The summer I died (BRANCE)

last week of summer break

(Mention of child abuse)

Vance's soft snores were rudely interrupted by his phone ringing loudly. He groans in annoyance before reluctantly answering the phone.

"What do you want." He yawns.

"Hey, Vance, me and the others wanted to know if you wanna come down to the beach with us?"

"The beach...man, it's probably packed." Vance stated.

"Sooo? it's the last week of summer break. Let's have some fun!"

"Uh, fine."

"Alright, see you there in about two hours!"

Vance huffs and hangs up the phone. He stands up and instantly regrets it. His body ached, caused by the beating he had received yesterday from his good for nothing step dad.

He steps carefully towards his door, trying not to stand on any litter on his floor. His room was incredibly messy. He always tells himself he would clean it but never does, and even if he tries, he always ends up getting too overwhelmed.

Vance walks into the kitchen and is met with Griffin.

"Good afternoon, Vance." Griffin smiles.

"Hey, kiddo." Vance signs towards him.

Griffin was Vance's little stepbrother, but vance didn't see him as that. He was just his brother. He was deaf in one ear, so Vance learned how to speak sign language just in case he missed a word. Vance took good care of Griffin, he was the only family he had left.

"Can you make some lunch?" Griff asks, knowing his dad wouldn't make any for him, and he didn't know how to make it for himself as he's only 10.

"Yeah, of course." Vance opens the fridge to grab some eggs, but when he opens it, he sees nothing.

"Shit."He whispers under his breath.

"Everything ok, Vance?" Vance turns around to the younger boy.

"Sorry, kid. We ran out of food, I'm going to the shops. Ok?"

He nods in understanding, and Vance runs out of the trailer park and heads for the grab n' go.

He knows he doesn't have enough money. He just hopes that Evie's on the till today. Evie was the owners daughter and was very fond of Vance. They hit it off and always enjoy eachothers company.

But of course, with his tremendously bad luck, it was her dad, jeff. He was the complete opposite of Evie when it came to liking Vance. He just saw Vance as a nuisance.

If it was any other shop, he would have just swiped the items, but the grab n' go was the closest, and he promised to never to steal from there.

Vance walks in and grabs flour, eggs, bread, butter, milk, ham, and vanilla extract. He crosses his fingers as he walks up to the till and places the items on the counter.

"Is that all Vance?" Jeff asks, looking at the boy below him.

"Can you do me a favour, man?" Vance grits his teeth nervously and picks at the skin on his hand.

"Let me guess, you don't have enough money?" Jeff scoffs. This wasn't the first time this had happened.

"Yeah, but I promise I'll pay it next time."

Jeff looks at him before sighing
"No."

"Oh, come on, man! I need to feed Griff!"

"You do this all the time. No." He crosses his arms, signalling he had made his final decision.