The Questions We Ask, chapter 4

"Liar," I uttered at last.
"Flamma..."
"No. Don't speak."
"Flamma, I'm sorry I left--" I smacked him.
"How could you?" I asked in a raspy, evil, cold tone. I walked back to the room in silence. Billie didn't follow. When I came into the room, the guys stopped laughing and talking and looked at me, a mess whose makeup was probably smeared all over her face. "Zach, can we go? It was nice to meet all of you."
"Um, yeah. But why?" Zach asked.
"Nothing."
"Don't leave me!!!" Tre whined. He got down on his knees and crawled to me and grabbed my leg. "Don't leave meeeeee...!" He droned.
"I'll get your guys' numbers, but I want to leave. Better yet, I'll give you my number...better yet, I'll give Mike my number."
"Why him?"
"Because, he's responsible and you aren't, he won't lose it and you will, and I trust him...I'm not sure about you," I said out all at once. What a jumble.
"Okay...but I call dibs on calling you first!" He called.
"Okay, 'TTYL', Tre."
"Like, yeah, girlfriend!" He said in a valley girl's tone.

Billie came into the room now. I blinked.
"Erm...'chews cud'." Zach burst out laughing because we have a little private joke that we're cows, and when we don't know what to say, we say 'chews cud', like we're cows, chewing cud, and we need to explain what we're doing.
"Moo!" He shouted.
"'Chews cud still'." I pushed past Billie, but he grabbed my shoulder.
"Please, please let me explain."
"Okay, hows about I sum it up then? You left. I was all alone. Izzy had no dad, either. We were alone together. Now I'm 17 and half your age. And now you should be ashamed of yourself for making me live through a hell. Thanks, 'Dad'," I spat. He flinched more than ever, like me striking him with a blow.
"But--"
"No. No buts. You had all of 17 years to talk. But no more. Catch me this morning, and I would've been happy to see you. But you're pitiful." I got all the way past him now, leaving everyone in shock.
"WHAT?!" Tre screamed. I ignored it and went to the car all by myself. Funny. Or is it? The title of Tre's song. I had left Zach in there. Hopefully he'll come out soon.

Zach's POV:
"What was that?" I asked, surely pale myself.
"I...I'm..." he started.
"Oh, my God!" I moaned. "No! I can't be! I can't be dating my cousin! Uncle Billie!" I looked up at the ceiling.
"Sorry," he simply put it.
"I bet...I'll call you later," I mumbled. "Oh, and Tre?"
"Yeah...?" he asked, still in shock.
"You can probably get your shot at her now," I added. Then I left. I went to the car and we began to drive to her house in silence. Halfway there, I turned on the radio. Some pop garbage came on and I ranted about it, trying to cheer Flamma up. It didn't work. Suddenly, one of those news things came on.
"Sorry for the interruption, but the biggest concert of the night, a Green Day one in Oakland, has been cancelled due to family matters," the announcer explained.

I shut off the radio.
"Sure. Family matters all right," Flamma whispered, more to herself than me.
When we reached her house, I didn't get out just yet. She stopped getting out herself and looked at me.
"What?" She asked. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Flamma, you know I love you, and I always will...but not in that way," I murmured.
"No, you can't break up with me!" She cried. "Why, Zach, why?"
"Because...if you're his daughter...I'm your cousin," I said weakly. She got out of the car without a word and left me all alone.

Flamma's POV:
I can't believe it. This is the best and worst day of my life. No, just best. No, just worst. Okay, it's both. Best because: I met Green Day, Billie's my dad, I kissed Tre, Mike is way sweeter in person, I have something against my mom, I have a cousin from a dad's side, I have knowledge from my dad, and I broke up with my cousin. Inbreeding. I'm shivering just thinking about it. Worst because: 'Dad' probably hates me, I have to fight with Mom about it now, I broke up with the sweetest boyfriend anyone can ask for, I almost made Mike feel unapprieciated, and...and...I don't know. I feel sucky. I entered my house.
"Hey, Flannery!" Mom greeted me cheerfully.
"Hi, Mom," I said in a flat tone.
"Okay, I know something's up. You usually always tell me to call you Flamma, now what's up?" She asked in a motherly voice.
"I...I found..." I sputtered.
"Yes?"
"I found my dad." Silence.