I Need You

Chapter 6. Distance

*Theresa's POV*

After what felt like hours of sitting in this boring classroom and taking note of what the teacher was saying every now and then, the bell rang, and it was finally time for lunch. I practically leaped up from my seat at this. I quickly gathered my stuff and exited the classroom hastily. When I stepped outside, the biggest smile crept up on my face as I made eye contact with my boyfriend. "Shall we?" He said while I interlocked my fingers with his. We giddily walked down the hallway until we reached the cafeteria. I walked over to the table with Ben and all of our friends. Or should I say 'his' friends. I didn't have many friends because everyone either hated me for dating Ben or was only trying to get close to me because of my status. 

I watched as Ben dapped up all of his friends from football. It felt just like every day. I couldn't help but feel a little bored with it all. The only thing keeping me sane was his smile. I could look at it all day. So much life in it. Sometimes I was envious of him. 

"Hey, what's up babe?" he said to me with a concerned look. 

"Nothing baby, everything is perfect." I said while giving him a small peck on the cheek. He looked at me deeply and I saw the concern leave his face. 

Lunch continued to go on with Ben talking to all his friends about the football camp that he went to over the summer, stating that he's now readier than ever for the season. With the football season, I knew that he was going to want me to do cheer. I was good at it, but I felt impartial towards it. As long as he was happy though, I was fine with it. He wanted to make us look like this perfect tv show couple. As long as he's happy I thought to myself. 

It felt like hours before the bell rang, but when it did, I couldn't help but feel thankful. I don't know how much longer I could have listened to Ben talk about himself and his friend responding with "That's awesome bro!" or "You're so lucky!". 

The rest of the school day went by pretty fast. We didn't do much since it was only the first day, so it felt pretty chill. When the final bell rung, I went to find Ty because she was my only ride home. I walked around campus for a while before I stumbled into Klara. I noticed that she was now the green hoodie that I saw Jackson wearing this morning. Probably to cover up the strawberry-colored stain that I left on her dress. She made eye contact with me and smiled ever so slightly. 

"Hey Klara, do you know where Ty is? I can't find her." 

"Oh yeah, she told me that she went to wait in her car for you." She replied sweetly. I thanked her and quickly headed outside to the student parking lot where I saw Ty standing outside of the car on her phone. "Took you long enough." She said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at her and got into the passenger seat, putting my bag at my feet. She turned on The Neighbourhood, and I fell into a quite sleep. 

I was woken by the feeling of someone shaking me vigorously. "What the hell?" I asked, still a little dazed. I realized it was just Ty telling me to get out, so I did.

I entered the house and saw my dad sitting in his recliner, glasses on the bridge of his nose, and reading a book. He snapped up at the sound of the door closing and I knew something was wrong. "Theresa. Go upstairs." He commanded with a deep, chilling voice. I looked back at Ty with a questioned look. Her face held no emotions except resentment and darkness as she stared at my father. Our eyes met for a split second before my father raised his voice. "NOW." With that, my body shot up the stairs where I found my room and shut the door. 

I heard them yelling at each other. Their screams taking over my thoughts. My mom is usually the one to keep the peace around here, but since she works as a doctor, she's almost never home. I hear my dad scream at Ty telling her that she can't skip class, but I know that it's about much more than that. He can't stand the fact that she's gay. He blames her for her mother leaving and he takes it out on her every day. The fact that she's gay didn't make it any better since her mother apparently left them for a woman. He thinks that it's unnatural and wrong. Sometimes I try to convince myself to see it the way he does but I would never want to hurt Ty like that. 

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST ACCEPT WHO I AM?" I hear Ty cry out desperately. I hear my dad slam his fists against the walls along with more screaming. "STOP ACTING LIKE A GODDAMN CHILD!" 

With my back against my bedroom door, I slide down it, sitting with my knees in my arms. I can't stop the tears that flow from my eyes. I just wish that they would stop fighting and love each other. I wish mom was here. 

Days would go on like this. Going to school, going home, not seeing mom unless I stayed up, and my dad and Ty yelling at each other. Eventually I would just know that I needed to go upstairs to my room immediately when I got home. It wasn't like Ty was just going to magically stop being gay. Every once in a while, I would hear Ty stomp up the stairs, making her way to her room. Sometimes I would go to check on her, but she just yelled at me to go away. She would never cry in front of my dad or anyone for that matter, but I knew that she was. I couldn't imagine how much this must hurt her. For her own father to not love her. 

With all that has been going on, I forgot about my mission to make new friends. I've just been contempt hanging out with all of Ben's friends. It has been a while since I've talked to AJ though. I don't know what happened but all of the sudden we just stopped talking to each other. Maybe it was something I did? I'm not sure entirely but I just decided to keep on with my life. She was just a stranger after all.