Two Breaths Too Late

chapter one~ Eriden

*Sorry for any spelling mistakes or errors*

Corey and I sat on the thick branches of the old oak tree; it's been here for thousands of years overlooking Eriden the town we live in. Our eyes stared at the same view we've been looking at for sixteen years; a small paddock of daises, surrounded by trees and mountains in the far distance.

Corey and I sat in silence breathing the fresh air that surrounded us, the silence started to get awkward so I decided to break it. "What did your dad say about summer camp?" Corey looked at me with sorry eyes, that's when I realised the answer.

"Staying with my grandparents" he ruffled his hair and stared at the ground, I nodded my head in reply worried my voice might crack if I spoke. I hated going to Summer camp but my dad still forced me to go, I'm sixteen now and I still have to stay at the cursed camp instead of hanging out with Corey at the beach or something, like a normal teen.

Corey pulled out his cigarette pack lighting the tip of the cigarette, I watched as he inhaled the poison. He knows I hate him smoking but he doesn't care, he never coughs when he smokes so maybe it's good for him. He told me it was an escape whenever he smokes it's because he's sad, he's always sad.

I knew Corey's relationship with his dad was troublesome, sometimes he'll come to school with bruises. One time he came to school with a broken ankle he said it broke when he was playing basketball. He hates sport.

"Wanna get some ice-cream?" Corey interrupted my thoughts; I smiled at him "that's your cigarette money" he shrugged "I'll get more" I nodded my head. We climbed down the oak tree and ran through the field of daises, through the forest until we reached Eriden. Sometimes we still acted like kids, getting ice-cream and betting on who can finish their ice-cream first. Once we reached Eriden's only ice-cream shop Corey turned to face me "Vanilla" he smirked "always".

We sat at the swing in the park slowly licking our ice-creams; I stared at Corey's messy black hair and black eyes, his ripped up skinny jeans and tight black top with stains on them, Corey and I where perfect for each other but neither of us wanted to admit it.

"I better get going" Corey said bitting the last of his cone I hated it when Corey had to go. "Hey, you only had one smoke" I giggled "that's because I wasn't sad" Corey and I stared at each other for a few seconds before he broke eye contact. He ruffled his hair and waved at me goodbye then he turned and walked away. I stood there like an idiot not a single word came out of my mouth I didn't even wave goodbye. I was speechless because nothing can really make Corey happy and knowing that I made his day a bit better was like an accomplishment.

I guess I should tell you my story; my name is Vera I'm sixteen years old and my mother left me when I was twelve leaving me with my dad which isn't a bad thing but sometimes you need your mum. Alcoholism runs in my dad's family and I guess I've caught the vial addiction because recently Ive been sneaking vodka under my bed and I can't stop. No one will suspect a thing because I make my own money at a pizza shop and Corey made me a fake I.D he thought it was so I can go into clubs, well he's wrong. It's so I can by vodka and drink till I collapse losing my mum was the hardest thing. But know I'm losing my self and it's only a matter of time before I lose my dad and maybe even Corey.

Every sip I take I think of what my dad would say the look of disappointment but that only makes me want to drink more and more. Once I got home I could smell my dad's cooking; looks like work has been good to him. "Hey dad" I walked into the kitchen "hello sweetie"

"Watcha cooking" I inhaled the smell of different flavours moulding together, " Chicken Parmesan" I lick my lips in delight it's been awhile since we've had a home cooked meal ever since my mum left dads just been burying himself into work hardly spending time with me I guess that's why it's easy to hide things.

Corey lives a few houses down the road but being the lazy girl I am I Just decided to text him.

"What's up?"

"Nothing much"

"Dads finally cooking"

"That's good"

Great he killed the conversation I hated it when he does this for once I want him to really talk to me. I know he's not 'good' and his dad is probably beating him, why can't he trust me. Just as I was about to give up on texting him my phone buzzed.

"She's gone"

"Who?"

"Mum"

Silence.

Let me know what you think so far <3