Joaquin

Chapter 5

        I decided to answer it against my better judgment after what just happened because after seeing my dad storm into Pops and watching me peel out of the bar he probably needs some reassuring that i'm still, you know, alive.  I called him back and it rang a couple times until he picked up.  "Are you alright?"  I could hear the worringness In his voice " Yes i'm fine it was just a misunderstanding between me and me dad." I say not completely lying.  "That looked a little more than just a misunderstanding." he said not giving up " I was just out a little later than he thought I would.  Thats it." He doesn't answer right away like he's trying to contemplate whether  or not he should keep on asking questions or just call it good.  "alright fine, im glad you're okay" I smiled " I'm more than okay.  I'll see you later okay?" he said ok and then goodnight.  I said goodnight also and then hung up.

When morning came I mentally groaned and got up and went to my bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and gasped at how bad my black eye was.  Sure he has done stuff like this before when mom died but I don't know this bruise seems worse than the rest or at least the more recent ones. I got out my makeup kit and got to work.

By the time I was done you couldn't even tell that I have a black eye or a busted lip.  Oh the power of makeup.  I grab my backpack and I slowly opened up my bedroom door and tried to listen for my dad and when I didn't hear anything I went ahead and went downstairs.  There is a bottle of open whiskey on the kitchen table that I assume is from last night.  I ignored it and opened up the medicine cabinet and got a couple of Tylenol for the headache I know I am going to get.  I really just want to get out of here but in order to avoid having the same night as we did last night i'm going to have to verbally say to him what i'm going to do today and I can only hope that he doesn't forget or get pissed off at me.  But there is no way in hell that i'm going to wake my dad up to tell him what I am doing so I am just going to work on my homework until he wakes up.  Its 10:30 right now and depending on how much he drank last night he should probablly be up around 12. 

 I get out my algebra and my English homework and got to work.  About an hour into it I get a text from Joaquin asking if I was going to swing by the bar anytime soon. "Probably not"  I replied I have to wait for my dad to wake up and besides i'm doing homework.  When he didn't reply within a couple seconds I set my phone down and continued on my work.  A little later he texted back asking what I was working on and I said algebra 2. "gross" he responded and I laughed.  

"who you talking to?" My dad asked behind me.  I jumped as I turned around to look at him "that was Veronica asking if I was going to the drive in tonight since it's the last the before they close. Is it alright if I go?" He nods his head to say yes and a let out a relieved sigh.   He walks over to the fridge and opened it up and all that was in there was a couple beers, some salad dressings, ham and a couple yogurts.  "You need to go shopping and quit slacking off." he said as shut the door.  He went over to his wallet and pulled out a 50 and laid it on the table.  "Here go to the store and get some stuff.  I want the recepit and it better add up to the correct amount of change that I get back ." I nodded my head and headed out the door.  

 I went to the grocery story that the south side uses because their prices are so much better and there is really nobody ever here so the lines are that much faster.  When I got to the store I grabbed a cart and went to the dairy aisle. I grabbed eggs, milk and cheese then I made my way over to the fruits and vegetables and I got some oranges, apples, peppers and some avacoados. Im adding all this food up in my head to make sure I dont go over the 50 dollar limit.  I made my way over to the chips isle and got some lays and some Fritos.  Out of the corner of my eye I can see somebody at the end of the aisle but I didn't think anything about it until the person walks right infront of my cart.  I look up and see Abel.