Chapter 3

Friday came quick, with no interferences with Cyrus except when I made him promise that he wouldn’t kill me or harm me in anyway and then some deadly smirks from him that made me shiver in my shoes. It wasn’t the wind either.

I arrived home, slamming the door loudly to alert my mother of my presence. I walked to the kitchen to see her sitting there, smiling with a plate on the table. She instructed me to sit. Oh no.

This was it. She does this every single year, makes me sweets- usually my favorite chocolate chip cookies, sits in the kitchen, it’s like an intervention!

She always tells me that I and I quote, ‘need to stop wearing the same pair of shoes for 2 years straight!’ Is it really a problem? I don’t have a problem and she shouldn’t either! They aren’t in bad condition and she should be happy I’m not like the girls in my class who go shopping every other day! Unfortunately for my too common fashion mishaps, she forces me to go shopping with her, and it’s the worst thing ever.

“Honey, I know you don’t always enjoy it but you have to come with me. I even have a surprise for you there. And you need some new clothes and so do I.” My mother said, looking at my shoes which were in perfect condition- aside from the grayed laces.

“C’mon, Mom, I didn’t like it last year, I won’t like it this year and I won’t like it the years to come.” I said, sighing.

"Well; all of this can be avoided if you buy more shoes when you go shopping in the beginning of the school year with Christy! Besides, I’m not taking ‘No’ for an answer.” My mother said, crossing her arms.

“Whatever.” I muttered standing and walking upstairs to my room.

“Don’t act like that, honey. You’re going to like the surprise. Now, c’mon. Let’s go.” My mother said, grabbing her keys and coat, placing the empty cookie dish into the sink.

I groaned loudly, placing my hoodie over my arms. I looked at the picture hanging above the sink. It was of my mother, my father, and I. We were sitting on a bench in the park. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was one of the good days we had together, one of few. My mother keeps saying she’d take it down but I always tell her to leave it there so we’ll have good memories to remember him, other than having us sit in silence as we think of how he tore our family apart.

- Flashback -

“Don’t go too far.” My father’s voice shouted as I raced down the hill. I rushed to get to the park, the one that I loved. I hope a swing is open, or else I’d have to wait my turn. My mommy and daddy were behind me, but they still could see me. I raced to the swing, hopping onto it and struggling to swing. My legs won’t kick. My daddy began running towards me, laughing and smiling. He made me laugh and smile as he pushed me; I slowly began to fly into the air.

“Hold on!” He warned me. But I was already holding on, watching as the sunset from my swing as it went as high as the clouds. It was only 6 o’clock and my hoodie was tied tightly around my waist, the air nipping at my face but it’s okay.

"Picture time.” My mother said as we made our way to the photographer, as mommy called him; but I call him ‘big picture man’ because he just takes the pictures and gives them to us. I sat between mommy and daddy. Daddy put his arm around mommy, squishing me. But I didn’t mind! I know my Mommy and Daddy loved each other. I smiled really hard for the camera when the flash went off.

“Let’s get ice cream, now.” Daddy spoke, letting me run to the ice cream truck.

-  Flashback End  -

“If it makes you feel any better, I invited Lucas and his mother.” My mom said with her back towards me as she scrubbed the dish. She is such a clean freak, but I appreciate her. My eyes lit up at the thought of Lucas and me hanging out again. We haven’t hung out in ages. He was one of my best friends, who decided after middle school- to go to a different high school in the town over. Well, it was more of his mother’s choice.

“You miss him, don’t you?” My mom asked, watching me as I sighed dramatically. I nodded. He was the only one that knew about everything that happened, and still accepted me. Some of my friends left me.

“Then let’s go.” My mother said, placing pep in her step. I trailed behind her quickly, eager to see my old best friend.

 __

“How’s school?” My mom’s voice trailed, as she smiled at me as we got into her Lamborghini Aventador. We pulled out of the driveway, tires squealing loudly as the gas excelled. I don’t understand why she bought such an unnecessary car, too flashy and expensive.

“It’s going great.” I said calming down as she slowly lifted her foot off the gas, going 40 miles per hour.

“That’s good. Any boyfriends?” She asked, raising and dropping her eyebrows twice, making me laugh. My thoughts wandered to Cyrus at her question. I scowled and shook my head ‘no.’

“Why not? You’re 17 and you don’t have a boyfriend.” My mother said, frowning. I rolled my eyes.

“I had Dean.” I said, regrettingly. My voice was distant as I remembered Dean.

“I’m sorry honey, I totally forgot. I’m pressuring you, I’m sorry.” My mother apologized. I smiled lightly. I wanted to get over Dean, it’s just really hard. I would be perfectly fine if people didn’t throw him in my face all of the time.

“It’s perfectly fine, mom.” I reassured her as she turned onto the highway, pressing the gas to 60. She rolled the windows up, to keep her hair manageable.  I sighed as she winked at me.

"You’ll find a guy.” She promised. I rolled my eyes at her comment, telling her to keep her eyes on the road.

 __

“LUCAS!” I said, hugging him as he shouted my name as well.

“How are you? I haven’t seen you since summer vacation.” He said, pulling away.  

“I’m good. A little annoyed, but good. What about yourself?” I said, smiling widely.

“I’m good. I have a girlfriend now!” He said, pulling out his wallet. I smiled even wider.

“Really? What’s her name?” I asked, glancing at the picture he was holding out to me. She was beautiful, and he looked just as happy with her- genuinely happy.

“Aria.” He said, biting his lip. I smirked.

“Someone’s in love.” I said, nudging his stomach.

“Whatever. Where’s your lucky guy?” He asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

“We broke up.” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Wait? You and Dean broke up?” He asked, his shoulders sinking a little as I nodded.

“He was cheating on me with some girl at a College Party.” I said, shrugging as if it was no big deal, when in reality, a shot of pain raced through me like I‘d just been burned.

“Are you okay?” He asked, smiling sympathetically.

“I’ll get better, I mean- It’s not like I was going to marry him.” I said, shrugging. I liked him a lot, though.

“He didn’t deserve you anyway. You’ll find someone better. Trust me; a guy would be fortunate to have you.” He said, grinning. I rolled my eyes again.

“Whatever. Let’s go shopping!” I said, pointing to a random store with my index finger.

“I hope you know you’re pointing at a men’s lingerie store.” He said, readjusting my hand to a lady store. I glanced at the man’s store to see a middle age man walking out of there with a bag that looked like it was filled with lacey products as he shamefully hid it behind his leg. I shuttered as we began walking towards the store.

__ 

“Where are you going?” My mother asked concern on her face.

"Those stores over there, text me if you need me.” I said, grinning at her. She nodded her head slowly looking at the store then back at me, handing me a few bills. I shoved them into my pocket, not even bothering to count them.

“How about this one?” Lucas asked, handing me a navy green shirt with neon polka dots on it.

"How about no?” I asked, with a fake smile on my face. Who makes stuff like that? Matter of fact, who buys it?

“Just trying to help, jeez.” He said, shoving it back onto the rack.

“I like this!” I said, pulling out a long sleeve, plain black shirt.

“That’s the same one as this one!” He said, shaking the sleeve of my other bag that hung off of my arm.

“Oh.” I said, frowning.

“Why not this?” He asked, pulling out the same replica of the black shirt, but in purple. I looked at the shirt, frowning.

“Why not?” He asked, swinging it slightly.

“Because I don’t like the color. And I don’t have shoes to match.” I said, shrugging.

“You can always match it with the vest you bought. It has black in it and black matches everything right?” He asked, grinning at his fashion expert advice. I nodded, giving up as he shoved it at me. Curse him and his fashionable expertise.

“Here, take this one.” He said, grabbing a red short sleeved collared shirt with buttons until the mid-chest. I switched it out for a medium and took it, examining it.

“Pretty.” I said, honestly. I purchased my 4 items, 3 shirts and one pair of jeans before walking out of the store.

“That’s 3 outfits you bought now, the two jeans from that girly store down there and one pair of jeans and 3 shirts from here.” Lucas stated, smiling. I nodded.

“Just 2 more.” I said, looking at the money in my hand. It was enough for 5 if I really wanted to, but I don’t. So I won’t. I hated how freely my mom gave me money; I didn’t have to work for it which angered me.

Most people would just take it and joyride- but I didn’t like taking money from my mother. Not that she didn’t have it- no; she had way more than enough. She runs a business that her great, great grandfather owned, giving it to her great grandfather, then her grandfather, then to herself. She’s the first woman to own it and it’s doing better than ever. I hope she doesn’t plan on placing the job on me because I think it’s too much responsibility personally.

“Let’s go here.” I said, pointing to a store that had a wide selection of clothes that seemed to suit me.

2 hours later, we walked out of that store- with a few more outfits than I needed, okay 11 more outfits than necessary, and then 4 pairs of shoes. Lucas was carrying almost everything as I carried one bag which was my purse.

“So… how’d you meet Aria?” I asked, grinning. He smiled dumbly as we approached the foot court, where our mothers agreed to meet us.

“She and I were in the same Home Ec. Class, and she burned the food, so she was assigned to work with me- the fabulous chef. So we ended up going out on a few dates, then I asked her to be my girlfriend.” He said, grinning at the memory. I grinned as well.

“I’m so happy for you.” I said, smiling widely.

“Me too.” He said, sighing.

 __

“But I don’t want to leave!” Lucas said, frowning. He was behaving childishly but it was the truth, I didn’t want to leave.

“Fine.” His mother said, dismissing his whining.

“Take your car.” She said, sighing. I glanced at him.

“I was already here.” He said, shrugging. I nodded my head.

“Put that stuff in the car. You look like a pack mule, Luke.” His mother said, smiling playfully. We nodded, laughing.

“Do you guys need any more money?” My mom asked, smiling towards me and Lucas. His mother held her wallet as if she was going to toss it to us

"No thank you, Ms. Perkins; No thanks, Mom.” Lucas spoke, smiling as I replied.

"No thanks mum and Ms. Harp.” Our mothers placed their wallets away and then grabbed their bags. She nodded, hugging me tightly before leaving. Lucas and I walked to the parking lot, placing the bags into the backseat of his car before going back into the store.

 __

“Kids from my school are going to start arriving soon.” I scowled, watching from the rising elevator as a few familiar cars pulled into the parking lot. Lucas gave me a sad look as he watched the cars pull in over my shoulder.

“Ew, that’s Miranda’s car.” I remarked, pointing at a bright pink mustang that pulled in smoothly.

“Miranda? The girl that’s been bothering you since freshman year?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. I nodded my head, yes.

“Why don’t you just punch her?” He asked, leaning against the wall of the elevator. I shrugged.

“I don’t like violence.” I replied.

"Why not?” He asked.

“Because it just intensifies things... and you could get arrested.” I retorted.

“Not if you hit them one good time in the temple or in the throat. You just have to find a place to hide the body.” He continued with a joking smile as the elevator dinged. At least I hope he was joking, I don’t need my best friend to be a murderer without my knowing. I’m already out of the loop.

I began stepping off the elevator the same time someone was getting on. We lightly bumped into each other.

“Sorry.” I replied, looking down to see a pair of red stilettos and black converse sneakers with the initials D.H on the white part of each shoe... I heard a familiar laugh. A girl laugh. I looked up. Dean was standing there with his arm around the girl’s waist that I caught him kissing at the party. She was much older and, sadly, much prettier than I was. She had long golden hair that reached down to her waist and was pin straight. Her eyes were large and blue like the ocean. They held everything but innocence in them, unlike my inexperienced self.

“I meant- your fault.” I said with venom dripping from my voice as I started pushing past him. He reached out and grabbed my arm, ignoring Lucas’s penetrating glare. I can see Lucas tensing.

“No, I think it’s yours. You shouldn’t have been so close to the exit.” He said, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“You shouldn’t have been so eager to get onto the elevator with her. You should wait until you’re in a more suitable place, not a public glass elevator.” I growled.

“No need to be jealous, honey. We can share.” The girl winked, causing me to step back in disgust, ripping Dean’s hands off of me.

“You’re a pig, Dean Harvey. You disgust me.” I said, stepping back even more, to find Lucas waiting beside me. I placed my hand out in front of him, so he wouldn’t go all ape and start punching throats.

“You know that I don’t.” He said, smirking.

“You really do. I don’t understand how I dated you; fell for your tricks- playing Mr. Nice Guy.” I retorted, glaring at him.

“You act like you’re all innocent. Well, you’re not. I know what you’ve been doing behind my back.” He said, lying through his now yellow teeth from the beer he’d been drinking and cigarettes he’d been smoking lately. I scoffed.

“What I’ve been doing? You mean- studying and doing my school work? Believing that you were at your house doing the same when in reality you were playing tonsil tennis with this bimbo?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. She didn’t look the least bit offended. In fact, her eyes wandered the mall as if she were lost.

“No, you know what I mean.” He said, narrowing his eyes.

“What, Dean? What do you mean? Because I don’t know. I didn’t do anything but love you. But that was how you repaid me, by cheating on me with some bimbo at a party.” I said, motioning to the bottle blond girl standing near the railing beside the elevator.

“I know about what you did with those guys who stayed at your house during the time I was away.” He said, gritting his teeth. I thought back to the time he was away at football camp in the summer. Does he mean…

“My cousins? You know what I did with my cousins?” I asked, sarcastically. He looked dumbfounded for a minute, causing Lucas to snicker.

“That’s what you call them?” He asked with a sickened tone, raising an eyebrow.

“Cousins? Yes, that term is assigned to your parent’s sibling’s children or your parent’s cousins.” I said, crossing my arms.

“I hate you.” He spat with disgust clear in his voice. Unlike the feelings erupting in my chest, I kept my face void of emotion.

“The feelings are mutual.” I said, in a monotone voice making it all the more real.  

“Your father hates you, too.” He spat, walking away. I heaved a breath, turning towards Lucas who smiled lightly at me, taking me in for a hug. How could someone who was so kind and sweet towards me about 4 months ago be the cruel, disdainful monster that he is today?

__

“Are you okay?” Lucas asked, eating a fry. I nodded my head. Lucas sighed.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom.” I said, needing to be alone for a minute. He nodded his head, sighing.

I walked to the corner of the food court, near the entrance, slipping inside the bathroom hallway, tears spilling out of my eyes. I patted to find a doorway and slipped inside the quiet bathroom. I wish I could read braille, then I’d be able to make sure I was going into the right bathroom.

I locked myself into a stall, wiping my eyes vigorously. Why was I even crying? We broke up about 2 and half months ago. Did I love him? I think I did. I suspected that he’d been cheating on me since the 1 year and 8 months mark. Every time I went around his friends, they’d stop talking and he’d have a pained look on his face which would turn into a smug look as he’d glance at his friends.

And my father. Why would he bring him up? Was it to make my life miserable? More miserable than it already is? I slid down the side of the stall, wiping my eyes. Control yourself. I blinked twice, trying to stop the flowing tears. I inhaled repeatedly.

A few months ago, he was my escape- he was the person I went to when I needed someone to comfort me. When I cried myself to sleep, he’d climb into bed beside me and let me cuddle up against him, controlling the sobs that escaped. Now, it seems as if I’m looking for an escape from him.

 __

A noise came from outside the bathroom stall. I peeked under the bathroom to see familiar shoes. I sniffled loudly causing him to jump from the urinal, spinning so he’d face me, causing me to shriek and cover my eyes, pulling away from the bottom of the stall. Urinals? I was in the guy’s room! He turned around, making my heart drop. It was him.