Rebel: Michael Clifford

Chapter 6

Michael was generous enough to give me a ride back to my house, not that he had much of a choice seeing as I have no other form of transportation.

And even as I'm sitting here, in his generosity, I can't help but feel that I should've never brought him into this mess in the first place, because as we get closer to my house the feeling that something bad is about to happen keeps growing. I know that if I had never brought him home in the first place everything would be normal. Sure me and my dad would still fight, we always have, but it wouldn't be anywhere near as bad as it is right now.

And maybe I do deserve what's coming, after all I'm the one who ruined everything, but that doesn't mean that I have to be happy about it.

My fears are confirmed when we turn onto my street.

"Is that your stuff?" Michael asks, pointing at the small pile of my things laying in the yard.

"Yeah," I say, holding back more tears. "my dad is kicking me out." I always thought that if I'd been kicked out I would feel happy. I don't have the guts to just run away so being kicked out would be just the same. But now I'm scared out if my mind.

"Hey, it's gonna be alright." Michael tries to assure me.

"Yeah." I say, wanting to believe him. I get out if the car, pull my shoulders back, tilt my chin up and walk towards the house. I'm not going to show him I'm afraid, that's what he wants.

Before I can even reach the door it swings open, luckily my mother is behind it. instead of a warm embrace and kind words like you would expect from your mother she throws my car keys at me and says "you better be gone before your father gets back."

"How long do I have?" I question.

She shrugs before closing the door in my face. Great, even the person who is supposed to love me most has turned her back on me.

I did the only thing I could, I started packing my things into my car. Michael came and helped me, which I was thankful for.

"So what are you going to do?" he asks as we finish with the last few items, thank goodness I don't have a lot.

"I guess I'm gonna see if I can crash at Jenna's for a while, at least until I'm able to get a job and buy my own place."

"Are you going to drop out of school?" he asks.

I am uncertain of the answer to his question so instead I say. "why all these questions?"

"I guess I'm just worried." he says, suddenly very interested in his shoes.

"Worried about what?"

"You," he admits. "I don't want you to give up your future because of this."

"I'm not giving up my future." I assure him. "It's just going to take a lot more time and work to get there."

"Just remember that there's nothing wrong with asking for help." he reminds me.

"That's easier said than done." I remind him before I get in my car.

I wait until he's gone to call Jenna. "hey, what's up?" she answers.

"I may or may not have gotten kicked out of my house." I explain. "would it maybe be okay if I crashed at yours for a while."

"Ugh you're such a trouble maker." she jokes, then adds. "I have to check with my mom but I'm pretty sure she'd be okay with it." I wait a moment while she talks to her mom, when she returns she says. "moms okay with it, are you coming over now?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in five minutes."

"Okay, see you then."

"See you then." I reply sadly, backing out of the driveway and forever leaving the house I used to call my home.

It's a weird feeling, knowing you're never going back to a place you've known you're whole life. I suppose it's a similar feeling one gets when they leave for college, but most if those kids will be welcome home at any time. I, on the other hand, am never going to be welcome.

I know I should be happy, and in some ways I am, but my parents are still my parents and I still love them, no matter how many times they've hurt me, both mentally and physically.