One Of The Boys

-Prologue-

        “Mom get up!” I hissed shaking her shoulder. She groaned and rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. I leaned over and took a small whiff, “Damn mom you’re drunk again aren’t you?” I shouted. I looked under the bed at the empty bodies of liquor. I buried my face in my hands shaking my head. I wiped my eyes and sat my mom up, “Mom you were sober.” I whispered.

                “Was.” She hissed. I looked at her then closed my eyes, “It’s not easy you know? Doing this all on your own; raising a 16 year old. But of course your idiot father wouldn’t know.” She hissed even more. I took a step back and shook my head. “Don’t shake your head at me! If it wasn’t me, you wouldn’t be here!” She shouted. I flinched a bit.

                “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t here.” I whispered grabbing my bag that was the door. “I’ll be late to school. You have a job interview today. Shower, and change into something nice. Drink some coffee and water, and take an Aleve. I made you some breakfast, it’s on the counter.” I muttered leaving her room. I opened the door to our apartment and walked down the hall outside.

        Once I got to school I headed to my locker avoiding any stares at got. I was known as the mistake. At least, my mom made it perfectly clear I was one. She’s told almost everyone I wasn’t ever planned. I was her biggest mistake, besides my “deadbeat” father that divorced my mom when I was 5, then died when I was 7.

        I pulled my hood up and headed to my first period class, sitting down in my usual seat in the bac; 45 minutes into class the principle Mrs. Martinez, walked in. “Uh Holly Maxwell?” She asked looking around the room. I looked up quickly and saw all eyes on me. Once she spotted me, she smiled softly and motioned me to come with her, “We need to see you please.” I took a gulp and grabbed my stuff walking by people. I quickly stepped over the foot that was supposed to trip me, and dodged a few paper balls.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as soon as I was in the office. Mrs. Martinez walked with me into her own personal office and that’s when I saw a man in a suite, “Who’s this?” I asked looking at him.

“Hi, I am Kevin Sparks. It’s about your mother.”  I looked at him and then at Mrs. Martinez with a scared look, “Your mother was arrested, probably a few minutes after you left for school.” Kevin replied. I sat down and looked at him more, signaling him to go on, “Apparently, she was related to a meth lab that was found in a basement at a nearby house. She admitted to doing meth, and to helping them. She admitted to doing heroin, cocaine, and smoked weed. She also admitted to having a drinking addiction. Did you know about this?” He asked.

        I nodded slowly, “I didn’t know about the drugs. I know she had a drinking addiction cause I caught her drunk more than she was sober. I had to fu-freaking bathe her cause she was too drunk to it herself. She had terrible boyfriends who did stuff to me. That’s why I never told anyone. She threatened me, they threatened me.” I whispered looking at my hands.

        “Well you will be going to live with the Allen’s.” Kevin replied. I gave him a puzzled look, “Well by the look on your face, I’m guessing you don’t know who they are.” He laughed a bit and then stopped when he realized I wasn’t even smiling, “Lea Garcia was your mom’s best friend growing up. Her madden name was Kinsley. She has offered to take you in, until you go off to college."

        “You want me to go live with people I don’t even know?” I asked.

         “I think it would be your best shot unless you want to go into a group home.”

        “At least tell me where they live.”

         “A ranch in California; near a beach, the kids all go to nice schools. Lea and her husband both have great jobs. I think you’ll be happy there Holly.”