It Started With A Concussion ??

Jackson's POV

Saturday came and went. I played my game better than I did last week, finally returning to performing my best.

Coach was praising me for my ridiculous throws, and accurate long balls that made for some highlight reel plays.

Part of my strength had to stem from the anger I was feeling at the time. And I still feel it now.

The night before we left my mom had to cockblock me with a phone call. It started off normal, she told me Lauren and Annabelle were coming down next week, same for our cousins.

But then she muttered some bad news, terrible news for a matter of fact. Donovan Michaels is your typical wolf of Wall Street, ignorant, rich, asshole.

His persona is structured around his business needs. That means he really doesn't give a shit what happens unless he gets the benefits.

But he's also a two faced little weasel that wormed his way into my mom's life. He gave her everything at first. The affection, the gifts, the love. But he never showed that to any of us kids.

He would be so sweet to us in front of her, but once she turned her back he'd give us glares and menacing stares. I've heard him insult my sisters on multiple accounts, I even called him out for it on one occasion.

But he had my mom so enamored with him that she didn't believe me. When she fell pregnant with his child everything went downhill.

I would come back from school and find marks on her wrists, bruises, scratches. I knew it was him but she tried so hard to deny what was happening.

You could only imagine the rage I felt towards him. But what could I do? I was an eleven year old boy with two sisters I felt the need to protect.

By the end of her first trimester he left her without a word. I've hated him ever since he stepped foot in this house and even now, as my mother schedules this sit down dinner with him, I'm put in a mood.

With the hideous personality he has, the only thing I'm grateful for was that he gave me the cutest and sweetest little sister I could ask for. I hate that he's her father, but I love her because she doesn't resemble him in any way besides her blonde hair.

Lauren, Annabelle, and I have Rob as a father. Him and my mom married when they were young, had us three, but split up on good terms. He now lives in Oregon with a new wife and family.

Sometimes it's awkward, but he gives us everything he can. And I'd rather have some awkward moments than pure hatred for him.

The only thing Don is good for is allowing us to live a life like this. Without him my mom could never afford this house, pay for us to go to college, put food on the table, buy us cars.

He gives her money thinking it will fix everything. She accepted it with us in mind and although I knew she would've paid my tuition, I made it my mission to get a scholarship so she didn't have to worry about me.

But it's that time of the year again. Once a year Don will come down and have dinner with us so he can see his daughter.

Not that I think he even cares.

I argue with my mom that he shouldn't be near her, but she tells me it's not fair to Ro if she doesn't get to see him. I hate when he's around, I hate his presence, I absolutely hate him.

So I decided to channel my anger into my sport. It seemed like the only healthy way to cope with it. The escapism works because it's now Sunday and I'm feeling much better.