The Girl Who Was Never Loved

Chapter 3: My Mistake

I was lying on my bed while staring at the ceiling. Suddenly, my father knocked on the door. I told him that he can come in and he wa smiling at me. Dad was holding a plate covered in aluminum foil.

"Can you do me a favor?" He said with a toothy smile.

"Sure."

"I was wondering if you could somehow, deliver this plate of special Coleslaw to our neighbor, on the left." He informed.

"Why can't you do it yourself?" I didn't even realized that I was using a tone that my father consider to be rude.

"Do you want me to slap you?" He glared at me.

"Fine. I'll do it. It's not like I have a choice." I sighed in defeat. I stepped out of the house and went to the house on the left house and knocked on the door. After a billion of knocks the door was still close. Right now, I'm starting to bang my fist against the door. I was losing my cool.

I was ready to give up and go home but all of a sudden, the door opened. A guy around my age stood on the doorway with a messy hair. He was yawning, it seems like he just woke up or something.

Then he look at me with his eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing here? And who are you?" He hissed, looking annoyed.

"What a rude jerk." I mumbled to myself.

"Did you say something?"

"I said my name is Julie Ackers and my dad wants to give you this." I answered nervously. I handed him the plate of Coleslaw. He stared at it for a good 50 seconds before he grabbed it out of my grip.

"Don't worry we won't poison you." I said.

"Thanks." He muttered under his breath but I heard it. He opened the door wide and said, "You can come inside, if you want."

"Sure." I answered before entering the house. There were piles of dirty clothes scattered all around the house. Do they know what laudry is? Do they know that there's a thing called washing machine?

"Sorry about the house. It looks filthy. My mother isn't home to clean this mess. By the way, I'm River Coleman." He introduced, offering his hands.

"Well, nice to meet you River." I replied before I shook his hands.

"You want to eat?" He asked as he offered me the Coleslaw that my dad cooked.

"No thanks. I have just ate a dozen of chocolate chip cookies." I half lied.

"Okay, then more for me." He said with a boyish grin.

"So your parents are out of town?" I curiously asked.

"Just my mom. She's working in Michigan." He instantly replied while staring out of the window.

"Where's your dad then?"

"My father died in a car accident, when I was 10." He responded with a shaky voice. I wave of regret struck me. I wish I didn't ask that. Why do I have to get into everyone's business?

"I'm so sorry!" I apologized.

"It's fine." He offered me a comforting smile. I opened my mouth to say something but instantly close it when I heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." He said, walking towards the front door. When he opened the door, I recognized the person standing in the doorway.

"Is Julie here? I need to talk to her. It's urgent." Austin said while catching his breath.

River gestured towards my direction. When Austin spotted me, he run towards me and gave my shoulders a squeeze. He was trembling.

"Austin what's wrong? Did something happen?" I asked him. My heart was beating really fast.

"It's mom." He whispered.

"What about mom?" I asked once again. I was nervous as heck!

"She passed out. We found her lying in the kitchen floor, obviously unconcious." Austin explained while looking down at his shoes.

"River, I really should go. Thanks for everything." I smiled.

"Anytime." He replied.