I Promise

22

I get home and feel productive enough to do my homework. There isn't much to do, but I just feel like putting my mind on something other than Matt. Of course, my idiotic brain won't shut up and I replay the past two days with him in my mind over and over again, like a record tape that's stuck and won't move on to the next song.

Peyton is still in the living room when I get home, completely submerged in her book. JT and Ashton are off bugging nana like they always do.

I'm lying in my bed listening to music because my jumble of a brain can't concentrate on reading when I hear the lock to the apartment turn.

I jolt upright, and my head is close to spinning because I sat up so fast, but I don't care because I'm walking to the door just as it opens.

My mother stands in the doorway, her hair curled and with makeup on. She is wearing a dress and heels, and she is standing next to none other than Graham the fucking cracker.

"Hey honey," she begins.

"You can call him that," I say, and I just stand in the middle of the doorway, fuming. I swear steam is pouring out of my ears. How dare she bring him into the house, and how dare she just expect everyone to just be cool about it?

JT and Ashton come into the hallway, and Peyton trails behind them, her face a bit more pale than usual. I can tell right away she knows what's going on, and she doesn't like it one bit. I hear nana's footsteps, and I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose because if she comes in and sees this scene, god knows, she'll have a heart attack because she'll know why mom and dad are getting divorced. She stayed late at my dad's place, but she came back because she wanted to take care of the twins. I wonder if she'll permanently leave the apartment once she sees Graham and my mom standing hand in hand by the doorway.

Nana shuffles in, and her look betrays absolutely nothing as she looks my mother dead in the eyes. She offers a small, faked, smile to her and Graham.

My mom begins to walk into the room, but I put both of my hands on the doorway.

"There is no way you are coming inside," I say.

My mother looks furious. I almost flinch because I feel as if she would slap me, but I stand my ground, knowing that I've dealt with worse injuries and fights with all my soccer games.

"Rynn, this is my apartment. I get to say who goes in and out," she says, gritting her teeth. She really doesn't want to deal with my attitude.

"No. This is our apartment, and you don't get to come inside with him," I say, jabbing a finger at Graham, who just stands there with a confused expression on his face, like he has no idea what's going on. He looks like the exact opposite of my dad. My dad has glasses, he's average height, and he has brown hair with dark green eyes. And let's just say he doesn't care much in the 'being fit' category. He's not overweight, he just doesn't do anything with his muscles much.

Graham the cracker, on the other hand, is absolutely ripped. His muscles bulge out of his shirt, almost as if a single touch can literally rip his shirt in half. He has pitch black hair and hazel eyes, and he looks like a mountain because he can just barely make it through the door. Standing next to my mother's petite figure, he looks like a giant from another dimension. I almost laugh at the realization of it. Where did she dig him up from? The secret service?

I realize that maybe it's not a good idea to jab fingers at a giant, but I don't care anymore. My mother will first explain what the hell is going on to my whole family, and then she can come inside. But I'll probably leave the moment she comes in anyways. I can't stand to see her in the room, let alone with the man that ruined her marriage.