The Mistake [Norman Reedus] Book One {{COMPLETED}}

Chapter 26

The plane ride was a killer.  Thinking caused me to almost have to pull out the barf bag, and I couldn't rip my mind away from the last few touches I got when I hugged Norman.  I didn't even say the words "I love you" let alone "Goodbye" and I felt like I've never felt before.   You couldn't put what I felt into words.

The person sitting next to me didn't help, either.  He was wearing sunglasses, a black cap, and a leather jacket, but I knew that it wasn't Norman due to how hunched he sat and how he talked.  He sounded like a women.

I kept trying to imagine what Norman was doing now.  Still standing in the same spot, arms in a shrugging position, lost.  Maybe he just walked back to the front.  Or maybe he just sat down and is waiting for me to come back even when he knows I won't.  I knew he wouldn't be crying or tearing up, but I knew he felt empty and alone.  I left him there standing in the crowded airport to face all of the weird looks from strangers that we once ignored.

My leg shook up and down uncontrollably while I slumped deep into my chair and stared out the window.  I finally just slammed the shade shut, the bang being louder than intended, and pushed my head into the chair in front of me.  My hands clamped each other tightly, and I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear the flight attendant ask me if I wanted anything.  The man next to me had to nudge my arm to make me look up.

"Would you like a drink, sweetie?" The women asked.

Of course. She HAD to say "sweetie" just like Norman.  This was not working out very well.

I rolled my eyes, almost by mistake, and shook my head, leaning back into the chair.  

The plane chair was all of a sudden extremely uncomfortable, and my back cramped up.  I tried sitting crisscross, on my knees, sideways, and even halfway off the thing, but nothing seemed to make my flight experience a tad bit better.  At last, I just ignored the nagging pains and sat regular.

I had to get up to use the bathroom twice to process what the heck I was doing.  Going to Montana alone, to face my abusive mother.  (Again,) ALONE!  I left my boyfriend in the airport ALONE, I was sitting ALONE on the plane, and I was going to be alone for a long while now that I chose all these paths.

When I sat down after the second trip, the speaker came on and said that we would be arriving early.  My heart raced as I buckled my belt.  

The plane began to descend and before I knew it, I was walking through the similar tunnel to the airport.

I tugged my suitcase out of the front doors into the absolutely freezing Montana air.  Snow and ice covered the roofs and curbs of the roads and I watched intently at my breathe pushing steam into the air.

I realized I was waiting on nobody, and pulled out my phone.  I found my Auntie Beth's number on the list and held the phone up to my ear.  It rang only twice before she answered, swiftly told me she was almost here, and hung up.

I had to process what she said so quickly, and then finally pushed my phone back into my bag. As soon as I did, though, it rang.  I pulled it out and looked at the screen.  It was a voice mail from Norman.  

Confused on why he would call, I held it up to my ear and listened to his sweet voice over the speaker.

"OK, look.  I really am not sure what just happened.  I'm sitting on a cold bench, waiting for Sherry.  I don't understand why you left me here, and it's only going to get you hurt.  So I just want to ask you one thing: What were you thinking?" It said before a long, loud beep took over.

I was about to call him back and plead my case when my Aunts car pulled up.  She waved vigorously out of the window and I pursed my lips together, making my way to the van and throwing my stuff in the trunk.  I walked to the passenger seat, opened the door, but was abruptly and rudely stopped by a familiar voice that made me shiver.

"Ride in the back!  Dang!" My mother complained, harshly slamming the door shut and glaring at me through the icy window.  I held my hands up as if surrendering, and slumped into the back seat, buckling the buckle around me.

"Grace!  How was your trip?!  I missed you so much!" My Aunt cheered, pulling away from the curb at a fast speed.  My head was thrown back at the sudden jolt, and I steadied myself.

"It was great.  And here is that autograph." I said, pulling a picture of Norman out of my pocket with his signature.

I found myself staring deeply into his blue eyes on the picture, softly rubbing my thumb against the edge of the paper.

My mean mother (Like I remember her) finally ripped the picture out of my hands and stared at it.  "Who is this?" Her voice sounded loud like when she used to yell at my dad.

"That's, um, that's-" I began, scratching the back of my head.

"Daryl." My Aunt finished, stopping at a light and worriedly glancing back at me in the mirror.  I quickly broke the stare and stayed silent for the rest of the trip.

When we got home, Auntie Beth helped me unpack my things in my room and sat me down on the bed.  

"Look.  I know you're not overjoyed to see your mother, but show her some respect." She said, getting up to leave.

I swear I was about to get up and slap that women.  Respect?!  All my mom ever did to me was hurt me.  She can't be talking about respect.

After I relaxed myself, I felt the need to listen to Norman's voice mail again.

"OK, look.  I really am not sure what just happened.  I'm sitting on a cold bench, waiting for Sherry.  I don't understand why you left me here, and it's only going to get you hurt.  So I just want to ask you one thing: What were you thinking?"

It was the last strand of him I had.  For now, it's what was keeping me sane and what was going to keep on keeping me sane.

I clomped down the stairs and sat down at the kitchen table across from my mother who was looking in a small pocket mirror, and re-doing her ponytail.

"So, how are you?" I began, hoping this wouldn't end in catastrophe.  My mother stayed silent, but looked up from the mirror.  Her hands still holding her hair, she gave me a slight shake of the head, and looked back down at the mirror.

"I'm going to go get some groceries." My Aunt cut in, grabbing her coat and keys as she made her way out the door.  

But it was only when she was driving away did I realize that I was now ALONE with my mom.  

"I heard you were arrested." She said quietly and snake-like.

I shrugged.

"DON'T you shrug at me!" She said, her voice ringing through my head like the sirens I heard when I was at the quarry with my father.  Her arms fell from her head and slammed on the table.

"What were you thinking?!  Punching a man!" She said scoffing.

"Dad almost killed me." I said abruptly, catching her off guard.  I surprised myself with that line.  That was a bit deep and sudden.  And apparently for my mother, it was worse than "sudden".

Before I could flinch, her fingernails were digging into my throat.

(A/N: All I have to say is that I am happy with this chapter =) What do you think?) -Writingslayer

(P.S: Where are all the comments?!) =P