Breaking point

Mr. Always right

The next night, I was just starting to read another letter from my mom when I was interrupted by Cole knocking on my window.

Setting the letter down, I pulled the window open.

I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to say something.

"My mom kicked me out for tonight." Cole stated in a dull mumbling tone.

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow, leaning back on my pillows.

"Because she caught me drinking and found out I'm failing English." Cole answered in a dry tone.

"Nice going." I scoffed sarcastically.

"Shut up!" He shot back, pretending to look hurt.

"So what do you want?"

"Well she kicked me out so can I come inside?" Cole asked with a pleading look.

I considered it, mentally weighing pros and cons.

Pros: Cole would owe me, he'd be in my house, I could get revenge for him scaring me, I'd get to talk to him more, and the ever present thought of how amazing he was.

Cons: it could get very awkward, I don't really want him to see me in the morning when I look like crap, and he might prank me or scare me.

Oh what the hell, I shrugged, "yeah sure."

"Thanks." Cole nodded as he climbed through the open window, but he slipped on a pillow and fell to the floor. He groaned in pain as he gripped his shoulder, swearing under his breath, "shit that hurt."

"Smooth," I commented through a laugh, "you ok?"

"Yeah I just fell and hurt my shoulder on purpose." he shot back, using my line from yesterday when he'd scared me.

Rolling my eyes, I through a pillow onto him, "don't steal my sarcasm!"

"Whatever." he threw the pillow back as he sat up and leaned against my bed.

My brain went worst case scenario on me in the moment of silence, thinking up hundreds on new cons to letting Cole come inside.

"Where's your family?" Cole asked, sounding a little confused as no one rushed in to investigate the loud thud.

I grimaced, "my dads away on a business trip."

"Where's the rest of your family then?" He continued.

I stared at him, a little shocked since we'd had his family over for dinner and he should know I only have my dad.

"There isn't a rest of my family." I stated in a cold tone, hiding the sadness, "remember when your family was over for dinner and it was just me and my dad?"

"Oh," Cole said slowly as realization crossed his face, "I thought they were just somewhere else."

"They are somewhere else," I agreed, "my siblings are in non existence, and my mom is God knows where and I haven't seen her since I was three when my dad kicked her out of our lives."

Cole frowned, leaning his head back to look at me, "I'm sorry, that really sucks."

I nodded, gritting my teeth and trying to not let tears form as I thought about my mom.

As sadness filled my mind, I turned my back to Cole and pulled my blanket around me, "you can sleep on the couch in the living room if you can't go back to your house."

I felt my bed dip slightly as Cole sat down behind me. I turned further away, hiding my face with my hair as tears welled in my eyes.

I flinched slightly when I felt Cole's hand on my shoulder.

"You ok?" Cole asked in a concerned tone.

Nodding, I buried my face in my pillow, holding back tears. I really wished more than anything that I could've known my mom. Reading letters just made me want to know her more.

Cole gently rubbed my shoulder, "is it about your family?"

I nodded again, I couldn't manage a reply without crying. I felt some of the pillows behind my head shift slightly. Slowly, I turned my head just enough to look over my shoulder, through my hair, at Cole. He was leaning back on some of the extra pillows, his legs stretched out behind me, his hand still resting on my shoulder.

My entire being was conflicted, my heart fluttered in happiness, feeling his hand on my shoulder. My mind swirled in sadness as I thought about my family. My pulse quickened for both reasons and my eyes welled with tears even though my stomach was doing flips of joy.

I turned my head back, burying my face back into my pillow as a single tear rolled down my cheek. I felt Cole move his hand off my shoulder and pull my hair out of my face.

"My family isn't perfect either," Cole stated, tucking my hair behind my ear, "I have a half brother who's in jail, a dad I never see, a step dad and my mom."

I turned onto my back, staring up into his amazing eyes, "why are you telling me?"

"Make you feel better" he shrugged, "it's always nice to have someone who understands how you're feeling. though I guess my family is still different then yours."

I nodded, drying my eyes as the sadness in my brain slowed to a stop.

"I need to get some water." I stated as I climbed over Cole and walked to the kitchen.

Pouring a glass of freezing cold water, I hoisted myself onto the counter. I felt nostalgic drinking a glass of water on the counter. Whenever I couldn't sleep as a little girl, my dad would lift me onto the counter and give my a glass of water. He'd stand there and assure me that it was only a dream or that whatever was bothering me would be ok.

That's when I realized that even if he had lied, he was still the closest thing I had to a good family, and he'd done it because he wanted us to be close.

I sighed as I hopped off the counter and jogged back to my room. Cole was asleep, curled up, he looked adorable like that.

I grabbed a blanket and went back to the living room to sleep on the couch.