Inflowing Tide (#Wattys2016)

(9) "I'm Just Tired"

I had found Sierra and told her I texted my mom to come and get me.

"Savy, whats wrong?" She was drunk but genuinely concerned. I shrugged and said,

"I'm just tired. I'll see you Monday, okay?" she wrapped me in a hug. "To be continued." She whispered. I could never get anything past Sierra.

*****

When my mom arrived, I knew she would think something was wrong. So I wore my happy face and greeted her, as I began to climb into the car I heard someone call my name.

"Savannah!" someone called. I turned to find Gabriel walking towards me; I don't have the mental energy to deal with this.

"You're leaving?" he seemed disappointed "Yes. I'm uhm....tired." I sent him a slight smile.

"Well, goodnight then." He wrapped me in a somewhat awkward hug. But, his arm was around my shoulder and somehow made me feel less upset.

On the drive home, I haven't uttered a word. "Are you okay, Sav?" My mom stroked my head but doesn't take her eyes off from the road. "I am okay, mom. Just tired." I tried my best to sound okay. She hummed and hesitated for a moment.

"Who was that?" She questioned.
Oh, the evitable. "A friend." I said dryly but my face was failing me, my cheeks heated up when I recalled our kiss earlier.

"He's handsome, you guys a couple?" She said in a serious tone but I knew she was kidding.

I giggled "Oh my word, mom stop!" I exclaimed. "But, you'd tell me when you do become a couple, okay?" I narrowed my eyes.

"When?" I couldn't mask the shock in my voice. "God, Savannah. Are you blind? He looked at you as if you had his universe in your hands."

"No, mom. He was probably just drunk, don't over think this." Her hand smacked on my leg "Did you drink alchohol?" I shook my head.

"Just tell me about him, okay. I want to know who you're friends are."

I shrugged "if it makes you feel better, he's Tony's brother." A sad memory of Tony forcing himself onto me and his confession makes me cringe inwardly.
"Tony doesn't have a brother." Mom whispered "That is his father's son." She pursed up her lips and nodded her head.

**********

When I got home I fished for my cell phone in my pocket, I turned it on as hurried upstairs to my bedroom.
My bedroom was still a mess from us getting done here! I placed my phone on charge at my desk. With a sigh I transformed into survival mode and cleaned my bedroom.

When I was done I got ready for bed and just when my hit the pillow my body overflowed with sudden exhaustion...

I was upstairs in my sister's bedroom; we were listening to music and having a conversation about the vampire diaries. "I like Stefan, he is sweet." She said "I'm more for Damon, you know? Bad guys." We both burst into laughter. Josie turned the music down when we heard yelling; Mom and dad yelling. We rushed downstairs, we found dad punching mom in her stomach. "NO!" Josie yelled and ran towards him, he pushed her over and she bumped her head. Mom is searching for her breath and trying to get up from the ground. I couldn't tell whether Josie was moving or not. My body shut down, I froze, I couldn't move...I was numb with fear...fear for my own father.