Shielded.

Chapter 11

Throwing my clothes on the kitchen counter, I grab a grocery bag and throw them into it and tie it.

I walk into the living room and there sits Brian, Twiggy, his girlfriend, and Kennedy.

My face lights up when I see her and I rush over to hug her, it's really great to see a familiar face. I have to stop myself from tearing up. I want to pour my heart into her lap and get it all out, but this isn't the place to do it.

"I was really worried about you so I called her as a resort." Brian murmurs.

I nod a thank you and take my seat next to Kennedy.

"But she got here kind of late." Twiggy's girlfriend says.

"Shut up, Jessicka." I hear Jeordie whisper to her. She rolls her eyes.

So that's her name.

I feel envy and rage arouse in me, and I don't know why so I look away from Jeordie and to Brian instead.

"I think I'm going to head home," I say, "I'll call you, alright?" I hug Brian.

He follows me out to my car. "Hey, I'm really sorry. I should have watched over you better and I-"

"Brian, I'm not a little kid. It's not your responsibility to watch over me," I snap, "it's my own, I'm supposed to be in charge of myself, okay? Stop worrying about me. I'm fine."

He shakes his head and begins to turn around. I unlock my door, but I stand at my car door breathing in the fresh air.

I really need to go to school.

Or I could drop out.

I sigh.

You didn't have to be so fucking rude, Charlie.

"Hey! Don't leave wait!" I hear Kennedy screaming from across the parking lot. Out of breath she finally reaches me.

"What happened?" She asks.

"I don know." I lie. "I can't really remember anything, honestly."

"That's not what Twiggy said." Kennedy replied.

"What did he say?" I ask, my heart beginning to race.

"Something about a vision."

"Oh... Well how would he know? He was fucked up, too."

"Yeah I guess."

"I'm gonna head home."

"Alright. Be careful. I'll probably follow soon after." Kennedy hugs me.

What happened to our inside joke?

On my drive home I turn up the music as loud as I can get it. I want to drown out all of the thoughts of Twiggy and Brian as possible. I feel so aggravated, lost and confused.

Who the fuck was she?

I don't remember what day it is, or the date, or month. I know nothing, and I hate myself for being so melodramatic about the whole thing.

That's all I ever do, is hate myself.

I stand in the front porch of my mobile home. I fiddle with the door and I open it to see my mom sitting on the couch, sober and attentive.

"Hey." She says.

I flash a quick smile and sit down next to her.

She rubs a hand across my forehead and through my hair.

"Curtis and the girls left last night." She says; empty and alone.

"You thought this day wouldn't come?" I snort.

"No, I knew. He hit you, the other day, he hit you. And I told him if he did it again I was going to murder him and he hit me, too."

"Yeah."

That was all I could say. How do you reply to your mother telling you about her personal life when you've been so distant for the past 10 years?

Maybe I should tell her about my vision. About Brian and Jeordie. Maybe.

The thought leaves my mind quickly. I withdraw myself from the conversation and lay down in my bed. Laying the cover just slightly over my face. Focusing on my breathing and Brian's face.

I like him. For some reason, I fucking like him.

Yeah, so this was long overdue, I promise more updates I have huge things planned. Please vote, comment, tell me things. Whatevs. Thanks for reading .

-Marissa 🐽