Inner Demons

Not Your Average Weekend

Chapter Two

My alarm buzzes, signaling another weekend that's going to end up being just like the rest. I groan and throw my pillow onto my face, my arms keeping it pressed there. The cool air touches my stomach as soon as I move my arms and pillow up to my face. I must have pulled my shirt up a little but I really don't care.

The buzzing grows louder as I sit there like that. I groan but I still don't turn it off.

After coming home yesterday, going up to my room and thinking, I finally decided to move again; only to change into pajamas and get my phone and a book- a book of poems by Edgar Allen Poe. I read and listened to my music until I was exhausted enough to fall asleep.

I pull my Hard Rock Café tank top, the pillow still laying on my face, and sigh. I blindly find my alarm and turn it off. I hate mornings.

****** ***** ***** ***** *****

As I shovel the rest of my breakfast that consists of four pancakes piled on top of each other and an egg between to pieces of toast, my phone flashes and buzzes, causing me to jump in surprise. My mom and my sister, Madelynn, snicker at me. I give them a death glare I'm response. Madelynn keeps giggling, still hidden behind her phone, but Mom nudges her, gives her a glance, and they go back to eating their breakfast, Madi finally putting her cell down. I grin as I answer the phone.

"Hello, this is Hailey," I say sweetly, not knowing who was on the other end of the call.

"Hey. This is-" I know who it is before he even finishes. Ryan.

"No. How'd you even get my number?" I hiss, cutting him off and getting up from my spot at the kitchen table. Madelynn and my mom shoot protests at me but I try to ignore them. I walk deep into the hall to help myself but it doesn't really work.

"I only took you to a fast food joint," I say to Ryan and cover the speaker after I finish, shouting at Madelynn and Mom from the hall, "I'm not here for your entertainment! Go watch 'The Real Housewives' if you need some drama!" They groan and mumble again in response.

When I put the phone back up to my ear, I hear Ryan laughing. I smack my free hand to my thigh in annoyance.

After a few moments of me impatiently waiting for Ryan to shut up, he finally stops laughing and says, "Oh, that was gold."

"No, it wasn't. It's just that just as immature as my mom and my 13 year-old sister," I say sternly. He only laughs again.

"You know, you're going to be one of the coolest moms one day," he says randomly. I let a small smile break onto my lips.

"Yeah, I know. Now, why are you calling me. I thought I made it pretty clear that you annoy the shit out of me," I say, the smile slowly leaving my face.

"Oh, there was a point to this call. I was wondering if you wanted to go to the park or something," he asks, almost shyly. I cock an eyebrow. "Not as a date, of course," he adds quickly.

After I don't respond, he sighs. "I mean, you don't have to. I just didn't want to be holed up in my house all day and everyone else at our school are a bunch of assholes," he says, throwing the pity card into play. I laugh at his attempt.

"Don't even try to throw the pity card my way," I say. "I know how it works. I've used it so many times before."

"I had to give it a shot," he says in a lighthearted tone.

I quietly laugh again. "But the answer is yes. I'll go. I can pick you up or you can even pick me up. We can even meet where ever if you want."

"Really?!" He seems surprised.

"Yeah..." A smile cracks onto my lips.

"I'll be over to pick you up soon," he says, cheerfully.

"Okay." I say my address and ask, "Text me when you get here?" I start getting a little nervous about the whole thing. I mean, I don't even like him. I just met him yesterday. This isn't a date.

"Sure. See you soon."

"Bye." I hang up and think about what just happened. I feel something flutter in my stomach. What am I even feeling? What the hell is going on?

I sigh and walk back to the kitchen table and slide back into my seat. I reach toward the bowl at the middle of the table and grab an apple out it, trying to avoid eye contact. I take a bite of the apple.

"Who was that on the phone?" My mom's voice makes me look up. She has her head rested in her hands, almost looking childish. My sister is doing the same, looking identical to our mom with their long, dark hair and bright green eyes that puts my dull brown hair and chocolate colored eyes to shame.

I grin and respond. "It was no one. Are you going to eat that?" I ask, pointing at the sausage on my mom's plate.

"Tell me who it was and I'll give it to you," she says with a sly smirk.

"But you're my mom," I groan. "You're supposed to feed me." I slump down in my chair.

"You're old enough to live by yourself. I'm not here to feed you anymore." She makes a valid point.

I sigh and give in. I'd do almost anything for food. "Fine. It was a-" the word doesn't want to come out. "It was someone I met yesterday. He just moved here."

"'He'? It was a boy...?" I should've known this was coming. I mentally hit myself for the slip up.

"...Yeah. Now, are you going to give me that sausage or what?" I'd do anything to change the topic.

My mom pushes her plate to me. "Is he a friend?"

I take a bite from the stolen plate and evenly stare at her. "I met him yesterday. I don't even really like him as an acquaintance."

"Really?" She has a giant white grin pasted on her face.

"Really. I'm only, uh, showing him around town," I lie. This is not a date.

"Is there a reason he chose you?" She leans her head in a hand.

"I don't think so. He just helped me in the hall yesterday. But don't you guys have somewhere to be?" I ask, hoping to get out of the conversation so I can change out of my pajamas.

"Oh!" My mom jumps up, grabbing her purse and my sister's arm.

"Wha-" Madelynn manages to get half of the word out before my mom has her started through the kitchen. I lean back in my chair and smirk in satisfaction.

"We have to take you sports shopping. This is my only free day for another month and you don't have a pair of softball cleats that fit. Oh, and you're gonna need a new bat and..."
Mom opens the door, still rambling on.

"Bye!" I shout over Mom and wave. Madi waves back, her phone is still, unsurprisingly, in her hand, and she starts fishing in her pocket for what I can only guess is her earbuds. A two and a half hour ride with Mom can get a little crazy.

When the door closes behind them, I jump out of my seat and race to my room, ready to finally get out of the house and feel normal again.

****** ***** ***** ***** *****
Another chapter. I'm sorry about the terribly long waits for a new part. I've been really busy lately but I'm hoping that it will clear up in a couple of weeks.

Comment and vote. Tell me what you like so far. Tell me if you see any grammar or spelling mistakes and I'll fix them right away. :)