The Prostitute And The Player (Watty Awards 2011)

Chapter Sixteen

When we arrive at the apartment, Jake hurries out of the safe, warm room and out to the parking lot, helping me back into the wheel chair. It was a struggle thanks to the rain and hail. Making our way into the apartment, Naomi hurries in behind us, shutting the door as she shakes the water off of her hair. The rooms are dark and quiet. “Where’s Caleb?” I whisper to Jake. They must be planning some kind of surprise party.

Suddenly, the rooms are flooded with light and people pop out from every other direction. “Oh!” I say, surprised, gasping as everyone I know pops out from behind the couch and the corners of the walls. “Jake, you didn’t need all these people for Caleb.” I accuse, but looking around I see flowers and cards and banners with my name on them. “Wait, what’s this?” I question as he pulls me into a hug.

“It’s a birthday party and a welcome home from a crazy psycho path incident party.” Jake chuckles lightly, but then his face turns serious looking. “Really, everyone wanted to come when they found out Caleb was your brother.” He whispered, kissing my lips.

Pecking him on the cheek with my lips, I wheel myself over to everyone who gives me welcoming hugs. “We really missed you.” One of Jake’s friends says, hugging me, alcohol on his breath.

I grab his shirt collar, whispering in his ears. “Right, but let’s hold it on the beers until Caleb’s in bed, huh?” I ask, causing his friend’s eyes to go wide. I smile lightly and head into the kitchen where the cake was supposed to be held on the table. Glancing at it, I gasp in surprise once more. “Aw.” It said, ‘Happy Birthday, Caleb! Welcome Home, Allie!’

The whole split birthday party thing was a good idea. All of Caleb and his little friends were in his bedroom playing the Wii which would keep them occupied for at least a few hours. I was hoping anyways. Jake and his buddies were outside, cooling off on the patio, which I didn’t mind. I was just sorting through baby pictures of Caleb’s from a box I’d found much later after we’d moved in.

Seeing one of our whole family made me a bit teary-eyed. My mom and my dad were smiling happily, their hands linked together. It was obviously Christmas time judging by the wall decorations behind the couch we were sitting on, and we were all dressed in Christmassy attire. I was sitting on my father’s lap, my brother on my mother’s lap and their hands were keeping a hold on us so we didn’t fall. I was only about five or six, smiling a toothy grin with my golden locks of hair falling around my face. Caleb was in a full on suit, and mom was wearing Rudolph antlers with red paint on her nose. Dad was just in everyday casual wear, smiling drunkenly. That’s when we were happy.

Reluctantly, I shut the book closed and set it aside on the couch beside me, tears falling down my cheeks. If my whole family had only kept their routine, if only my mother hadn’t gotten sick and if only my rotten father hadn’t made me give up my childhood years to be a mother, if only I hadn’t been introduced to the subject of sex at such a young age. It was supposed to be something special, not something rushed and meaningless. Throwing my head in my good hand, I let out sobs, just to cry.

The sliding glass door slides open and I hear it close, feeling strong arms wrap around me. “What’s wrong?” Jake asks, stroking my cheeks, trying to erase the tears.

“I was just looking at pictures.” I explain, burying my face into his chest. No one would ever understand me as good as him.

All the guests piled in, thank god heading to the kitchen for drinks so that no one noticed my little episode. “That part of your life is over, sweetheart. You have me now, and I’m never ever going anywhere but where you and Caleb are!” I kiss his lips passionately, knowing that he truly loves me and his words are sincere.

“Come on, let’s go into the kitchen.” I say, as I wheel myself next to Jake. The doorbell rings. “Go on, I got it.” I add, dismissing him with my hand. Reluctantly, he goes into the kitchen with the others. Answering the door, I’m surprised to see my health teacher smiling down at me. “Miss-” I am cut off when she walks in.