FIRE | H.S.

Chapter 17

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home, honey? You know it's only a couple of blocks away from our house," Mrs. Gonzales asks me. Aurora begs me with her eyes to accept her mom's offer but I shake my head.

"No, Mrs. Gonzales, thank you. You already do enough for me, I don't want to take advantage," I smile at her.

"Alright, honey. Be careful!" she says, kissing the top of my head and walking towards her car with Aurora next to her. I watch them walk away, longingly.

Everyone's parents come to pick them up, sure some take the bus, but there are so many kids whose parents come to drop them off and pick them up once school is over. They always get a kiss on their cheek or on the top of their head. I see a lot of kids complain and pull away when their moms do that and I don't understand why. What I wouldn't give to have my mom kiss the top of my head and wish me a good day every morning, or kiss my cheek and ask how my day was as we walk home.

I let out a big sigh and start walking to my house. The sun is beating down on me, it's really hot today. Why the hell does it have to be this hot? I seriously hate summer.

I wish I could drive and have a car so I didn't have to walk home every day. We have a car, but fucking Clyde always takes it. I don't even live that far away from school, six blocks away, maybe, but I hate walking in the sun. I always get home and my face is super red and I can't breathe and I see dark spots everywhere. Maybe I have a brain tumor and that's why I see the spots.

I finally reach my front door and I take my keys out of my backpack. I open the door and close it behind me.

I wish I had never made it home. Nothing prepared me for the sight that waited for me as soon as I closed the door and turned to the living room.

"Mom!" I scream.

The sound of an alarm startles me awake. "Shit!" I sit up.

"You alright?" Evan's raspy voice asks. My room is still dark and I'm sweating.

I release a shaky breath and nod. "Yeah, I'm okay. Your alarm scared me." I lay back down and bring the covers up to my chin.

"Okay, well, I should get going." Evan rubs his face and gets out of my bed, throwing on his t-shirt and putting on his shoes. "I'll see you later, babe." He kisses my forehead and walks out of my room.

I rush downstairs when I hear the door close. I lock it and go back to my room to get ready for the day.

Today I had two nail appointments and one haircut/styling appointment. They were enough to keep me distracted and not thinking about my mother. One of my nail clients wanted coffin-shaped blush-colored nails, with small dried flowers on her index and pinky, a delicate curved line of pastel rhinestones for her ring finger with a cute, small, clear butterfly. She told me her prom was coming up and wanted her nails to match her dress. She was so happy with the final result, it made my day.

When I was done with my appointments, it was time to go get Leilani. Clara and I stand under the canopies while waiting for the children to come out. She tells me that she's having a girl and she's very excited about that because her little boy will be the best big brother for her. She also grabbed my hand and placed it on her belly so I could feel how hard her baby was kicking her.

Once the children came out, I noticed Leilani was the last one in the line, which was strange because she's usually one of the first ones. She was walking slow and dragging her backpack, looking at her feet.