1989
It had been a week since the day Joe left, and since the party. That party was perhaps the stupidest thing Helena had ever attended, and she deeply regretted going. Plus, she got a call from Kim the next day, yelling at her about not telling her that she left.
Currently, Helena was in school, attempting to finish a worksheet. Sadly, her mind was riddled with thoughts about Joey. She suddenly had a need to call him, to hear his voice, even if she had heard it last night when they were talking on the phone.
Helena raised her hand, and her teacher nodded at her.
"Mrs.Mason, may I use the restroom?" Helena asked. Mrs.Mason held up the bathroom pass as Helena got out of her seat, and Helena picked it up as she walked by her teacher's desk.
Helena left the classroom, and walked to the nearest telephone. She quickly put in a few coins, and she dialled his phone number. Helena impatiently waited for him to pick up the phone.
He never did.
The voicemail started, and Helena sighed.
"Hi, Joey, I'm sorry to call you this early, but I'm in school and I guess I just really wanted to hear your voice. Call me back whenever you can. Okay, bye," Helena said, and she hung up the phone. Helena started to walk back to her classroom solemnly, and in the moment she walked into her classroom, the bell rang. Helena grabbed her stuff as people fled the classroom. Helena immediately left the classroom after getting her books, and she quickly stopped at her locker to switch her math book for her history book.
"Hey! Kim, wait up!" Helena called out as she jogged towards her brunette friend.
"Helena! I'm glad your here, because I actually have some news, and it's not very good," Kim said, and Helena immediately got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"What is it, Kim?" She asked.
"Well, you know that Mr.Lafayette quit yesterday. And the long term sub," Kim paused, "Is your dad," Kim said.
Helena's books dropped to the floor, and she completely froze.
"Helena? Are you okay?" Kim said loudly.
Helena whimpered, "But I have a restraining order against him, he can't teach here," Helena said to herself, and Kim raised her eyebrow.
"I-I have to go," Helena hurriedly picked up her books, and she ran to the nearest phone. She tried to put coins in, but since her fingers were shaking so badly, they fell out multiple times. By now, everyone was staring at the girl who was practically sobbing in the hallway. Helena didn't care though, because her dad was probably in this building, and that made Helena horribly anxious.
Helena dialled her mom's work number, and impatiently tapped her foot while waiting for Mrs.Westbrook to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" Her mom asked.
"Mom," Helena whispered, "I thought we had restraining orders,"
"What? Against your father? We do," Mrs.Westbrook said.
"Well then why is he my new history sub?" Helena said, trying to control her tears.
"Oh my God, honey. They're temporary restraining orders. We haven't set up the court dates yet for the longer restraining order. I'm sorry, sweetie," Helena's mom said nervously.
Helena frustratedly ran her hand through her hair, and clenched the phone harder, until her knuckles turned white, "Mom, mom, why is this allowed?" Silence.
"Can you pick me up?" Helena asked, and she wiped away tears from her cheeks.
"I'm afraid not, I'm stuck in meetings all day. If he tries to talk to you outside of class, call me, okay? I have to go, love you, sweetheart," She said, and hung up the phone.
Helena put the phone back, and the bell rang. Chills ran throughout her whole body, and she reluctantly made her way to the history room.
Helena could hear her father's voice. It was calm and his words weren't slurred. It reminded Helena of when she was younger, and her dad had a reliable job.
She hastily wiped away her tears. Helena shakily opened the door, and she walked into the classroom. Her father was wearing a nice button down shirt and slacks. His hair wasn't disheveled, and he looked well rested. It shocked Helena, she hadn't seen him look like that since she was twelve.
"Miss Westbrook, why are you late?" Her father asked, and Helena stared at the man in front of her. The kids were staring at Helena, some of them probably putting two and two together, realising Mr.Westbrook was her father. The only person who really knew about her father's drunk habits were a few neighbours, Joey, and Kim.
"I was calling my mom," Helena said bitterly, and she sat in her seat. Mr.Westbrook awkwardly nodded, and he went back to teaching.
For an hour and twenty minutes, all Helena could think about was all the horror he caused her mother.
Finally, the bell rang, and Helena shot out of her seat. She made a run for the door.
"Ms.Westbrook, please stay behind," He said, and Helena froze. She turned around, and she crossed her arms in front of her.
"Helena, I've stopped drinking, and I got my life together. I'm so sorry for the way I treated you and your mother,"
Helena scoffed, "They always say that they've quit, yet they never truly stop," Helena said.
"Can't you see I'm trying to be better?" Mr.Westbrook asked.
"No, I can't," Helena said, and she angrily turned around and left the classroom.
***
Hey guys! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a like a week and a half ): I needed a little break. School starts in a couple days for me, and it's a little unnerving. I won't be able to update a lot, but I'll have a schedule. Luckily, I don't do any fall sports, so the starting of the school year will be less stressful for me.
Thank you guys so much for understanding!
WITH MUCH LOVE,
-joeymcintyre
