Before I Go

Chapter 2

Past

     "How are you going to pay the bills!" I heard my mom shout from downstairs. "You spend all your fucking money on booze!"

     "Shut up!" my dad shouted back. "Just shut up!"

     I peeled my eyes open and sighed lightly, feeling exhausted. Looking to the clock, I saw that it was ten in the morning, but I was still drained because I went to bed at four. I always struggled to sleep, which meant I was permanently exhausted.

     "I would shut up if you got your life together!" my mom screamed.

     "I shouldn't have married you!" my dad shouted back. "You ruined my life. I drink because of you and our stupid daughter!"

     Plugging my ears, I groaned. I was used to waking up to my parents fighting, but it still made me uncomfortable. Even though I was fifteen, I still couldn't stand to hear my parents scream at each other.

     Grabbing my phone, my eyes flew wide when I saw that I got a text from Shane. Reading it, I smile because it told me to look out my window.

     Sitting up and ignoring my parents argument, I looked out the window and laughed when I saw Shane already standing there. He was shirtless, his hair messy and wild because he had recently woken up, too. There was a huge smile on his face and for as second, I forgot about all my problems.

     Calling him on my phone, I smiled when he picked up and said, "Good morning, Mia."

     "Good morning," I said, smiling. "What brings you to your window on this fine, summer day."

     "You. Always you."

     I laughed lightly and rolled my eyes at him, and he grinned goofily. And as I stared at him for a moment, I took in how different Shane looked. In the last few years, Shane had transformed from the nerdy, lanky boy who couldn't fend for himself. He now had muscles on his tall body, his face more chiseled than I remembered. And with his blue eyes on me, I felt my heart pound. It was a strange feeling that I pushed away.

      "Do you want to go out for breakfast?" Shane asked, his eyes on me as well.

      "I'd love to," I said, snapping out of my daze. "Let's go."

     Shane and I hung up and we got ready. And the entire time, I thought about the boy I'd spent the last ten years being best friends with.

*****

      Shane and I were sitting across from each other in a busy restaurant that served breakfast food. Our table was by the window, surrounded by other tables filled with couples. The both of us were digging into our pancakes, laughing about our childhoods together. Shane and I had always been neighbours, which meant most of our memories were shared.

      "Remember that time we built a treehouse in the forest," I said, smiling at the thought. "Your dad helped and it was pretty nice. I mean it's literally just a large, wooden box, but it's the thought that counts."

      "Oh yeah," Shane said, smiling as well. "I wonder if it's still there."

     "Me too."

     I stabbed my fork into a piece of pancake and ate it. Shane was staring at me, his blue eyes full of emotions as he watched me.

     "I can't believe you used to fight my bullies for me," Shane said, shaking his head. "You're like five feet and you had to protect me."

     "Hey! I'm five foot one," I said, glaring at him. "And you're welcome for having your back. But... looking at you now, I doubt you would need my help anymore."