Almost Normal (Editing)

Chapter Eight

ANDREW

It was an after school bonfire. It's a tradition the seniors seem to do towards the end of the year to symbolize the rebirth of a new Era. Or an excuse to get drunk on school property and get away with it. Jade is convinced that it's a rite of passage into a cult which is why she almost never goes. I was with my group of friends and we were screwing around trying to see who's hand can get closest to the fire.

"Andrew isn't that your girlfriend?" Someone said pointing behind me.

I turned around and saw Angel in a thin white cardigan, arms crossed and staring me down. I walked over and leaned in for a kiss, but she just gave me her cheek.

"Hey babe, I didn't know you were coming here otherwise we could've came together." I said trying to grab her hand.

She slapped my hand away and replied, "You weren't answering your phone so I went to your house. I met Jade by the way and she was really suspicious, I think she's on drugs. Kept wanting me to come in to show me something. So I tracked your phone and found out you were here."

"Wait. You tracked my phone? What's the big emergency that you had to drive to my house?" I said pulling out my phone to check for messages.

Angel slapped the phone out of my hand and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Because I love you Andy, don't you love me? Let's run away together we can get married and I'll finally let you go all the way." She purred. "You don't need anyone here we can start our own family and live in Iowa you don't ever have to come back here."

I pushed her off shaking my head. "Angel I can't just drop everything and run away with you. Also I'm not ready to have kids or start a family. What about your dad? Wouldn't he be upset by this?"

"My dad could wed us! And I have enough saved up so we can start a new life together, come on Andy." She pleaded.

I shook my head and put my hands on her shoulders. "Angel. Go home." I said.

"No! Andrew I'm trying to help you! Your sister is on drugs, your mom can't seem to keep her husband at home so that's why he's with other women." She rattled off before taking my hands tightly in hers. "Let me take care of you. Let me help you."

"Who told you about my dad? And Jade is not on drugs, I think I would know." I said slightly irritated.

"You ummm... told me remember?"

"Angel I think you should go. Let go of my hands."

She started whining my name and nearly begging me to go with her. I frowned and ripped my hands out of hers and turned away to walk back towards the bon fire.

"Andrew please!" She said tugging on my arm following me.

"Angel that's enough!" I yelled whipping around to face her.

She looked at me with genuine fear in her eyes while everyone else stood around oblivious to what was going on.

"I don't want to see you again. I swear to God if you dare as come near my house again I will end you." I growled and walked away not bothering to look back.

JADE

I was sitting on the couch with my mom watching some reality TV, a bowl of extra greasy potato chips between us. My mom was wearing sweat pants and a sweater, her eyes red from crying. I wasn't there to see the fight but I saw the damage. Broken glass and a tarp taped to keep the cold out. Something told me that my dad wouldn't be coming back this time.

I heard someone knock on the door and my mother and I looked at each other confused and somewhat hopeful. After a brief moment of silence the knocking got more persistent.

"I'll get it." I said hopping over the couch and walking over to the door.

I looked through the peep hole seeing an anxious looking red head. Angel. How did she know where I lived? I swung open the door as she raised her hand to knock again. She was in a white cardigan and a green dress.

"Andrew isn't here." I said about to close the door again.

She stuck her foot into the door stopping it from closing. "I'm here to see you actually." She said.

I opened the door back up and crossed my arms staring her down. "Well?" I asked.

"How come you weren't at the ice cream parlor the other night?" She asked.

I frowned asking her what she meant. "Andrew said you work there late nights. We stopped by before closing hoping to catch you." She said.

"I left early. Why do you care?"

That's when her demeanour changed. From innocent to cold and dark.

"Stay away from him." She said sternly before walking back to her car and speeding off.

I stood there for a moment trying to process what happened before locking the door and going back inside.

"Who was it?" My mother asked as I sat back down.

"Just some solicitor trying to sell us something we don't need." I replied.

She seemed to have accepted that answer and turned the volume back up on the TV.

"Actually mom if you don't mind I think I'm going to go out tonight. See what Andrew is up to." I said.

She nodded and waved me off so I went upstairs changing into a pair of jeans and a sweater. I texted Jamie asking for a ride to the school knowing that she's most likely partying with everyone else. Jamie agreed and said she's on her way. Once we got to the school I saw Angel and Andrew talking her arms wrapped around his neck. I gagged and walked towards the crowd with Jamie ahead of me.

Someone handed me a red solo cup so I drank it and then I was handed another and another. This kept happening until I started to feel a little wobbly. Then I heard Andrew yell over all the noise so I turned towards it seeing Angel back away in fear as he walked towards the fire. I frowned and dumped out the contents of the current cup walking towards Andrew. He grabbed a can of beer from one of the coolers and ripped the top open with his teeth drinking the contents in one gulp.

"Rough night?" I asked carefully.

"Did you try to lure her into the house?" He said ripping open a new one.

"Yes I told her, 'I vant to drink your blood!' And then mom and I shared her over some potato chips." I replied sarcastically. "By the way how does she know where we live? You've never brought her home to meet mom."

"I'm not joking here Jade. She knows about mom and dad. And I don't know, she said she tracks my phone."

"Well your girlfriend needs to get her head checked." I replied watching him crumple up the can and chuck it into the fire.

"She's not my girlfriend. Not anymore." He said.