The Toy Soldiers Trilogy: Mockingbird

Chapter 6: Open Up Your Eyes

My eyes fluttered open to the sound of morning birds. It's actually morning, and the rest of my sleep went uninterrupted! Although, even if that dream was physically painful, I did get to see my mom. That's enough for me to take the worst of torture, but I have to remember it's only a dream. 

I threw on some clothes and headed downstairs, bracing myself for a depressed father. When I got to the kitchen, he was... happy. It was like nothing was going on, like mom never existed, let alone died. Seriously, ignoring their anniversary was one thing, but mom's passing? This is over the line! Not even one frown for your dead wife? 

He couldn't even care to see I was pissed. It all went straight over his head like nothing, because he was too focused on whore bait! That's my new favorite name to refer to Ashley as, because it's exactly what she is. She already manipulates my dad into getting her way, which screws me over. Next she'll be stealing, and eventually she'll start getting rid of mom's things! Just wait, it'll happen, just like in the movies. 

Ashley's presence in this house is ripping dad and I's relationship at the seams. She's become very aware of the fact that I don't like her, and instead of fixing it like a normal adult, she plays games like a teenager. It's her fault that dad is letting this day go over his head, and I swear to God she's driving me insane!

Dad always told me that if my bullying got to bad, he'd switch me schools or home school me. Well, how much worse is it gonna have to get for that to happen? I know exactly why he hasn't done shit. Because Ashley wants me to suffer, so she talked him into letting me stay at Green Mountain High. I've also noticed that dad has failed to tell any of his friends about Ash, which is odd. He would tell at least one of them, which must mean they don't like her. Hell, I knew already that they don't like her, because uncle Eddie turned red the second he heard her name. 

I have a feeling that uncle Aleks and uncle Eddie are up to something. They haven't talked to my dad since they found out, and Aleks told me to invite dad to practice tonight. Who fucking knows?! I have been trying to write my own songs, but failed horribly at it. For now we're sticking with covering, and I'm comfortable with that. Today I'm not in the mood for playing rock-out, high energy songs, so I asked everyone if we could just do some slow stuff. They were fine with the idea, and they all understood. 

It's almost three, which is the time that we all meet at Aleks' place. Cher, Taylor, and I walked along side each other, feeling a little nippy cold. It bit at our skins, but it's still not too bad. Our whole walk was debating songs to play, which seemed like it was nothing except a list of acoustics. 

We got to our home away from home and started setting up in the garage. The guys weren't too late, which I understand why they don't run on time. They aren't suspended like us. 

"So what's on the agenda for today?" Elliot asked while tuning his bass.

"Roger Rabbit, Iris, Family Portrait, and that's all we decided on so far." Cher replied. 

"Alright." I said. "Let's get this going then." 

They nodded their heads at me, and we burned through the Sleeping With Sirens songs. Then we kind of picked up the beat with the P!NK song, which Taylor totally rocked! Damn, can she hit those notes! The song really moved her, and I've never seen her that into a tune before. Can't blame her because it's damn good song! Eddie and Aleks came out to watch us while we were in the middle of Family Portrait. 

"You guys are really sounding good! Way better than when Stuck In Your Radio first started out." Eddie giggled.

"T-thanks." Taylor replied as she started to go back in her shell. 

"Of course! Now, uh, Taylor you know your great and all, but why don't you take a break? I kind of want to hear Victoria do a song."

I turned white. "What? I can't sing solo?!"