The Night We Met

Chapter 15

My little study session with Journey turned out to be more of a movie night, it had started to rain so we put on some sad movies to go along with the weather we were having. We were watching Titanic because Journey had never seen it before I mean come on who has never seen Titanic it was a classic. "I can't believe you've never watched this movie before" I looked at him and laughed. He was so interested in it that he didn't even care to answer me it was a bit funny he was truly in love and I was ready to get a refill of popcorn. "Well, I'm going to the kitchen for a refill do you want anything?" I asked him and without taking his eyes off the screen made his request and I made my way to the kitchen. 

"Hey, honey" I turned around and saw my mom standing up in the kitchen she was wearing her work clothes which were a knee-length skirt her silky button-up, and a blazer with her favorite nude heels. 

"Oh hi, Mom you're back early today I thought you had to go on a business trip," I said hugging her. My mom sister and I were all we had, my dad wasn't in the picture he would just have a strange man drop off an envelope with a check for each of us. There was one point in our lives when my dad loved us but I don't know what changed. As for the checks I never used mine I have over 30 checks from him in my dresser that I have never cashed their just there.  I will never use them what's the point, however, my mother and sister put theirs right in their bank accounts as soon as the abnormally tall man in a black suit dropped them off at our doorstep. 

"No baby the weather is too bad, but you know next time." she smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear. "Did your dad call?" she asked taking off her shoes. 

"Ummm no as if he ever does" I rolled my eyes

"Hey I know how you feel about him but he is still your dad remember," she gave me a stern look. 

"Yeah, Mom I know but what has he ever done for us but threw us money every month and he just barely started to do that. For years it was up to you to raise two growing girls on your own with no help." It was true, everything I was telling her was true the only reason why he started to even give us money was that it looked bad on his part How could you live with your wife and two daughters alone with barely enough money to survive and go start a whole new family somewhere else. 

"Aspen I know my love but like I said he's still our father so you have to respect him," she kissed me on my forehead. I didn't say anything else I just smiled and nodded. 

"Also who is that boy sitting in my living room crying" she whispered and pointed at Journey who was wiping his eyes dry. 

"Oh that's my friend Journey we were supposed to be studying but the weather called for Titanic, plus this is his first time watching it." 

"Oh I see well it's getting late and you know the rules, no company past 6 pm and it's almost 8:00, Aspen,"

"Yeah I know but it got pretty bad outside earlier and when we started the movie I didn't know that it would get worse,"  It was the worst snowstorm that Oregon has seen yet and there was no way that Journey could make it home safe.  My mom looked out the window and nodded as Our phones went off with weather warnings. 

 "Well, I guess he is going to have to end up staying the night they just shut down the roads. He can stay in the downstairs guest room, not the one upstairs I don't want anything going on." she looked at me. I knew what she was insinuating but it would never happen with Journey and me besides he had eyes for Stacey. 

"Trust me Mom he has eyes for someone else."  I laughed and as I was laughing Stacey walked down the stairs and Journey turned as red as a tomato. "Okay I get the hint now, I'm going to shower then hit the hay goodnight girls, Journey we just got alerts on our phone that the storm caused the roads to close we have a spare bedroom down here that you can sleep in for the night." My mom said while walking up the stairs. 

"Oh thank you so much, I promise no funny business." Journey laughed and waved at my mom I looked at her trying to hold in my laugh with my hands covering my mouth, she looked at me and raised her eyebrows while making her way up the stairs.