Stronger than the Rest

Chapter 08 | Hard Truths

"Real dishes break. That's how you know they're real."

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I never blamed my mother for resenting me. I never blamed her for her blaming me. It's only a human reaction, I guess. What would you do if you could only see your dead son when you looked at your living daughter? 

I couldn't save him.

I know it was my fault.

My mother always said she never had a favorite child, but Leo was always closer with our mom while I was closer with our dad. It's a hard dynamic to explain. She loves me, but it hurts her to love me without Leo. 

When I got home from Georgia last night, she hugged me and cried silently for a few moments. Then she let go without a word and went back upstairs. My father gave me a sad smile.

"We were worried, Rose. You can't leave so suddenly like that."

I felt guilty at that moment realizing my parents probably thought something worse had happened to me. My eyes watered up, "I'm sorry, dad."

He gave me a kiss on the top of my head. He started walking up the stairs before he turned around and said, "You got some great friends here already, you know?"

"Did Gabby come by?" I asked confused, how would they know my new friend unless she came to the house looking for me?

He shook his head lightly, "No. Two boys came looking for you. One of them looked like he was about to lose it according to your mother."

I didn't have time to think about what he said before I grabbed Jack and went straight to bed. 

The next morning 

I slept in. I absolutely knew I slept in. The amount of sleep I have just gotten would only happened if I had slept in. 

I finally opened my eyes to see Jack staring at me with his head tilted.

Straight disappointment with flooding through his eyes. Then my phone starting blaring.

"Ugh, can I just be a bed bum?" I throw the comforter off my body and grab my phone off the desk.

"What do you want?!" without even bothering to check to see who was calling. I internally cringed and praying for my life if it happened to be my parents.

"So, I get we've only know each other for a grand total of a week, but you'd think you would be a little more nice." Gabby said with annoyance hinting in her tone.

I sighed and fell backwards onto my bed, "What time is it?" was my only reply.

"Well, you've missed half the day to be honest. Lunch is in 30 minutes and I suggest you come eat with me."

"Why would I go all the way to school just to eat lunch?"

"Well, because callbacks for the musical are tomorrow. You need to prepare."

"The odds of me getting a callback are--,"

"AND! I have buffalo chicken dip."

"Fine, I'll be there in 20 minutes."

I threw my phone on the bed and hopped into the shower. I didn't bother washing my hair because I took a shower before I went to bed last night. I donned on some grey leggings with an off-the-shoulder white shirt. I grabbed my car keys and kissed my puppy on the nose as I ran out the door. Great, I thought to myself. That only took me ten minutes. Another ten minutes and I'll be eating the delicious buffalo infused chicken. Mmm.