One Winter Night (on Hold)

Chapter 7

Anger was bursting out of me; I for one do not like to team up with quirky guys and second solve a crime for which I am not prepared for. For once why could I not have a normal life? Normal parents? Why does everything go against my will? I never did anything wrong, so why am I being punished for a sin I did not commit?

I may sound like an ungrateful brat but this is the sinister truth, I am being tortured by staying in the same room as a guy I despise also known as Sean, I am being held captive in silence against my will and I have done nothing at all to help my friend Jessica who is dead.

As I walked out of the hell hole known as ‘high school’ I went and sat by the nearest coffee shops. As I entered the place felt warm and cozy for as it was three degrees outside. I took of my thick hot pink coat off and put it on one of the chairs next to me. I put my head down on the table trying to sort things out in my mind, I had a sudden flash back of the time I first met Sean and how I was the jerk, but he was very quirky too. I put my head up and upped it with my hands, a small smiling playing at the corner of my lips, someone passing by would think I’m love struck but I was actually lost in thought.

Not many days left till Christmas I told myself and not a sign of Jessica’s killer. I looked at the time; ten minutes to eight, I got up, put my coat on and walked back to school.

I walked to my locker avoiding everyone’s glazes got my books and went to first period.

The day went by like a blink of an eye, It was three when I left school and started to walk back home, I didn’t see much of Sean after are last encounter and I didn’t seem to care because today seemed like a better day.

I walked up to the patio of my house and unlocked it with my spare key. I walked inside the living room to smell something cooking and something good. At first I thought something was on fire but then I found my mom standing in the kitchen actually cooking.

Why am I surprised you ask? That would be because my mom hasn’t cooked since Susan and I were ten and it’s been eight years.

“Mom are you actually cooking?” I questioned walking over to her.

“Yes, I actually am” she said as she put the pork in the roaster.

“Are you feeling alright?” I asked a little curious of my mother’s sudden behavior

“Yes Madeline I am feeling quite alright, now go and call your sister lunch will be ready in twenty minutes”

I nodded and walked up the stairs into Susan’s room. Susan’s room is quite the opposite of mine; her walls are the lightest shade of pink with small polka dots on them, she also has some pop star posters on her walls but overall she has a very girly look to the room. My room on the other hand is light blue with indie musicians on my wall, a small radio on my table and some old 90’s records, my room overall is very hipster.

I knocked on her door walked right in; she was sitting on one of her pink beanbags with her laptop on her lap.

“Hey” I said

“Hey” she said, this conversation was getting a little awkward.

“Um mom said dinner would be ready in twenty minutes so she wants us down” I said leaning on her door frame.

“Mom was cooking?” she said while raising her eyebrow in curiosity.

“Yup” I said popping the ‘p’

“Tell her I’ll be down in five” I nodded and walked away and into my room, jumping into a quick shower and changing into a pair of warm pjs and a shirt that says ‘bear hugs’, I walked back down to the dining room.

Mom was already setting Plates and glasses while I grabbed a chair and sat down.

“Susan said she’ll be down in five” I said while grabbing a cucumber from the salad plate. Mom gave me a disapproving look but continued with setting the plates. After ten minutes Susan came rumbling down the stairs and took a seat in front of me while mom sat at one head of the table. The only person missing was dad.

We had a family rule that dinner and lunch was eaten with everyone at the table. We waited in silence for dad to come home, after fifteen more minutes the door opened and dad came in taking a seat at the other end of the table.

No-one said anything, not a ‘hello’ or ‘how was your day?’ Dad started filling his plate, so Susan and I followed. Mom on the other hand was burning holes in dad’s skull and finally she broke the silence.

“Where were you?” she asked not even taking her eyes of dad.

“At work” dad said as he continued eating his piece of roasted pork.

“Oh really? Or were you with Miranda?” my mom questioned with edge in her voice, this time dad stopped eating and looked straight into mom’s eyes.

“Why does that concern you?”

“Because I am your GODDAM WIFE!” this was the first time I heard my mom scream and she slammed her hands on the table which startled Susan and I both.

“THAT DOESN’T MAKE MY PERSONAL LIFE YOUR BUSSINESS”

“I AM YOU BUSSINES, HOW DARE YOU HAVE AN AFFIAR WITH ANOTHER WOMAN WHEN YOU HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND A WIFE”

“WHAT IF I TOLD YOU I NEVER WANTED TWO CHILDREN AND A WIFE LIKE YOU?!”

This time it hit me, he never wanted us; my dad never really loved me. I looked up at Susan and saw her silently sobbing in her chair, this time I’m taking a stand for my sister.

“SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU! AND LISTEN TO ME” I screamed standing up too looking between my mom and my dad.

“DAD IF YOU NEVER WANTED SUSAN AND I THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO AND MOM IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE WITH HIM JUST GET A DIVORCE, BECAUSE HELL IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US, I AM TIRED OF LIVING IN THIS HOUSE WHERE ALL WE DO IS STAY CRAMPED IN OUR OWN ROOMS WHERE THERE IS NO LIFE, ITS LIKE WE ARE ALREADY DEAD! YOU DON’T KNOW HOW THIS HAS AFFECTED SUSAIN AND ME MENTALLY!” I got up, grabbed Susan’s hand and walked out of the house grabbing my car keys with me.

I sat in the driver’s seat while Susan sat in the passenger’s seat. The second I closed the door she erupted with tears, I put my hands around her and hugged her as she cried on my shoulder, I rubbed her back and tried some soothing words to stop her from crying, after ten minutes or so she stopped and looked out of the window.

I had no idea where I was going to go, then I got a quick idea, I texted Sean asking him if I could come over, even though we were fighting I hope he replies soon. My phone buzzed, Sean had send me his address; I started the engine and started to drive in the direction of his house.

It was five when I reached his house and the sun was about to set. Susan and I walked up to his patio and rang the door bell, within seconds Sean was standing in front of his door frame.

“Come in” he said stepping aside to give us some space to walk in.

“The guest room is the first door on your right” I rubbed Susan’s arm telling her to go up. When she went up the stairs and out of ear shot I left a deep sigh and rested my shoulders.

“Want some coffee?” I nodded my head and sat at the island with my head touching the cold marble.

“So what was with the sudden gathering?” he asked while making the coffee.

“My dad is having an affair with this women called ‘Miranda’, my mom cooked dinner for the first time in eight years, my mom and dad have a huge fight over dinner, my dad admitted that his marriage and kids were a mistake, I screamed at my parents for the first time, and walked away from them, oh and took a stand for my sister” I said in a bore tone as if a matter of fact.

“Whoa and it’s only five ten in the evening” he said placing the coffee mug in front of me.

“What is there to life without a little drama?” I said taking a sip of my coffee.

“Touché” he said taking a sip of his coffee. We sat in silence until I broke it

“Is it okay if we stay the night?”

“ I don’t see why not” I smiled as we continued to sip our coffee in peace.