Friendship & Love

Chapter 2

                         
   I smiled as I walked back out to my car. Those girls were cool. I never once in my life thought I'd be friends with girls, let alone even be their acquaintance.  This was completely different. Even though I'm 17 and I seem to be the type of guy who dates a lot of girls, I'm not.
I'm the total opposite of that.
    As I drove to my house, my phone exploded with texts from the girls I'd met. I totally forgot that I exchanged numbers with them. Probably shouldn't have done that.

    I looked down at my white Converse while I kicked the dust, sitting on a bench at the park. I always came here on a Friday, just to calm all of the school and family stress. You don't know.. my parents are kind of going through a divorce right now, and my sister was moving out with her fiancé. To top all of that, my best friend Danny and I were kind of having a rocky friendship.
       I sighed as I jerked my head up, hearing footsteps. Mere. What was she doing here?
"Hey." I said.
"Oh, hey. What're you doing here?"
"I was actually gonna ask you that same exact thing."
She giggled. "I just came here to get some air. Best friends can bore you sometimes, you know?"
I chuckled. "Believe me, I know."
Mere sat down next to me. "What's your excuse for coming here?"
I shrugged. "Just the normal teenage stress and stuff."
She nodded. "You sounded really good today considering you just met us."
I smiled a little. "Well, I wouldn't say really good, but okay."
      I look down again at my feet. I'd only ever told my older sister, Nichole, how insecure and self conscious I'd always felt. I'd always thought that I'd never dated a girl because I was too shy, or too awkward. But I wasn't going to share this secret with anyone else. Don't girls have insecurities too?
       We were quiet for a little while, then we heard more footsteps. Sure enough, all the other girls came into the park.
"Paul! Hey!" Niki said to me. I smiled and waved to her. Then Mere excused herself and went with her friends to act like children again. But really cute children. I laughed to myself as I watched Beth jump off a swing. Then my phone buzzed. Shit.
     "Hey mom.."
     "Paul, get back home now."
     "Why? I'm kind of relaxing in the park.."
     "Just get home, you'll miss dinner."

I sighed as I told her I'd be there and hung up the phone. I walked up to the girls.
   "Hey Paul, wanna join us?" Gabi asked. I shook my head. "Sorry, I actually have to go, my mom called me."
   "Oh, okay. See you Monday I guess."
    I smiled and walked back to my house. When I got there, I kicked my shoes off. "MOM I'M HOME!" I yelled, then ran upstairs to my bedroom. I sat on my bed and stared at the shelf on top of my dresser. Then, my mom barged in.
     "Hey, Paul, um, can I talk to you?"
     "I guess."
     "Um, the divorce is official, and I'm moving out tomorrow. Nichole's dropping me off at my new house on her way to her condo. You'll be living alone with your dad.."
       I stared at my mom, mouth gaping open. Living with my dad's gonna be a nightmare. He wasn't an alcoholic, nor a druggie, but he tended to hit me a lot. And make me feel bad about myself. No wonder why it's my mom moving out.
       "Mom, please, no. I-I can't live with him. I'm 8 months clean of cutting, and I don't want him to make me do it again.."
       "Honey, you'll be okay. Come over to my place and visit if it really gets that bad, okay?"
       I nodded, feeling my eyes well. She kissed my cheek, and exited my room. I sat on my bed, face in my hands, tears staining my face. I can't do this, I can't. Let's hope this goes okay...
   Or I might actually run away.
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Hey guys! Sorry for the shortness of this chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment!
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- Ashlee xx