Fireflies

Chapter 5: I Got A New Attitude

ARYAH

May 30th

Apologizing to Theresa was probably the hardest thing I had to do. But I did with vomit threatening to rise up as I recited every written word my mother had written. 

I'm sorry Theresa for putting my hands on you. It was uncaring and insensitive. Next, time I hope that when we have a disagreement we can talk about it peacefully as friends. Once again, please accept my apology.

And that bitch loved it. She stood there with a smug look on her face as I embarrassed myself in front of the whole team. The only thing that held me together was 1) Hadi's support 2) fear of my mother's wrath and 3) the fact that her face still held the imprints of my hands when I slapped her. Ha! Whose pimp hand was strong? This kid's.

Theresa had no choice but to accept my apology. And everything happened just as my mother had arranged. I stayed and clean up the locker rooms after practices and Principal Levy wasn't told about the fight. I could stay in school and graduate. Talk about a bullet dodged. Still I wouldn't be suprised if an evil witch like Theresa tried to lord the threat of the fight over my head despite how futile her attempts would be. She was so pathetic.

About life at school, the fight with Theresa only served to make other students think I was crazy. Not only was I throwing myself at people, but I was beating up my own teammates. I just couldn't win.

When I came home that night (after apologizing to Theresa), I noticed that no one was home. In the kitchen there was a note from Christopher saying that he was staying over a friend's house. Great, so I had the house to myself. Not that that meant anything. So I changed into black sweatpants and a yellow tank top and watched T.V for a little while. Sometime between reruns of Vampire Diaries I fell asleep.

I woke up to hear angry muffled voices down the hall. I muted the t.v. to hear better. It sounded like my parents.

What time was it?

I checked the clock on the wall high above the television. It was little after midnight. Jeez, I'd slept for a while. I stretched and tuned into the sounds again. They were less hurried but the tone still as intense. Something was wrong.

I got up and tiptoed my way down the end of the dark hallway. Noticing a sliver of light shooting across the carpeted hallway floor, I knew that the door was ajar. I'm not sure if it was intentional. Did they know that I was just down the hall?

 As I inched closer to the doorway, I slid along the wall all stealth-like. I tried to imagine what Tom Cruise would do in Mission Impossible. I crouched down low and peered into the bright light of the room. I couldn't see much at first, but as my eyes adjusted I could see that my father was at his desk, his head resting against his palm rubbing vigorously in frustration. My mother stood closest to the doorway. While my father looked dressed for bedtime, my mother was dressed like she was going somewhere. At this time of night? I tried to stay as still as possible while I waited for someone to speak.

"How long?" My father asked quietly. His voice was weary. He looked broken leaning against the desk in his study. 

My mother, rigid and poised, said nothing for a moment. She stared at the carpet. Then she looked up.

"6 months now."

 "6 months!" My father hissed. "You mean to tell me you've been screwing another man for six months! What about us, Ange? What about our vows?"

 "Charles, we haven't been together that way for quite some time now. You and I both know that something is broken here and it's irreparable."

 I saw my father blanch. "No! I've been trying," he whispered harshly. "I gave up everything for you, woman! EVERYTHING! My job, my family, my friends so that I can stay home and watch the kids so that you can go out there and live your dream. I didn't want to hold you back. I wanted you to be the big shot Criminal Defense lawyer you are today!"