Why me?

Chapter 2

I woke to the sound of Carly crying. I crept into her room, where I found a mess. Books were on the floor, clothes from weeks before, pizza boxes, and what I was most worried about seeing, alcohol spilt and bottles all over her room.
"Carly?" She suddenly turned, hearing my voice, even though I was hoping she wouldn't hear it. She rushed up to me and hugged me so tight I couldn't breathe. Before I new it, I was bawling my eyes out.
"I loved her so much. And tomorrow I have to say a speech about her in front of everyone." I've never seen Carly this broken. She was always the rock of the family, so happy cheerful, wise, comforting and hilarious. And now she turned to me for support, knowing that I was as broken as she was.
These past two weeks have been unbearable, I had to get a job to help support the family and we had so much cheap pizza that it wasn't funny. Dad had one week off work to sort out finances and realise what happened. Carly missed the most important lecture of the year. She is studying to be a psychologist, to help damaged people and now she can't fix her broken life.
"Suzie?" Carly asked hesitantly, "I want to take dad out for dinner. Tonight. My textbook said that going out sometimes helps." I nodded. That is a great idea. Please not an Italian place. I've had to much pizza.

***

Dad chose a Chinese restaurant that mum took him to so many times. It was their dinner place. Looking at the food being served, I could see why. The food looked amazing. Dad didn't look so amazing. He had bags under his eyes and hadn't shaved for a while. He stared at his hands and at the seat that was empty next to us, saved for mum. I looked at Carly uncertainly and silently begged for her to make conversation.
"So Suzie, how's school going?" She finally asked.
"Oh you know, 4 assignments, Emma and Dylan are still the best friends ever. The popular girls still... Be popular, and yeah it's good."
"Cool."
"Are they nice to you, the popular girls?" Dad asked unexpectedly.
No, I thought. "Yeah I try to stay outta their way most of the time, but they aren't bothering me. Probably too busy worrying about all the boys." I said trying to make him laugh, he forced a smile. Anytime mum was here he would have died laughing, but not tonight.
"Tell me if they are giving you a hard time. That's what they did to your mum. Until I started dating her and told them to leave her alone, which they did." Wow. Dad said something about mum and didn't bawl out crying. "Are there popular girls at uni, Carls?"
"Umm yeah there are a few I guess. All the smart ones are popular, 'cause the guys now know that the smarter they are, the better paid their jobs get." She replied, also trying and failing to make dad laugh. Dad nodded in agreement.
After we ordered our food dad tried really hard to smile as much as possible. He didn't each much of his meal, to my dismay. He'd better start eating soon.
"Well, I think we better pay and head home. We have a big day tomorrow." He said awkwardly.