The Fourth of July and the Surrounding Events

CHAPTER 7

When we got to the car, Jayde started badgering us with questions of how it was, what we did, and where we went. But with Jayde in the front and Mateo driving, Morgan and I were forced to sit in the back, together. The tension during the car ride to Morgan's house was thicker than Gordon Ramsey's famous burgers. It was as if every word Mateo and Jayde said to us just hung there while we stared out opposite windows, taking turns glancing at each other awkwardly. As soon as Morgan got out and we all said our goodbyes, the vibe instantly changed, and Mateo and Jayde turned in their seats. 

"What the hell was going on back there, Alexandria?" Mateo questioned me using my full name, while Jayde just looked at me quizzically, probably trying to understand the tension that had magically left with Morgan. 

"Nothing, I have no idea what you're talking about," I responded immediately without faltering. 

Years on end of lying to my mom and Tyler about how I felt came in handy sometimes. 

"Lexi," Jayde started, "I felt that tension, what's going on?" 

"Guys, stop nothings going on," I said getting frustrated. 

"Lex," Mateo started softly, "you guys looked like you were having a moment when I walked in." 

Jayde's eyes widened at Mateo's words. 

"WHAT! I- no we were not! We just-" I spluttered. 

I'm lying to their faces. 

Exchanging looks, Jayde and Mateo just turned back around, "Alright then," they said simultaneously. And just like that, a different type of tension was back.

When they dropped me off at my house, Jayde got out to hug me, whispering in my ear, "Hey Lexi, it's ok if you feel guilty because of Katelyn, but I really think Morgan might be a good change." 

Oh god, she has no idea what she's talking about. 

"That's not it, but thank you Jaydie," I said squeezing my best friend tightly. 

Letting go of her, I waved to Mateo and walked up the stairs to the grandiose mansion I called home. The lonely marble stairs with their frigid touch called me up to my room. My room was the only place I felt even relatively safe in. A few years ago, Mateo installed a lock on my door that only locks from the inside, and I just recently soundproofed my room, so I don't have to hear Tyler doing things to my mother. Every other room was haunted by the touch and thought of Tyler. 

Flopping down onto my bed, I picked my phone up that I had retrieved from Mateo. Mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and Snapchat, I looked at all the people who had their lives posted to a board like minions brainwashed by society. Like a lovesick-obsessed idiot, I went to Jayde's Instagram page and went to the photos of us. We look so happy there. Once I got bored of scrolling through the same faked smiles, I stood up, throwing my phone to the end of my bed, and went into the shower. 

As soon as the cold water hit my back, all of my nerves were suddenly intensified. God, I want her. Oh shut the fuck up Alexandria, you don't even know who "her" is. Turning the water to a positively hell-ish temperature, I tried to scrub away my confused thoughts. With every droplet of water that rolled off my nose and past my line of sight, two more fell from my eyes.

Waking up in the morning felt like hell. 11:30 am wasn't late for me but I had fallen asleep with wet hair and tears rolling down my face. Crying myself to sleep was normal, but last night wasn't normal. I wasn't crying from a bad dream about Tyler, my mom, or even my dad leaving, but simply from not understanding my torturous thoughts. My mind was crowded, and crying seemed to let the tiniest amount of stress out.

Hearing my name being yelled from downstairs, I rolled out of bed, not bothering to change my clothes or brush my hair, and stumbled down the marble stairs. 

"Alexandria," Tyler said lowly glancing up at me, "finally, you're awake." 

Rolling my eyes at the worthless piece of shit who was sitting at the kitchen bar my own father built, I walked by him not even bothering to respond. 

"Hey Lexi," my mom said gingerly. 

Well at least someone could tell I wasn't okay. 

"Hi, Mom," I muttered. 

I honestly can't even with her. Defending Tyler over me was the last straw. Sure, she's the last living relative I have that I've seen in over 10 years, but sometimes she pushes all the wrong buttons. 

Again, the Shit decided to talk, "We're going to Italy over the weekend, I wired money to your credit card. Our flight leaves at 5:30 tonight." 

Unsurprised, I turned to my mom with a blank stare and a monotone voice, "This your idea?" 

Whenever my mother hears anything about my father she runs off to a European country, and drinks until she forgets her name. 

The auburn-haired woman nodded once, almost guiltily. 

"God, you are so fucked up," I said angrily, marching back up to my room, not bothering to listen to her limp protest.

My parents had been together for more than 20 years, they were all I'd ever known. They were my world. The perfect couple. The perfect parents. My dad would take my mom and me to the carnival each July and buy us heart-shaped cotton candy. Until the fighting started. One day we were on the Ferris wheel laughing like the perfect family we were, and the next, the only decipherable words were, "fuck you" and "I hate you." Three years later, the divorce was final. They had tried to stay together for my well-being, but three years of pretending was extremely tiring for all involved parties. The last time I saw him I was 10, but I got through it. 7 years later, I was completely over the divorce, and my mother still drank herself to sleep on every anniversary.

Clicking on Jayde's contact, I got ready to ask her if she wanted to stay over for the weekend when a notification popped up on my screen. Morgan. Out of anyone, why her? Why did the most complicated person in my life have to text me right now?

Morgan: hey :)

Alexandria, you aren't in the right headspace to answer this.

Me: hi there

why'd you do that. stop you dumbass.

Morgan: whatcha doin

Me: uh just at home
u?

Morgan: yea same. idk what to do lmao
this town is really boring sometimes

Ok, that's a literal cry to hang out. Don't accept it. Don't accept it.

Me: my mom is going out of town and I'm gonna have some people over tonight
you should come

Morgan: fr??
i'd love to thanks

You're a fucking idiot Alexandria.

A/N: shit is about to go downnnn </3