Chapter I - The Introduction

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A picture of Andrew

Andrew's POV – 16 June 2019 (Sunday).

"Are you going to wake up on your own? Or am I going to have to drag you out of that bed!"

I was woken up from my deep slumber by my father's voice booming in the room. "I apologize Dad, I'll be down in a few." I explain.

"What has happened to you young man? You know how important church is to this family yet you still find ways to be your deviant self! Now listen here, your mother and I will be waiting downstairs while you fix yourself. And don't, make me fetch you again!" my father threatened.

"Yes Sir."

With one last disapproving look, my father saw his way out of my room. When I hear the door shut close, I run right into the shower, knowing very well what would happen if I dared to disobey him.

As I turn on the shower, letting the water trickle on my skin, I begin to ponder on how beautiful my life seems in the eyes of my peers. I am an only child, born to financially stable parents. Well, financially stable is the humble way of saying my parents were a bit on the wealthy side. My father owns a law firm in Michigan, and my mother works side by side with him as his personal assistant and accountant.

We live in a posh double storey house, with a massive backyard and a pool. A pool that most of the high school population was very familiar with.

See, I have a tendency of throwing massive parties whenever my parents are out of town. It's the only time I get a chance to truly let lose. These parties are really what solidified my position in the school's social hierarchy. They earned me some pretty cool friends and a very beautiful girlfriend, Olivia.

Olivia is one of the many people that began to pay attention to me as soon as they knew the lifestyle that I had. Not that I'm complaining, I understand. I mean, who wouldn't want an acquaintance that's loaded? No one, right?

So in the eyes of my peers, I was living the life. I had the friends, the girl, the money and all the good things that many high school students wish they had. Girls wanted me, guys wanted to be me, simple.

But under all those layers, lies a lot of unhappiness. I had everything that many 17 year old guys wanted, but I was unhappy. I couldn't pin point what the reason for this was, but I knew it, and it ate me alive. I knew that...

"MY FREAKING WATER BILL!" my father's voice took me out of my trance immediately. I shut the water off, knowing exactly what he meant with those words.

I bolted into my room, only to stop in my tracks when I saw my father standing right by the door.

"Dad, I..."

"Did I not tell you, not to make me fetch you?" my Dad interrupted.

"You did, Sir." I whispered, suddenly finding the floor way more interesting to look at.

"Yet what did you do?" he says getting closer to me. "Look at me when I'm talking to you young man!" my Father yelled once more, his voice laced with venom.

I opted to not respond anymore, knowing very well that nothing good ever came from trying to argue with him. Instead, I slowly lifted my gaze and as soon as I met his eyes, I saw him snap. He raised his fist, as if he was going to punch me, it wouldn't be the first time, so I wouldn't be shocked. But as I anticipated the hit, it never came.

I finally gained the courage to peek through my hands which had flew straight to my face when I thought he was going to punch me, only to see him with his eyes closed, breathing heavily.

"You are lucky you're doing all this shit on God's day. Pull this stunt off on any other day, I will slap your empty head off your shoulders." my father threatened. "Your mother and I have waited way too long for you, you'll have to come to church by yourself" my father said as he walked out, only to return seconds later. "And don't even think about not showing up Andrew!" he said as he waltzed out.

I know I said I didn't know why I was unhappy, but I was confident my father was one of the sources of my unhappiness.

I try to push any distracting thoughts to the back off my mind, knowing that my parents would be livid if I dared to show up to church late. Why do I even bother going to church? Oh yes, because my lovely parents refuse to live with a heathen.

Before I know it, I was done with all that I had to do. I run to my car, ready to get this day started. God, can it be night time already.

5 HOURS LATER

Whoever thought it was fun to stay at church for over 2 hours really needed to get a life. I am beyond exhausted, and I am freaking hungry. I'm so hungry that I can feel my stomach touch my spine. Well, that's a weird expression but you get the point.

I really regret not grabbing some fruits before I left the house in the morning, but truth be told I was not in the right state of mind. Actually, now that I think about the events that took place in the morning, I remember that I had driven myself here and there's no need to wait for my parents. "Urgh!" I groan in realization that I could have been home a while back, but my mind wasn't cooperating. Damn you, hunger!

I stand up from the steps, dusting my pants off, ensuring that neither of my parents were in sight because my father despised the idea of family leaving at different times, but what can I say, I'm starving. As I'm making my way to the car park, my mother pops out of nowhere, with the golden girl herself, Samantha Simmons.

"Andrew, did you say hi to Samantha today?" my mother beamed.

Samantha is a lovely girl, I just hate the fact that our parents keep pushing for us to be together.

"Hi Samantha" I said with a small sigh.

"Hello Andrew!" Samantha replied enthusiastically.

"Oh Andrew, is that the best you can do?" my mother asked scowling. "That is no way to treat a lady. Why don't you give Samantha a hug?"

"Mom, I'm really starving right now and I'd love to get home. I'm really not the best company for Sam right now", Samantha blushed at the nickname.

"You're heading home before us? You know your father is not going to be happy about that" my mother stated with genuine concern.

"Well, if I don't head home now, I'm going to faint here. Just...please take care of Dad. Please?" I begged my mother.

"Okay, I'll cover for you" my mom said.

"Thanks Mom!" I said skipping off into the car park, not even bidding Samantha goodbye. All that I knew was that my stomach wanted some serious attention.

/////

I arrive at home shortly after leaving the church and make a beeline for the fridge, pulling out leftover pasta. As I'm sorting my meal out, I hear the car pull up on the driveway. Oh no, they're back.

"ANDREW!" my father shouts at the top of his lungs.

"Oh no." I sigh, already knowing that this was not going to be good.

I can hear the car doors slamming shut and I can tell that my father is furious, and before I know it, he bursts through the door, charging at me.

"Dad, I'm sor..." my attempt at apologizing is cut short by my father's fist colliding with my face. Damn, that hurt.

"Why did you leave church before us?" my father questions.

"Dad, I'm sorry." I can feel my eyes swell with tears.

"Sorry doesn't begin to cut it! You disobeyed your mother! Treated Samantha like garbage! What the hell is wrong with you Andrew?" my father's voice rose with each statement. "Look at me when I'm talking to you boy!" he says, pulling my chin up.

When his eyes met mine, he went berserk. "Are you going to cry now? Are you a sissy? Some girl?" my father spews with so much disgust.

And all of a sudden, I wasn't as hungry.

"Get out of my sight" he says.

He didn't need to tell me twice as I make my way upstairs, but not without giving my mother a pained look. She threw me under the bus, again.

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