As time would tell

Jamie thought all along his brother made space for him. As it was, the basement did have a bedroom.

He plopped down his duffel bag along with his laptop on the bed.

"What's going on?" Ducky looked at him as if he'd really lost it this time, but Jamie supposed he was as smug as he ever was, even if his mother's words burned him to the core. Jamie couldn't let it get to him.

"I can't live with her." He was straight lipped. "Dunno how you did it. But I gotta stay with you."

Ducky only gave him a glare with his arms crossed tightly.

"What did you do?" He didn't sound like he'd be a peacemaker.

"Oh..you know.." Jamie festered a wince that was more of a pout. "No..I guess you wouldn't..because you're perfect."

Ducky rolled his eyes at that.

"She's just being a stubborn old woman." Jamie could see why his dad couldn't take it, after all. Jamie was so close to hating her. "She's just-" He couldn't finish his sentence. Especially, after thinking about that stomp of her's, along with the screaming. "She really hates Effy..and she hasn't even met her." He was beginning to think if his mother had any real money, she would have tried to pay Effy off. He had to be thankful, she didn't attempt it, but he couldn't put anything past her.

"I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT!" Jamie was steamed. It was as if his mother needed something to argue about. "But I'm not backing down. I want to be with Effy and I am going to see her."

From this moment on, he didn't care if he ever saw his mother, again. He was certain of it. His mother was crazy.