People Talk

09

I was paralyzed. Not only was my mother here but she was smiling, holding a birthday card for me as if everything was right and happy with the world. I blinked a few times, tempted to pinch myself in attempt to wake up from this nightmare. I thought when I left New York she couldn't ruin my life anymore.

Yet here she was. The longer I stared I understood this wouldn't be something I could wake up from.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything but nothing came out. All I could do was try and catch my breath which had became impossible at this point. My heart pounded in my chest, my knees were weak, this couldn't be real.

Then she spoke, "Eden are you feeling alright?"

Am I feeling alright? What kind of question was that? What kind of crazy was she? Did she just think we could look past all of the years of torture?

I shook my head in disbelief, "What are you doing here?" My voice raspy since my throat had grown dry.

"It's your birthday, why wouldn't I be here?" She smiled. Why wont she wipe that stupid fake smile off of her face?

"You don't belong here." I scowled, quietly. Her face dropped to a confused stare, looking far less stupid than she did moments before.

Dad appeared from behind Veronica quickly, attempting to break up our growing fight.

"Well I see you found your mother," He awkwardly chuckled as he pushed Veronica farther away from me. "I called a week ago to see how her rehab program was doing and she is doing so much better, E."

I scoffed, Dad has said she was doing better before and he was wrong each time. Veronica didn't want to get better so she never would. I narrowed my eyes as I examined her.

She didn't really look any different. She wore jeans and some random sports team shirt, her blond curls crunchy with gel per usual, and dark eyeliner lined her big eyes. And when she did that stupid smile you could see the affect the drugs did to her.

"I think we should try and give her another chance. We could talk and open your card." Dad said pulling me out of my examination.

"I think not," I replied quickly, turning to Dallas and grabbing him by his hand, "I'm thirsty. Let's go." I said as I pulled him past my parents and into the kitchen.

"For the record," Dallas added when we were out of earshot, "I didn't know she was going to be here."

I looked up to him, squeezing his hand lightly, "I know, Dal. Let's just get this over with. Do you think I could stay over at your place tonight? Maybe tomorrow too if she's still here?" I asked as we entered the kitchen.

He ruffled my hair, "As if you even need to ask! My grandparents love you more than me." I chuckled lightly as we approached Leah who was talking to my cousin.

When he noticed us, he said his goodbyes and dispersed.

"He's kinda cute, would you mind if I got his number?" Leah giggled as she took a sip from her cup. I rolled my eyes, approaching the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

"Go for it," I said, opening the bottle and taking a swig from it.

"Actually? $5 and I'll go do it right now!"

Dallas and I laughed at her statement, "$5 you'll chicken out." He smiled, holding out his hand for her to take. Leah looked up to him with challenging eyes. The two shook their hands and Leah began to make her way out of the kitchen, holding up her right hand above her head, crossing her two fingers.