Dangerously in Love

Chapter 6: The Returned

It's been a few weeks since I talked to Nick, and even longer that I've talked to Liam. Sydney hasn't talked to me much lately because she's always with Connor. My dad has been bringing, what I assume to be, new girls every other night. My brothers have been home more lately in the past week which worries me a lot. I mean I love not spending the whole night alone, but my dad has also been drinking. I've found multiple beer bottles scattered around the house, every morning. Everyone has been home way more than usual lately. It's been a routine lately. Wake up, go to school, come home, make sure the boys are asleep before our dad comes home, and hide in my room for the whole night. I also haven't been sleeping very well. The first week or so, I would have nightmares of being taken. After that I couldn't sleep. Now I just stay awake as much as I can, not just to avoid that, but also because I can't sleep.

I find myself always thinking about Liam. I can't get him out of my head. He consumes almost every one of my thoughts. It took me a while to realize that I like him. When I see him at school I think about the very few times we hung out. I think about what he's up to now. He looks better than he did a few weeks back. I noticed one day he was kind of limping, which I'm assuming is from fighting.

It's currently Thursday and I'm eating lunch right now. I decided to sit in the library for lunch instead of with everyone else. It's been like this for a few days now, I just can't stand Sydney ignoring me for a guy. I mean she's my best friend, I should be more of a priority than him.

"Knew I'd find you here." Speak of the devil and she shall appear.

"You found me, now what do you need?" I didn't have the energy to deal with her after she has been distant.

"There's a party tomorrow and I know that we haven't hung out a lot lately and I want you to go with me." Yeah, no thanks.

"Can't. I've got things to do." I got up from the seat my butt had been in the whole lunch and grabbed my bag.

"Oh, that's a shame, maybe next time." Yeah, maybe.

~~~~

The boys were out for the night and for their sake I'm glad. I'm not sure if they know what our father has been up to. I'm just glad they are out tonight just in case our dad returns.

I was in the living room when the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone so I had no idea who it could be. When I opened the door I was shocked who I saw.

"Hi sweetie."

"Mom?" She was the last person I'd ever expect to see at my front door. She left years ago, I thought she wasn't coming back. She looked just like she did when she left. Same hair, same eyes, same drug addict look. "What are you doing here?" I snapped out of my shock and that turned to anger. I didn't want her here, she abandoned us.

"I came back for you and the boys. Oh are they here? Can I see them?" For once I was ecstatic that they weren't here.

"They're out at the moment. Now you need to leave." I could see the hurt in her eyes as I said this. The thing is, I didn't care if she was hurt. She had hurt all of us when she left.

"Honey Bear, please don't do this, I'm your mother."

"Stop, you don't get to use that nickname anymore. You lost that privilege when you left. You lost any privilege to even see us when you walked out of our lives and chose drugs." At this point I slammed the door in her face and hoped she got the message.

Plans changed. I can go to the party with you.

I had decided that I need a little break from everything and despite being mad at her, I decided to go to the party with Sydney.