With A Cherry On Top

Chapter Eighteen: You gave me the heebie-jeebies

Song: You Broke Me First by Tate McRae

Chapter Eighteen: You gave me the heebie-jeebies

"Thanks so much for the ride." I said as I got down from the car.

He grinned at me. "Stop saying thanks. It was no problem at all."

"Bye Wren." I waved before shutting the door.

I walked into an empty living room. Reveka was probably in her room.

I stopped in the kitchen and munched on some leftovers from the fridge after I microwaved it. I began on my way to Reveka's room, but stopped when I saw the door to Dad's office was slightly open with the lights on.

None of us had really gone there since he left. No one bothered to tidy up the things he left behind. I wouldn't volunteer. I don't plan on digging up old memories.

I pushed it open slightly and stepped in. Mom was sitting at the table, head rested on it. She looked like she was sleeping. I stepped closer until I heard light sobs.

"Mom?"

Her head snapped up and she tugged on her sleeve to wipe the tears off.

"Charvi!" She exclaimed. "You're home early. Weren't you at Leyla's birthday ball?"

I gestured to my outfit. "Well, things didn't go quite as planned."

She chuckled. "You had fun."

I laughed a little, recalling the night's event, then stopped when I realized Mom was sniffing to hold tears in.

"Mom. What's wrong? You're crying."

"I'm not."

What does she think you are? A child?

I walked up to her, wiped a tear from her face, and showed her my wet finger.

"Ok. Maybe I am crying."

"Why?" My voice was laced with concern.

"I came here to get some things out now that he's back to give him, but the feeling of just being here was way more than I could handle and I didn't realize it until I was in tears." She sniffed.

"It's okay. I get it." I said as I patted her hair.

I didn't bother to tell her to stop crying. Sometimes it was good to cry, to let it all out. So that's why I stayed there comforting her as she shed all the tears she wanted to until she was ready to go to bed.

When I was with her, I forgot the uncomfortable outfit which was only damp now, no longer dripping water.

*****

"I thought you worked behind the cash register." 

A voice called out as I wiped the tables of the customers that just left. The voice was unnerving enough, so even after not hearing it for a while, I still recognized it.

If I only worked behind the register, I wouldn't make enough money.

It was a little after 4pm on Sunday. I had one more hour till my shift was over and I couldn't wait. My legs hurt from standing. Sunday shifts were the hardest because I served food, I worked behind the register and I helped with the cleaning too. And I had to balance all this because I asked for it. So no complaining.

"You've been here a lot. Shouldn't you know?" I snapped without looking up.

"You should be a lot nicer to me, you know." He replied as he sat down at the table where I was cleaning. "I'm a paying customer."