with no sign of Jeremy. When she checked out the Nursery she also noted that it was empty. They were gone. She exhaled a cloud of smoke and raked her fingers through her messy hair. 

From the sun setting, she could tell she was knocked out longer than she assumed. She took a drag from her cigarette. 

Does he think he can be a better Parent than me? She thought in reference to her oldest son. He was always running around after Malcolm as if she couldn't. As if she wasn't capable. 

"Well I carried you and him!" She mumbled under her breath. I am a good mother. And he needs to start respecting me more. She continued with her thoughts. 

She slid unto the floor with a small thud. Reality set in as she nearly missed the beer bottle. She wasn't a good mother and she was lucky her children hadn't ran away yet. She turned the cigarette away from her and placed her head onto her arm. She was the worst mother ever. She had to be. 

"He's only 17. He deserves to live his life, not raise a toddler." She cried. 

"He must hate me so much." She carried on. Veronica was having her daily pity party. She would feel bad for her lack of involvement in her kids lives and not taking proper care of them, yet everyday she failed to act on her thoughts. 

Like always, her high took over and all depressing thoughts were on their way out the window. She stood on her feet and showered, dressed and was ready for another night out. 

The bags under her eyes were now concealed with tons of concealer, foundation and powder. Her eyes were refreshed with Visine. And her mouth was freshened with a minty piece of Winterfresh gum. Her hair was now much more tamed and in loose waves. Her outfit was just right. Eye-catching, but not overly revealing. As she walked out of the door she pondered which club she would frequent tonight. 

Twenty minutes or so later, Jeremy and Malcolm made their way home. He had stayed at school late to finish up his homework in a less stressful environment. He could smell the scent of cigarette smoke as he strolled into the living room. Malcolm coughed a bit and Jeremy took him to his room. To their dismay, the smell was there too. He opened a window and hoped it would carry the smell out. 

He plopped Jeremy near his toy chest and gave him a small kiss on the head. 

"Dinner will be ready soon Champ." He said and left the room. 

The only thing in the refrigerator were bottles of juice and Macaroni and Cheese. Sadly, there was no milk. He had enough money in his wallet for some pizza and wings. He pulled his cell out of his pocket and called the local Pizza joint to have them deliver their meal for tonight. 

Chapter One: The routine

The alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. sharp. Not 6:01 or 5:59, but 6:00 a.m. Jeremy's eyes slowly fluttered opened as he pushed the covers back far enough so he could silence the alarm. He hated Mondays, but didn't everyone? He hated the fact that he had little to no sleep the night before too. It was always that way for him. The night before school was filled with anticipation and fear, so much so that his mind didn't let him rest until it was 2:30 a.m.

At least it's almost over He thought as he finally willed his body to leave the warmth and comfortableness of his bed. Today was the beginning of the end for him, his senior year.

His feet touched the coolness of the wooded floor and he made his way to the bathroom. His morning routine started as he showered, brushed his teeth and quickly got dressed.

He walked back into his room to make sure his bed was made. It wasn't the norm that a 17 year old boy would do this. But he wasn't the average 17 year old. And plus if his grandma was here, she'd  make sure he didn't leave the room until it was tidy.

"Is your bed made?" She would ask.
"Yes Ma'am." He would respond.
"Good now come and eat breakfast before it gets cold." She would say and go back into the kitchen. 

He sighed as he remembered his grandma. She was his rock, she held the family together. She held his life together and now he had to pick up everything on his own. Pushing the thoughts away, he left his room.

As he was headed towards Malcolm's nursery, he couldn't help but get the urge to check his mom's room. But it was no point. He knew what he would find behind the door. No one or worse, she would be passed out with God knows what in her system. No he didn't have time for that this morning.

"Hey Champ." He greeted. The toddler looked up at him and smiled. Malcolm was pretty quiet when he woke up. He had woken up five minutes or so before Jeremy came into his room and busied himself with playing with his Teddy. He dropped the Teddy beside him and stood to be released from his crib.

Jeremy smiled down at his younger brother before scooping him up. He gave him a bath and changed his clothes before going into the kitchen to find something for them to eat.

                                                                       

Jeremy fixed bowls of cereal for Malcolm and himself. It wasn't Grandma's pancakes, but it would keep them satisfied until lunch time. Malcolm ate his meal with no problems. Jeremy on the other hand wolfed down the Frosted Flakes and Milk and imagined it was something homemade. He cast a glance at the time on the microwave. 7:20 it read. Jeremy didn't realize how fast time was slipping away. He still had to get Malcolm to the daycare and himself in school before 8:05.  

He hopped off the stool and placed both bowls in the dishwasher. He quickly wiped Malcolm's face and hands before putting his shoes on. Next, he picked up Malcolm's diaper bag and his own book bag and was out the door. 

He was grateful that his landlord's daughter also ran a daycare service in their apartment complex. If not, he'd be screwed. He pushed the down button and waited until they reached the first level. He was met with Daisy, the landlord's daughter, smiling and waiting to take Malcolm away from him.

"Thank you." He said as he placed the diaper bag beside her. 

"Hurry or you'll be late for class." She said with a warm smile. She was right. He was well on his way to being late. 

Once he was outside of his building he began running. In his mind he tried to figure out the best way to get to school on time. Run, Bike, Subway, or try to find a taxi. He was nearing the subway and he still hadn't made up his mind.

And just as he was trying to remember if he had his Bridge card, he spotted a Taxi coming down the street.
Thank God he thought.
"Taxi!" He shouted and waved his hand. The yellow cab slowed to a stop and waited for him to get in.
"Bridgeport High please. I'm kinda in a hurry." He said. He buckled his seat belt and placed his book bag near him. The Cabbie nodded his head and then the meter began to run.