Tips From A Street Racer

Chapter 5: We Are The Champions-ish

I tip toe to the top of the stairs and eavesdrop on mom and dad's conversation.

"C'mon Charlotte, I think it would be good for Jade to come live with me for the summer."

I gulp at the pause in conversation.

"I told you no Rodney, there is no way I'm letting you take Jade for the summer, especially if you're planning on stranding her in the middle of the ocean again." I stifle my giggles at the memory.

"Please Char? Besides, it would be good time to tell Jade."

Tell me what? Mom's pregnant?! No no, not that. We're moving to Hawaii? The world's ending? Yeah, that's definitely it.

They lower their voices so I creep farther down the stairs. I catch the last part of mom's sentence.

"...the right time. Jade can't know that we're thinking about getting back together..."

I feel faint at the last part until the world starts spinning around me and the bright dots I see engulf my mind.

Jade can't know we're thinking about getting back together. Those words will haunt me. They were my last thought before I blacked out.

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"Jade?"

I hear someone talking but everything is somewhat muffled.
Getting back together...
I won't let him destroy my mother and break her heart again.

"Get out." I mumble.

"What?" Mom questions. At least I hope it's mom. I still haven't opened my eyes.

"Get out." I say more clearly, after opening my eyes.

Most kids would be relieved, estactic maybe, but not me. It's bad enough he cheated, but he got the other woman pregnant and left my mom who was pregnant with me to help raise the other child.

"Honey, I know you want to be alone but we need to talk." I groan.

"Moooommm, I'm 17, I don't need the puberty talk. I think I've managed."

"No, no. It's just..." She bites her lip.

"...Did you hear anything before you fainted?"

Remembering everything before I fainted, I start phase one of my plan.

"Oh you mean that Mr. Player over here and my sweet, beautiful mother are getting back together, thus ruining my life and probably breaking your heart, again, in the process!" I'm practically yelling the end and finish with a sharp glare directed at Rodney.

You're not my father anymore.

"We. Are. Not. Friends. Got it?" I say sternly to Rodney.

He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Oh forget it. I'm leaving." I conclude, standing up and wincing at the sudden pain in my head. I brush it aside and walk to the front door.

"Where are you going?" Mom asks.

"I've got places to be that don't involve either of you. Good bye mom. Rodney." I send a brief nod his way before slamming the door behind me.

I feel a pang of guilt for snapping at my mom and that I overreacted at the sudden news.

Maybe Rodney's changed? I'll still keep my eye on him though.

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"Collins! We're utterly doomed!" I sigh at Henry's comment.

"What's it now, drama queen?" He doesn't even crack a smile and continues to blabber.