A Chance at Life

The Heat of Summer

It's a hot summers afternoon and I'm sunbathing while Eli is playing in the pool with one of his friends when my phone begins to ring.
"Hello?" I hear sniffling and then she clears her throat.
"Toni, can I come over?"
"Yeah. Do I need the ice cream?"
"That'd be nice" I end the call and get up to change.

I put on some shorts and a tank top to welcome the guest. I wait around 20 minutes before the doorbell rings, I get up and open the door.
"Hey Toni"
"Hi Teri. Do I need my baseball bat?"
"No" she wipes her tears and laughs. I pull her in for a hug and welcome her inside.
"What's happened now?"
"She's back to her ways, you've always been right. I just-"
"I know Teri, no matter how hard she fucking 'tries' she'll always go back. She doesn't care"
"It's not the first time, I don't..." She starts to cry and I take her into the living room, sitting on the couch. "I thought after what you said the first time she'd change"
"She's been doing this my whole life, let alone your 17 years of existence" she laughs and Shelby comes into the living room.
"Hey Shelby"
"Teri? Why are you crying" Shelby sits next to her and hugs her.
"My mom"
"Is she doing it again?" Teri nods and wipes her eyes.
"You're welcome to stay here" They both look at me and I nod.
"For as long as you need. Emily won't mind, she'll probably enjoy your company"

I spend the rest of the afternoon sunbathing with Shelby, Teri and some ice cream. Emily comes home from work and brings a friend over as she comes into the garden smiling more than usual. They stand on the patio which looks over the garden and Emily shouts down.
"Hey guys, this is George" He waves and we all wave back.
"Hey ladies, nice to meet you"
"That's Teri, Toni and Shelby"
"Teri and Toni"
"Sisters"
"And Shelby" he winks and smiles at her and she grabs me across my chest to stop me getting up. "Lookin' good. I hope you'll be joining us for dinner?"
"George is cooking, I sent Henry home for the night"
"Food poisoning is on the table this evening then?" We laugh and he looks at me in disgust.
"I can cook, probably better than you"
"Don't take it to heart George, it's nothing personal. Toni likes to annoy all the guests. Where's Eli?"
"In his room"
"Dinner in an hour" They walk off and I sit up.

"I don't like him"
"I love him" Shelby sits up and we both look at Teri. "You think he's single?"
"Teri!" She laughs and smiles.
"I'm joking, Toni. He's good looking though"
"Well Toni, you have nothing to worry about with me" Shelby kisses my cheek as they both stand up, she wraps a towel around her waist and goes inside with Teri. I sit there staring at the sunset and take a minute before I get up following them.

I walk through the kitchen and see George sat on the counter alone eating a chocolate bar. "Why are you sat on the counter?"
"Because I can"
"Don't get comfy and get the fuck off" He jumps off and scowls at me, walking away.
"Toni, not bullying the guest are we?" Shelby walks in and grabs a drink.
"Never" I kiss her and she smiles.

I follow her into the lounge and I sit down on Shelby's lap to annoy her and she pushes me off.
"Hey!"
"I'm jokin' come back" George watches us as Shelby smiles at him and he smiles back, winking again. She holds me tighter than she was and I just smile at her. I fall into the seat next to her and we watch the tv.

An hour later Teri is calling us into the dining room to help set the table while George and Emily finish dishing up. "Elliot, we have guests so remember to use your table manners"
"Okay Shelby" We all take our seats and George sits next to Shelby as Teri and Emily bring out the plates.
"So George do you work with Emily?"
"I do, Emily works out front and I work in the back"
"You're a chef?"
"I am"
"Explains why this salad is better than any I've tasted before"
"Thank you Teri" George looks at Shelby's hand and smiles. "Engaged?"
"Hmm?"
"Your ring" I start to bounce my leg and feel Shelby put her hand on it to calm me.
"Promise ring"
"So no engagement?"
"Not yet"
"Yet" He smiles at his food, eating it. I put one of my hands under the table and Shelby puts hers on top of it.
"One day"
"Who's the lucky one? Obviously not me" Everyone looks between both of us, as I smile at my plate of food knowing how stupid he sounds.
"I'm the lucky one"
"Can't be as lucky with you as his girlfriend"
"Her girlfriend and of course I am"
"Maybe I can change that. Wait 'her'? You're into girls?"
"Fortunately for myself, Toni's one of a kind"
"Toni?" He looks at me and his face turns beet red. I smile at him and wink. Teri snickers trying to hide her laugh and Emily smiles at him.

He clears his throat and smiles. "She's still the lucky one"
"And if you continue to flirt with my girlfriend, I'll make you the unlucky one" I finish my food and sip my drink.
"You can't-"
"George shut up"
"But Em..."
"Why are you acting like a dick today. We're respectful in this house, even Eli has better manners than you and he's 11. Fixed up or leave"
He sits back in his chair and we start to clean up around him.

I go to take his plate and he grabs my arm. "There was no need to embarrass me"
"You embarrassed yourself, now let go before I do embarrass you" he lets go and I leave his plate there. "You know where the kitchen is"
I leave the room with the remaining glasses, taking a breath and put them in the dishwasher. Shelby comes over and stands in front of me when I turn around.
"I'm proud of you" I laugh and kiss her cheek.
"Why?"
"Because he isn't on the ground"
"If he continues he'll be in the ground"
"Be nice" She kisses me and smiles wrapping her arms around my neck. "He'll be going soon, Emily isn't happy with him so it'll probably be the last time we see him"

Teri walks in with George and Shelby moves to lean on the counter next to me. "I'm just going to meet a friend. I'll be back later"
"It's 9pm, don't you think it's a little late to be outside now?"
"It's not that dark yet, I'll be home by 11. Promise?"
"11 and no later"
"Thank you" I move from the dishwasher so George can put in his plate in it.
"Thanks. I'll be leaving now"
"Shame" Shelby nudges me and I roll my eyes.
"Thank you for dinner George. Hope you see you again?"
"Mm" He walks out the kitchen and I wash my hands in the sink.

"You could be more friendly"
"Shelby, he was flirting with you the entire time he was here"
"He was?"
"Ugh, yes" I walk off, going to the balcony in my room and sitting at the table. I watch the city turn from dusk to night and watch the cars go by. Shelby joins me and we sit watching the world go by in silence.
"I'm sorry Toni"
"For what?"
"I didn't even notice"
"It's not your fault, I just hope that he doesn't come back"
"He won't" She kisses my head and walks back inside.

I stay there a while longer watching a show on my phone with the door closed. Shelby comes back out an hour later. "Are you coming to bed?"
"I want to wait for Teri to get back"
"She's a big girl, come on" She grabs my phone and my hand and pulls me inside.

I start to get undressed and Shelby helps take off my shirt, kissing my shoulders and neck. I turn around and kiss her back. I pick her up and put her onto the bed, taking off her pajama shirt and I start to kiss her body. Moving from her neck to her boobs, she pulls me back up to kiss my lips.

There's a knock at the door and I look behind me and groan. I kiss Shelby again and grab her pajama shirt putting it on as she gets under a blanket. I open the door to Teri who's bleeding from her nose and her lip which is busted.
"Teri? Who did this?" She stops crying and wipes her eye.
"Mom's stupid fucking boyfriend" I feel Shelby put her hand on my back as she comes over with the blanket around her body.
"Teri, you need to be cleaned up"She turns around from Teri putting a hoodie on. "Come on"

I follow them to the bathroom and I sit on the bath while Teri sits on the toilet seat and Shelby uses disinfectant and cotton pads to clean up the blood. "What happened?"
"I met my friend and I was in the area of mom's so I wanted to grab some stuff to bring back. She was real pissed I was leaving then her boyfriend got involved so I argued with him about it and he hit me. I punched him back and he hit me again. My friend grabbed my bag and dragged me away from him while mom tried to stop him"
"Should we call the police, Toni?"
"No they won't do shit, Shelby. It's not the first time"
"That he's hit you?!"
"Not me, he's hit mom before. She didn't do anything, look it's not a big deal. I'm staying here now anyway"
"Are you sure you don't want to do anything Teri?"
"Shelby, I'm sure" Teri winces at the sting from the pad when it touches her lip. "Ow"
"Nearly done" Shelby finishes up and I leave the room going back into my own.

Shelby comes in a few moments later and closes the door behind her. "What are you going to do?"
"Honestly, nothing. I don't want to be involved with that kind of drama. We came to LA for a fresh start and we've been here just over a year, I'm not starting any now"
"What about Teri?"
"She needs to stay away so she can live here" Shelby joins me in bed and I turn on the tv. "I have a soft spot for family but only when they deserve it" I pull her closer and kiss her head as we watch the tv.

Over the rest of the summer, Teri moves in and I become her legal guardian so she doesn't have to return back to Tina. We find a school closer so she can get there easier and she settles in. The last we hear from our mom is when we pick up the last of Teri's things from the house with CPS with us so nothing happens.