Priceless- Sweet Pea

Confusion

    I wake up to the familiar sickening smell of beer coming from outside my room. I forgot to close the door last night so the stench made its way to my room. I act quickly shutting the door. I open my window and light a cherry scented candle in my room in hopes of ridding of the stench of alcohol. A fist pounds on my door. "Cmon Shana we're gonna be late! We can't miss our first day of school!" Fangs beamed.
   "I'm coming" I say as I walk to the closet picking out a black crop top some black ripped jeans and my Combat boots. Oh and also my Serpent jacket.
   I joined the serpents behind my brothers back because I knew he would try to stop me. But who could blame him? His little sister joining a gang, now there's a shocker.
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We drive in to the parking lot of SouthSide high. Just as I remembered it. The walls were graffitied everywhere, druggies were seen at every corner, and some of the windows were broken. Other than its imperfections SouthSide high was like a home to me.
   Fangs and I walk in being immediately greeted by our best friends Toni and Sweet Pea. Fangs chest bumps Pea while I pull the pink haired girl in for a hug. "Hey I haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been all summer?" She asks smiling.
   "Fangs and I went to go visit our Uncle in Greendale." I say as a hand was placed on my shoulder.
   "Hey Beautiful," the clearly high teen slurred, "what's your name?" He smirked reaching his hand out to pull a strand of hair behind my ear. Before he could do so I slap his hand away stomping my foot on his toe. He screeches and crawls away.
   "Wow nice job," Sweets says impressed. I smile before linking my arm with Toni's walking down the hall.
   "So how was summer?" I ask her as we walk down the halls arm and arm.
  "It was amazing! I got to see my grandfather, and you'll never guess what happened... I met a girl!"  She jumps up and down excitedly.
   "Oh my god details now!" I giggle smiling at my friend.
   "Her name is Cassandra, she and her dad live in greendale."
   "That's great Toni!" I smile. Then I stop dead in my tracks my smile drops as I see Sweets talking to another girl. I don't know why it bothered me, I mean I didn't even like him.. Did I?
  Toni seemed to notice. "Someone's got a little crush on SweetPea" she teased as I playfully nudge her.
   "No i don't!" I defend as I laugh.
   "I know that look Fogarty," she pats me on the back, "better get him before someone else does." She smiles leaving me.
   The rest of the day I reflect on Toni's words. Did I like Sweets? I mean we've known each other since him and Fangs started hanging out. My mind swirled in confusion.
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I get home to my parents drinking in the kitchen. I notice 10 new bottles have appeared. Whelp they're drunk. I grab the drink from my fathers hand. "You've had enough you two!" I yell throwing the bottle into the overflowing recycling bin full of beer bottles. At this point my mom placed her beer onto the table. They both have anger in their eyes. I flinch back in fear. Fangs wouldn't be here for a while because he's out with Pea. "You don't get to tell us what to do!" My father raised his voice as he gets in my face, his breath smelling of alcohol. He grabs my hair, he hits me against the wall. I whimper as he raises his hand. He lands a swift blow on my cheek causing it to go red. Blood trickled from my mouth. I cry out in pain and I run out of the house locking the door behind me. As if all the strength was drained out of me I collapse into a sitting position my head to the door. A cut and a bruise was left on my face. I text Fangs to come home. I drop my phone and cry myself to sleep.
   I wake up in an unfamiliar room. I touch my face and wince. I walk to the mirror on the right side of the room. A bandage was placed on my face that covered a large bruise. I suddenly remember the events that took place last night. A lone tear roles down my cheek.
   I walk out of the room entering a hallway. I was about to turn the corner when I hear two voices speak.
  "Thanks for letting me take her here," a familiar voice spoke.
   "Yeah it's no problem, she's your sister I would do anything for her," the deeper voice replied.  I walk into the room drawing the attention of both of them.
  "Hey your awake!" I see fangs come to hug me as Sweets stands behind us awkwardly.
   "What happened?" SweetPea asked curious but also worried.
   "I - I accidentally tripped and banged the side of my face against the rim of the stairs. No one was home and I was having a panic attack and didn't know who to call." I lie.
   Both boys pause not quite believing me but nod anyways. "Let's go home now, mom and dad are gone again." He said annoyed. "Thanks Pea," Fangs says as he grabs my hand taking him to his truck.
  Once I got in he immediately turned and said, "that doesn't look like it was caused by the rim of a stair case. What really happened?" He prompted. I don't respond. "It was dad wasn't it?" Fangs says anger lacing his voice as he read my mind. I nod, a tear falling down my face. "Shan I won't let him hurt you again." He says as he wiped the tear away with his thumb.
   We get home to the mess that is the Forgarty home. "I think it's finally time we clean this dump up," Fangs says as I roll my eyes.
  "You know as well as I do that mom and dad will just trash it again when they get home.
  "But why can't we enjoy it while they're gone?" He asked as he grabbed a trash bag and started picking up the beer bottles. "Cmon help a guy out?" He asks smiling as he held out a trash bag.
  "Fine you win," I laugh and grab the trash can.
  After an hour of hard work we managed to clean the house up and the stench of beer was replaced with the scent of apple pie. I lit another apple pie scented candle in the bathroom staring at the flame as it flickered.
   The front door opened. I walk out scared it was my parents but I come to see a smirking Giant and my brother  holding a pile of movies. "Movie night!" A voice spoke behind them. Toni shoved past them smiling.
   We watched movies all night like "I love Simon" my brothers favorite, "going in style", and GI Joe which was chosen by the boys.
   I enjoyed tonight unknowing the events that tomorrow had to offer.