Game Over: Life's Over

Packing My Whole Life Up

The next few weeks dragged by and yet they passed quickly. Not having Alex to talk to every day or anywhere to go, I spent most of my time in my room. Bored out of my mind. Mom still had to work so I was home alone during the day.

Mom wanted me to move in with Eric and Theo before my birthday in case anything happened once I turned eighteen. Everyone tried sounding hopeful that nothing bad would happen but I wasn't as confident. I didn't trust that my body wouldn't betray me and just... give up.

I tried distracting myself by packing but that just made me sad. I hated having to pack up my whole life to spend the rest of it away from Mom and everything I'd ever known. It was so scary and depressing and it made me mad that I was suck in such a shitty situation.

I had barely packed up my clothes when Mom got home from work. She stopped in the doorway of my room before she even went to change into something more relaxed.

"Do you need some help?"

I pushed the box of clothes on my bed away from me so I could fall on my side. I sighed dramatically. "I feel like I'm not getting anywhere."

"You still have a few days. Don't let it overwhelm you."

"That's easy for you to say. You've never had to pack up everything and move."

"How do you think I got here? I didn't grow up in this house. I brought things with me. It wasn't much but I didn't have to start from scratch."

"Yeah, well... this is different."

Mom walked into the room and sat down on my bed beside me. "I know this is hard for you, honey. Why don't we go get something to eat and then we can keep packing? A break might be good for you."

"Okay."

"Where do you want to go?"

"I know you don't do steak but do you think we can go to The Porterhouse?"

"Sure, sweetie. I don't mind. Let me change into something more comfortable and then we can go."

—

The Porterhouse wasn't any fancier than any of the other restaurants in town but the food was a lot better. They were known for their steaks that they cut in-house. Mom didn't usually eat red meat so we didn't get to go there as much.

But I loved it.

The two front doors opened into the entire dining area, only separated by some beams and the booths being positioned in ways where they created walkways. Over each table were mason jars with light bulbs inside. The decor was a little corny and lame but the food was good enough to suffer through the tacky decor for a bit.

The hostess was an older woman with silvery blonde hair pulled into a low bun. She wore a white buttoned-up dress shirt with black slacks. She smiled as we stepped inside the busy and loud restaurant. "Hi, how many?"

"Two, please."

"Right this way." Mom and I followed the woman through the restaurant and to a booth in the back right corner of the building.

I slid into the booth and sat across from Mom. I picked up a menu and began looking through it.

"Jacob?" I heard a female voice come from several booths over. It didn't register with me whose voice it was.

I looked up from the menu and saw Jenna, Alex's ex-girlfriend, walking towards Mom and me. She had her hair curled down her back and bright pink lip gloss on to match the crop top she was wearing. She always wore too much makeup and not enough clothing.

"I thought I recognized you. I mean, you still look like yourself so why wouldn't I?"

I narrowed my eyes. Someone told her what was going on with me. I really hoped it wasn't Alex. "What do you mean?"

"You're not like... a baby or anything. We all thought you'd be different by now."

"Do you mind going back to your table? We're busy." Mom quickly interrupted Jenna, giving her a cold look that could kill.

Jenna looked between the two of us before she tried her best to look apologetic. "Okay. Um, see you later, Jake."

I watched her walk away and then I took a deep breath once she was gone.

Mom reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Don't listen to her. Come Sunday, you'll be in Carson City and you won't have to worry about her or anyone else."

I didn't want to move. I hated leaving my hometown and everything familiar to me. But it was clear that I needed a fresh start to go with my new life and all the changes that were bound to happen.