Being Deviant

Chapter 20 : Softy

I stepped onto the familiar pavement, slightly different from its former color-white. It was more of a grayish sort of hue now. I sniffed in the Californian air and only then I realized how much I've missed my old home. I ran inside the house and was about to greet my parents when I remembered where they've gone. They were dead. Right.

I laid myself down on carpeted floor as I stared up at the ceiling. The trip from Mississippi's house back to California has been tiring for me, all those miles. I haven't even had a drink of water or a bite of something to eat.

I needed to pee.

I got up and walked over to the bathroom. Same as usual, the white sink, the navy blue toilet. I did my business and washed my hands. It amazed me how this house still had water. Also electricity now that you mention it.

I stepped out.

This place was actually strangely different. It looked the same yet different at the same time.

I stared at everything here then I felt that bitterly sweet feeling. The tears. All the memories of this place were coming back to me. This was my home. It was a broken home. It was the best home anyone could be in. We may not have been the perfect family but we still loved each other all the same. I missed them so much.

I knelt down on the floor and I watched as each tear dropped down below me. Drop drop drop.

"I'm home!"

Who the fuck would arrive at my house at 5 in the morning?

It was all vulnerability. That's what I was feeling right then. Also, who in the world would say "I'm home", besides my parents, in my home?

Then again, that oh-so-familiar voice was getting close. I needed to compose myself before whoever was there would see me. I stood on my feet and turned, trying to will myself to just leave.

Too late.

"Calvin?" I froze at the person's words. More and more familiarity.

"Yes?"

"You-" I could hear the shock and fear in her voice. "You're alive?"

"What are you doing in my home?"

"This isn't your home anymore, Calvin." I felt a lump grow in my throat as I heard her words.

"What are you talking about? This is my home. 22 Maple drive of the state of California."

"The government auctioned this house off. It was mortgaged. Your parents were claimed deceased a few weeks ago and you were claimed missing too. W-where have you been?"

"Iris, we're not talking about my cool trip to the different states of America right now. Besides, this isn't something I'd be talking about to one of the people who've tortured me majority of my life."

"Calvin, ever since you left, I realized how much I actually liked you. I was jealous of you. Your happy family. That was only why I kept saying those things to you. It was the only reason I did those things to you. I missed you, Calvin and I'm sorry."

Hearing the biggest bully of your life saying those words to you was quite satisfying if you asked me. Even in this situation.

Iris Evans. My schoolmate since kindergarten, bully of my life. Sure, it seems weak to have your number one bully be a girl but she really knew how to do it. She convinced the whole school that I was absolutely worthless. She told the jocks to start using me as a human punching bag. She told the rest to laugh at me as they did so. No one questioned it. They didn't feel the need to.