The ghost of him

Chapter 10

Arguing with mom. A thing that's not usually on someone's daily routine, but it's always on mine. We can't go two days without yelling at each other or disagreeing about something. Today's topic: staying home by myself.

"You cannot stay at home." She says bluntly. "I'm sorry. I have conferences to go to, and you can't be here alone." She grabs her purse off the chair and swings it on her shoulder.

She was fine with me staying home alone before the shooting. Now all of a sudden she has a problem. Zack's dead, and it was a school shooting. It didn't happen here, and it's not like I'm going to off myself tonight.

I don't even know why I'm arguing with her. She's too stubborn and won't change her mind.

"Mom, please. I'll call you every hour to check in. Just let me stay." I whine like a little kid, folding my hands together. I just want one night alone, without mom yelling at me or telling me to do something. Just one night where I can watch whatever I want on TV, blast my music, and sing at the top of my lungs.

"You're going to your father's. End of discussion." She points her finger at me and then she drags me out to the car by my wrist.

I text dad to let him know I'm coming, but he doesn't answer. Maybe he's not home and mom will have to take me back to the house or bring me with her, but I know she doesn't want to do that.

***

Dad's car is parked in the street, right outside his house. Damn it. I was hoping he wouldn't be home so mom would be forced to take me or bring me back home.

"Good, he's here. I'm running late so hurry up and get out." As soon as I step on the concrete, mom drives away. Jeez. Didn't even wait to see if I got in.

I knock on the door and wait. It feels so weird being here during the week, at night. I'm not used to it. It's like being at school at night.

"Foods here!" I hear him yell from inside. Too bad I'm not the delivery person. I would be disappointed if I was waiting for food and it turns out to be someone else knocking at the door.

He opens the door and is very surprised to see me. He freezes up and stares at me for a few seconds, before stepping outside and closing the door. "Rose. What are you doing here?" It comes out as a squeaky whisper, which means he really wasn't expecting me.

"Mom had to go to a conference for work and refused to leave me home, so here I am." I hold my hands out and smile. An unexpected visit from his favorite person. He's so lucky.

"Uh...well..." he looks over me to the street, seeing if mom is still here.

"She already left. So you're stuck with me." I joke. I smile and nudge him in the side.

"Is the food here or not? I'm starving." A lady opens the door, sees me. She has long, dark, straight hair, and she's kind of short, but the high heels she has on make her taller. she's wearing ripped skinny jeans that look way too tight for her and a nice white blouse. I see her and we both freeze up at the same time, just like dad did.

"Dad. Who's this?" I say through clenched teeth. I'm trying not to lose sanity right now, keep it cool. But it's taking a lot.

He has a guilty look on his face. He sighs and then answers. "I should have told you sooner. This is my girlfriend, Mia." he looks at me, pleading with his eyes not to get mad. At least not yet.

Girlfriend? Since when? How did they meet? Does mom know? Questions swirl my mind and I'm getting light-headed. I was not expecting this tonight. Not for a while.