I'm Fine (#Wattys2015)

17

I get out of the car about the same time as Karen, Nick's mom, does. I now see that Karen is a few inches taller then my 5' 3" frame. Average weight, blueish green eyes that sparkle, full of happiness. I wish my mom had eyes that sparkled, all her eyes do is get bloodshot, hold anger, and get filled with hatred.

Karen pulls me into a bone crushing hug. At first I do not know what to do. Then, I put my arms around her. I have not had a real hug in I don't know how long. My mom does not hug me, She can barley stand being near me. I start to cry, again. The tears slowly start to fall, one by one until they all kind of flow together. Just the thought of actually being loved again makes me overwhelmed. I realize that I am probably ruining Karen's shirt and pull away, not really wanting to.

"I'm sorry about your shirt." I say in that way you talk after or when you are crying. I reach my hand up to my eyes to wipe away the tears.

"Oh, sweetie, it's fine. I understand that this is hard for you. Come on in and I will make you some hot chocolate." I nod. There is never a bad time for hot chocolate, not even during the end of fall break. Oh, how I wish I could never go back to that wretched school again.

We go inside the house and Nick says something to his mom that I cannot hear. They exchange a few words and then Nick looks at me. "So.... Do you want to play some Xbox?"

Was that what they were talking about? Most likely not. "Sure. What games do you have?"

"A lot. I can't name them all. Sorry."

"That is fine. Take me to the Xbox."

Nick laughs. "Ok then. By the way, it is a R2D2 one. Star Wars is awesome."

My turn to laugh. "Yeah. I have only seen the first one."

"What?!"

"Yeah. I like The Avengers and Batman and Superman more."

"Ahhh. Ok well be prepared,  I have Star Wars posters in my room." We walk up the stairs. Then down the hall and stop in front of a door at the end of it.

"Here we are." Nick opens the door and he was right. There are a lot of Star Wars stuff, not just posters. I step inside and Nick just watches me. I spin around a few times, seeing everything.

A flat screen TV, An R2D2 Xbox, posters, a twin bed in the corner with a Star Wars bed spread and comforter, a bookshelf full of movies and games. I am in awe at seeing how many games and movies there are in this room. I walk over to the bookshelf and look through the games.

FIFA, Modern Warfare, Halo, Batman Arkham Origins, and so, so many more. I pick up Halo and turn to Nick who is still at the doorway. He looks surprised and I smirk. "What? Just because I am a girl, in I hot pink shirt, does not mean that I don't love violent games. Halo is amazing."

"You have played?"

"Yeah. Me and Dad would play before he left. Mom would be upset because she thought I was too young. Ha. Now she could care less about what I do."

"Oh I am sorry. Well, shall we play?"

"We shall. And I am gonna beat your ass."

"In your dreams, Princess."

*************

Hey y'all!

Do you guys like the new cover? RachelSears made it.

                                   - Batman