He Was Always Mine

Chapter 1: Summer

I wake in the morning and roll over to turn off my annoying alarm like I do every

Single

Morning.

I hate having to wake up, sleep is so peaceful. It's an escape from life and I need to escape more than I need to breathe. My life is a living hell. I have an alcoholic dad who loves to get mad and hit my mom. This causes my mom to become depressed and try to kill herself. The sad thing is that it's been this way since we lost my brother. He was in an active shooting at his college just a week after he left which was only a year ago from today. I remember getting the call from my mom to come home, she sounded so worried that it scared me. So I skipped class and drove home, only to find out that my older brother, my best friend, was dead. At first I didn't believe her, I didn't want to because in cases like this believing means you are accepting it. I was not. I refused to accept the fact that I no longer had him. He was always around, always there for me. 

Since I was born he protected me, watched over me, and loved me like nothing else. Sure we fought but never for long. We talked every day and even more after he left. Thinking about him now, especially today, hurts all over again, just like it did a year ago.

I roll back over and reach for my phone from my nightstand. I see I have two missed texts. One from my mom and one from my dad, how shocking considering they are always the first to bother me in the morning. I open my moms text first.

Mom: Have a good day at school, I love you. Be home around 8pm to cook dinner, another busy day in the office.

Summer: Okay Love you, See you later

I close out of that text and move on to my dads

Dad: Don't forget about the test in class today and don't be late.

Summer: I'm leaving in 20 mins, chill out

I swear he is the most annoying dad ever now that he is my teacher. Yup you read that right, my teacher and of course he's a math teacher, my least favorite subject. He has always been a teacher but only to seniors, sadly I'm a senior now. He has never been a loving person to me because I was a girl. He only cared about my brother because he was going to carry on his legacy, his name, and apparently his smarts too.

My brother was a star football player like my dad. He won every game and practiced daily. But he also studied a lot and was top of his class. Straight A student and a hard worker. Him and my dad were close but we were closer. I think that's why our relationship got worse after we lost him because my dad lost his favorite child. But he never thought about how I lost my best friend...

****

I finally get out of bed and walk towards my closet. I pick out a nice yellow sundress and my white sweater in case it's cold today and head for the bathroom. I turn the shower on and place my clothes on the counter, along with my phone. I step in and let the hot water run over my face. I cry into the water like I always do because it's the only time I have to let go and I know the water will wash my sadness down the drain. I allow myself to cry for a bit before I continue on with my shower. Once I'm done I step out and get dressed. I look in the mirror and decide to curl my hair really fast before I leave.

After I'm done getting ready I slip on my shoes, grab my backpack and head for the door. I skip the breakfast mom made because I can't eat it today.

Once I step outside I see him. He's looking down at his phone, waiting on the front porch steps outside his house. Normally he's leaving in his car by now because he likes to be early to school, unlike me.

He must feel me staring because he looks up and waves to me. I wave back like always, this is our way of communicating without the mothers around. If they were around we would be talking and laughing with each other but it's all for show.

I start to head over to my car and get in when I hear his voice call out my name, or at least I think it's him. Most times I'm just imagining it because I really want to talk to him again but my stubbornness won't let me. As I look up over my car I see that it is him. He's walking towards me, dressed in black jeans, a Metallica shirt from their last tour, white Nike Air Force Ones and his hair all messed up like he just woke up. He comes up to the other side of my car and just stares at me. I stare back at him and wait for him to break the awkward silence. Thankfully he does.

"Hey Sum, I know we tend to keep our distance unless we are around the mother's but my moms car is in the shop as you know and she took my car. She told me that Caroline said you would be cool with letting me catch a ride with you. So can I join you?, I'll owe you one." He smiles as he talks, I missed that smile when it's directed at me because he wants to and not because of the mothers being around.

"Umm sure?" I say as I get in and unlock the doors for him. He opens the car door, slips into the passenger seat and latches his seatbelt.

"Thanks Sum, I owe you one. Also you look really nice today." I look over to him and smile.

"No problem and thanks" I say before backing out of the driveway and pressing play on the radio.

I focus on the road and drive to school while he plays a game on his phone. Every now and then I change the music but we stay silent the whole time, which is nice because I have nothing to say and I like my peaceful mornings. I enjoy taking the time to think about my day and to plan out my assignments that I know are going to be due. But all I can think about is him, the fact that he's in my car, the fact that he is being nice, and that he complimented me without the mothers around. I have a feeling he will be taking up my mind all day long. But I'm okay with that.