Secrets And Lies

Chapter 32: The Slap That Changed Her World

Ryan

I awakened this morning and was disappointed to find Axel gone. Usually, he wakes me to say goodbye before hopping out the window.  My stomach turned uncomfortably at the prospect of him freaking out. No. He was too understanding last night. He wouldn't leave because of that. Right? My mother barging through the door successfully interrupted the self-deprecating thought. She stood with her arms crossed in the doorway, wearing the same expressionless face that she always wore. It was getting irritating not being able to guess what she was feeling. But if I had to guess what she felt at this very moment, I'd imagine that she felt the overwhelming need to criticize me as usual.

"Ryan, why are you still in bed?" 

"Because it's only six-thirty," I replied after I checked the time on my phone.

"Get up. And can you please try to stay out of trouble today?"

"Mom, I haven't got in any trouble since..."

"Yes, well, let's keep it that way,"  The quick visual scan she made of my room told me that since I haven't done anything wrong, she was finding something to nit-pick.

 "Did you need something else?" I asked as I put my feet on the floor.

" Yes, can you tell me why the screen is out of your window?" 

"I could.." I said simply. 

'You just had to poke the bear,'  I admonished myself as I tried to move around her so I could shower. But, unmoving, she stood blocking my escape route.

"Answer the question." 

"I did answer the question. You asked me if I could tell you, I said that I could. What you should have asked was, 'why is your screen missing.' Ask the right questions if you want the right answers." I deadpanned.

  Poke... Poke, too late to turn back now.

 A more competent person would have given her what she wanted. But right now, I didn't give a shit. If she is hell-bent on making my life miserable, then I'll at least try to reciprocate.

"Quit being difficult. Why is your screen missing? Have you been sneaking boys in here?"

 She was tapping her foot now, her calm demeanor slipping. Was it wrong that I got some kind of sick and twisted joy out of being the one to get Lynn Fitzpatrick to finally crack?   I tore my gaze from her agitated foot to her face, which still held no sign that I was getting to her.

"You can relax. I'm not doing anything that you accused me of last year. I took the screen out the morning after everyone spent the night. The girls and I needed to make a quick getaway after the prank we pulled." 

The damn screen has been off my window since then, so technically, it was the truth. Maybe not the whole truth, but a lie didn't pass my lips. When Mamma Bitch only narrowed her eyes, I knew she didn't believe me.

"Stop with the lies, Ryan. I'm not stupid." 

I cocked a challenging brow at her statement. "You sure about that?" My smartass comment earned me something that I would have never thought my mom would do.

Before I could move, her hand made contact with my left cheek. Searing pain scorched my face. A terrifying, unrecognizable face flashed through my mind. The face I can never seem to remember. The image faded immediately. Again every feature evaded my memory--everything but his eyes. Brown, soulless eyes frozen in time.  I don't know how long I stood there, holding my cold hand to the burning area.

"Fuck you!" I finally cried out and pushed past her.

Although I knew she had followed me out into the hallway, I would not give her the satisfaction of turning around. I had barely grasped the bathroom's doorknob when I heard my brother's voice.