Things Change

Part 18:

I skipped the tryouts for Cheer so Jules didn't talk to me the next day. Which was completely fine by me but now every time I see Grayson or Jules it makes me angry. Especially when they are together. I've barely spoken to them in the last two days. Thankfully today is Friday and I don't have to see them all week. I set my books into my locker closing it. "Can we talk?" Grayson asks. "Why don't you go talk to your girlfriend? I'm sure she's better company." I say bitterly. Grayson frowns at me. "I don't want to fight. It's important." He says. "So, don't talk to me then. We're not even friends, okay?" I snap. I turn to walk away but he grabs my arm. "Stop being so damn stubborn. I'm trying to tell you something." He says. "I don't want to hear it, Grayson!" I yell. He lets go of my arm stepping back. "Whatever. I tried to warn you." He said walking away. Warn me? About what? I sigh walking towards the back entrance to skip school. I didn't want to be here today. I slip out the back door and run across the parking lot to my car. After starting it I peel out before anyone notices me. I decide to park a few houses down from mine in case my parents came home early. I grab my keys getting out of my car. I lock the doors walking down to my house. Once I reach the front door I go to unlock it but it was already open. I push the door open to see shoes and clothing thrown around the ground. I look in the drive way to see that neither of my parents cars were here. That's strange. I step further into the house closing the door softly. I freeze when the sounds of moaning fill the house. My stomach drops and I feel sick. Maybe someone broke in to have sex in my house? No it has to be one of my parents. The house had security. The only people who knew it were me or my parents. So it was one of them. But which one? I bent down grabbing the jacket off the ground. I look through the pockets finding a brown wallet. I didn't have time to open it because I hear the moaning stop. I clench onto the wallet running for the door. I make sure to close it softly before taking off running to my car. My hands were shaking like crazy and I could barely focus on anything I was doing. I finally mange to unlock the doors and get in. Once inside it hits me. One of my parents are cheating. Why? Why would they want to break up this family. Surely it's not dad he loves mom to much. But mom seems happy with her marriage. Or at least both of them were. I wipe my eyes starting the car. I make a u-turn driving back into town not sure where to go. Or what I should do? Was Grayson trying to warn me about this? No. He couldn't have possibly known. And if he did he would have told me sooner. Right? My mind was going a mile a minute and I couldn't think. I drive down to the local park so that I could have time to think. Once I'm there I crack the windows then turn off the car. I let myself cry. I cry for one of my parents who is going to broken hearted when they find out because I'm sure as hell not gonna let the other get away with it. One of the deserves to know. I try to think of who it may or may not be but it could be either one of them. I don't know how long I sit here but eventually I stop crying. I didn't know what to feel. I close my eyes trying to relax. It's going to be okay. It has to be. For our families sake. Maybe I can convince one of them to leave the person they are cheating with. Get consoling and stay happily married so we can be a big happy family. The sound of ringing pulls me out of my sleep. I jump awake looking around to see that I'm still in my car and that it's dark out. I must have fallen asleep. I rub my face realizing that it's my phone that's ringing. "Hello?" I answer. "Where are you?" My mother asks. Oh shit. "Uh, I stayed after school to study for a test. I must have fallen asleep." I turn on my car. My headlights flashing into the park. "Okay, well hurry. Dinners done." My mother says. "Will do." I hang up the phone backing out of the parking space driving into the road. I glance at the wallet sitting on my passenger seat from time to time as I drive him. I was to scared to see who's face it was. Who was ruining my family. I park my car in the drive way once I get home. I grab the wallet shoving it into my back pack then grab my keys. I get out of the car and head inside. The smell of warmth and food it's me as soon as I walk in. I kick off my shoes setting my bag on the stairs. My mother and father are sitting at the table. Talking. Laughing. As if one of them wasn't committing adultery. They both look at me with smiles. "Finally, we got tired of waiting so we decided to dig in. I made your favorite." My mother says happily. I force a smile sitting down. Baked mac&cheese. It wasn't my favorite but I always allowed her to think it was. I force a few bites down my throat before gulping down some water. I watch my parents interact and they seemed fine. Happy. In love. Only they weren't. Maybe they never were and I was blind to it. Just like I was with Brad when he hurt me. "Honey are you alright? You look a little pale?" My dad asks touching my forehead. It takes everything in me not to pull away. I force a nod taking another bite. "I feel fine. Just a little tired." I lie. They watch for a few more moments then nod. I normally eat a full plate of mac&cheese but mom insisted that I have seconds so I stuff myself. I look at my plate once more. A few more bites and I'm done. "Have anyone of you guys seen a brown wallet? I seemed to have misplaced mine." I look up to meet my mothers eyes. It was her. She's the one who's cheating. Of course. I felt all my respect fly out the window. I wanted to jump across the table and smack her. Yell at her! Ask her what the hell is wrong with her! But instead I take another bite of my food. "Where did you last have it?" I ask trying to ask casual. "Entry way by the door but it was gone when I came downstairs." She answers. Of course it was you hoe. "I'm sure it will turn up. Everything always does. Are you positive it was in this house?" My father asks. She nods her cheeks reddening. Yes. It was while she was upstairs fucking a man in your bed. Of course it was. Stupid bitch. "Well if you find it. Let me know." She says. I force another bite down my throat then lean back. It was hard to act casual. It pretend like I didn't know. "That was good, mom." I say with a smile. "I knew you would like it." She say. Not as much as I would like to punch you. I get up from the table grabbing my plate walking it to the kitchen. When I come back I kiss my dad on the forehead hugging him tightly. I felt sorry for him. For what his wife was doing to him. He was so unaware of what was happening. And as far as she knew so was I. I turn hugging my mom. When I reality I wanted to choke her out. "I love you." I lie. "Thanks for dinner. Night guys. Love you." I say pulling away from her. "Love you honey." They call back. I grab my bag from the stairs walking upstairs to my bedroom. I close the door propping the chair against it. I walk over to my bed pushing the bed to the side. There was a piece of the floor board under the rug that came off. It was a secret safe. I pull the piece out placing the wallet into the safe pulling out the bottle of Captain Morgan then put the wood and rug back. I push my bed back into place stepping back to make sure it looks normal. My parents don't know about the safe. I found it when I was setting up my bedroom. I hide the bottle under my pillow opening my door to go to the bathroom. I lock the bathroom door running the sink as I walk to the tub. I force my finger down my throat to make the contents in my stomach come up. I clench onto the toilet as they do. When I finish I flush the toilet then wash my hands. I walk back to my bedroom locking the door again then sit on my bed in the dark drinking the alcohol by myself.