Love and hightops

Chapter 9

I look away quickly and a silence falls. "Look, how about you get on my back? It'll be easier for me…" there's a long pause "and you." she breaks the silence. I look at her. "No, no I'm ok." I try to decline but she picks me up anyways and puts me on her back, holding my legs securely.

"Hey! I said I was fine." I yell. "No your not, I'm carrying you. End of story." I just sigh and wrap my arms around her neck and I rest my head on her shoulder. "By the way, where are we going." I say. "My place." she replies.

"Just go already." I say. She flinches as she feels my breathe on her neck but she just continues on. I must have fallen asleep because we were at her place in no time.

"Andy…" I hear her whisper softly. "We are here." she puts me down gently and I yawn and rub my eyes. "Hey… uh since its late and all. You can just stay here for the night and I'll take you home tomorrow morning." she says while walking into the building.

I look up at the house and stare in awe. It's a big two story house and it's very pretty. I follow closely behind her.

"Ya no Devin I didn't take you as the rich type." I say air quoting it. "I'm not." she says but continues "This is my parents house… not mine."

I make an o shape with my mouth. "Ok, um Devin…" I say. "Yea?" she says while walking into the kitchen. "Can I use your phone?" I point to the phone on the desk. "Yea, go ahead." she replies.

I walk over to the phone and dial my brothers number. 'ring,ring' I wait as its ringing. 'ring,ring.' "Hello?" my brother answers on the second ring.

"Hey, Alex. It's Andy." I answer back. "Andy? Thank god your ok. Where the hell are you??!" he says sounding worried.

"Well you see I ran into a little bit of trouble coming home from the store. It was a guy and he had a knife. He was threatening me. But I'm ok, because someone I know from school kicked his ass and now I'm at her house." I explain.

"Andy. Tell me the address. I'm coming to get you." he says in a firm tone.

"No. No, Alex. I'm fine. She said I could stay here tonight since its late and she'll take me home tomorrow morning." I say returning the firm voice.

"Andy. You know how dad gets when you skip out on your night to cook dinner." he says.

"Yes, yes. I know but-" he cuts me off.

"You know how he gets when he's angry. And Andy I don't know if I'll be able to protect you this time. Dad brought a gun home today. And said he would shoot if we didn't do what he wanted." he explains.

My face darkens. "Is mom okay?"

"Well yes… for now."

"For now? What do you mean by for now?" I say in a worried tone.

"I mean that… mom is sick."

"How sick." I say.

"Andy. She has cancer. Leukemia. She just found out today. She didn't want to tell you because she didn't want you to worry. She told me it might be best if…" he explains but cuts himself off.

"If what?" I felt my heart breaking into two.

"If I told you…"