아름다운
***
Needless to say, I feel like I've just been grounded. Then yet, I feel as if I've just gotten a ticket to Disney World to stay for the rest of my life. This, my friends, is contradiction at its best.
Due to recent events, Caitlyn and the others thought it best for Cole to skip out today and have Abbie drop her off at home. Not me. Nope. Cause apparently I'm an annoying pervert and don't deserve any more time with her. That's fine with me. She's invited me over to play Halo with her brother after I leave Cait's.
I leave after I've helped Caitlyn clean up the bathroom and the kitchen, still feeling Cole's soft mouth on mine as I walk out to my car.
"See you, Mac." Hayden calls from where she stands outside, smoking a cigarette. She came here feeling horrible about what happened last night, apologizing nonstop to Colby who forgave her, even though I knew she was a little bit angry. We told nobody about what happened between us this morning. No one but us and Caitlyn know about it, but I suppose it's bound to get around anyways since it is Caitlyn.
"Later," I tell her and she smirks haughtily, taking another drag of her cigarette before stomping it out on the dirt and heading inside. I slide into the driver seat of my truck and I start it up, peeling out and leaving a cloud of dust in my wake.
I drive my way to my house first, weaving through the freeways at a constant speed to get to the house on Shanghai. My mom is off on Saturday mornings, so her dark red Mini Cooper is parked neatly in the driveway when I pull up.
"Is that you, James?" My mom calls after I come through the front door. I hang up my keys on their proper hook in the foyer and I follow my mother's voice to her library located in one of the furthest corners of the house. After my mom had finally pulled me out of foster care and moved out of the house on Olive, she'd finally had enough money to make up the room of her dreams. A library. That's why we got a four bedroom house. A room for me, a room for her, a room for guests, and then one set aside to hold the few hundred books she had collected over the years. I've read little less than half of them, but my mom has read all at least twice.
"Hey Mom," I say, seeing her sitting on her chair, a book opened on her lap. She smiles at me and I sit down on an identical chair that stands next to hers, a mahogany end table separating us.
"Hi honey," She says and then she takes a second glance at me. My insides seem to freeze. She doesn't know does she? How could she know? Who could have told her? Shit. Shitshitshitshit -
"Your lips, James..." She says, gesturing towards her mouth. I purse my swollen ones in embarrassment. Oh God. "Did something happen? Are you hurt?"
"No Mom, I'm fine," I choke. My mother raises her eyebrows in a look that reminds me of Colby. "Just a little -"
"Sore?" Mom interrupts. I feel my face redden. My mom smiles in silent victory. "This has something to do with Colby doesn't it?"
I stammer. Is it that obvious? My mom knows how much I like her, so maybe it is. Or what if she knew because she is a superhero and can read my mind? I'm going to have to wear a tin foil hat for the rest of my life! What else does she know about me? What else is she hiding?
"Ahh, it does, huh? Come on, James, what happened?" My mom's smile grows bigger and guilt creeps into my stomach. How can I even tell her what's happened? She'd bloody kill me! And not only that, she'd call someone - Colby's parents, Bryson's parents, the cops. What the hell am I supposed to tell her?
