Alone

Chapter 3

After I fed the boys, let them television, finally winning the bath time battle, and getting them into their pajamas, I called Matthew like I do every night. He is my best friend. He is the only person who I really was, the person I hid. We talked for hours, like every night. He said good night to the boys and then I needed to finish the story about the mistreated dragon from the night before. Matthew patiently listening to me and sometimes making good sound effects.

When the boys finally fell asleep, I told Matthew about what Waylon had asked me earlier in my room and how James told him about it. What I loved about Matthew was that he told you his opinion, his idea about something, he spoke his mind, most important, he was honest if you liked it or not.

"Lori, I know you loved him, but I didn't like him. I saw right through him. He wasn't a good guy and he stuck his nose where it didn't belong. There are some things you leave alone and what happened between you and Thomas and between you and Dan are one of those things." I knew he was right. And I really need to move on but with James, it's not that easy. I closed my bedroom door and sank into my arm chair. I closed my eyes and remembered James, his eyes, his hair, his smile, his anger. NO! I jumped up and gasped for air.

"Lori?" I heard Matthew call out and I heard his girlfriend, Eve ask what was wrong. I felt like I was under water for too long and when I resurfaced, it was a shocked. I stood straight up and couched.

"Lori!" I heard again.

"I'm fine, Matt. I saw a spider." He knew it wasn't true and I knew that but he left it alone. I calmed down and we continued talking for about a half hour. Then I heard the front door open and laughter filled the house. I told Matt to hold on and ran to the banister.

"Mom, the boys are sleeping." I said. I could tell she had been drinking. She was only loud when she drank. She motioned for her date to quiet down, which only made her giggle more. I gave up and checked on the boys, sound asleep. Waylon and Cade are twins. A different father than Matthew and I. I was little when my father left. The twins are only seven. I am sixteen and Matthew is twenty-two. The twins look nothing like Matthew and I, you wouldn't even know we were related. But Matthew and I, everyone thinks we're the twins.

Finally I got back to Matthew and told him I would call him tomorrow. I could still here the laughs and giggles. I blocked it all out and fell asleep.

The next day, after I got the boys off to school and made it in just enough time to get to class. I walked in and Abigail smiled. I sat down and smiled back. We were told to take out our copies of Macbeth and read Act I, either alone or in pairs, Abigail and I worked together for the whole period and pretty much finished.

The rest of my classes went by as usual. When I walked into science, Nathaniel wasn't there. I got a little confused, but that all left my mind when Kevin walked in and started his staring game. For the entire period like I was a disease or something that needed to be destroyed.

The bell rang and I left, off to math with Abigail. Which was hilarious when she thought the teacher was wrong. Mrs. Maker had a complete meltdown when she realized Abigail was right. I have never laughed so hard in my life.

When we got our free time, I asked Abigail where Nathaniel was. She lost her smile and looked at her desk. I then regretted asking her. She took a deep breath and did her best to smile again.

"Lori, you have to understand, my brother and I, we've had a hard life, so Nathaniel doesn't like getting close to people." She explained. I was beginning to feel responsible for his absence and I felt guilty. I just continued to look at Abigail.

"Lori, he feels like he's getting close to you." She explained further. I couldn't believe it. After four months of making sure no one could get that close to me again, he feels like he is.