HAVEN BLACK - complete

THE GUILT-RIDDEN VISIT

Chapter 15 – THE GUILT-RIDDEN VISIT

Having cleaned up after making our dinner yet again, as my mom was ill stricken on the couch watching TV (but was slowly getting better, thanks to nurse Alison), I hovered around catching up on other housework, constantly checking my phone to see if Jill had messaged me, but as of yet there was no sign from her.

"Why are you pacing around like that?" Mom croaked from the living room.

Not wanting to get into a conversation with my mom, I walked into the room and replied swiftly, "Jill and I might be meeting up later tonight to plan this science experiment thing that we have to do."

"That's nice darling. What about Andy? You normally do these things with him," she asked in a slight moan, pushing herself up to a seating position on the faded couch.

I quickly checked my phone again...but there was nothing. "He hurt his ankle in Dodgeball a couple of days ago and is resting up at home."

"Oh Jake that's no good," she said as she took a slow sip of water from a glass she retrieved from the end table. "But I'm happy about Jill. Her family's come back then?"

"Um, yeah, they were away for the week, visiting their grandma who has just recently um, passed away."

My mom lay back down on the couch with a little groan and resumed her TV viewing, which seemed to help distract her from the nausea. "Oh, I see, that's so sad..."

"I'm going to have an early shower now, will you be okay?" I interrupted, glancing at the time which appeared to have slowed down grossly since I had gotten home.

"I'll be fine son, thank you. Oh and Jacob – I love you."

"I love you too," I replied exhaustively as I walked out of the room, lightly brushing my mom's forehead on the way past.

I quickly showered then stood in front of the mirror grooming myself at lot more than usual. The on-set of cold air from the approaching winter felt refreshing against my exposed torso. Afterwards I headed promptly back to my room, eager to check my phone yet again. Disappointingly, there was still no message from Jill. Turning on my stereo, I flicked through the music on my phone trying to find a song that matched my glum mood. Suddenly my phone vibrated, indicating a message had been sent to me. A rush of exhilaration fluttered through my skin as I swiped the password on my phone and opened the message...

Jill: Nice towel Jake!

Confused, I turned around and peered across the street towards Jill's house where I saw her standing in the window waving at me. Instinctively, I waved back clumsily and spun around out of sight, grabbing a shirt off the bedroom floor and slipping it on.

Okay, this is awkward... What do I do now?

My phone vibrated again.

Jill: Pop around now if you can and don't forget your pants :)

I popped my head around the window and glanced out again but Jill had left the room and was now out of sight. There was a moment of appease before my chest resumed its nervous, anxiety-driven thumping. Frantically, I rushed to get changed into my clothes, worried that this opportunity might slip past.

I text-replied as fast as my fingers allowed before bolting down stairs in a great racket.

Me: I'll be there shortly

Oh no, my mom! The thought suddenly hit me as I got to the stair's bottom landing: I can't leave her by herself... Or can I? I mulled over the consequences of each possible choice for a quick minute before I headed into the den to see Mom, to see what state she was in.