The Hershs: Part Two

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One Thousand Miles

Chapter  |  The Hershs

Part  |  Two

The first couple of days were good until Thanksgiving. During these past few days leading up to Thanksgiving, I managed to spend time with my family and try to catch up on some things. Nothing new was going on, but I was glad that I got to hear from them anyways. John seemed to like everybody, well everybody except for Ethan. It wasn't that he didn't like him; it was just that he was giving him a hard time. The second night we had been there, Ethan would not stop glaring at him from across the table during dinner. All it took to get him to turn his attention away from him was Ally who had stuck mash potatoes up his ear. John seemed to like Katie, like a lot. He had the little four year old wrapped around his finger. Even though we had only just arrived a few days ago, he still adored her and would not stop talking how many kids he wanted in the future.

"I want a daughter Steph. I mean there is nothing wrong with a boy, it's just that I think it would be cool to have a miniature you running around carrying a whisk as a magic wand," he said as he shut the door. Every night after dinner when we head upstairs to the room we're sleeping in, John always shuts the door just in case Ethan's listening.

I shake my head. "You are crazy. What makes you think we'll be together that long?"

He looks offended and taken back by my question. "Stephanie, I don't think, I just know."

I just smiled back at him and gave him a small nod. "Sure, and I know I'll be the first female president. I'm confident I will," I laughed. "Maybe you're wrong, maybe you're right. Let's not dwell on the future just yet."

And that's when he gets this upset look on his face. It was then that I realized that John had liked me a lot more than I thought he did to be saying stuff like this. I wanted to believe that what I thought he was feeling for me was just all up in my head, but at the same time I knew it was true.

That next day the subject was forgotten, and all was good. I still brought the subject up in my head, but I never did have a conversation with John about it. I didn't want to bring it up just in case he said those three magic words that I knew I wouldn't be able to say back. I like John a lot, but we had only been together for a few months. I wanted to wait a little longer so I could be sure what I was feeling was real.

It was now Thanksgiving, which by far was my favorite holiday. We had all gathered around in a circle and said grace before saying everything we were thankful for. Everything was great, until we got to Ethan.

"Well guys, I am thankful for my parents for bringing me into this world filled with crime, hatred, fuckery, and boys trying to get in my sisters pants," Ethan said with nothing but seriousness. As soon as the last two came out of his mouth, everybody looked up at him with anger, fear, or confusion. It was obvious that the fearful look was coming from John. "And lastly I am thankful for my three sisters who bring me nothing but joy and happiness."

Once he was done speaking, everybody continued to stare at him until mom cleared her throat and sat down, which everybody followed. Soon the room was filled with chatter and silverware clanking against plates. As I sat there eating my food, I noticed out of the corner of my eye John picking at his turkey with a fork. I leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "What is the matter?"

He shook his head slightly. "You're brother hates me."

I shook my head and tried to give him a reassuring smile. "No he doesn't. He just----"

Suddenly the sound of silverware hitting against a class cup repeatedly brought my attention to Ethan. "Sorry to interrupt everybody's conversations, but I would like for all of us to come together and just talk about one thing. John."

My mother reached over and grabbed Ethan's shoulder. "Ethan."

"No, no mother. I'm sure John doesn't mind us asking him a few questions about himself. Isn't that right Johnny boy?"

John let out an awkward chuckle. "Well it's just John, and yeah I guess it's alright if---"

"See mom he says it's alright. Okay, so where exactly are you from?"

John just smiles. I guess he was relieved that it wasn't something along the lines of, "Have you had sex with my sister yet? If so when, where, and how?" But I wouldn't put it past Ethan to ask something like that. "Well I've lived here in New York all my life."

Ethan nods his head before tapping his chin, trying to think of a question. "Do you work? If so, what do you do?"

"Well my father has his own company out in the city and---"

"Wait, you're Michael Schmidt's son aren't you? I knew that name sounded familiar. I think I've talked to your father quite a few times. Nice guy. Very---"

Ethan cleared his throat. "Dad do you mind saving that for later. I'm trying to get to know him. Now, thanks to your interruption, I have to think of a new one."

John shook his head. "Well actually---"

"So have you fucked my sister?"

I instantly choked on the air and I think everybody else did except for Ethan and Katie. Ethan, sat there glaring at John, while mom and dad did the same to Ethan, Ally was trying to finish her food really fast so she could hurry up and just leave the conversation, and Katie just sat there laughing even though we knew she was confused.

"Ethan," I scolded through gritted teeth."

"No it's okay. He can ask me anything," John said while staring back at Ethan with narrowed eyes. "And to answer your question, no I have not had sex with your sister.....yet."

Within seconds, Ethan's whole face had gone red and he was holding on to the table with a tight grip. "You're so sure that you're going to get into my sister's panties, aren't you?"

John smirked. "Yes I'm very sure."

Ethan instantly stood from his chair, causing it to fall over, and began trying to climb over the table to reach John, but was being held back by Ally and my father. As I sat there and watched my father and Ally struggle to keep Ethan back, mom resting her head in her hands, Katie giggling, and John smirking, I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed that things did not go how I had planned.

"Let me go! I'm going to kill him! I'm going to kill him so he doesn't even get a chance touch her skin!" Ethan yelled.

This was chaos, and any moment now the neighbors would come knocking on the door. I slowly stood from my chair and with shaky hands I brought them up and back down making it hit against the table loudly. "Enough!"

The room went silent instantly. Everybody began looking around the room at each other as if they had just realized what they were doing only moments ago.

"Oh my god, Stephanie I---"

"Shut up, Ethan." I say while shaking my head. "This is not how we're supposed to act on Thanksgiving. We're supposed to be showing each other love and care, but all we're showing is hatred and disrespect. I have never been so disappointed in my life. I'm especially disappointed in you Ethan! I bring a guy home for Thanksgiving dinner and you just---you just---you just made him feel uncomfortable. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen. I am an adult now and you guys aren't going to treat me how you treated me before when I lived under this roof."

"Stephanie please I---"

"I thought I said shut up," I yelled, causing him to jump and look at me with surprise. "And John, you didn't have to feed into what he was saying to you. You played a part in this too, so don't just sit there looking like you've done nothing wrong. All of you have done something wrong!"

"Stephanie---"

I shook my head. "Come on John, I think we're going to stay at a hotel tonight. I'm sure Ally would like her bedroom back anyways."

John slowly stood up from his chair and tried reaching out for my hand, but all I did was shake my head. "No."

It took us about five minutes to leave the house without a single word being spoken to anybody. As I sat there in the passenger seat of John's car, I noticed him looking at me from the corner of his eye every minute or so. I could tell he wanted to say something, but I'm sure he knew that would only make the situation worse than what it was.

Thirty minutes later, we were settling into our hotel room and getting prepared for bed. As I laid there in the bed thinking about everything that just occurred in the past hour I couldn't help but let my tears spill over and my quiet sobs fill the room.

After a couple of minutes, John exits the bathroom and lies down next to me in the bed. I feel him sling his arm around my waist and pull me into his warm body. Another sob leaves my mouth and he starts to whisper things like, "I'm sorry," and, "Its okay."

Soon my quiet sobs become louder and he begins to rub my back soothingly. I roll over on my other side and bury my face in John's chest to muffle my sobs.

"It wasn't supposed to be that way," I cried into his chest.

He kissed my cheek. "I know, I know, I'm sorry."

"I want to say it's okay, but it's not."

"I know I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry."

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