Yelling.
That is all I will ever hear in this house.
I close my eyes and lean the back of my head against the wall outside the kitchen.
My parents are arguing again. This time it started with who had left the tap at the sink running last night. Which led to financial problems and responsibilities of a parent.
The only reason we are all still living in the same house is because Mum said that when I was younger, I had told her that I wanted her and Dad to be together or else I would be really sad. She 'puts up with him' everyday for me. Sometimes they get carried away and the arguments go out of hand. Nights would be spent trying to block out the yelling and there are days when I would be home all alone because they both stay at their workplaces all day to avoid each other.
"I'm leaving." I announce, slipping on my favourite, worn-out sneakers.
"Oh honey, do you need a lift to school?" My mother rushes out of the kitchen. Dad appears behind her.
"Yeah sweetie, why don't you get a ride from Mum? I'm running late for work."
My mum swiftly turns around to face him. "Why do I have be the one to do it? Why can't you do it instead? You need to spend time with her too, you know."
Round two begins and I slam the door on my way out.
Outside, the air seems lighter to breathe in. Birds are chirping and squirrels run up and down telephone wires. A school bus filled with little school children drives pass. Innocent giggles and joyous laughter spill out of the windows. Besides the now-faint yelling from the other side of the thick wooden door, it seems like everything is going to be okay now. But I know it is not, because now I have to endure hell in its sly disguise - school.
A thought comes to me. It is not fair. It is not fair that I have to go through all these problems everyday and the birds can be singing and the butterflies can be fluttering around with no care in the world, like it is just another good day because everyday is always sunshine and rainbows.
Anger rages inside of me. I can feel my cheeks and the tip of my ears becoming hot. I think I might be steaming. I feel myself getting even more flustered just thinking about everything that is happening in my life right now. Everything is so frustrating. I decide to let out my anger on Mother Nature. I stomp on patches of newly sprouted, wildflower in my neighbour's lawn and curse the sun that coyly peaks from behind the clouds. I yell at the squirrels resting in the trees and scream at the cars that zoom by.
I must look ridiculous, I think to myself. Self-consciously, I pull the hood of the sweater that I am wearing over my head with an unfeminine grunt and shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans.
As I resume my journey to the hell hole, I kick a pebble that is in my way on the pavement and it rolls over onto the tarmac.
"Woah there now, what did that pebble ever do to you?" a voice calls out from behind me.
I freeze but my heartbeat picks up. Did he just see me throwing a tantrum, stomping around like a troll? That must have been so attractive.
"What are you doing here, Elliot?" I ask with my back facing him.
"Just thought I'd show you my new girl. We're exclusive now." That is all he has to say to make my head turn around fast enough to break my neck.
When I turn, I see no girl. Just a handsome raven haired lad, with his Hummer bicycle and a mischievous smile plastered upon his face.
"Got'cha," he says with a charming grin. Besides the fact that my cheeks are all hot and pink from the blood flowing under my skin, my blank expression tells him that I am in no mood for his jokes.
Elliot Sky; my best friend since the day I punched him in the gut in kindergarten for stealing my chair and having me fall in front of the entire class, my crush since the day he gave me his handkerchief and told me not to cry when I fell from my first bicycle ride with no training wheels (because I just had to prove that I was that good) and scraped both my knees on the road.
"You okay?" he asks, well aware of the answer. Elliot knows about my parents. Some nights, he would sneak into my room through the window and watch movies with me all night because I could not sleep through the yelling and the stress.
I only let out a heavy-hearted sigh in reply.
"Come on," he calls, "I'll give you a ride on my trusty stallion," he pats on the small seat behind him. I oblige. Usually, I would turn down his offer because I have a pair legs that are capable of carrying me to school and I know that his "gentlemanly gesture" comes with a price, somewhat in the form of chocolate milkshake treats. Today, I accept his offer without a word of protest because neither am I in the mood to walk nor am I in the mood to get into trouble for being late to school.
I place my bottom on the small companion seat, which will definitely leave it aching afterwards, and I wrap my arms around his long torso. Elliot smells like peppermint and vanilla. I take in a deep whiff of his scent and my heartbeat steadies.
"Hang on tight," he say and starts paddling us both to school effortlessly. You don't have to tell me twice, I think to myself as I tighten my arms around him and close my eyes. A soft breeze kisses my skin and gently brushes my hair out of my face as Elliot picks up his speed.
"Nice sweater by the way," Elliot comments on his sweater that he had lent me once but I never returned - and I do not plan on ever doing so. Playfulness and fondness traces his voice.
"Thanks," I play along. "There was this boy who borrowed it to me but I like it too much to give it back, so I'm keeping it forever."
Elliot chuckles and I feel his laughter vibrate throughout his body. My facial muscles stretch on their own and I bury my face into his back, savouring the moment.
