Things Change

Chapter 2:

Riley:

The final bell rang dismissing us from our last class of the day. I stay in my seat and gather my books placing them them into my bag. I stand up pulling the straps over my shoulders. "Have a nice day, Riley." Mr. Fassat says. I smile at him as I walk out of his classroom. I walk down the hall keeping my head down as people rushed around me in a hurry to leave. An arm wraps around my shoulder, I turn to see that it's Cody. "So, what's the word bird? Can you come with us?" He asked. I had completely spaced about asking my mom. I reach for my phone in my pocket when it starts to ring. Unknown. I could feel Cody looking at my phone so I slide the green button across the screen to answer. "Hello?" I answer. "Riley," I felt my heart skip a beat and I stopped walking. Cody looked at me unsure. "Brad?" I breath out. A low laugh comes on the other line. "I've been trying to get ahold of you since your accident." He announces. I shake my head biting my lip to keep from crying. "Why didn't you just call me earlier?" I ask my voice cracks."I have. You're mother-"

"My mom? You talked to my mom? When?" I asked cutting him off. "A few weeks ago. I called your cellphone but she answered. She told me if I called again she would call the cops." He explains. I feel my stomach start to churn. How dare she? I asked for him and she let me believe that he didn't care about me. I cried over him. "Riley? You still there?" He asked worried. I nod, sucking in a deep breath. "I've got to go." I said. "No wait-" But I hung up on him staring at my phone. Why now? Cody clears his throat and I completely forgotten about him. "You alright?" He asked. I clear my throat and force a fake smile as I nod. "Yeah, just surprised. I gotta go." I said walking around him. "Okay, see you tomorrow." He calls after me. I don't turn around, instead I was determined to get out of this school. My mother had explaining to do. I step outside and spot my moms car parked in the front of the pick up line. I waddle down the stairs and across the side walk to her red car. I got into Moms car sitting in the front seat taking a deep breath as I fasten my seat belt. "How was school?" She asked in a motherly way. I grimace at her cheeriness. "School is school no matter where we live." I snap. I see her grip tighten around the steering wheel from the corner of my eye but I keep my eyes locked out the window. She shakes her head and pulls out of the school parking lot heading home. I can feel her looking at me from time to time as we drive home. I bite my cheek to keep from snapping on her. We finally pull up to our house. I practically run inside ignoring my mother as she calls my name. I walk into my bedroom slamming my bedroom. "Riley! Get your butt down here, you have chores!" My mother yelled from the bottom of the stairs. I snort and lock my bedroom door pushing my desk against the door under the doorknob to keep her from coming in since she had the key. I toss my bag on the floor climbing into bed grabbing my laptop off the night stand. I open up the Internet googling the San Francisco county news paper. I type the date 6/27/14.

TWO HURT IN ACCIDENT:

Three people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle accident this morning in far west suburban San Fransisco, officials said. According to Chief Flanders of the San Fransisco Fire Protection District, ambulances were called to U.S. Suburban home between Douglas Road and Fifth Street about 9:31 a.m. for the accident. According to police, two vehicles were trying to merge at the intersection when they collided. The 18-year-old driver was injured and rushed to North San Fransisco hospital. The other 26-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with minor injures. Police say the crash is still under investigation.

I close my laptop screen laying on my side staring out the window. I must have drifted to sleep because I wake to find that it was dark outside. I get out of bed and push the computer chair away from my door stepping into the hallway. I could hear my mom and dad talking downstairs but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I take a step at a time as I go down the stairs hoping that they hear me. "I just don't want her up there by herself. Who knows what she's doing." My mom says skeptically. "She needs her own space." My father answered. I hear her scuff, "I just don't want her to repeat what happened in San Francisco." She said. "Couples fight. We fight. She just happened to have the wrong end of the stick." He excused. "She ended up in the hospital because of that boy!" She whisper yelled. "So that's a reason not to tell me that he's been calling me?" I asked stepping into the kitchen. They both turn to face me. "He what?" My dad asked. My mother shakes her head and wave him off. "I don't know what you're talking about." She looks at me narrowing her eyes. "He called me today." I state. Her eyes go wide, "What did you do?" He demanded. She doesn't break her gaze from me. "How could you, Mom?" I felt my throat thicken and my eyes water. I shake my head, "You knew. You knew I cried myself to sleep. You let me think that he didn't care. That my friends didn't care." I wipe my face. "Riley, I was doing this for you."

"Where you?" I asked. She stares at me and I shake my head walking to the front door. I pull my jacket on and grab the keys off the hook. "Where are you going?" My mom asked. "A drive." I say opening the front door. "What!? No!" She said in a panic. "Michael!" She yelled over my shoulder at my dad but I ignore them going to her car. "Let her go."