Shae

Chapter 14

This was way better than the last time. I was actually into it this time. He was adorable, but this made him so attractive. Maybe he liked me more than I thought.
'Shut up' I told myself. 'Enjoy the moment.'
That I did.
When we broke apart, he pulled me back in but Beau walked in. What was with her and walking in on private moments!!?
"Wow you really get around, huh?" I glared at her. "What?" She put her hands up defensively, feigning total innocence. "I'm just getting my missing crap from your room!" She reached directly over Toad and I to get into my pantry. She took out an entire box of fruit snacks.
That's my food. Nobody takes my food. I snatched the box back like lightning. I felt myself begin to simmer. I just looked at her, cradling my food like she had just tried to steal my firstborn. Toad was stifling laughs with all he could muster.
Beau didn't even try. She gave a single, evil belly laugh and grabbed a box of macaroni. She left before I could get that too. I was fuming. It wasn't just the food. The food was fine. It's that she took it with the intent of killing my insides.
I stood up, but Toad forced me back onto the floor. He tried to start bak where we left off but I shrugged him away. The moment was ruined.
That was my last box of macaroni, too.. I couldn't buy more because everything I had needed to go to helping mom and dad pay for the necessities dad lost us.
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Toad left me to be numb in my room. I'm guessing he went home, where his mother would fawn over him like he was diagnosed with bone cancer.
My dad entered my bedroom hesitantly. I decided this was a good a time as any to just forgive the man. I leapt to my feet and threw myself into his arms. I buried my face in his T-shirt, and started sobbing. I let it all out. I needed this. I felt bad making him listen to my sorrow, though. He hugged me and I swear I felt his shoulders shaking too.
When I stepped away, I slurped up the little bit of slobber that had escaped the corner of my mouth and I wiped off dad's shirt the best I could. The gray shirt showed every spot where it was wet from my tears.
It was a lot of wet.
He and I just looked at each other for a while. I was grateful he didn't try to explain himself, but at the same time I just wanted to know why. Not now, I thought. Some other time. Right now he was my daddy.

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I sat around the house for a while playing dvd's on my laptop.

Dad was going to court the next day, I think mom convinced the man to come clean. We knew they would sue, and we were hoping for a settlement, but even if they didn't settle we'd need money to pay for the lawsuits, and we were trying to save as much as we could.

I decided to go to Toad's house to shower and charge my electronics. Mom and Dad let me keep my phone service, thank goodness, but I think they were just scared I'd run away again, and they needed some way to contact me.

I sent them texts whenever I left the house, so they wouldn't go into a frenzy, but I was rarely home.

I watched the three stooges talk about their "donut remova" before closing my laptop lid and walking to my pantry. I pulled out a bag of popcorn, popped it into the microwave, and watched it spin through the window until it was done.

I called Beau, then, she was at the lake with a book and hanging with Stacy no doubt. My popcorn crunched into the speaker as I waited for her to pick up.

When she did, she sounded annoyed, but the annoyance was the kind you'd use when you wanted to pretend you were still mad.

"What?" She said.
I heard Stacy calling at some passing guys, and realized I was on speaker.

"Hi Stacy!" I called.

She giggled. "Hi!" Beau scoffed, turning speaker off.

"When are you coming home?" I asked.

"In your dreams" she replied nastily.

I paused. "Beau.. I just wanted to watch a movie with you and apologize.."

Silence. Then, "What makes you think I'd forgive you so easily?"

"Because I love you. And you hide it, but you love me. I'm sorry I kissed your crush, and I'm sorry I don't tell you what's making me upset, while still subjecting you to it. Please come home. I have to admit I'm getting a little jealous of you and Stacy hanging out so often."

"......I'll be home in ten." *click*

I spent those ten minutes making an awesome fort for our movie watching pleasures.