Into My Own

Thirty

At the sound of movement in the next room I bolted out of my char, successfully ending the rare moment of bonding with my brother.

"I say you should just go upstairs. Make a run for it," my brother shrugged.

I nodded and slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Three, two..." he counted off, a slightly amused grin plastered to his face.

"One!" I whisper yelled, bolting through the door.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see my dad stretching in front of his lazy chair and my mom picking up a few pillows. The entire scene went by in a blur. I was clattering up the stairs, bag swinging wildly, before they could even utter a syllable.

I was able to lock myself in the bathroom and breathe a sigh of relief.

If only I could've finished out my time at the house without a confrontation...

One long, hot shower later I had removed most of the crusty mustard residue from myself.

A knock on my bedroom door pulled me abruptly out of the sleepy haze I was in.

"Come in," I muttered, preparing for a screaming match with at least one parent.

Luckily it was only my brother, a grim expression on his face.

"Uh, did something happen?" I asked worriedly.

"Mom and dad said we gotta go to church with them," he sighed in defeat.

"Can't we just take one of our rigs?"

He shook his head. "No. I already tried that. We're stuck with them."

I threw the covers over my head, cursing all the while.

"I tried! Anyway, you should get ready. They're leaving in fifteen minutes."

I groaned. "Thanks for trying."

Torrin shrugged off my gratitude and walked out, shutting the door behind him.

I cursed again and stumbled around in search of some clothes.

Though it only took me five minutes to get ready I moped in my room for the full fifteen until they yelled up the steps for me to hurry.

Torrin met me on the stairs and we shared a nervous glance before walking down together.

Both parents were already in the car. The two of us shoved in earbuds right off the bat and successfully avoided conversation all the way there.

Church itself was stiff and awkward. Mom and dad sat on one end of the long pew while we stayed as far to the other side as possible. Torrin had me sandwiched against end so tightly I couldn't even squirm.

Instead of staying to talk for an hour like usual we all loaded up. I was about to put my headphones back in when dad spoke up.

"I think you two need to keep those things out of your ears for a while."

My stomach jumped and I literally felt like puking but did as I was told, staring at him blankly.

"You do realize that you can't legally move out, right?"

We nodded hesitantly.