Beside You *Muke*

Chapter 31

It was inevitable, avoiding my mother. She managed to pop back into my life no matter where I went and now here I was, suitcase in my hand while I tug it out of my father's house. My mother had budged herself into my life enough that I finally caved and packed my bags. I was kicking-and-screaming over the whole affair but in the end, there was really nothing for me to do. 

My movements are slow as molasses and I could tell it was irritating my mother but that hadn't bothered me much. "Are those hickeys, Lucas Hemmings?" My mother asks, slightly shocked as I throw my bag into the trunk.

"Mhm," I mutter, taking the passengers seat and curling my knees to my chest.

"Seat belt?"

I roll my eyes at the woman beside me and click it dramatically, tapping my fingers on the glass window and setting my feet up on the dashboard, long legs barely able to stretch out far enough. I had been wearing one of Michael's sweaters; my favorite light peach one that hung off my shoulder slightly. Not only was it my favorite, Michael liked it best on me as well. The thought of my boyfriend made me blush but my mother didn't seem to notice.

Michael had practically begged me to stay at his place when I told him I had to move in with Liz the next day but I told him there was no way I could weasel my way out of this. The two of us knew it. I never imagined seeing my mother again. Not since my father had swept me away from her but nonetheless, here I was, sitting in my mother's dented and rusting Mini Cooper. "So you turn eighteen in a couple months," My mother begins as she pulls out of the driveway.

"M'surprised you remembered," I hiss, looking down at my hands.

"I sent you cards," She murmurs, staring at the yellow lines dotting the road.

"You really think I actually opened them? I threw them all away," Liz cringes at my side, lip trembling slightly which makes my whole body flush with anger. "Stop making it sound like I'm the bad one here," I growl. "You're the one who sexually abused me, Liz. Stop acting like I'm the one who did wrong,"

Liz sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose at a red light. "You couldn't even consider forgiving me? It's been eleven years."

I run a hand through my hair, body trembling as I try to hold myself together. "Yeah, eleven years of nightmares. Eleven years since I last saw your face. Eleven years that I've spent trying to block out the fact that you molested me," Tears slip from her eyes and I look away, not able to meet her gaze. "So don't you ever try to make it sound like I'm the bad guy here. I'm the one who went through physical and sexual abuse from both of my parents. I've never known love until I met Michael,"

"Michael?" My mother asks, sounding slightly confused.

"My boyfriend," I reply, rolling my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do now was talk about Michael, the love of my life with my deadbeat of a mother.

"Can you tell me more about him?" She whispers as we pull into what must've been her driveway.

I open up my car door, shooting her a glare. "No. Michael makes me too happy for you to ruin it,"

I grab my bag from the trunk and head inside the house, letting out an irritated huff when I hear Green Day playing from someone's bedroom. Liz had other kids? Did she get remarried? "That's Jack and Ben upstairs. Hope you like the music Jack plays because he plays it. All. The. Time."

To my surprise, I laugh and set my suitcase by the stairs. "Yeah, I like Green Day,"

"I'll show you your room. It's right across from Jack's. Glad you like his music then," She smiles. She doesn't bother grabbing my hand, already knowing I'd rip it away and I follow her up the stairs. I cringe as soon as I realize this house was exactly as she left it eleven years ago apart from the guest rooms being taken. "Here it is!" She chirps.