Monster - [Punk Jake Roche]

t w o

After I close the door I head into the kitchen. Charley comes into my view with earbuds in his ears and his music blaring. My dad is behind him, leaning on the counter and he's shouting at Charley. I can tell he's getting frustrated due to his red face.

"What is it this time?" I ask, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the table. My dad stops yelling and looks at me, giving me a small smile.

"Oh, nothing to be worried about sweetheart. Where have you been and where is Duke?"

Oh my god. Duke, I totally forgot about him. I was so caught up with Jake that I hardly noticed he didn't come back.

"I-I don't know where he is. And I was just going for a walk." I wait for his disapproval. He hates it when I go out, especially when I don't tell him.

But it doesn't come. "I'm sure he'll come back and I was just wondering."

Oh?

Finally after being in here, Charley takes his earbuds out and offers me a smile. "Hey sis."

"Hey bro." I playfully punch his arm and he laughs.

"You're so annoying."

"So are you!" I stick my tongue out at him.

"If you two are done bickering, I have some important news. Please sit." My dad interrupts us, his voice somewhat gloomy.

I hesitantly sit down. Charley lets out a sigh and sits back in his chair, folding his arms across his stomach.

"So, you obviously know that your mother has been in the Amazon working. She called me about three hours ago and-" He stops what he's saying and runs his fingers through his hair. It's soemthing he does when he's nervous.

"Continue." Charley says, his tone growing in annoyance. He's always had a short temper.

"She said that she's coming home next weekend."

What? 

"But I thought that she was leaving because she was trying to start over. With her new family."

My father's eyes go wide.

"Surprised? Seriously dad, Charley and I both know that she didn't leave for work. She left because you two ended things and because she found another guy. I've been meaning to ask you something. What did you do to her? You must of done something pretty fucked up that she had to move across the god damn world just to get away!" 

I'm beyond pissed right now. My mother and I have always had an amazing relationship and when she said she was leaving, I was so heartbroken. I thought my dad was telling the truth but then I noticed that he would always cry, he'd start drinking a little more, and he wasn't as happy as he used to be. And then the conclusion that they had broke up crossed my mind and it all made sense.

He doesn't reply. He looks towards the ground. My guess is he doesn't know what to say.

"Anyhow, I'm having a friend over tomorrow. So could you guys be civil? I really don't feel like having to explain to them everything." Charley stands up and looks at me. I nod before going to my bedroom.

I need to get my mind off of things and the only way I can do that is to write in my diary. Yes, it's a very cliche thing to have one, and a cliche to say is that it helps me.

Unlatching the strap, I open the book to a fresh page. Bringing the pen to the top, I scribble down the date. A sigh parts my lips before I begin to write.

Today has been quite an interesting and annoying day. It was also a very frustrating day. Today I went for a walk, despite all the murders happening, and I ran into a guy. He was definitely not like anyone else in this town. I don't know if that's a good thing because he may be the killer. But I guess I could give him a chance? He doesn't seem that bad, despite his tattoos and piercings, oh and his teasing words. He was really cute too. But that shouldn't matter. Anyhow, I also found out that my mother is coming back. It's going to be an extremely awkward and uncomfortable situation. Does she expect things to go back the way they were? Because they won't. Things between her and my father will be so different. They won't be smiling together, they won't be joking with eachother, they won't be the same couple they used to be. And that bugs me because I miss her so god damn much. Why did my father have to fuck everything up? He couldn't have just realized what he had and held onto it? Didn't he realize what it would do to his family? Whatever it was, I hope it was worth it. There's so much rambling in this but it's getting my frustrations out so maybe it's a good thing. Maybe, just maybe.

There's a knock on my door just as I'm placing the diary in my dresser drawer. I rush to my bed and pull my phone out so they don't suspect anything

"Who is it?"

"It's Charley."

What could he possibly want?

"Um, come in?"

The knob twists and he follows suit, his hands awkwardly jammed in his front pockets. He slowly makes his way over to my bed and sits next to me.

"I know something happened out on that walk. I could tell by your expression."

What? Can he really read me that well?

"I don't wanna talk about it."

He gives me a weird sideways glare. "Tell me."

I bite my bottom lip, weighing my options. I could not tell him about Jake and have my thoughts bug me or I can tell him and get some advice. Finally I decide on the latter.

So I tell him how Jake said I shouldn't be walking alone, how Duke ran away, our weird physical exchange (leaving out the burning sensations) and how Jake walked me home. By the time I'm done, his eyebrows are quirked up in surprise and slight frown tugs at the end of his lips. 

"What did you say his name was? And I swear to god if you say Jake I'm going to-"

"It was Jake, why?"

He lets out a groan and falls back on my bed. I look over at him and his eyebrows are furrowed. "Fuck."

"Why?"

"Because my friend's name is Jake. You know, the one who is coming over tomorrow?" He sounds stressed out about this ordeal.

"Why does it matter?" I'm beyond confused right now.

"Because he's not a good, well, because he's trouble. Okay? Stay away from him tomorrow, please?"

"No, not until you justify. If he's trouble, why are you friends with him? Why do you want me to stay away? What could he possibly do?"

"Why the hell do you ask so many questions!?" Charley runs his hands over his face and stands up, pacing back and forth.

"We're just friends, leave it at that. Because he will mess around with you and I don't want that to happen."

Jake couldn't possibly be as bad as Charley is making him out to be. But really, what do I know?"

"Promise me you'll stay away from him. You're going through enough with having to be scared about the murders and this whole mom thing. I'm not about to let Jake come into this."

Going into this I was expecting some advice but all I'm getting is more stress. I know he's trying to make me relax but he's only making it worse. I'm an extremely curious person so when it comes to Jake, I want to know everything. And I can't do that by staying away from him. But Charley deserves for me to listen to him. He does a lot of things for me so I can repay him by doing one simple thing.

"I promise."

Little did I know that staying away from Jake would be one of the toughest things I'd ever have to do in my life.

( Well there it is, hope you liked it. Please don't forget to vote and comment, it would mean a lot.)