Broken Home

Chapter 3

The bell rings for the last class of the day, I grab my things hoping to get out before the swarm of anxious high schoolers pour out of the claustrophobic rooms. I grab my phone and see a text from Mom "Pick up Amanda please" I pull out my backpack and push my books inside. I sprint through the rain, my feet stepping in puddles as a race to my car. 

Then I hear someone yell "Andy! Wait up!" 

I turn around and see him coming towards me, I slow my run to a walk. The rain has slowed to a mist

He comes up next to me "Where are you off to so quickly?"

I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear "I-uh-need to pick up my sister from school."

I can feel him walk closer to me, "Oh well then, I was... uh... I was just wondering if you... wanted to hang out sometime or something?" His tone was nervous, something that I've never heard

We get to our parking spots and I gather the courage to look up at him "I'd love to."

He smiled but there was something about the way he smiled that made thousands of butterflies flutter in my stomach. "Here is my number and I expect a call soon." He hands me a small piece of paper

I giggle like a giddy school girl and take the piece of paper, brushing against his hand.  I got into my car before I said anything more stupid. Backing out I see Evan standing in the mist, watching me drive off.

 Amanda's school is about a mile away from mine so the drive there is short, I pull into the small worn down middle school and spot Amanda, she stands in the rain, a small smile on her face, her light blonde hair is dirty blonde from the rain. She sees my car and waves me down; I slow down and she jumps in the warm car. Amanda tells me everything about her first day. Remembering my eventful day I smile and keep my eyes on the road . 

*****

I pull into the soaked driveway and help Amanda, I grab my things and open our front door. I hear yelling as soon as I step inside, my good day completely forgotten. All of a sudden I hear a thud and something break, the sounds coming from the kitchen. I look over, Amanda's eyes are wide with fear, I try and keep a brave face, I mouth "Go to your room." She nods and runs up the stairs, I slam the door the yelling stops. I carefully enter the kitchen, broken glass is all over the floor, blood is spattered on the white tile. I see my Dad with an empty beer bottle and my Mom standing on the opposite side of him, a cut on her chin seeps blood and a bump on her head begin to bruise.

I whisper " What are you thinking? Amanda is scared and I'm scared!" My parents eyes soften when I mention Amanda "You have to divorce things are getting out of hand!" My dad murmurs an apology and walks past me, slamming the front door behind him. My mom has her head in her hands, I hear her stifle back her sobs "I'm so sorry Andy"

I mumble under my breathe "It's okay.  It's gonna be okay."

I grab a washcloth with cold water and an ice pack and hand the ice pack to her. She winces as I dab her chin. I sigh and place a bandage over the dark purple marking.  It was more than a marking, it was a symbol of failure in a commitment: a life long unity.  I couldn't help but blame some of this failure on me. "Cover your bruise with make up and go distract Amanda. Don't let her come in here until I clean up. Tell her you fell or something. I would rather she didn't know the details." I clean up the broken glass and pour rubbing alcohol on the ground to get rid of the smell. I knew that things would only get worse, but I had to do my best with Amanda and keeping her happy.