The Train To Nowhere

chapter 18 - family

When I got home that evening, all I wanted to do was go up to my room and stay in bed the rest of the night. But because I had come in at the time I had, Mum had nearly finished with the dinner; I could smell bolognaise.

"How was school?" Mum asked me as I sat down at the kitchen table while she drained the pasta. "You were out ages! Practising with Noah I guess? The match is soon, isn't it?"

I was sort of zoning out, so when her question finally registered with me, my response was delayed. "Er- yeah," I muttered, "Yeah we were just practising."

"You're working hard. I'm so proud of my boy." She stroked my head once slowly, and I offered her a cringey smile. "I'm really sorry I can't come, Abel. But Tom needs my help on Thursday afternoon with the sales, and I can't let him down."

"It's fine Mum. I've told you. I'm fine."

I started walking out of the kitchen but she halted me just before the doorway.

"What is?... Abel! Why is there a cut across your cheek?" I lifted my hand to my face to feel the area where Ben had slapped me. Twice in the same spot now I remembered, and so hard his arm had swung back when he'd done it. It felt sore and stingy when I touched it. The blood had clearly clotted but the wound hadn't had enough time to close yet. I made a silent 'o' which quickly changed to a quick and anxious lie.

"I-I- it's nothing Mum, really. I am fine. I just-"

"Did you get into another fight again?" her tone was disapproving but also concerned, "Was it with Ben? That bastard..."

"No, Mum! It wasn't Ben! It was just Noah. He passed the basketball a bit too hard and it smacked my face. It's fine now though. He said sorry and I-"

"You still need a plaster, Abel."

"Mum, how many times? I'm not a baby, for God's sakes!"

"It might bleed again. This will help it scab up faster. Trust me, Abel. Just wear it overnight."

I stood reluctantly as she pulled a flesh-coloured plaster out from the draw in the kitchen with all the medication and prescriptions and things. She stuck it over my cut which stung when she did, but then stopped shortly after. I sighed and went up to my room to try and finish my essay before supper.

'Freud's theories rose to popularity during the late nineteenth century as neurological science advanced. Much of his research and theories on the human brain during the 1890s were taken as scientific fact by many. Furthermore, this...' But I couldn't get much further with the racket spilling out from Zara's room. I dropped my pen and jumped up from my desk irritably, opening my door and storming out into the hall. The bolognaise smell was now overpowering through the whole house, wafting through my nostrils and making my stomach groan. All the swimming and basketball practise had given me a ravenous appetite. But for now I ignored it and pushed open Zara's door without knocking.

She was blasting Billie Eilish through her AUX speakers; the booming bass of bad guy reverberating across the walls. As soon as my eyes landed on her, I saw her dancing in front of her mirror, wearing a cropped, khaki-coloured puffer jacket and some ripped jeans that she'd bought for herself with her birthday money a month ago. She loved doing shopping sprees with her friends at H&M and Topshop whenever they were free to go out. When she saw me in the reflection, she yelped and ran over to the door to close it in my face.

"Aah! Abel, get out of here! Don't you ever knock?!" she shouted, blushing as she slammed the door and I shouted at her through it over the noise.