When we finally get down from the roof my mom is waiting for me, hands on her hips and tapping her foot. We walk back to the car in silence until she utters
"So your friend was cute".
I look at her "Sure I guess if you like that tall dark and handsome thing".
I look down at the number that Noah put in my phone.
"Do you like the classes you got" she asks craning her neck to look at my phone.
"Yeah I want to see if I can get out of Gym though" I say.
My mom sighs "Addie your ACL is fine now and so is your Achilles the surgery fixed that" she says.
"You don't know that Mom" I say glaring at her.
"Addie you cannot walk around scared for the rest of your life. You used to practice volleyball everyday. You used to talk to colleges on the phone everyday now you sit around and watch TV and eating Oreos" she says her voice cracking.
"I'm done talking about this" I say.
"You always say that Addison and if you don't then the pain will just get worse. I'm not just talking about your knee and your ankle" she says.
I sit there in silence until we get home. She doesn't say a word to me, just shuts off the car and gets out walking into the house. I follow her up there and I unlock the door and go inside.
"You had a gift" she yells I hear her voice crack.
I turn around sharply "I have done everything I can to forget that day. All of that therapy going to that shrink".
I pull up my pant leg revealing a jagged scar down the back of my leg and on my knee.
"This will never go away, It is a constant reminder of that day and what happened to me. You are not the one who has to live with it, I am. Therefore it is my choice" I yell.
I run upstairs and slam my door flopping down on my bed and pulling my knees to my chest sobs racking my body. I look for my keys through watery eyes. I grab them off my dresser and walk downstairs past my mom and dad who are sitting at our kitchen table. I get in my car and speed away driving into town and going into the bar. I take a seat and the bartender looks at me.
"Vodka please" I say.
"ID" he says.
I pull out my fake one and he pours me a shot.
I down it and order another until I am 5 shots into a bottle. The effects of the vodka are starting to set in, my vision cloudy and my problems slowly fading. I look up at the TV and see the 11 o'clock news. "You have a ride miss" the bartender asks.
I shake my head no and he goes back into the back room. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Noah.
"Come on Addison, I'm taking you home" he says.
"How did you know where I am" I slur.
"Joe called me" he says motioning to the bartender.
"Thanks a lot" I slur at him, I feel my butt leave the chair and I am in Noah's arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and lay my head on his shoulder.
"My car" I mumble.
"We'll get it tomorrow" he says. He sets me in the passenger side of his truck and I curl up in the large bench.
Noah gets in and starts the car.
"I can't go home they kill me" I murmur to him.
"I'm not taking you home Addison, my parents are out of town, you can stay with me" he says.
"Thank you" I say passing out in the front seat of his car.
I wake up on a couch, Noah is is a closet getting out blankets.
"Pajamas" I say.
He walks upstairs and comes back down with a large t-shirt and sweats. I walk into the bathroom and pull on just the shirt walking back out and laying down on the couch. He puts the blankets on top of me and goes to walk away.
"Noah" I mumble. He turns around and walks over to me. I motion for him to come closer and he leans down. I kiss him on the cheek and he leans back up as I drift off into a deep vodka filled sleep.
