High School in Hell

Chapter 2

So today is my 18th birthday. I doubt my dad remembers, my sister does though. Sweet little Melody, only ten years old, she's so much like my mom. She brings me in my favorite breakfast, I smile and sit up, my hair a mess. She giggles and sets the tray on my night stand and she hops up and I hug her, she hugs back and gives a soft giggle. "Happy Birthday Lexi, I made you breakfast," "I see that, thank you Melody, it smells great... is dad up?" She shakes her head and she crawls onto my lap, I notice her teddy bear still in her arms. "another nightmare?" She nods and cuddles into my arms, I pet her hair the way mom used to do to me. "It was about mommy, again... I would have come in here, but I knew it was your birthday and didn't wanna bother you sissy." I smile kindly, "even on my birthday, you can still come to me if you have a nightmare Mel."

She nods and looks up at me, "what am I gonna do when you leave? I don't think daddy would like me going to him in the middle of the night." I nod, knowing our dad works more than he sleeps, and he doesn't hardly spend time with us much, after I got my license I became much like my mom, the one taking care of us kids. Driving us to school and to the store. Getting two jobs to save money so I'd never have to ask dad for any.

Whenever Melody or I needed something, dad was too busy sleeping or too drunk. So I became the head of the family, dad saves enough to keep the house, power and water going. He even pays for tv and internet, because when he's not drunk, sleeping or working, he's a couch potato. So we can't rely on him for anything.

That scares me a little, because what will Melody do when i'm gone? Can I just take her with? Jeremy says I should, but i'm not sure how dad would react. I glance at the clock and I hold my dear sister close. "No school today." "What should we do for your birthday?" I smile "how about I call Jeremy and we go out for ice cream and then figure it out from there?" She nods and finds the white streak of hair and plays with it. "I wish I had one, it's so pretty," "no Mel, your hair is prettier." I kiss the top of her head and she runs off to get dressed, only ten and her hair was down to her lower back. Brown like mine, but longer. She had the same blue eyes as me, like our mom. I get dressed and I eat the breakfast she made me, she comes back in dressed and grinning from ear to ear, holding a small box wrapped in construction paper and yarn. I smile, "what's this?" she climbs up next to me and holds it out to me, "your present Lexi." "Present? you didn't have to get me anything Mel, you know that," "I wanted to, now open it, please?" I smile and obey. Inside the small box I find a little glass heart necklace. "oh Mel, it's so beautiful, I love it." She smiles, pleased when I put it on, she helps me finish the food she made and I call Jeremy.

When I hang up, Melody is giggling and whistling. I know that look all too well. "When are you and Jeremy gonna get married?" I blush and laugh, "Mel, how many times have I told you, he's my best friend, he doesn't like me that way, and he has a girlfriend."

She smirks, disagreeing and with that, I grab my purse and keys and we head outside to my car, careful not to wake dad. My car isn't too old, it's a Mustang, but an older one my aunt Margaret gave me for my 16th birthday when she moved to town. Considering how old it is, it looked great and i've never had mechanical problems.

We drive to Jeremy's house which isn't far. He's waiting in his driveway wearing his faded blue jeans, grey band tee and his faded black converse. His black hair always falls perfectly, even when he's just rolled out of bed, and the way his blue eyes sparkle, it was no wonder why every girl had a crush on him... well almost everyone.

He smiles and gets in the front seat and he holds out a magnolia that he was hiding. "Happy birthday, rockstar." I laugh, he called me that after he saw my birthmark once in middle school. I take the flower and smell it, magnolias and black roses were my favorites, but magnolias were harder to find here. "You remembered." "of course I remembered your birthday Lexi," "I meant the flower Jer." He laughs and I hug him softly, from the back seat I hear Melody humming that stupid love song about being in a tree, I lean between the seats and I give her a look and she goes silent and laughs.