Too Much, Too Soon

Ten

I woke up on the floor in Billie's arms. He turned over to face me and pulled me closer. I closed my eyes and started to drift off to sleep.

Then, it hit me where we were. I shook him awake whispering, "Billie." He stirred, "no." "Come on. I don't know if my mom is still here." That alerted him.

"Shit, you're right." I nodded my head as I climbed up off of the floor. "Yeah, I am right," I replied as I opened up a drawer, looking for something to put on. I selected a baggy sweatshirt, "just stay in here, and I'll go see if she's left yet." He nodded his head, "what will she do if she finds out I'm here?" I laughed as I slipped into a pair of running shorts, "I don't want to fucking know."

My mom was in the kitchen. "Good morning mom," I said as I grabbed a glass out of the cupboard. "Good morning did you sleep well?" I smiled, "the best in ages." She remarked, "that's good." I shook my head as I filled the glass with orange juice. She broke the silence, "I won't be around the house much today. Got errands. Want to come?" "Well, I actually was going to stop by Justin's later." That was a lie, but she had to have a good reason to let me leave home. "Oh, well. You behave and have fun. He is such a great young man." I nodded my head as I grabbed a cereal box from the pantry.

She kept going, "so, are you two?" I looked at her puzzled, "you two who?" "You and Justin?" I nodded, "what about us?" "Dating?" I laughed, "ha. No. No thanks. He's like a sibling to me." Her face sunk, "well, he's one to keep in mind." "Mhm."

As usual, she gathered her keys, her bag and headed for the door," "okay, see you. Bye." "Bye. Love you." She nodded and headed out the door. I sighed, "she never tells me she loves me." I heard the engine start and her car speed away.

I waited for a minute or two, ensuring she was gone then, I made my way down the hall.

~3 HOURS LATER~
My car was packed. And I was ready to go. "So," Billie began, "are you just going to take off without saying goodbye?" I closed the trunk lid, "sure, why not? They can fuck off." He laughed.

As I was double checking to make sure I had grabbed everything, the garage door opened. "Shit," he said under his breath. "Yeah." I walked out of my room and waited in the kitchen to greet whomever was home.

The door opened. It was my dad. "Why's your car packed?" He glanced at Billie, smiled and looked to me for an answer. "Dad, I'm leaving. I just can't take it here. I don't belong; I never have. When I wanted to come back here, I thought, for some reason, it'd be different. In reality, it is just the same, mom is always down my throat. I love you guys but for me to have a relationship with you, change needs to take place. I'm leaving. I'm going home."

My dad shook his head, "I expected this. Well, you are always welcome here. I love you too and I know your mom does, no matter what she says or does; she loves you." He turned to Billie, "I sincerely mean this when I say it, you've been good for her. If you break her heart, however, I will find you." Billie gulped, "okay." My dad laughed, "I'm partially joking." Bille nervously smiled.

I gathered my keys and hugged my dad goodbye. For a moment, I thought I saw a tear forming in the corner of his eye.

I climbed in the passenger seat, and Billie entered the driver's. The car was thrown into reverse and moved onto the driveway, then the road, out of the subdivision; making countless turns, we finally merged onto the freeway, leaving a town I never quiet called home.