never goodbye

Chapter 2

I waited on the steps of the school. Everyone, besides the teachers, had left. I checked my phone. Three-twenty. Which meant he was twenty minutes late. This wasn't the first time he chose work over me and I knew it wouldn't be the last. He did the same thing to mom. I tried calling him. No answer. So instead I called mom and told her I was coming home. I put the phone in my backpack and started walking. As I was walked I got a call back from dad. I wanted to click decline. I didn't feel like talking to him but my thumb clicked answer.

"Hello."

"Hey Tom. How are you?"

"I'm walking home." I said.

It was quiet for a moment. I knew he was thinking about what to say.

"Hey listen. I know I didn't pick you up like I promised."

"Yea. I realized that twenty minutes ago."

"I had a business meeting and then I had to do some papers and then I had to-"

"I get it. You were really busy."

"I'm sorry but I want to make it up to you. Tomorrow I'm off and I have absolutely nothing to do. Can i make it up to you then?"

I thought about it. "Yea. I guess."

"Alright I'll see you tomorrow then."

With that he hung up. Sometimes I wondered if my dad genuinely wanted to see his son or if he did it so he wouldn't appear to be a bad person. I started thinking about the divorce. It was only a few months ago. To tell the truth if someone would've asked me a few years ago if my parents were going to get a divorce, I would've said no. My parents were ok then. However, if someone would've asked me a year ago if my parents were getting a divorce I would've definitely said yes. It was around then that I started seeing the signs. Who knew. Maybe they were always there. First it was dad's new job and the long business trips, and then it was him never being home and when he was home all mom and him did was argue. Mom said it was because of Dad's priorities but i think it was because there was just no more spark between them anymore.Dad just wanted a different life and mom didn't want to go through that with him.

I got to my house and looked across the street. The creepy house was just sitting there and like an old, abandoned dog it looked almost sad and alone. I walked across the street and peered inside one of the windows. It was empty with nothing but the wood floor. I felt almost bad for the place. I herd something behind me and froze. I slowly turned around wondering if I would be the first to be taken by mr.mitchell's ghost. I let out a breath when I saw a squirrel with a nut looking back at me. I walked back to my house and went inside. I was about to tell mom I was home when I heard her on the phone.

"James you can't keep doing this to Tom. He doesn't deserve that. He deserves a dad." She said in frustration.

It was quiet for a moment.

"No james, telling him you're going to make it up to him isn't good enough. Your putting your life over his." She sighed in frustration. "Yea, will soon you might not have a son."

And with that she hung up. I walked into the living room. Mom was sitting on the couch with her head in her hands.

"You heard that didn't you?" She asked not looking up.

"Maybe."

"Your dad is just something else sometimes."

"Yea. I noticed."

I put my backpack on the couch and sat down next to her. I hate seeing her stressed. She was the only person I could trust and who I felt genuinely cared for me. Even though I hate myself for thinking it I know that I love her more than dad. Does that make me a cruel person?