You Are Something Else, Juniper Zwinggi

Chapter 20

White noise.

I didn't know how many times I hit Lydia, I didn't know how long I had been on top of her, pinning her to the ground. It never occurred to me that she wasn't fighting back or attempting to protect herself. In those few seconds of complete and utter rage, nothing mattered.

"Juniper! What the hell are you doing?!"

Jake's voice broke through the silence and the yells, screams, and gasps happening around me flooded my ears. I was pulled off of Lydia and pushed into Emily and Miles' arms. A crowd had formed and was watching with phones ready. They would be witnessing the impending doom of Jake Fisher's latest relationship, or so they thought.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked helping Lydia stand with an arm around her waist. She nodded and put her hand over his on her hip.

It's just pretend, Juniper.

"You're helping her?" I yelled, still breathless. "She's the one who broke us up!"

"Yeah, c'mon man. Don't do this," Miles said. I could have hugged him. "You're going too far by getting back with her."

"I'm sorry. I realized I wasn't over her yet," Jake said looking at Lydia pleadingly. It brought a bad taste in my mouth. He was really good at this.

"After everything she put you and I through, you want to get back with her?"

"So you think beating her up will make everything better?! I got over it, it's time you did too! Come on, I'll take you to the infirmary."

He began walking away, supporting Lydia's waist. She hadn't said a word the entire time, only watching me with an evil smirk. This is exactly what she wanted. When everyone realized the drama was over they began dispersing and going on with whatever they were doing before the showdown.

I felt Emily tighten her grip on my arm and I looked up at her.

"Juni, isn't that your mom?" she asked.

"What?" I looked in the direction she was looking. My stomach dropped and tears automatically stung my eyes. "Mom."

For as long as I could remember, my mom always looked magnificently put together. There was never a hair out of place, never a wrinkle or crease to be seen on anything she wore, makeup done to utter perfection at all times. This woman I saw before me didn't look like the woman I knew for eighteen years. She was haggard, tired, angry (that wasn't new), and hurt. Her clothes were disheveled and her curly brown hair was everywhere, a lot like mine on a really bad day.

"Mom," I stepped towards her but she turned around and walked away.

"Juniper go," Emily said as I stared after her, frozen. "Go!"

With a little push I half limped, half jogged after my mom. I touched her shoulder but she yanked it away, almost making me fall over.

"Mom, wait! Please!" I couldn't keep the tears away. This was NOT a part of my plan.

"I came here to see how you were, Juniper. After Lynn told me you were with Jake I thought you'd change, but you haven't. It has almost been a year since Patrick and trouble still follows you like a shadow," she said with a voice I'd heard countless times throughout my childhood. It was accusatory and harsh. There were tears in her eyes.

"It's not what you think. I promise," I plead with her grabbing her arms as she tried to walk passed me. She wouldn't even look at me anymore.

"Mom, please! Please, you're right. You're right. I admit it. I'm a screw up. I called Patrick that night. I lived and he didn't. You are not the only one who lost people, mom! I lost him too! I lost dad too! We are the only ones left, we need each other. Please," I blubbered. She shook my hands off. "Please don't leave like this!" I shouted as she walked away.