Split Pieces

Chapter 2: Nathaniel Walton

After breakfast I told Maggie and Rocky goodbye and walked home. The summer breeze felt good on my tired skin. I live only down the street from her so Maggie's house has become like a second home to me.

My mothers car was absent from our driveway. I figured she wouldn't be back yet. She had went out the night before with some guy I had never seen. He was a tall man with a patchy beard whom reeked of alcohol; pretty classy for my mothers tastes. As long as I can remember she's been off and on with men I never even get the time to introduce myself to. I gave up on her years ago; she'll never change; caring would only make it harder for me.

I unlocked the door with my house key that cling clanged from my neck, and stepped into that all too familiar smell of mold and cheap cigarettes. It was horrid but no longer seemed to linger with me. I immediately ran upstairs to take a shower. When I glanced in the mirror I saw that my hair had been badly tampered from my rest last night, my blonde curls resembled a tumbleweed and I don't believe that's an attractive look on me.

I laughed at myself a moment, then hopped into the now steamy water. It felt nice to shower; that time of the year I rarely got around to it. After drying my body and getting dressed I threw my dads old baseball cap on. I miss him so much. He was the only parent I ever truly had but passed when I was 10 years old. The thought still haunts me but I try not to think of it.

I didn't have time to do much else before heading back out and jumping in my old car. I was going out to meet Maggie at the little burger shop down the road; "Benny's Grill". We've ate there more times than I can even try to count and there's a million other places to dine in town but Benny's is her favorite. She's one of the few people who are capable of making me happy in this cruel world, so the least I can do is treat her there. I love her.