Young and Menace

2

Two weeks later my parents were just the same as they were before. This time, I just had a friend to comfort me. I spent a lot of nights at Pete's house lately. His parents were fantastic and they're so nice. They're perfect parents.

I stared blankly at the full plate of food in front of me. My parents argued about me and I just tried to block them out. I was something they fought about a lot, how they never should've had a kid. But, it didnt really effect me because it was obvious from miles away these two humans should never have married and had a child. I'm sure if they didn't have me they'd be divorced by now.

I look up when I hear my mother scream.

My father's fist about to collide with her cheek for a second time.

I stay frozen as she stands in shock, holding her reddened cheek. I stand up quickly as she starts screaming at him. I walk out to the porch, yet again going unnoticed, with tears racing down my face as he slapped her, she hit back.

I zipped hoodie up and pulled the hood over my head. It was sprinkling lightly.

I walk off the porch and to Pete's porch and rap my knuckles forcefully on the door. "Pete," I cried and knocked harder. The door swung open quickly. I looked up at his mother who looked extremely concerned as she opened the door to me. I stepped forward but I guess my legs gave out and I fell into her arms. "He hit her," I said weakly, holding tightly onto her.

"What?" She asked. "Who? Who hit who?"

Pete ran down the stairs and took me from his mother. I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly. "He hit her," I said quietly.

"Your dad hit your mom?" He asked. I nodded and sobbed a little more. I've seen them do everything, except hit each other. God. Pete just rubbed my back soothingly. I didnt process that he kissed my cheek. "Its okay. It'll be okay," he mumbled.

His mother just watched us with a broken look on her face. I ignored her. I was good at ignoring things. "He hit her twice. She hit back," I whimpered. "H-He hit her! He'll hit me. He-He--"

"Shh," Pete said. "Dont focus on that right now, okay? Focus on my voice. Its okay. You can spend the night again tonight, alright?" He said. I nodded. "Have you eaten yet?" He asked. I shook my head. "Let's get something in you then, yeah? Come on."

I let him wipe the tears off my face and he started to walk away. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him back over, hugging him tightly before letting him walk off. I trudged after him to their kitchen.

His mother followed after me, straightening my hair and taking my glasses off and wiping the tears that fell on the lens. I thanked her quietly as she set them back on my face. I moved over to where Pete was standing at their pantry and he grabbed my hand, squeezing it gently. I leaned my head on his shoulder. I pointed at a box of saltine crackers.

"Can I have some?" I asked quietly. He nodded and grabbed the box and pulled out a sleeve of the crackers then handed the crackers to me. I took them and munched on one. "I don't feel well," I whispered, leaning onto Pete more.

"Well why don't you lay down in my room and eat those? Just dont get crumbs everywhere," he said.

I nodded and took my crackers upstairs to his room. They had a two story house. But, it was necessary for their family. There were four children and Pete's parents. I loved their house. My house was just a simple two bedroom, one bathroom house. I even had to share a bathroom with my parents. The Wentz' were lucky. Pete's room was twice the size of mine. Everything was decorated in blue, that was his favorite color.

I drop down onto his blue bedding and sigh loudly before crunching on a saltine cracker. Summer vacation sucks. I have to be around my parents more and listen to them fight. But I'm glad I met Pete.

"Hey," Pete said from the doorway. I looked over at him them looked back up at his ceiling. "You okay?" He asked and sat on the edge of his bed. I shrug a shoulder. I turned over onto my side, facing away from him. He sighed softly and laid down on his side in front of me. He moved his arm and set his hand onto my cheek. He smiled a small smile at me. "Yanno, you're kind of pretty," he whispered.

"You're kinda pretty too," I whispered hoarsely. His smile dropped a little but it stayed on his pretty face.

He scooted forward closer a little. I stayed frozen as he leaned in and set his lips on mine gently. He slowly moved his lips gently against mine. My first kiss. I don't know what to do. How exactly do I kiss back?

He started to pull back frowning. "W-Was I not supposed to do that? Did I get the wrong signals?" He asked and sat up quickly. He started to get off the bed. "Are you not even--"

"Stop," I said softly. I grabbed his face in my hands and made him look at me. "I-I.. That was my first kiss. How do I kiss b-back?"

His lips parted a little in surprise with a small gasp escaping past them.

"Just move your lips against mine," he said and smiled softly. "This probably sounds weird but I guess its kind of like, move your lips as if you're sucking on mine" he blushed.

"O-Oh," I blushed too. I looked down at my lap then back up at his lips.

"Its okay," Pete said.

I leaned in again and we moved our lips awkwardly together. Hey, its my first kiss, what am I supposed to know how to do this stuff? I pulled back and smiled widely at him. "That was the best first kiss," I whispered.