When The Storm Hits

Chapter 8: Moving Out

"Don't bother coming back." My moms words rang throughout my head like a constantly chiming bell. Had I finally pushed her too far? What would happen to Aidan, would I be able to see him? 

"Fine, I won't." I said. Instead of saying I'm sorry, I stuck with my decision. So at four in the morning, I stomped up the stairs to my room and packed everything that I owned. 

"What's going on?" Aidan said stumbling into my room. He was rubbing his eyes and yawning when he collapsed on my bed. 

"I'm moving out," I sighed throwing more clothes into the first of three suitcases. 

"What?!" He yelled sitting up. "No, you can't go."

"I know buddy, but I'm tired of fighting with Mom." I said ruffling up his hair.

"Please Lilly, don't go..." He pleaded.

"I can't stay here any longer Aidan. I'm so sorry," Tears began to stream down my face. I even began hiccuping. He laid back down on the bed crying too. Aidan clutched one of my pillows to his chest as he sobbed. When I finished packing I zipped up the last suit case and walked over to the side of the bed that he laid on. I knelt down and hugged him. 

"Love you baby brother." I said kissing his forehead before I stood up.

"I love you too," He choked out. Then I began to carry the suitcases down one by one. 

My mother stood at the bottom of the staircase, she was drunk out of her mind. At first neither of us said anything. She stared at me, and I stared at her. I was afraid to move, afraid that I would set her off. Finally she opened her mouth.

"My first born leaving me. How ungrateful." She didn't seem to be speaking to anyone. 

"You're the one who told me not to come back," I mumbled under my breath.

"Disgusting, just like her father. Leaves at the first sign of danger." She said staring off into the distance.

"Bye Mom." I stepped out into the chilly morning air. I had connected all my suitcases together, so that they would all roll in a neat row behind me. I had started to shiver, not too far into the trek to dads house. My phone was only at thirty percent so I couldn't listen to music as I walked. I hope to God that who ever was killing people, was sound asleep in their beds. I didn't feel like getting murdered today. 

Putting one foot in front of the other, I took myself on a cold and lonely journey. I wasn't even halfway when the sun began to rise. The light was warm on my shoulders, and I was thankful for the heat. Soon after my shivering halted, and I started to sweat. In all honesty, I would always take heat over cold. Something I had developed while living in Wisconsin, was an intense hatred for cold. 

Around seven in the morning I made it to my dads. I walked up the driveway, which was paved thank the lord. After dragging these suitcases on gravel and dirt, I wasn't sure how much more I could take. I stepped up the single stair to the front door and knocked. I hoped that my dad would be awake, I was exhausted and ready to collapse. 

A woman answered the door, "Hello?"

"Hi, I'm um, looking for Matt." I said leaning on the railing behind me. 

"Who should I tell him it is?" She asked me.

"I'm Lillian? His daughter?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Huh," She said. "I didn't know he had kids."

She turned away from the door, and began to walk down the hallway to his room. I saw her standing there as she told him I was here. She jerked a thumb towards me and shook her head. I suddenly felt guilty for showing up unannounced. Finally my dad emerged from his room, looking rough.

"Ah, Lilly." He said as he took a look at me.

"Hey Dad," I said stepping toward him. He hugged me awkwardly and patted my back. 

"This is Wanda, she's my girlfriend." He said looking at her with shame in his eyes. "What going on?"

"I left Moms...I couldn't take it anymore." I said waving my hands towards my suitcases. "Is there any way I can stay with you?" 

"Um, about that..." My father began. "Wanda's kids are staying in the other two rooms."

"It's okay Dad. I can sleep on the couch." I smiled up at him.

"I'm sorry Lilly, but you can't stay here." He said frowning at me.

"But Dad, Mom wont take me back..." I said feeling anxiety fill my chest.

"I'm sorry sweetheart but I just don't have the room." He turned away from me and headed back inside. Wanda followed him with a snide smile on her botox injected lips. 

"Fucking asshole," I swore once the door was closed. Pulling my phone out, I hoped that there was still enough juice left. It was at five percent now, that wasn't enough to make a phone call. I slipped the sleek phone back in my pocket and set my mental map to lead me to the school. Maybe if I just waited it out til Monday I could find someone to stay with.

I dug my heals into the ground as I walked. My stomach growled angrily at me, and my legs wobbled. The sun was now at its highest point in the sky, and my clothes were drenched. I had now been awake for more than twenty-four hours, and boy was I feeling it. Cars had passed me plenty of times, but I was too scared to hitch hike. 

Suddenly a car had begun to drive up beside me. I knew the car, and I didn't care to talk to the person who was driving it. He rolled his window down, and out came Landon's voice. 

"Where you going with all that stuff?" He asked.

"None of your damn business." I said with malice.

"Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. Let me help you." He pleaded.

"Frankly, I don't give two shits about yesterday. Didn't mean a darned thing to me. But if you want, you can take me to the school." I said.

"Why the school?" He questioned.

"Shut up," I said raising my hand, "I don't want to talk about it."