Dream Station

Chapter 1

    "Fine!"

    "FINE!"

    My face burned with anger. I kicked the chair in front of me like a kindergartener and marched strait upstairs to my room.

    "Go to your room and stay there! You're grounded for a week!" I heard my mom call after me.

    "I'M ALREADY IN MY ROOM!" I shouted and slammed the door behind me.

    My hand grabbed the nearest pillow and I screamed into it with all my might. I just wanted to suffocate and die-right there on the spot. Unfortunately, I knew my birthday was the next day, and there was no way I was missing it.

    Slowly, the burning subsided, and I melted onto my bed like a puddle. I couldn't think of anything better to do, so I slipped my "soon-to-be-taken-away" cell phone out of my pocket. Without thinking I dialed one of my best friend's cell phone numbers.

    "Beep...beep..." Click!

    "*yawn* -Hey Riley, what'up?" her familiar voice chimed in my ears.

    I responded,"I just needed someone to talk to. Sorry if I woke you up."

    "You didn't wake me! I was just-resting my eyes! You know...until tomorrow!"

    "Ha ha Crystal," I said sarcastically,"but this is serious. I-I had another argument."

    "NO! Not another one! Not now!" she went silent for a moment. "Well, maybe you'll get let off easy! I mean, if it was with-"

    "Crystal!' I cut in,"...it was with Mom."

    "Aw, CRAP! No! Not with your mom!" she wailed as if it had happened to her. "Not right before your birthday!"

    Tears welled up in my eyes.

    "Yeah, I know," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "But, she has to make an exception right?"

    "I hope so! I've really been looking forward to this sleepover,and giving your present to you at school just wouldn't be the same."

    We were silent for a while; thinking about what to do. Canceling the sleepover at my house the next day would be a nightmare. My two best friends were the only ones coming, and it would suck to have to make them stay home. All because of a stupid argument that got me grounded.

    "Crystal...why don't you go back to bed? I'll tell you tomorrow if the party's still on-okay?"

    "*yawn*-Okay! But do NOT forget to tell me what happens between you and your...DEVIL MOTHER!"

    I heard a *Click!*-and Crystal's reassuring voice disappeared.

    My mind wandered; until I finally realized how late it was, so I slipped out of bed to put on some pajamas.

    When I got back to bed I pulled my favorite, soft blanket over me and thought about the argument with my mom. We fought about completely random and pointless things sometimes, but this time it had been about divorce.

    Lately, I had been hearing loud fights between Mom and Dad downstairs, so I decided to simply ask what they were about. Mom said that I didn't need to know because it was a FAMILY matter. I snapped back that I was PRETTY DARN SURE I was part of the family. She said I didn't need to know certain things...and the argument took off from there.

    Trying not to think about it, I thought about all the fun I would have the next day.

    My best friends, Sierra and Crystal, would be at school. We would have a free day in gym class, so the three of us would probably play Four Square; like always. Then at lunch we would sit together and talk about old times. At the end of the day we would say goodbye and tell each other how excited we were about the sleepover(that is, if there WAS a sleepover).

    "Tomorrow will be better," I told myself. "But, first I just have to get through the night."

    I prayed that I wouldn't have any nightmares to make the night worse.