California

20

It was finally the end of the day, and I was standing with Shawn at his locker.
"So what are you doing today?" I asked him as he shoved his books in his locker.
"Not much really. Just go home, eat, maybe study."
"You wanna come over? We could study together." I said smiling and Shawn's expression changed slightly.
"Come over? As in go to your house?"
"Whats wrong, you don't want to come to my house?" I said amused.
"No, no it's not that Anna I-"
"It's ok Shawn." I said laughing at him as he started to blush.
After Shawn went to his locker we began to walk to my house.
"Emily text me. She said she slept late, so she just stayed home."
I nodded my head in response as we continued to walk.
About 6 minutes later, we arrived at my home.
"Oh my gosh you live here?"
"Unfortunately."
As we walked to the front door I noticed there were two car parked int he drive way, which was very strange. I took out my keys and unlocked the door. Me and Shawn walked inside. But I stopped when I saw my mother sitting on the couch. Her hand was intertwined with someone else's as they both stared at me. I narrowed my eyes with confusion and Shawn just stood there next to me.
"Hey mom and, stranger." I said in confusion.
"Who's this?" My mom asked rather rudely.
"Im Shawn. Shawn Mendes. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you as well, do you mind leaving?"
Shawn looked at my mom and then looked at me. He then headed for the door.
"No he can't leave mother. He just got here." I said grabbing Shawn's arm.
"We need to discuss something....as a family."
"And?"
"I dont think Shawn is apart of the family."
"Well then who is this guy?!" I raised my voice in frustration.
"Annabelle, don't you dare shout at me."
"Come on Shawn we have to go study." I said as I began to walk with his arm, but he wouldn't move.
"Sorry Anna, but I should go. You guys look kinda busy right now." Shawn said.
I pleaded for him to stay with my eyes but he gave me that sorry not sorry face and waved. Then he was out the door.
I turned to my mother.
"What is soo important that you have to scare away my friends?!"
"Anna just sit down and listen to what your mother has to say." The guy said.
I turned to him with a disgusted face.
"And you are?"
"Anna please." My mom said.
I looked at her, then back at the guy. I then sat down and waited for her to speak.
"I know you weren't happy with the move here, but it was all for a good reason. You might be confused as to who this is." She said motioning to the guy.
You're holding a strangers hand, and his car is parked in our driveway. But I was not wondering who this guy was even though I have never seen him in my life.
"This is John."
She said as if I was supposed to know who that was. Wait...John...why do I feel like I know who-John! Aka Johnny.
My mom had his contact named Johnny. She would always talk to him in whispers, or try to hide it. This was my mom's boyfriend.
"You're my mom's boyfriend." I said more of a statement then a question.
"More like fiancé." He said while my mom had a big smile on her face.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"This is some sort of joke right?" I asked laughing dryly.
"No Anna, that's the reason we moved here in such a big house. Me and Johnny are getting married and we're starting a new life in California!" My mom said grabbing John's hand again. I felt my eyes sting.
"How selfish can you be." I said softly.
"what?" My mom asked
"How selfish can you be?!" I shouted. Her and john looked at me with wide eyes.
"You take me away from my friends, my home! You make me move across the country so you could get married! To someone who isn't dad?! How can you just move on so quickly mom?!" By now, I was crying.
"Now you're getting married to this guy, and I have to call him my step father?! You think of nobody but yourself mom! Nobody!!"
"Anna please l-"
"I can't believe you."
My mom walked over to me and tried to hug me. But I pushed her away.
"Leave me alone! How could you do this?! How long have you guys been together?!"
"We've been seeing each other on and off for 6 years." John said but you could tell he instantly regretted saying that.
My mom stared at John dead in the eyes. Then realization hit me.
"You....you were.... You were cheating on dad?" I asked her with more tears filling my eyes and my voice cracking. My mom stayed silent and put her head down. I didn't know what to feel. I was angry, I was upset, I was sad, but most of all I was ashamed.
"You were having an affair when dad was alive. He died and your marrying the person you broke your vows with?!" I was full on sobbing now. They were ugly.
"Annabelle please you don't under-"
"Don't understand what mother?"
"4 years before you were born, me and John were together, but...things got complicated, so I left John for your father. Me and your father were going out for a couple of months when he proposed, and we got married. But I still had feelings for John. So that's how the affair started. Me and your father decided to have a baby and you were born that next year in July."
"So you just cheated, just like that. Was dad just your rebound? Huh mom? Do you even care about him-"
"He's dead Annabelle! Your father is dead!" My mom yelled at me, her whole face turned red.
I was still crying, and these words made me cry harder (if that was even possible.) I just stared at her, then back at John, then at my mom.
My moms face softened and she tried to reach out to grab my hand but I quickly pulled away.
"Annabelle don't-"
"D-Dont you d-dare touch m-me." I stuttered in between tears. I got off the sofa and began to stomp up the stairs towards my room.
"Annabelle stop! You know I didn't mean that-"
"I hate you mom! I freaking hate you!" I yelled one last time before slamming my door shut.