Birthmarks

Birthmarks Part 3

I walked into the empty house and sighed when my mother didn't come out to greet me.
God I missed her.

I remember exactly what she said to me before she left for Connecticut.
"Darling you keep your head up high. You hear me?" I nodded, tears forming in my eyes.
I could still smell her Chanel Chance perfume as she hugged me one last time before she boarded that train. And yet when I came back to reality I could smell nothing but last night's food.

We both agreed that Grandma needed her now, but every time I came back into this house, the emptiness and sadness clutched at my heart and refused to let go.

I shook my head, and ran upstairs. I couldn't let this weigh me down.

A hot shower cleansed even the worst of days. But this day was not over by a long shot.
Remind me to get Marina back. I logged into my brain.

I stayed in that shower until my fingers went pruny. Today had been a whirlwind of emotions!
I thought why Sharon had such a personal vendetta against me. She was already popular (not that it really mattered) but her need to bother with someone like me bothered me.
I'm not popular. Heck I'm not even that smart. There wasn't anything about me that she could even want or need about my life. So why did she try to bring me down?

I turned off the shower, I had no answer for that question, and to be honest I had no interest in delving into the mind of Sharon Matthews.

Wrapped in my towel, I walked into my room which desperately needed a clean! Magazines, wrappers, clothes. You name it, it was on my bedroom floor.

I started to rummage through my clothes, looking for a semi decent outfit for tonight, and then spotted a photo album I had when I was a kid.
I reached out for it, but I had to stop myself.

Too many bad memories. Too many couples that had broken up. Too many families torn apart by their individual birthmarks. You wonder why I don't see my dad? This is why.
People think that once they find their other half that's the end of their story. But in my world, it's merely the beginning.

Nope you're not going to think about this.  I commanded myself, putting on my jeans and shirt.
Because if I thought about it anymore than I already do, then I would go insane.
I smoothed my outfit down. You are going to put on a smile and walk your ass to Michael's house!

So I did what I had done for the past 4 months since my mother went away.
Put on a smile and walked away.

Michael

After I walked away from Natasha sitting on the bench, I found myself stalling for time, walking home slower than ever before. I didn't want to go home. But you have to.

Shut up brain.

*Ding Ding*

My thoughts were interrupted by a new message.

UNKNOWN: How about we study tonight? Say 7pm at your place?

I smiled, she had changed her mind! I quickly tapped out a reply and kept walking. At least I would have some company tonight.

I stopped by an ice cream truck and picked up a Magnum for Johnny. This was a big deal for him as he normally never gets his 'treats' on a Monday. And it gave me some incentive to go home.

Do it for him.

I unlocked the door and peered in. No one was there, thank god.

"MIKEY!" boomed Johnny's voice as he ran to greet me.
I shut the door behind me. "Hey Johnny." I laughed, "Guess what I got you!"
His eyes widened, he loved playing these types of games with me.
"Treat?" He looked at me with his big brown eyes. How could I say no to that face?
I uncrossed my arms to reveal his present, and he yelped for joy.