Olivia Hayes never truly had anywhere to call home. Her dad left when she was eleven and her mom was rarely around. Her only salvation was being at her best friend Cora's house.
Alexander Stevens didn't think his life was going anywhere. His parent...
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It's been one week since I had dinner at the Jennings' house.
Yes I found out their last name.
I learned it yesterday during my first shift at E.M's Ice cream parlor.
Martha told me as she taught me how to make ice cream.
Honestly it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.
She told me I would probably work front house more than anything. That meant scooping people ice cream and checking them out.
Most of the time her and Ed will make the ice cream, unless they need me to. Thats why I learned it in the first place.
Today is Wednesday so I have another shift after practice today.
Mr. Shields reminds us of our projects which turns out Cora forgot about.
She said she would just make two this weekend with different outfits and claim one of them was last weekends entry.
At lunch Naomi and I sat across from one another.
We aren't speaking but it isn't awkward.
A few times I glanced over at Alex's table.
Sometimes I would catch him looking at me.
He never shied away, he always held my stare.
I always look away first.
After school we have practice in the gymnasium.
Naomi had us tumbling today so my body is super sore after.
I take some pain relievers before going to my shift at work.
"Hey Olivia." Martha says as I walk inside.
I wave at her as I head into the back.
I put my bags up and clock in.
"So today you'll work the front by yourself. You think you can handle it?" She asks and I nod.
"Great I have a few flavors I need to make pronto. Just shout if you need anything." Martha says before going to the back.
I fix the cups and spoons as I wait for someone to enter the store.
My shift ends at eight thirty which is ok since I usually don't eat dinner until super late anyways.
Two women come in and I take their order.
I get their ice cream and they pay before leaving.
Yep thats my job.
About an hour into my shift Cora and Landon come in.
"Hey babe." She says walking up to the counter.
Landon just nods his head at me.
"I'll get strawberry in a cone and Landon will get vanilla in a cone." She says and I ring them up.
Landon pays and they take their ice cream.
"Do you get to eat all the ice-cream you want?" She asks and I shake my head.
"I can get up to fifteen dollars worth a shift though." I say and her jaw drops.
"Holy cow thats a lot of ice cream, I am so using your discount next time." She says.
They end up eating at the tables outside.
Once my shift ends I begin to walk home.
I spent the last few nights at Cora's house. It was easier than going home every day to check if my mom was home.
When I get there I see her car in the driveway.
Great, I hope she's alone.
Grabbing my keys I unlock the door and step inside.
The smell of bell peppers hit me.
What the-
"Mom?" I call out.
I shut the front doo behind me as I make my way over to the kitchen.
"In here." She calls out.
When I walk into the kitchen I see her cooking something on the stove.
This has got to be a dream.
I pinch my self and sure enough this is reality.
"What are you doing?" I ask her and she turns to look at me.
She smiles, "Cooking dinner for the two of us. Would you mind setting the table?"
I think I am in some sort of shock.
Grabbing two plates I put them on the table as well as utensils.
She made some sort of stir fry which she plates before taking it to the table.
I sit down directly across from her.
"So how was school?" She asks as if this is normal.
I don't even remember the last time we sat down and ate dinner together.
"Umm it was good." I tell her and she gives me another smile.
"Thats nice and Cora, how's she?"
"She's good." I say picking at the sliced steak on my plate.
She takes a bite of her food, "Now isn't this something." She says before taking another bite.
I don't think I have ever been more confused in my life.
Looking around I don't see a bottle of alcohol in sight and she doesn't smell of alcohol.
She's even drinking water right now.
I set my fork on the plate, "Mom what's going on?" I ask her confused.
She sets her own fork down before looking up at me.
"I thought I would make dinner for the two of us. So I did."
I nod hesitantly, "But you never do."
"Well things change Olivia, I have changed."
My brows furrow, "What does that mean?"
She sighs, "A few days ago I woke up somewhere, I am still not sure where. It was dark and I was alone. I had to find someone to tell me where I was, it was quite embarrassing." She chuckles.
"Anyway I decided I didn't want to wake up like that so I stopped drinking."
"Just like that?" I ask, suspicion lacing my words.
She nods, "Just like that."
I've never heard anyone going cold turkey like that and being ok.
I decide not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Well I think thats good mom." I say before taking another bite of my food.
After dinner I help her with dishes and she insists on having me catch her up on my life.
I tell her about cheer, Cora, and my new job at the ice cream parlor.
I leave out anything about Alex. It seems too personal to discuss with her right now.
Eventually she says she's tired and heads off to bed.
I do too, changing into pajamas before climbing under the covers.
My mind races at the thought of my mom actually being sober.
My mom cooking dinners and being here to talk to me when I get home from school everyday.
She said she's going to look for a job next week and I told her I thought that sounded like a good idea.
Whatever this is with her, whatever epiphany she claims to have had.
