❝ troubles at home ❞

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ALENA BOUNCED HER leg anxiously as she raised the volume of her music to max, she adjusted her wired earbuds before glancing at her door.

She knew her parents were still fighting downstairs, all because she wanted to go back to the Fisher's beach house. Her father became livid with idea of her mother and herself leaving, so he started an argument that then lead to screaming fits.

The seventeen year old chewed her lower lip, her phone lit up with a text message pop up. She turned her attention to the device, it was from Jeremiah.

Jere
what did ur parents say?

Alena took a deep breath as she flipped her phone, so that her screen was now lying flat upon her desk. She ran her hands over her face, doing breathing exercises to keep herself from crying. The last thing she wanted was to cry because of that man known as her father.

Lena turned to face the polaroid's strung up above her bed, a small smile spread across her lips upon seeing her friends. Jere, Belly, Steve, and Conrad.

Ever since she had left the summer before her life had gone more to the gutter, her father picked fights with them over any stupid reason and her mother and Lena were always to blame. In his mind, he never did anything wrong.

Alena's eyes landed on a photo of her mother with Laurel and Susannah. Her gaze saddened at seeing her mother's bright smile, one she hadn't seen since. The girl flinched involuntarily as a loud bang could be heard, she shut her eyes, knowing it was her father who had slammed the door.

The teenager rested her elbows on her knees as she covered her eyes, she quickly stood up as she heard her door click open. Lena relaxed upon seeing her mother enter with a comforting smile, "I'm sorry about that, honey."

Alena was quick to shake her head, "You have nothing to apologize for, mama."

Meera let out a small sigh as she sat at the edge of her daughters bed, silence fell over the two before the mother spoke up, "You better get packing."

Alena's head perked up in shock, "What?" Meera chuckled softly, "You're going to Cousins."

The girl let out a scoff as pure excitement filled her eyes, "No way. We get to go?" Meera's smile faltered, "About that, your father said only you can go."

Alena's giddy mood dropped immediately as she gazed at her mother, "I can't just leave you here alone."

Meera shook her head, "You are going, Alena. Enjoy your summer with your friends, don't worry about me."

Lip's parted with her brows knitted together, Lena took a few steps back, "Mom."

"It's okay, I want you to go. Have fun. Live your teenage years. I'll handle your father."

Tears glossed up in Alena's eyes but she refused to let them fall, "This is so shitty." Meera stood from the bed and tucked a strand lock behind her daughters ear, "It is. I'm taking you over so we have to be up early."

Alena wrapped her arms around her mother, tightly grasping her as Meera caressed the girls hair, "Everything will be okay."

Alena could only hope this summer went well.