The One (17+ Mature Readers Only!!)[ongoing]

Chapter five : Changes (pt 1)

"Hey, can we talk for a while?" Mary-kate said to me as we were walking over to the cafeteria. "Sure! What's wrong?!" I said. I don't think that this conversation would be good. Mary-kate looks upset and I usually don't see her like this unless something happened in her family.

"Are you okay?!" I asked, putting my hand on her shoulder as we sat with our trays. "I should be the one asking questions,Cori!" she yelled, then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before talking to me again. "I thought we were best friends?!, best friends don't hide things from each other". "We are best friends,Mary-Kate!" I said. "Then why are you keeping secrets?!!!", she yelled once again, but only this time she was in my face. I never seen her this angry at me before. I felt bad that she wanted us to be those kinds of friends who never hide things from each other, but were not....im not. I didn't say anything to her. I just looked at my full tray of food, feeling embarrassed. I shrugged and watched her walk away from the corner of my eye. "Is this the end of our friendship?" I asked myself. After the last bell rang, Mary-kate didn't walk home with me this time, so of course I walked alone.

I grabbed my things and started walking. I didn't want anyone to see me cry so I put my hood over my head and put my earbuds in. I finally arrived home when I saw my mom on the porch step crying. I quickly ran up to her and sat with her. "Mom, what's wrong? What happened?" I asked, but it only made her cry more. "I'm so sorry baby..i'm so, so, sorry..." she whined, holding me against her tight. My brother soon came out with his bags and two officers beside him. "Miguel, what's going on? Why is mom crying? And where are you going?" I yelled, running straight up to him. The officers stepped aside and out came a familiar man,with a wicked grin "Don't you mean where WE are going?". "Dad?!" I said, my eyes were wide open and full of confusion. I have no idea what's going on or why my dad is here after all these years, but I need answers. "What do you mean we?". He smiled and walked closer to me. He looked completely different from the last time I remember seeing him. He looked expensive, something Brandon would wear and it did not look like the rusty, alcohol-smelling dad i know. "Well you see, your mother here should tell you the exciting news!" he said, as my mother quickly got up and sneered at him. She turns to me to face her."Sweety, I know this is going to be hard to hear and I know you're confused, but you and Miguel have to live with your father until I figure things out.

My face went pale and all I could think about was brandon. How will he feel about this? I know we don't even know each other so why will I miss him so much,will he miss me? "Come on cupcake! It will be like old times when you were a little girl...ha! I remember when you were three and you and I used to run around in the front yard and play superhero". He said, putting a hand on my shoulder and looking up at the sky, remembering those days he used to come home sober and happy. The days when, after I went to bed he would argue with my mother and throw things at her. I could never live with this man or let him influence Miguel. "Don't fucking touch me, you bastard!" I yelled, swatting his hand off my shoulder. " All of that is bullshit! I'm not going anywhere with you and neither is Miguel!". I grabbed my brother and moved us closer to my mother. "Maria?! Is this how you raised our daughter? To be an out of control brat!" He screamed, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from my family. I have never been so confident as an adult before, but when it came to my mom and brother I would do anything for them. "When you come with me, i'm going to teach you something about manors, little girl!" he whispered so only I could hear. Then looked at the police officers watching all the action and let go of me. About an hour later I was in my room packing. My mother came in and closed the door behind her. She came straight up to me and hugged me. We both were weeping in seconds. "Mom, how could you let this happen?! He's going to hurt us!". "No he wont!" she said in an assertive whisper. She kneeled to me as I sat on my bed. " I won't let him, the court said I am allowed to visit you every week and If i'm not available they will have someone from the courts to keep you and your brother safe".

I began thinking to myself that night and I thought about almost every detail about this situation. Then it came to me...I'll be 18 in a month! Which means I would be able to live wherever I want, but miguel is only 12. He will be stuck with my dad until my mother has a stable job and home.

(To be continued...)