Living Under A Paper Moon (All Time Low Fanfic)

Chapter 27

Alex and Rian brought my last few bags out from my apartment.

"Hey, you're bringing your guitar!" Alex said loading it onto the bus. I nodded. 

"Between you and Jack, I'll be a pro after the tour." Alex laughed and messed up my hair.

"Okay, I think we're ready to go!" Jack brought down one more bag from the apartment.

"I'll go lock up." he kissed my lips, took my key and ran up the stairs. I chatted to the guys while we waited for Jack. A sleek black car pulled up on front of our building. I presumed it was for one of the other apartments bellow us. A thin, blonde woman stepped out of the car with glasses that almost covered her full face. She was wearing a skin tight black dress to the knee. I knew this woman. Anyone who didn't know her but knew me, they'd know who this was. I stood frozen as the woman walked toward us. Zack shook my shoulder calling my name but I ignored him. They followed my gaze to the woman walking over to where we stood.

"Is that your-" Alex began to ask, I knew what he was asking before he finished so I just nodded.

"You look just like-" Rian was about to say but he cut off what he was about to say when I glared at him with evil eyes. I refused to be told I looked like her. I knew that I looked like her, I was like her double, I just had brown hair, like my father. She stuck out her hand to me.

"Sophie, love, long time no see." she sounded like me, just more bitter.

"You whore think you can just turn up at my fucking house? In L.A.? How the fuck did you get here?" I spat at her. Alex looked in shock at me and stuck his own hand out to her.

"Alex Gaskarth, Sophie's best friend." she reluctantly took his hand.

"Linda Stevens, Sophie's mother. Oh, good. She got rid of that emo kid, Anna or something. Shame she chose you." she cocked her head to the side looking at his freshly died pink hair. Alex looked offended and he was going to say something but I cut him off.

"Listen Linda, you can leave now because "that emo kid" will be here soon. You don't like Alex's hair?" I asked sarcastically.

"It's umm charming. Sophie, I need to talk to you, inside, alone." she looked at the three boys next to me. Jack came running out of the house.

"Okay ready to, oh hi, I'm Jack, Sophie's boyfriend." he stuck his hand out to her. She didn't have the decency to shake it, she just looked down at it and back to me.

"Oh, how lovely. Interesting choice in men Sophie. Now how about we talk inside." she fixed her glasses and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Fuck off, like I'd actually talk to you!" I scoffed at her. Jack, looking hurt that he'd been rejected for a handshake took a step closer to me and put his arm around my waist.

"Sophie! It's important! Now let me into your apartment so we can talk!" she demanded. She hadn't changed. The four boys looked shocked at how rude we were to each other, I didn't care really. She should be glad I was even talking to her. I took the key off Jack and reached up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"I'll be ten minutes, if I'm not back, she's killed me so come up to be sure." I whispered to him. He chuckled before realising I was serious. I walked to the house and let her follow me.

I poured the end of a carton of orange juice for myself and sat at the edge of the counter top, not offering her anything, not even a seat. I stared at her, waiting for her to speak.

"Sophie, honey. I can't remember the last time we were civil to each other. You weren't even ten I'd say. Before your father and I split up, there was a clear division in the house and I was left alone. Beside the fact that we look quite similar, we had nothing in common. You're a younger version of your father and in many ways that's probably a good thing, not for our relationship unfortunately." she waited for me to comment but I just sat there silently.

"Anyway, I want you to put away our differences and help me. Sophie, I'm sick. I need treatment, lots of it. I've had to even come over here for treatment. Since your father and I divorced, money hasn't been my strong point. When I heard that you had moved over here, I was delighted, I thought we could try bond, become mother and daughter again." she gave a week smile. I purposely spat out my orange juice, aiming for her. Good, it landed on her dress.

"So basically what you're saying to me is after the complete whore you were to me and dad, seeing me twice since you two divorced, offend my best friends, boyfriends and life style, you want me to let you live with me." I raised an eyebrow at her. She thought about it and nodded eagerly.

"Well I'm sorry, but I'm travelling the  world for the next year and a half. And I know you couldn't give a shit about our relationship." I stared right through her. Her whole face dropped. She looked weak, alone and vulnerable. I remembered when Hannah's father was sick, she'd do anything to save him and even as much as she hated my mother, I knew she would never let me live this down if I didn't try help her.

"Here." I tossed my keys to her. "I won't be here, it'll just be you. Don't worry about rent, I'll still pay it. You'll just have to provide food for yourself." I said and walked toward the door. She stood up and came over to me with her arms spread cooing about how wonderful I was.

"Linda, there's no need to pretend. We don't like each other but you are my mother so I'll do it this once for you. If you decide to move out, bring the key to this address." I scribbled down Sarah's address because her apartment was closer than Celine's.

"Seriously though Sophie, thank you." my mother actually looked grateful for once. I nodded "And Linda, I hope your treatment goes as planned. I shut the door, strangely feeling relieved.

The boys were outside looking slightly confused. They were joined by Hannah and the Panic! crew. Hannah rushed over to me.

"That bitch was here? Where is she? What was she thinking?" Hannah asked hugging me.

"I'm sorry Sophie, besides her looks that woman shows no reflection on you!" Zack said.

"Yeah, sorry but she's kinda rude alright. And she didn't like my hair." Alex added.

"That woman was a bitch." Jack said with his hands in his pocket and stared at the floor.

"Where is she gone?" Rian asked.

"She's staying here. In my apartment. We have a whole tour for me to explain." I walked over to Jack and wrapped my arms around his neck, he took his hands out of his pockets and set them on my waist.

"Honey, are you okay?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"She didn't even acknowledge me, I wanted your family to like me." he was still looking down at the floor. I laughed quite loudly and he looked up at me.

"Sweetie, the woman doesn't even like me and I'm her blood! Now forget about it and lets enjoy the next year and half together, all of us!" I put my hand on his cheek.

"Yeah bitches come on, let's rock this world!" Alex shouted and we all cheered after him. For some reason, I felt happy. Like I filled in something that was missing. As the bus took off I looked up at our apartment window. I saw my mother sitting on the window sill looking out at the city. Her face looked sad and old for forty three. I felt bad for the woman, but she was strong, I had a feeling like me, she'd make it through anything.