The Boy in the Hall

Chapter 22

Ty's P.O.V

My mom has locked herself in the bathroom. Every attempt I've made to talk to her has failed miserably. I hope she doesn't hate me. I would die if she hated me. Okay that's probably not the best thing to think right now, but I would still feel really awful.

I knock on the door slowly and try the handle again. Still locked. Shit. "Mom?"

"Leave me alone, please," I hear through the door.

"Mom, please can we talk?"

"No!" She shouts like a small child with a tint of sadness in her voice. My guilt increases to a point where I feel like I'm going to be sick. My dad walks up and points to the door. I shake my head as he shrugs his shoulders.

"Nicole, darling?" He says sweetly using three knuckles to knock on the door. There is no answer from the other side of the door. He try's again, "Nic?" Suddenly the lock goes click and the door swings open. Standing in the doorway is my very angry and sad mother. She pushes past both of us and walks, in a huff, to her room. We don't hesitate to follow. She shuts the door right in our faces, but jokes on her, this door can't lock.

My dad and I look at each other and he walks away. He knows how badly I need to apologize to her. I turn the handle to the door and walk in slowly. She's sitting in the bed holding a picture. She wipes tears from her cheeks and just stares at the photo. I walk over to her and sit down. I take a long lingering look at the photo she's holding. It's of me when I was little. I'm standing in a little tux next to my mom. We are both grinning ear to ear. We look happy. Without a care in the world.

"This was taken at your uncle Brad's wedding." She sniffles and her voice catches in her throat, "you were four years old." I can't remember any of this, but I nod to be polite. "I told you that one day you were going to being a much bigger version of this tux at your wedding, and do you know what you said?" I shake my head and she continues, "you said 'I wanna marry someone just like you mommy'." She begins to cry and tears drop to the frame.

I rub her back and say, "I still haven't changed my mind about that." She smiles and looks at the picture again. Quickly, realizing the tears on it and wipes them away. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," I say looking at my lap.

"It's okay," she sighs and wipes another tear from her face. "I just can't accept the fact that my little boy is growing up. I guess I'll have to sooner rather than later."

"Does this mean I can't marry Samara?"

She sighs deeply then says, "of course you can marry Samara."

I smile widely and run my free hand through my hair. I kiss her cheek quickly. "Thank you so much, mom!"

"You're welcome," she says slowly then gasps, "I have a wedding to plan! I have to get right to work." She runs out of the room smiling and still holding the photo. I wonder if we will ever be as happy as we we're in that photo.

.***.

Friday can't come soon enough. This is the last day of my suspension and the beginning of my surprise for Samara. I hope she likes it.

Everything is packed in the car as I head out the door bright and early. The text I get from Samara lets me know she got my note.

'*where are you?*'

'*pack warm clothing*' I reply.

'*?*'

*I'll be back at 7*' I text back.

That's all I get. I stop to fill gas and then I'm on my way. Off to complete another thing on my list.

I arrive at the house a few hours later. The house I've been avoiding for about nine years. My dads house; I guess my step dad really.