One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Shelly

I had gotten done taking a shower when I heard my parents' voices rising. I gulped but ignored it. They had done this more. It scared me. My parents had always been in love. They'd been mushy-gushy and couldn't argue past a day. 

But since this pandemic hit, they'd been arguing almost every other day. They thought I didn't know but I could hear the soft yelling. I could hear the stomps and the car leaving. I could tell it was Dad because Mom sat in bed, crying, and I had to pretend like I didn't know. The worst would happen if I jumped in. And I didn't know if I was ready to hit worse. 

I shook off the sad thoughts and brought back up how Tanner and I were doing something together. I had made a new friend. Tanner was unexpected but he was nice company conveniently placed behind my house.

Thinking of friends, I checked my phone to see no one had checked up on me. Frowning, I turned my T.V. on. I put on soft music and locked my door. I found my stash and opened my window. Listening for my parents—and hearing silence—I grabbed my lighter and lit the end of it.

Taking one huff, I felt the usual light burn in my chest. I was used to it and nothing felt better. I smiled as I realized that I would later be high off my rocker. I let out a laugh before taking another hit.

"Shelly?"

"Shit," I mouthed as I stubbed out my joint and threw it out my window through a tiny hole in the screen.

I'd have to get that later.

"Huh?"

"Why is your door locked?"

"I-"

"Huh?"

"I was doing something, Mom! I needed some alone time."

I grimaced. Out of everything, why did I think of that? Shaking my head and thinking of how mortified all of us were, I heard whispering on the opposite side of the door. I leaned my head against the door in utter humiliation that I had said that.

"Oh, okay."

"I-"

"Don't let us bother you longer," my mom said before I heard their door close.

Walking over to my window, I looked to see the damage. It didn't look bad but hopefully, I could still use it. One of my friends, Sam, had given me a small stash in case my parents got too much. I had been smoking since I was thirteen and drinking since I was fifteen and only ever at sleepovers with my friends. It wasn't an addiction, not yet, but it was enough that I knew the taste of most of the liquor we could get our hands on.

Okay, so maybe I was a half-addict.

Being interrupted, I didn't even want to get high anymore. My lip hung up on one side as I put everything back. Turning my fan on and jumping in bed, I changed the music to put on Netflix. I had basically watched almost all the things I had. I figured there was no reason to try something new.

I looked at the anime and found a few I had really liked. I figured a few episodes wouldn't hurt. That was until my eyes were dry and I only had three hours to sleep until school started.

****

A/N:

This chapter was really a filler chapter but it details a very important point for later in the story. Hope you guys are enjoying it so far! 

Also, editing this story has made me realize, COVID me had no idea where this story was going. So glad I'm coming back and reorganizing and solidifying the storyline.