The Fall of Family

Chapter Six

I woke up to a man rubbing my side.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw him. I didn't know where I was. The smell was salty, like the sea. The room I was in was dark, the only light source was the small window on the right side of the room. The thing I was resting on was soft, but nothing I had felt before. I quickly sat up, a rush of panic swelled in my brain and started hyperventilating. "Where am I?" I asked in a worried voice. My stupid stomach started acting up and I felt queasy.

Drew looked at me worried. He said in a confused voice "Dude, you fell asleep on the couch"

Oh. Yeah.

Derp.

I immediately blushed, my stomach calmed down and embarrassingly said "Oh, sorry" and gave him a little smile. "It's time to get ready for school, bro. It's 6:30 and your alarm went off in your room. I thought it was best to wake you up"

I admitted he was right; and thanked him again; and got up and continued on my normal morning routine. Shower, music, dress, maybe eat, hair, teeth.

I grabbed my backpack and exited through the door to the garage. On my way out, I was depressed to hear no one return the "good-bye!" I yelled into the house.

Feeling more depressed than I could handle, I walked back into the house and found my way to Drew's room.

I knocked tree times and opened the door, peeking in. He looked up from his laptop and smiled at me. I walked over to him and gave him a hug, and he gave me a hug back.

We stayed there for a few seconds and I whispered in his ear, "I am applying for a job this week, to try and make some money". He nodded and I felt his cheeks tightened as he smiled.

He whispered in reply "I am going to work extra hours and make some more money". I smiled at the fact that we were helping my dad and becoming happier by ourselves. I drew back from our hug and smiled at him. Drew smiled back, and I felt more happy about the problem at hand.

After I left Drew's room, I decided to go to my dads room to check on him.

I opened the door quietly and peeked in. I sighed at the sight of my dad laying on the bed, under the blankets, with the window blinds drawn. The room smelled awful, like alcohol and dread. I walked into the room, and kissed my dads forehead. I intended it to be a peaceful and calming remark, but I gagged and felt a coughing fit coming.

I held my breath as I gave my dad one last glance and exited the room, holding my breath until I got into my car and let the coughing fit come. I sat there for a few minutes, coughing and attempting to keep a cough drop in my mouth and failing.

After the coughing fit settled down, I started my crappy car and pulled out of the driveway. Since I went back and talked to Drew, I was caught up in the traffic of all 400 high schoolers trying to get into the parking lot through one enter.

After many long minutes of yelling and cursing at the slowest teenage drivers I've ever seen, I pulled into my spot. I got a case of déjà vu from yesterday, and I felt my stomach act up. I immediately felt stubborn, and I DID NOT want to throw up today.

I got out of my car and started walking to the entrance of the school. I saw the Boy walking into school, and decided to talk to him. I changed my direction and started to walk to him.

He was on his phone, walking toward the door. I smiled and started to walk by his side. He looked up from his phone and looked at me and smiled. My stomach did a flip and I noticed for the first time that he had blue braces and I immediately found it cute. I started with saying "Hi, m-my name is Maria, wh-what's yours" I cursed myself for stuttering and I felt the blood rush to my face and knew he could see my face turn red, which made me turn redder.

He smiled with the cutest smile I have ever seen and replied "Mathew, how are you?" I groaned inside, because Mathew is the cutest name on his and I couldn't see him as any other name.

"I'm good, how about you?"

"I'm doing fine."

A slight pause I didn't want happened, I quickly said something to break what could become the stop of our conversation.

"So, are you new here, or have I been blind all this time?"

Was that flirting? Was THAT flirting? I've never flirted before, that sounded pretty good.

He laughed, "I moved here last summer. It has been a pretty bumpy road so far. I don't have many friends so far."

This was my chance, JUMP ON IT, CHEEZY OR NOT!

"Well, I don't have many friends either. Want to be friends?"

I saw a smile on his face as he put his phone away to give me his full attention. "Sure, that sounds good"

The rest of the way to my locker we talked about random things happening around school. I learned he is the backup pitcher; behind Abby's boyfriend, he is a 3 season sport player and the rest of his family lived in California; he moved for a masters in education at the University of Alabama and lived with with grandma.

As we approached my locker, I smiled at him and said, "well, I'll see you around. Right?" He nodded and gave me back my books that he insisted to hold on the way in. He smiled the biggest smile I've seen him smile and said "Yep, I'll see you around"

After putting my backpack in my locker, I walked into my first class and sat down. I opened up my binder to find a piece of paper in it.

And on it was a phone number.