Saving The Loner

Chapter Two

"What took you so long? Mom asks. I've been waiting here for about half an hour now," she complains as she puts away a large magazine she was paging through.

"Sorry, I couldn't find the parking lot. Remember it's my first day; I still need to find my way around this school," I humble myself empathizing with her tired looking face.

Okay, you would probably think that I'm dumb but to my defence, Austin the mischievous looking boy i ran into admitted to still getting lost after a long while of schooling here. Quite fankly he was just sweet talking me, paving his way to ask for my number.
Bad boy tendencies! How do you just meet a girl and ask for her number immediately. It beats me no matter how self-assured you are, it's really  pathetic; "Up your game," I had teased him. However thanks to him I got to the parking lot.

Mom's brown eyes are puffy, skin is awfully dry and her facial imperfections show such that even her make up can't cover it up.

"You look exhausted, had a hectic day at work?" I ask.

"You have no idea. Hectic isn't close enough to describing it,"she says. "Good heavens that pushy...," her voice wails and there after catches a deep breath. As though she was about to unconsciously say something harsh in front of a two year old, scared she would imitate her probably in front of honored guests and be quickly judged as a bad mom.

"Mrs. Outlook took an emergency leave, she rephrases . So I will be holding fort for the next coming weeks. Acting as the chief executive officer including my initial position as chief operating officer, she pronounces with pride, is no child's play. I mean that's too much to handle but I'll manage anyway," concluding with a determined posture, she ties her long silky hair into a ponytail and we drive off.

Ever since we settled here all mother does is work, work and work. She is like a freaking robot always burying her with loads of paperwork. It occurs to me that she is doing her absolute best to conceal her devastation from their drastic divorce with dad.

Oh wait, let me take you through memory lane.

I can't tell exactly when it started but mom and dad would constantly have massive fights. Where I would try to block their raging voices by playing music on my iPod in full blast just so I don't hear them. Mom would cry herself to sleep whilst my jerk of a dad would leave to lord knows where. Weeks, months and years went by as I hopeful watched my parents try to save their marriage. They went for romantic dinners every Saturday night, counseling sessions where it was suggested they take breaks from one another now and then.

In short they did anything possible to awaken their sheer dead marriage. But no powerful magic would possibly bring the high school sweetheart's spark back, such that divorce was their only option.

Now I got to admit a grudging admiration; a terrifying heartbreak hasn't stopped her from being the best mom one could ever ask for. Neither would she let her emotions jeopardize her raising career. In contrast preoccupying her mind will definitely not heal the wounds. I'm as naive as a new born baby regarding heartbreak from romantic relationships, but from the little I know pain demands to be felt and there after dealt with.

As though she was listening to my thoughts "Your dad has been calling all day asking to talk to you," she grumbles irritably.

"Why won't he just call on my phone? I ask. He probably called though, my phone has been on silent all day," I said whilst checking for missed calls only to find none.

"I don't know really..," mom says.

"Maybe he just wanted to talk to you, I suggest. I mean you don't talk often nowadays right?" Realizing I'm giving an unintended impression that her and dad could still make up, I apologetically emphasize just maybe without letting her answer first.

"Your dad wouldn't just want to talk to me," she convinces me or probably herself.

Humoring at what I had just said she goes on...."Call him when we get home and enlighten him about your day," she orders.

Finally arriving home, just before I set off to slump against the cushions on my bed, the telephone sounds from the lounge "I'll get it!" I shout out to mom and rush to pick up.

"Hello" my raspy voice sounds and I clear my throat a couple of times.

"Hi my angel" dad's deep voice responds.

"Oh hey dad, why won't you just call on my phone?" I question. 

"Well I have tried but you won't answer," he says a bit louder competing with noises from the background.

"There is too much noise in the background. Are you at the bar?" I ask with concern. See dad isn't exactly dealing with the divorce well enough too. While mom appears to be coping, dad has turned to bottles for comfort. 24 hours in a day 24 beers in a case... you can relate?

"Don't worry honey, he avoided. How was your first day at school?" he says with traces of guilt in his voice.

"Ah dads please don't drink excessively." I try not to come off as a preachy mother pleading with his wayward son to stop ruining his own life. I wouldn't want to be disrespectful and tell him how to go about things. But truly he gives me the stress. I'm worried sick about him.

"School was a lot better than I expected,"I end up saying.

''Oh how so?" He curiously asks.

"Yeah people were a lot nicer than I anticipated," to my surprise handsome, tall charming Piet unexpectedly appears in my mind. At this same instant moment my impulsive heart beats fast, anxiety rushes over me yet it still feels incredibly good.

Unknowingly biting my lower lip "He was really nice," I disclose softly, not audible enough. But dad still got it.

"Made friends already?" he says followed by surprised silence.

Trying to regain my thoughts I assure myself "No I think it's too soon to make friends. Don't you think?"

"I don't know my angel... Look I'm sure you'll know who your right friends are. I'm in total support that you make friends this year. Life with friends is a whole lot fun, trust me", he responds.

"No doubt, I will do that," I promised myself.

"Ok my angel, take good care of yourself," his drunken voice says before hanging up.

Sure just like you are, I remark sarcastically.

I ought to make a change this year. I think to myself. Dad is right despite his state of mind at the moment. Honestly I'm not too much of a people's person. It's nothing personal really, its just that I enjoy my own space; actually I prefer calling it being independent. Never the less it gets a little boring at times. That is why making friends is the ultimate number one in may bucket list this year.

I think it would be cool to make friends here before going off to college. Where apparently you won't  have time to socialise. On an average; you can't even chit chat with your buddies.

So they say.

Shall we make a new rule for me from tonight: Be approachable, never suck at socializing?

But then I again I wonder if Tiffany and Evelyn are fit to be my BFF's.