S P I L T ° Phillip Gallagher

|4| New Home

   As much as I hated it, we had to move once again. This whole job traveling thing my dad does is possibly the worse thing ever. We're either always moving, or he's never home. Colorado was my safe haven, not this old run down Chicago.

    My parents say me moving away is for the best since I've became "a wild child" they can't handle anymore. I think they're just upset that I'm barely home, and with my friends. Yeah, we party and all, but it's nothing a typical teenager doesn't do. Right?

_____

"Here it is!", my mom said perking up from her slouched position from sleeping a little.

"It's so Ghetto looking", I mumbled.

"Bethany stop, it's a better place than Colorado."

"Colorado was like a beautiful getaway, this is like a holding sell for kidnapped kids!"

"Bethany Pine!", my mom snapped.

    I rolled my eyes with a sigh as my dad pulled the moving van next to the house. My mom hopped out as did my dad as he put the van in park and turned it off. They walked to the side walk and hugged eachother like they just won a marathon. Disgust filled my face as I climbed out and looked at the house.

"Go ahead and start bringing your boxes into your room."

"Which ones mine?"

My mom looked at my dad and smiled, " You get first pick honey."

    I nodded with a slight smile, then opened the back of the truck grabbing a box and walking inside. When I opened the door an aroma of dust and old body odor bombarded my nose. Looking around I noticed that the kitchen and living room where connected and old separated by a half wall. A lot smaller than the old house. I walk up the stairs and saw old three rooms and a bathroom. The rooms were practically the same size, so I chose the one with the window with a roof slab. Only so I could sit on it in the middle of the night and smoke.

    I set the boxes down and took a deep breathe.

"This has to have a good side...", I mumbled to myself before walking back out.

                          _____

    By the time it was dark out, the moving can was empty. The house was blocked up with boxes that held the old memories from all the moves. We all sat at the half kitchen wall and ate Chinese take out my mom got us a few minutes ago.

"Sorry the house is smaller", my dad said wiping his face.

"Honey it's beautiful, I was tired of the bigger houses anyways."

    I sat quiet when my mom spoke. She always tried to hint how she hated my dad being away all the time.

"Have you talked to any of the neighbors yet?", my dad asked changing the subject quick.

"No, but I saw someone kicking this drunk out. They kept saying Frank. So I guess that's his name.", I said with a slight chuckle at the end.

"Oh that's the Gallagher family." ,she said before clearing her throat as my dad gave her a look. "We heard about them, they might be bad news, so keep away from them till we figure them out honey."

"What she means is, they're a mess. Something we don't need."

"Wow dad, so kind you are. Hard to believe you kiss ass for a living."

"Room now Bethany!" ,he said raising his voice pointing up the stairs.

    I backed up with a bow then turned and jogged up the stairs. Shutting my door behind me, I locked it with out hesitation yarn climbed out my window sitting on the porch roofing. Sitting down I pulled out a pack of Marbalos and pulled out a cigarette placing it between my dry lips and lighting it. I looked over to my right, to where the Gallagher's house what and saw someone on the porch steps. They were smoking as well and happened to look over at me as I was staring and waved. I waved back hesitantly as they walked over. I climbed down walked out to the side walk meeting them half way.

"New neighbor huh?" , a Bernette said.

"Yeah, I'm Bethany, but please call me Boe." ,I said before taking a long drag.

"Fiona.", she said with a friendly smile.

"Is Frank your boyfriend?"

She laughed histaractly before speaking, " No no no, he's my alcoholic supermarket donor."

I chuckled, "Oh, my bad."

"Where yall coming from?"

"Colorado, move a shit load. Don't get use to use staying around.", I said looking down.

"I'll take what I get while your here. How about that.", she said with a friendly smile.

"Deal. I better head back before my parents start to think I ran away or some shit."

"That strict damn."

"Tell me about it!", I chuckled walking g off climbing back up onto the roofing by my window.