Pulled Back

Chapter 18

"What happened?" My mom scoffed at me when my father left the kitchen, finishing his lecture about safety, strictly warning me to be carful, and my mother to pay attention to me as she stared down at her phone the whole five minutes.

"You set that up" I state

"Yes I did and you didn't even get a number or converse with the kid" she shook her head, the lines on her forehead standing out more "Didn't you see how he looked at you, he was totally into you"

"Mom I don't know what you expected, we did have a conversation , a short one but that's all it was, just because two people are attracted to one another doesn't mean anything will happening" I shrug walking to the drawer and getting a butter knife. Picking another apple from the basket and popping open the lid of the peanut butter.

Scooping some peanut butter out, I spreading it on a side and bit into the apple.

"What happened to my Bianca, you used to love going out and hanging out with people, friends, going out on dates, you lived for the drama, gossiping was your favorite" she nudged my shoulder and I continued to shake my head.

"Dad won't even let me out of the house-"

"No baby, that isn't an excuse, we want you to go out but we're not going to push you to do it, your father is worried about you, yes, we both are but seeing you smile and do what you used to do will make part of that worrying go away" she frowned at me and reached over to rub her thumb on my hand "This isn't normal for you, to be inside all day and not talking, I miss my chatter box who smiled at everything and randomly made noises or just hummed, just something baby"

I gulp and look away from her, back to the peanut butter and twirling it a little.

"Sorry mom...but sometimes you don't know what to smile at anymore"

Her face dropped like I had slapped her in the face, I knew that sentence would take a toll on her as she analyzed it but all she did was nod at me, nodding meant so much in this house, it was the only way to answer sometimes.

I look back up to her, she opens her mouth to say something but was cut off by the ringing of her phone, holding her hand up towards me and excuse herself.

"Conversations not over" she pointed at me sternly while walking to another room.

My father walks back downstairs and up to me with a sorry look.

I was already having a feeling where this was going, both parents have been trying to make their jobs and me fit in but my mother was a traveling business women and my father had a job multiple states away.

"I'm sorry to have to leave baby but I can't lose this job, I'll be back to check on you soon and I'll call okay?"

I nodded and played with my butter knife, licking it and taking a bit of my apple, it was tasting good, trying to occupy my attention with eating.

"What?! you can't leave, I have to leave" my mother walked back in, fast calls all around over here, short and simple.

"I don't have the option of putting someone else to do my work, I can get fired and it took me weeks to get that job, I can't lose it"

"Yeah well, this meeting is also important and I can't miss it, I have been trying to get it for years, this could boost my career and you haven't gone anywhere with your new one yet, so-"

"Could you guys not" I groan "I'm fine, I'll be fine, Andy is an hour away, the Cavers are right next door, if anything everyone will be watching me especially Mrs.Lang. I'll be okay"

"That's what you said last time"

"We are not leaving you here by yourself just for some fucker to come back here and hurt you again, we'll figure something out" my dad scratched at his head while I kept quiet.

"Maybe my mom could come..." my mother suggested but my dad shook his head, even my mom knew her mother was a bad choice.

"I'll call my mom and see if she'll come and stay with Bianca, she's closer and would be easier" he said before whispering under his breath "and she's less bitchier"

Grandma Ginny wasn't so fond of dad, she would most likely put most of the blame him while making my mother feel like shit. She was a straight up, I don't give a fuck about your feelings kind of person.

My dad was in for a good job at a law firm and my mom was taking the company to Japan, not everyone can stop operating for me. I had no dealer so what's going to happen to me? Absolutely nothing, my friends were extra clingy, and I just don't feel like doing anything.

Grandma Jazz confirmed that she would be coming at the end of the week and so I would only be by myself for three or four days.

That afternoon was a long time filled with a lot of long talks, this is their careers that they were trying to build up, I can't stand in the way of that.

And they got on the next flight out.

So guess who got her keys back and a new phone. Well, I only get to keep the phone, Andy would get my car till dad felt like I needed it which I shouldn't with grandma driving me around, assuming Andy doesn't crash into anything like he previously did last year. Grandma would be chauffeuring me around until then with dads car. My parents just wanted to make sure Andy could come check on me and grandma if anything.

Right now I was promising myself to stay away from anything tempting, to resist because it was the right thing to do not only for me but for everyone else to.

They were gone by eight and it was a Friday night.

I didn't go out though, I stayed right in my bed and I was ready to watch loads of comedy's and children's movies, The Three Stooges were next but what was a movie night without popcorn. I also made Mac and cheese in a cup because I wasn't allowed to use the stove, it was a known fact that I wasn't good in the kitchen.

I stood and stared at the microwave when the doorbell rang.

Walking over to the front door I slightly smile at my group of friends.

"Hey"

"Hey" they responded back to me

"Your mom called us and asked us to see if you were okay" Vanessa said and I just nodded.

"I was just about to go back to my room and watch a movie" I spoke, I hadn't spent much time with them and now I was feeling guilty for it "The Three Stooges are on if you care to join" I shrug and they smiled at me.

No, grinned was a better word, Leslie jumped into my arms like this was some kind of long waited reunion.

"I thought you'd never ask" she sighed in relief, the rest also coming in as well, welcoming themselves in and making their way to the kitchen.

"Looks like we'll need more popcorn" 

Daniella went right to it, passing me my Mac and Cheese to put a popcorn bag into the microwave.

"So when you coming back to school?" Margaret asked sliding herself onto the counter.

I walked around to the sliding door and shrugged at them "Next week"

"That sounds amazing, we miss you" I didn't miss the emphases to the word you, I guess everyone missed the me before summer, I think I missed her too right now. No, there was know 'I think' I did miss her.

Mixing my Mac and Cheese I agree silently, thinking to myself 'Slowly, but I'm coming back'

They smiled at me slipping into a little group hug. I flinched at the sudden squeals of joy and the touch of their skin to mine but it went unnoticed.

"We love you Bee"