Exposed

Chapter 3 - Family Issues

After my encounter with Mitch, I sat in my car confused by him. What was he going to prove? Twenty minutes had passed since he walked away and I was still puzzled about the whole ordeal. I'm not even sure why I'm wasting my time pondering it and him. It's not like I cared what he did or why he did it. I couldn't care less about his life than I did now.
I mentally shook my head at myself and started my car. It was time I got home so I could complete all my homework and still have time for TV surfing. I turned on the radio as I made my way home, singing along to the songs I knew.
I pulled into the garage and shut off the engine, sitting there for a few minutes admiring how clean I kept my car. It was my baby after all. A slick black camaro with duel surround sound and some gorgeous, black leather seats. It had been given to me by my brother two years ago when he'd joined the army.
At first, I had begged him not to go because I hadn't wanted to lose my best friend but I soon realized that he was born to be a hero. He was supposed to be saving people like the way he had saved our family when mom and dad divorced.
I wish he was around to save me now, but he wasn't and it was my fault that he never would be again. I shouldn't have been arguing with him that day, I shouldn't have followed him out to the parking lot. He didn't see the car and neither did I, I should have but I didn't. The last thing he said to me still floated around in my mind- " You're the problem Maya, you always are. Just let me..." - and I never heard his next words as his body collided with the hood of a car. I had pushed him to leave the restaurant and it was my fault that he'd been in the middle of the driving area.
He was right though because I was the problem, always. Dylan had died because of me and the last words I'd shared with him weren't ones full of love but full of anger. I saw the light leave my brother's eyes and I lost a part of me when his heart stopped. I'd held his limp and bloody body in my arms as I apologized over and over about my behavior. I begged him to breathe, that I'd be a perfect angel if he'd just take another breath but he didn't. That was the day I lost not only my brother but my best friend.
That day was eight months ago when Dylan had been on leave from the army to visit and I'd never been the same since. I never visited his grave and I avoided the funeral all together. I loved him but I couldn't face his tombstone, not when I'd been the one to put him in that cemetery.
I felt a wetness on my cheeks and wiped my face, realizing that I had been crying. I sighed and glanced around my car, my thoughts fully returning to the present. I got out of my car and walked inside the house being greeted by silence. "Figures," I mumbled as I dropped my keys on the hook by the front door and kicked off my shoes. My mom was never home anymore, I think seeing me reminded her of the precious son she lost.
I gave a heavy sigh as I made my way up the stairs towards my room. I passed Dylan's old room as I walked through the hallway and I had to pause as I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath, struggling to control my emotions. I heard a meow and my eyes opened as a small smile appeared on my face.
Monty was sitting on the ground outside my room and I pulled him into my arms as I opened my bedroom door. I walked into my room and sat down on my bed, placing Monty beside me. Monty is my tan and chocolate colored mixed cat who I found on the side of the road when he was just a kitten. I rubbed behind his ears and ran a hand through my hair as I yawned.
I glanced at my desk that had my school books upon it and groaned, time to get to work.
* * * * *
I closed my Chemistry notebook with a sigh and leaned back in my desk chair. I was finally done with my homework and it only took three hours. I shook my head as I got up, running my hand through my hair. I flopped onto my bed startling a sleeping Monty, who then wandered over to me and plopped down upon my stomach. A soft laugh emanated from my mouth and I began to pet his soft fur.
I was almost asleep a bit later when my phone buzzed from inside my pocket. I groaned and pulled it out, seeing I had a text from an unknown number. I sighed and opened the message to read.
Unknown- hey there ;)
Me- who's this?
Unknown - oh Blondie, that hurts.
I frowned and rolled my eyes, you have got to be kidding me. How the hell did he get my number? I sighed and typed a reply.
Me- Mitch. How'd you get my number?
Mitch- Simple. I asked that cute brunette you were with today. Daria, is it? She was very helpful when I explained we had a project to work on for English. Told me your name too when I mentioned you were the one I bumped into earlier.
Me- Since when were you in the same English class as me?
Mitch- Since yesterday when my schedule got changed, I can't believe you didn't notice.
Me- I try to forget your presence in my life.
Mitch- why is that?
I groaned softly, I was not going to answer that. Of course Daria had been little miss helpful, that's who she is but now I was going to have to deal with her questions on why I wasn't helping Kelly snag him if we were partners and had to work together. Just more headaches I didn't want to deal with. I placed my phone down beside me, deciding that I wouldn't reply. I didn't feel like handling Mitch again today but I guess he had other plans because not a minute later, my phone vibrated once more.
Mitch- Maya, don't ignore me. It's not a very nice thing to do :(
Me- who said I was nice? Besides I can't talk Mitch, I have to shower. Night.
Mitch- have fun :) goodnight Maya.
I rolled out of bed after reading his message and walked towards the bathroom. I entered the bathroom and turned on the water in the shower. As I waited for the water to heat up, I shut the door and slid out of my clothes and placed my towel on the hook beside the shower door. Once the water had heated, I stepped into the shower, forgetting about a certain task in my usual routine as two bright green orbs filled my mind.
* * * * *
I walked into English class the next morning and saw a tall male in my usual seat. My hazel eyes slid into a glare at the sight of him and I sighed as I made my way over to him. It was seven in the morning and he was already being an annoying little pest. "Move," I spit venomously as his head swiveled towards me and his lips pulled back to reveal his bright smile.
        "No need to be so grumpy, Blondie," he teased as he slid out of my seat and into the chair beside it. I frowned realizing that he planned on sitting there for the whole period. He smiled over at me once more and I felt my mouth turn down even more as I averted my gaze to my desk, pulling out the book I was currently reading.
          I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't realize class had begun until a tan hand shut my book making me look up as my page was lost. I narrowed my eyes at Mitch in a glare, who's hand was resting upon my desk as he stared back at me. "Wagner keeps giving you the evil eye for not paying attention. She's been hinting at passing out detentions to those who haven't been listening for the past five minutes. I'm just trying to save you from her wrath so stop it with the murderous glare."
         My gaze softened at his words and I felt a flush creeping up my cheeks. I smiled slightly with gratitude," oh, thank you." He gave me a small nod and went back to writing notes as I pulled out some paper to take notes on. I glanced at him once more and couldn't help but feel that he wasn't as terrible as I had always assumed from the stories I heard about him. Maybe he was actually decent, but then again, probably not. I saw his head turn and I immediately slid my gaze to my own paper wondering why he was looking over at me.