On The Fence

Chapter 8

I ran upstairs straight to my room. I was trying to hold back the tears as my feet hit each step. I tried covering my mouth to keep my lips from quivering. Once I reached my room, I shut the door behind me with my free hand and climbed outside my window, where I saw Miles....just sitting there, staring at the ground.

I wrapped my arms around my knees, and rested my chin on top of them.

Please don't...- I thought.

All of a sudden my phone vibrated.

I took it out of my jacket pocket, and saw that it was from Miles. Not sure if i should open it or not, I did.

Annie... - It read

........- I said

I had nothing to say. He answered five minutes later.

........- It read

please don't do it.- I said.

No answer.

Miles, please.-

I watched him on his porch from where I was, looking at his phone. He looked up at me.

How did he know I was here?- I thought.

Come here.-he said.

I looked down at him as he looked up at me. I hesitated...thought about it....and went.

•••

I sat where I was before and fiddled with my fingers.

"You still gonna do it?" I said in a partial whisper.

"No." He said.

I looked up at him and saw him looking down at his phone. I took his hand and held it tight.

"It's gonna be okay. You still have me and your mom. He's not worth it." I said. Then rested my head on his shoulder.

"What 're you doin' tomorrow?" I could tell he was smiling.

I looked up and saw it was his sneaky smile.

"When- after school?"

"Yea."

"Nothing much but homework, why?"

".......I'm gonna teach you somethin'."

"What are you gonna teach me?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Uuuhhh....I don't know anymore."

"Meet me here at eight tomorrow night."  

"Eight?"

"Actually, no....ten."

"Uuuhhh....-"

"Trust me Annie, it'll be fun."

I sighed. "Alright....."

•••

I closed the door quietly behind after going back into my house.

"Bree, is that you!?" My mom called out from God knows where.

"Uuuhh...yea, it's me; why?"

"I'm in my room. Come here."

I made my way upstairs, to her room and saw her wiping off makeup in the mirror. She looked better without it anyways. I always wondered why she wore it, because my dad doesn't seem to care either way.....

"Yes, mom?--You left us this morning and after church; you and dad. Were you in a rush or something?"

"Uumm no, not really. We had to stop somewhere before going to church and you and your brother were just getting up. What's the problem, it's not like you had to beg someone for a ride."

"No, there's no problem-"

"Did you? 'Cause Jordan has a car. Was it not working?"

By that time, she had finished wiping her face and began to take out her hair pins.

"Yea it was, but-"

She looked at me and shrugged like the conversation had no substance. Her face read 'so why are we talking about this?' 

"I was just curious-" I mumbled to myself.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, mom."

"What are you doing tomorrow?" she said.

"When tomorrow?"

"After school."

"Depends; what time?"

"What do you mean 'depends'? I asked you what are you doing tomorrow."

"I'm hanging out with Miles."

"Your father and I have been invited to a dinner at sister Anne's house. We're suppose to be picking up sister Marie, but she doesn't have a babysitter-"

"Aaand you want me to babysit."

She paused what she was doing and looked at me, blinking awfully fast.

"Is there a problem?"

"Well kinda - I just said I'm hanging out with Miles tomorrow after school."

"Oh, it's not like it's gonna be 'til ten."

"Actually I'm meeting him..........around that......time." I said a bit nervous.

"For what?"

"I don't know.." I mumbled.

"What was that?" She projected her voice.

"I don't know." I said in full voice, "he said it was a surprise."

"So how am I suppose to know if it's safe?"

As it so turns out, you weren't suppose to know.- I thought.

"Don't you trust him? We're talking about Miles, here." I said.

"I do but I...."

"But what...."

She had finished taking out her hair and had started scratching it, making it look messy and wild. She sighed. Was this it? Was she gonna give in like the pushover she use to be?

"You still need to babysit." She said.

My heart sank. AAAAHHHUUUUGGGHHH!!! It screamed. 

"Why do I have to do it? Of all people, mom, I always do it. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with Jordan, and last time I checked, his schedule for tomorrow night was to watch TV and eat out the fridge--"

"Oh stop complaining, Bree; you're babysitting tomorrow and that's final. Conversation over."

She dropped her hands from her head and made her way in my direction while saying,

"I'm leaving the room, I suggest you do the same."

AAAAHHHUUUUGGGHHH!!! my soul screamed.