Never Been Kissed

- EIGHTEEN -

                                                             -• EIGHTEEN •-

 

When I got in that night, I was surprised to find a bunch of suitcases in the foyer and the entire house in chaos.

Opal was beating on a pot with a wooden spoon and singing at the top of her awful voice and mom and dad were flying around the house helter-skelter carrying various objects in their arms.

“Amber!” mom cried, stopping with a bunch of her laundry in arms. “Oh thank God you’re home. Where have you been?” she didn’t even wait for me to answer before continuing. “Never mind. Your Nonna fell and broke her hip. Thank God she had her helper there to call an ambulance or we’d be dealing with a worse case. It’s too expensive to have her helper there taking care of her and you know how Nonna is with people, so your dad and I have to go up to Italy to take care of her.”

“What?” I exclaimed. “Nonna broke her hip?!”

She nodded briskly.

“What about me and Opal?” I cried.

“I was just getting to that,” mom took a breath. “I would send you over by Ms. Perkins, but I don’t feel so right leaving her with Opal. And Mrs. Bradford is already taking care of her lot so I ruled out taking you two there—”

“Mom, get to the point!” I interrupted.

“I’m sending you over to Beck’s house,” mom said, dropping the laundry basket on the floor and proceeding to fold her clothes.

“WHAT?” I cried.

Mom gave me a peculiar look. “What’s wrong with you? I thought you’d like that. Ms. Lozier doesn’t have a problem with it, and she really wants to meet you! I met her in the market the other day; she’s really a nice woman,”

“Why did you pick there mom?” I was dying inside. I didn’t even want to be within a ten foot radius of Beck Lozier right now. How could she do this to me?

Because she didn’t know you and Beck fell out, silly. A voice inside my head scoffed. It was right, but still!

“Opal loves Beck, and I know that over there you two will be safe and someone can account for anything that happens to you while your father and I are away. It’s the best place for you to go.”

 I was at a loss for what to say. All I knew was that I didn’t want to spend the next few days or even weeks at Beck’s house. Not after what happened. Not when my heart was still trying to repair itself!

“Why can’t you just take us to Italy with you?” I whined.

Mom gave me a peculiar look. “Amber, are you five? Do your father and I look like we’re made of money? We’re pushing buttons here to get this flight to Italy, okay? Two more people are more of a burden on us. You’re going to Beck’s house. Go upstairs and pack enough for a week. This discussion is over.”

Sighing downheartedly, I sidestepped my mother and headed up the stairs to my room. I fished out a duffel bag from my closet and started to pack what I would need. It was such a halfhearted attempt that I was basically throwing underwear and T-shirts all over the place, because I didn’t want to go. What was wrong with me staying here with Opal while mom and dad were gone? I could cook (to an extent), the laundry would get done and Opal would get to her swimming class. I didn’t need anybody to look after me! I was seventeen after all.

I sighed and looked at the mess of underwear and T-shirts I’d created on the bed. I think I might have emptied all that I owned on the bed. It was only a week. I sighed and began to sort and pack properly. Mom wasn’t going to let up on this one, and I didn’t need my feelings for Beck to make me act like an idiot.