Sleep Walking

Chapter 3

Too much had happened in the last week. I was ready for a break. My wish has been granted. It is spring break. Beach parties every night for a week. No homework. No detention. No school. Perfect.

I climb out of bed and my moms words echo through my head. I won't mom, I will make this the best life I can.

I get dressed in the first outfit I see when I open closet door. A pink and grey plaid shirt with a few missing buttons, a pair of old torn up jeans, and my boots. I put my hair up in a pony tail and head downstairs. As I approach the bottom step, I smell bacon. Dad was sober enough to make bacon. Yes!

I pop around the corner at bottom of the steps and hug my dad tight. "Bacon and eggs and pancakes!? I love you dad!"

"I love you too honey. I have to work on a new site today." My dad is a construction worker. "Will you be ok alone all day?"

"Dad, you being gone and working is no different than you being here and drunk. Plus, I'm 18. I should start learning some independence skills." I stuff my mouth full of the delicious breakfast.

"I think you are already very independent. Any way I will be home late," he kisses me on the forehead. "I love you." And he walks out the door.

"I love you too," I whisper, but he had already shut the door behind himself.

Having nothing else to do, I sweep some of the glass off the floor and dust the tops of the cabinets.

I look in the fridge and see it is almost empty, so I go to the bottom drawer of the gun cabinet and grab $50. I head out to my truck, but stop before getting in. I take a deep breath and listen to the birds singing and feel the sun beating on my cold, red face.

When I reach the small grocery store, I see Jason inside. "Hey Smokey, how are you doing?"

He tilts his head and looks at me, "Your in a good mood, sunshine."

"Dad went back to work today, he made breakfast before he left. It was amazing!"

"Ooo I bet! Hey, ill see you at 6!" He paused for a minute and smiled. "Sunshine."

I chuckled and headed down the bread isle. Hmmm. No wheat. No whole grain. Ooo sourdough. That's the one.

I grabbed a few other groceries and payed. As I head out to my truck I saw Jason bolt away from it as if he had been doing something wrong. Concerned, I jog up to my truck and look through the window I had left open. Then I see it. A gorgeous necklace hanging from the rear view mirror. It had a silver boot charm on it. How sweet of him. I look back and he smiles at me and pulls out of the parking lot. That boy, I shook my head and climbed in.

When I get home and begin putting away groceries, I notice a small piece of paper on the counter.

'Meet me at the beach -Colton'

Ugh... Not Colton. He is my ex- boyfriend. He seemed so perfect, until he cheated on me with Carrie. Why was I not suprised when I caught them having sex at a beach party?

I head out as slowly as I can and once again climb into my truck. As I approach the beach, I simply see Colton standing there, holding a single rose. I get out and stare at him for a minute. "What do you want?"

"You. Dix I'm so sorry I shouldn't have done what I did to you."

"Call me Dixie for one. You don't deserve to call me Dix. And for two, your not getting me, bastard."

"I have a name."

"Bastard suits you better." I glare at him.

"Dixie, I miss you. Please. One more chance."

I fold my arms. "Well I don't miss you, so bye." I hop in my truck and drive away. Why would he suddenly want me back? Its been months. That boy will be the death of me, I swear.

As I drive, I look to the rear view mirror at the silver necklace hanging there. I bet he got it for me because of my moms birthday. But whatever reason, it was still sweet.

I decide to head to my cove on the beach instead of going home. My dad wouldnt be home for another little while and since he's back to work, he'll be mostly sober. I figured we might be able to have a daddy duaghter movie night. Ill rent a movie and but some popcorn on the way home.

When I reach the cove, I crawl to the back and grab my guitar that I have hidden back there. I start singing any songs that pop into my head.

"Hey, what's a gorgeous girl like you doing here all alone?" I beleive this boys name was Jack. He was on the football team, but nothing like Landon. He's pretty nice, but I'm not interested in him. He has asked me out before and I turned him down. I just like him as a friend.

"Just singing. What are you doing here?"

"I come here sometimes when I'm bored." His pant legs were rolled up a bit and his feet were barefoot and coated in sand. "I hear a hurricane is on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Saw it on the weather channel before I left."

"Well we don't have TV at home, but there is no hurricane coming judging by these sky's," I stand up and dust the sand off of myself. "Nice talking to you, bye now" I wink at him and trit off.

I get home and see my dad sitting on the couch reading a newspaper. Sober nights were a dream. "Hey dad! I bought us a movie and got some good old microwave popcorn-" he cuts off my excited rant.

"Sit down Dix, we need to talk. Its about your mom."