Broken Home

Chapter 4

The following day:

When I got to school earlier than normal I noticed he wasn't here.  It isn't odd but I thought maybe he was just a little late or something. Standing next to my locker I search for his tall and lean physique but with no luck in finding him. Maybe he will be in homeroom.

Janine comes up to me "Where's your boy toy?" 

I roll my eyes "Janine that's none of your business and I have no boy toy."

She crosses her arms, "Oh please, everyone knows might as well tell me." 

The bell rings for class "Well, can't be late!" I fake smile at her and immerse myself in the crowd.

After school:

Disappointed in my day not seeing Evan has somewhat saddened me. I decide to surprise Amanda. I get to her school early and I see little kids swarm out of the small door. I finally spot Amanda and behind her is a short redhead girl and some other girls. The girl shoves Amanda down and whispers something in her ear and Amanda's eyes swell and she gets up and walks away. The redhead laughs and points at Amanda, Amanda looks away and watches the car drive by.

"what the hell was that?" I murmur under my breath.

I examine her, she has a pained expression on her face. I get out of my car and walk towards her, she sees me and I see her smile. She runs to me and hugs me tight "Hi bear, how was school?" She shrugs and doesn't say anything. This is not Amanda.  For the past month Amanda gave me full details of her life at school. I glance at her blank expression, she opens the car door and sits in the back. I look at her in my rear view mirror, "So who's the redhead and her clique?" Amanda avoids my eyes "They're just some girls."

I sigh "Amanda. Why did they push you down? What did they tell you?"

Her voice shaking, I hear her trying to fight the tears "They told me I was stupid and ugly. They made me look like a fool in front of the guy I like, and then they tried to convince the teacher that I was a cheater. Worst of all, I can't tell mom or dad cause they won't do anything about it.  They don't care anymore."

I stay silent and I push open my door I get in the back with Amanda, her wide luminous eyes spill pearl-shaped tears that roll down her round cheeks. I hold her tightly and whisper "It's gonna be okay. I promise."

 I kiss her forehead, "We're gonna go home now." Amanda nods and buckles up. I start up the engine, as the gloomy sky turns to a deep lilac and soft orange. I check my rear view mirror again and see Amanda's head leaning against the window. I don't bother saying anything because I know she's lost in thought. 

I never realized how cruel children can be even in 5th grade. 10 years old are already bullying. I try to remember if I had gone through any bullying back when I was Amanda's age. Focus don't think of yourself think of Amanda... oh I know! Let's get some ice cream, even if the weather is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

As we get into the driveway I look to the next house over but I don't see Evan's car. I try to hide my disappointment as I open the front door. I hear my mom's shuffling steps as she appears in the living room doorway "Hi girls! How was school?"

I plant a fake smile on my face and lie "It was good. Sorry we were out so long, we went to get ice cream."

Amanda hugs mom briefly and runs upstairs, avoiding eye contact. "I have a lot of homework to do."

Mom gives me a confused look "What happened?"

I sigh " A lot of things, Amanda is getting bullied, I'm barely passing my classes. You and Dad stopped loving each other. Does that answer your question?" I brush past mom and stomp up the stairs. 

I slam my door and collapse onto the floor, and the tears start streaming down my face. I sit on the floor and grab my headphones, trying to drown my thoughts in music. Of course the most depressing song came on shuffle. A song lyric pounded in my head please lead me out of the dark. Was the dark depression? Was I depressed? What is depression? I decide that depression is the unseen killer, the silent killer. You can't escape it either, depression was the black hole that would eat you from the inside. As soon as I think this I know that this was exactly what I feel everyday, but I don't want to feel this way. I need to feel happy for Amanda, she needs me and I need her.

After an hour of trying to comprehend my existence a text from Janine interrupts, "Your birthday is in three days! Oh and I'm coming over now" I groan, I pick up wrappers and papers off the ground making my room look semi acceptable. I wipe off my make up, and splash my face with cold water. I hear the doorbell, I sprint down the stairs.

"I'll get it!" I swing open the door.

Janine's broad smile greets me "I brought juicy gossip, but no food sorry."

I manage a thin smile when will she take the hint "Come on, lets go upstairs."

As soon as I close my door, Janine spills news about her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, I try and sound sympathetic but instead my words come out like I've been rehearsing them. All of a sudden Janine, sits up abruptly "What is wrong with you Andy? You've been acting so distant lately. It's getting annoying, I want to help you but you won't let me."

I look down at the floor "I don't want to drag you into my messes, maybe its better if you distance yourself from me. I'm getting tired of listening to your 'hard' life and drama."

Janine's warm brown eyes turn as black as her pupils "I'm sick and tired of pretending to be your friend."

She walks out and slams the door behind her. As much as I tried to hold it in, the pain came out like an uproar, a lump formed in my throat. Beads of water fell one after another, showing no sign of stopping. I managed to ruin everything I touch, my best friend, my parent's relationship, everything I cared about. Evan hadn't even showed up to school probably because of me. The pain that I've been holding in came out, the memories of sorrow and misery returned, the very memories I pushed away for as long as I could remember came back to me crystal clear.

______________________________________________________

Authors Note:

Hello!!

I kept touching up this chapter and finally decided to publish it. Aaron is out of town so I haven't been able to communicate with her on her thoughts of this chapter but I hope you love it! Comment below what you think will happen between Andy and Evan!! We really appreciate all the support<33

xoxo 

Jasmine