Watch Your Temper

Chapter Twenty-Six: Back in the Saddle Again

        My mom was going to have a heart attack.

I took a deep, jagged breath and placed my knuckles upon the door. I counted to three in my head and rapped my fist a few times. 

I heard footsteps. I heard voices.

"I'll get it!" someone screeched. That someone would be my brother.

I almost fell backwards in surprise when the door flung open, revealing the chubby, red-faced little rascal. I glared at him and he glared at me for a minute, both of us participating in this sort of shocked staring contest.

"Ronnie, who is it?" Mom demanded from somewhere within the apartment, shaking both of us out of our confused states.

"IT'S TEMPER!"

I flinched and covered my ears.

Within five seconds, my mother appeared in the door frame. She carelessly pushed Ronnie out of the way, a look of sheer desperation and worry on her worn face.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" she hollered, engulfing me in her warm arms. I sighed, closing my eyes and breathing in her motherly scent.

I was home. That was all that mattered.

"Mom... I have a lot to explain. I think it'd be best if we all sat down."

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        "So... this asshole cheated on you and convinced you to travel to another country and... and just so you could fly straight back home?!"

I nodded, sipping thoughtfully on my cup of tea. I scratched my neck sheepishly and bit my lip, my eyes wandering around the hazy den. This was turning out to be far more uncomfortable than I had anticipated-- mostly because of my mother's constant cussing.

"Temper... I'd like you to call for an ambulance right now," my mom commanded me, speaking in an eerie-detached voice. I frowned in confusion, staring at her in curiosity.

"What? Why? What are you talking about?" I asked. Oh God, I was actually giving her a heart attack!

"Well... I'm going to murder that Apollo and his entire family and that tramp... so you might need an ambulance to drive them to the hospital once I'm through with them. Or, technically, a hearse."

I laughed. Trust my mom to find humour in a dire situation.

She grumbled and shifted around on the sofa, taking a big gulp of her tea.

"So, what about George?"

I groaned, raking a hand through my hair in frustration.

"You're kidding, right? I just ended a traumatic relationship and you're expecting me to rekindle that thing with George? Besides, I'm pretty sure he's into Zoey," I informed her for the billionth time, dashing all her stupid match-making hopes and dreams. She scoffed, a defiant smirk on her face.

"Not anymore!" she sang, and I felt my heart flutter.

"W-What do you mean?"

She didn't even try to hide her smirk any longer.

"I got word from Mrs. Arbing that George was only going with Zoey to make a certain somebody jealous. Plus, Alec told George that he likes Zoey, so I guess they're together now."

Whoa. This was so much to digest! Why did my mom know so much?

I grinned devilishly, smacking her on the arm playfully.

"Shit, Mom! Who knew you were such a Nosy Nora?" I giggled, and she shrugged.

"I have my talents... gossiping just happens to be one of them. Now, I suggest you go unpack or something. I'm just going to pop a load of laundry in the washer and I'll be in to help you in a few minutes," she trilled, standing up from the couch and beginning to walk from the room.