What Would You Do For Love?

When the Fog Clears Part 1

Chapter Six: When the Fog Clears

I woke late that next day, because Dad didn't allow me to go to school. Normally I wouldn't have minded. After all, I wasn't helpless, but everyone was making me feel that way. I wished they would all stop. Dad came into my room around noon, bringing me some lunch.

"Hi, sweetie, how are you feeling?" he asked as I sat up in bed, and he handed me the tray.

"I feel fine, Dad," I said. "Mitch just caught me off guard."

"Well, I never liked you dating him to begin with," he said. "And what's this I hear about a young man coming to visit you yesterday."

"Oh, Butch, he's just a friend," I said. I partially lied to him as well as myself. Butch wasn't just a friend. I felt something so strange inside me every time I thought of him. Was it love... or lust? I wasn't sure, and I didn't care. I just liked being around him.

"Is that all?" he asked me.

I looked shocked. The last thing I wanted to do was discuss my personal life with my father, so I just stayed silent. Instead, I started eating my lunch.

"Listen, Buttercup, I need to go out for a while," he said. "I have a lecture at the university, so I'll be back a little later. If you need anything just text me, okay?"

"Okay, Dad," I said, frustrated by all his doting. "Now, just go." He didn't look convinced. "I'll be fine. I'm really tired, so I'll probably just sleep the entire time."

"Okay," Dad said and kissed my forehead. "I'll see you later."

Finally he left to my relief. I turned on the television and saw there was a slasher movie on Chiller. If there was anything that could cheer me up it was watching stupid people get killed in a bad movie. So I got out my secret chocolate stash and settled in.

After about a half hour into the movie my phone rang. I was too preoccupied with the movie to check the caller ID, so I just picked it up. "Hello?" I said into the phone, but there was no answer. "Who is it, damn it?" I shouted. I was so pissed. I hated that. Still no one answered. I ended the call and put the phone back on my nightstand.

Soon the phone rang again. I checked it this time. Damn. It was Mitch. What did he want? "Yeah, what?" I shouted into the phone.

"Hey, Buttercup, are you home from school today?"

"Yeah, and it's because of you, asshole?"

"Oh, come on, Buttercup. Don't be like that," Mitch said. "I was just a little angry. Besides, you weren't hurt that bad, so what do you say I come over. I'll make you forget all about it."

"Stay away from me, Mitch. I don't want anything to do with you."

"What are you going to do, sick your new boyfriend on me again?"

"Butch is not my boyfriend, and even if he was, that's none of your business."

"I don't care if you're fuckin' him, but don't you think you owe me something?"

"I don't owe you anything, Mitch. Don't call me. Don't speak to me. Just stay away from me."

I ended the call and turned off my phone. I got out of bed. The pain in my back was mostly gone. I only felt a slight twinge. I had the need to get away. I was feeling like I was suffocating, so I quickly changed clothes and took off out of the house.