"I'm right here.." ~ Jake x Sean ~ The Music Freaks

~ "Mom...?" ~

Jake and Sean are left sitting on their on a bench outside the mall. Milly was on the phone with her mom, presumably trying to be able to hang out longer.
Jake pulls his phone out. 'Twelve missed calls... from mom..-?'
"Sean... I need to call my own mom really quickly. I'll be back in no time," Jake says, standing up and walking a little ways away. Sean watches Jake from afar.
"C'mon... pick up..." Jake mumbles. The phone stops ringing and Milo's voice comes through the phone.
"Jake..!?" Milo says, seeming worried and breathless.
"What's wrong? Why do you have mom's phone?" Jake asks.
"...I think losing her job has affected mom badly... she's going off about how... how you should be pulling your own weight instead of wasting your time on singing... I think she was drinking." Milo says quietly. Jake's breath catches.
"Lock yourself in your room, keep the phone with you. I'll be home shortly." Jake replies after a few moments.
"Don't come alone! If it's just you... you could get hurt-!" Milo warns.
Jake sighs and says, "Milo, mom was like this for a while after Dad left. I know how to deal with it, don't worry. She's just emotional. She'd never lay a hand on us, especially not you. The most she might do to me is give me a well deserved slap in the face,"
"Be careful..." Milo mumbles.
"Are you locked in your room?" Jake asks, worry lines etching his face.
"Yes.."
"I'll be there soon. Hopefully with company,"
Jake hangs up the phone and walks over to Sean.
"I know that face... what happened?" Sean asks, standing up.
"...My mom went drinking again.." Jake sighs.
"Again?" Sean inquires.
"She did it a few times when I was little. If she drinks too much, she acts rashly. She's... a good parent, but.. sometimes a bit worrisome." Jake says quietly.
"Well then you aren't going home alone," Sean responds. He pulls his phone out and texts Milly telling her something urgent came up and the two of them had to leave. Then he takes Jake by the hands and says, "is your mom home alone?"
"No. Milo called me with her phone to tell me." Jake answers, squeezing Sean's hands tightly. Sean nods, let's go with one hand, and starts toward Jake's house with Jake.
When the boys arrive, the door is unlocked and wide open, but the house seems peaceful enough.
There are sounds in the kitchen. The two of them walk slowly and silently to the kitchen doorway, where Jake peeks in.
"Oh... oh oh oh..." Ms. Sterling sobs. "It's all my fault..."
"Mom...?" Jake says softly, entering the room. His hand slips from Sean's grasp. Ms. Sterling looks up. Her face was blotchy red and her cheeks were stained with tears and messed up makeup.
"Jake...!" Ms. Sterling exclaims, her eyes wide.
"Mom, calm down now.. we're gonna get you in bed... with a nice cup of ice cold water and your favorite nature sounds..." Jake says, keeping his wobbly voice as even as possible.
"Oh Jake..! It's all my fault!" Ms. Sterling declares, sobbing again. She throws her arms around Jake, hugging him tight.
"What's your fault,Mom..?" Jake asks, trying hard not to tremble. He hasn't seen his mother like this since he was little. Sean stays out of sight in the shadows of the doorway, as not to cause Ms. Sterling any alarm.
"I got fired...!" Ms. Sterling cries. "And it's all my fault!"
"No.. Mom, let's get you to bed," Jake utters quietly.
"It's all my fault, Jake... all my-.." Ms. Sterling falls asleep in her son's arms, her face covered in tears, makeup,and red blotches.
"Sean... can you help me get her upstairs to her room?" Jake asks, turning his head to look at the older boy.
"Yeah.." Sean says, helping Jake carry Ms. Sterling upstairs to her room, where Jake turns on her nature sounds and grabs a glass of water. He fills it up. Then he goes and grabs a rag, getting it wet with cold water and folding it up. He puts it on his mother's forehead and mumbles something along the lines of 'it'll be alright'.
"I need to check on Milo," Jake says, walking out of the room. Sean follows behind, gently leaving Ms. Sterling's door cracked open just a bit.
"Milo? It's me. Jake." Jake sighs. The door opens and Milo pops his head out. He looked like he had been crying too. Jake hugs him tight.
"Is mom okay?" Milo asks.
"Mom is fine," Jake assures him.

After Jake had calmed Milo down and sent him off to bed, Sean made a phone call to his dad asking to stay over at Jake's for the night. He had clothes he could wear, because they'd bought them that day.
Jake had decided he was going to try and be as comfortable and reassured as possible and decided to wear Sean's hoodie, which Sean had not yet taken back.
"Do you want me to sleep on the couch downstairs or on your floor or..-?" Sean asks, holding Jake close. The two were standing in the hallway.
"You can sleep in my bed with me. It's fine. Our couch isn't very sleep-worthy and I don't need to be stepping on you in the morning," Jake says softly, his eyes closed as he rests his head against Sean's shoulder.
"Alright, whatever makes you feel better," Sean responds calmly. Oreo was snoring soundly infront of Ms. Sterling's door.
Sean plants a gentle kiss on Jake's head.
"It'll be alright, I know it," Sean whispers reassuringly.

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A/N: Well that was 944 words of just angst and drama <3 fun fun! ✨️
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A/N 2: Poor Ms. Sterling though. It'll be okay! <maybe>