Hate Is Another Word For Love

Chapter 10

The women has long blonde hair and green eyes.

She looks like my mother...only...younger.

I back up slightly, but she smiles.

"Erin?" she asks.

"Yes..." I say slowly. "Who the hell are you?" I repeat.

She smiles. "I'm your Aunt Jodi."

I stare at her.

"Why should I believe you? I'm calling the police!"

"No honey, call your Mother." She says.

I stare at her and slowly back up.

I dial Mom.

It rings three times.

"Shouldn't you be in class?"

"I had to leave. Why is in the living room?"

"My sister, your Aunt Jodi."

I've never met my Mom's side of the family before.

"Can I skip the rest of the day?" I sigh.

"No. if you do you'll regret it."

Confused, I hang up. I go upstairs and take a shower and throw on black skinny jeans and a long sleeve sweater that says I hate you and black high-top converse.

I rush through my hair and grab Ethan another shirt, and then I walk outside.

I eat the food I got in the car, and I go to school. I get a late pass.

If I don't go today I'll regret it? What is that supposed to mean?

Sighing, I walk into sixth period.

This is Trig.

I hand the teacher my pass.

I have Bri, Ethan, and Braxton in this class.

I toss Ethan a clean shirt and sit down next to Braxton.

The teacher gives up his lesson because nobody is paying attention. I turn around to face Ethan.

"Mom's sister is in our living room." I say.

Ethan blinks four times.

"Oh." He says. "Why?"

"I don't know, but I asked Mom if I could skip the rest of the day and she told me I would regret it if I did."

"Is Mom home?" he asks.

"No." I shake my head.

"Weird." He shrugs.

****

When we get home, Mom and Dad are home and they picked Ava up early.

I walk in the house with Ethan following me.

"Sit down." Mom tells us. I run my stuff upstairs and change into pajamas, and then go back downstairs and remain standing next to my brother.

"Why are you here?" I ask. "Are you staying with us?"

"No, no dear, you're coming with me!" she smiles.

"I'm not going with you."

"We all are." Mom smiles.

It takes a minute for it to click.

"We're moving." Ethan says. "Where? To where? Burlington? Middlebury?"

"No, we're moving to Timnath, Colorado." Dad says.

My heart stops.

"Yay! I hate Vermont!" Avalynn grins.