Lorelei's New Beginning

Silence

       After the dinner, when we got home Alice and I both went to our rooms. I got my phone out. I could tell something was wrong with Jonah I had to find out what. 

        I dialed his number, but it went straight to voice mail.  So I texted him. "Jonah we need to talk. Whats going on?" 

        I waited for an hour and there was still no response. He probably just fell asleep after we left, I thought to myself.  So I went to bed myself, trying not to over think it. 

         I waited for Jonah to pick me up but he never came. So I walked to the school, still no sign of him. I took my phone out again. "Where are you!??" "Text me back" "Jonah please im worried"  I sent them all but there was still no response. Stop freaking out, I told myself. Dont be that obsessive girlfriend.

         The school day felt a lot longer than usual, Jonah was the only thing on my mind which didn't help when I was trying to take my math test. 

          I made the decision to go over to Jonahs house after school during 1st period. I needed to see what was going on.

          Both cars were in the driveway when I walked up. I went to the door and knocked, after a few moments of waiting the door opened and Jonahs mom was standing in the doorway. She looked nothing like she did last night at dinner. Her blonde hair was up in a bun, she was in a mini skirt and a crop top, with red boots on. She had dark circles under her eyes, looking like she hadn't slept in days. 

          "Who are you?" She demanded.

          "Lorelei, we met last night I was looking for Jonah," I responded. 

          "Well Jonah is busy."

          "I really need to see him."

           "Oh I see whats going on here, you guys are a thing aren't you?And you guys thought you could hide this from me or something? Im his mother he can't hide things from me," She was raising her voice now almost screaming. 

           "Lorelei, what are you doing here?" Jonah came down the stairs, one look at his face and I could see his cheek was black and blue and swollen. 

           "I just wanted to make sure you were okay," I said, the look in his eyes scared me. 

           "Yea, she just wanted to check in on her boyfriend. Jonah you should have told me. What do I embarrass you? You should be more embarrassed by her, a screwed up teenage girl whose parents couldn't deal with her anymore," the color rushed from my face and I felt sick. Before I could even say anything Jonah stepped in. 

           "That's enough, mom leave just get out of here and leave us alone."

           "Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Before I could even process what was going on her palm went across Jonahs black and blue cheek. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the car, leaving dust behind us as we drove away.

          "Are you okay?" He asked me, there was a single tear coming from each of his eyes.

          "Im fine Jonah, are you okay?"

          "Ya, ya nothing I haven't dealt with before."

          "This has happened before, her hitting you?" We pulled up to a little spot with a bench, and got out of the car. He sat down silently and I sat next to him. 

          "I lied about my mom, she doesn't live with some fancy rich guy.My moms a drug addict. Heroin is her drug of choice. Has been since I was a kid. It's the reason why my dad left, he didn't feel like dealing with her anymore, but hes the one whose been sending me money."

          "So you still talk to your dad? He hasn't helped with your mom at all?"I asked.

          "He's offered to pay for rehab before, but he's got a new family now, doesn't want to get involved with all our bullshit. He figures that if he sends me money every month it'll make up for leaving me with her."

          "Nothing can make up for that. Has your mom ever gone to rehab?"

           "Ya 2 times, each time after she overdosed. She went for 6 months  got clean, and then went right back to drugs when she was out. I guess it was just more important than her own kids."

           "Kids?"

           "Oh ya, I have a brother, half brother whose about 10 now he lives with his adoptive family in California. Im sorry I didn't tell you any of this. You were so honest with me, and I wasn't honest with you when I should have been."

          "I understand Jonah, as someone who hides much from her past I understand why you didn't tell me everything. So your little brother have you met him?"

           "Yea, my brother Ben was 3 at the time CPS took us away. He got adopted immediately and my mom decided to give up custody to him. I stayed in the foster system for a few years until my mom got clean and the courts let her have custody of me, not that her being clean lasted long. She just got better at hiding it from CPS. Ben's foster parents let me see him in the beginning, but as I got older they stopped, they thought I would be a bad influence on him. I haven't seen him since."

         "Have you tried contacting them again? Maybe if they see your a good kid they will let you see Ben more. You are his brother." 

          "I think he's better off without me. He's got a big brother Sam whose my age, and a younger sister Anna that he's grown up with."

           "I don't see how anyone could be better off without you," I pulled him in close holding him in my arms wishing I could take all his pain away. 

           "I love you Lorelei."

           "I love you too Jonah."