Chapter 13

                I arrived at Clarice’s house early a few mornings later, upon her requests. I walked up the front steps, ringing the doorbell that had a nice tune to it. I waited, staring at the maroon red door. I remember it used to be a creamy white back when Clarice and I were in middle school, but I guess a lot changes in two years.

               The door swung open, revealing Clarice’s father. He seemed to recognize me immediately, but it took me a while to process in his newly, aged look. He used to have a full head of golden blonde hair, but most of it has disappeared, leaving a noticeable bald spot in the middle. “Mr. Adams, good morning.” I forced a smile.

                Mr. Adams still seemed a bit shocked, but he settled down his morning newspaper, giving me a pat on the back. “Aerial Mason, it’s good to see you after so long.” He smiled down at me.

                I laughed briefly. “You too, Mr. Adams.”

                He cupped his hands around his mouth, calling for his wife, Carrie. “Carrie, come over here! There’s someone you’d love to see!”

                A few moments later, Mrs. Adams came from the kitchen, carrying a sweet scent of pancakes with her. She had a pink and white checked apron tied around her neck, and a bit of white flour on the side of her cheek. She was still as cheery and bubbly as the last time I saw her, two years ago. “Oh, my.” She covered her mouth. “Aerial Mason? Is that really you?”

                Man, this felt like a reunion party already.

                “Hi, Ms. Adams.” I waved gently.

                Ms. Adams gasped, pulling me in for a tight squeeze. “It really is you!” she beamed. “I never thought I’d ever see your face in this house ever again!”

                I smiled awkwardly, as Ms. Adams fumbled with my hair. “Jesus, you’ve grown up so beautiful!” she gushed, holding my arm in her hands. “Have you been eating, though? You’ve lost so much weight! Here, I just made some pancakes in the kitchen!”

                I laughed, shaking my head. “No thanks, Ms. Adams. I’m actually here because Clarice called me this morning.”

                Ms. Adams’ eyes widened. “Oh, really?” she grinned. “You and my little pumpkin are friends again?”

                I laughed bitterly, shrugging. “I guess so.”

                “Well she’s just upstairs in her room. You still remember the directions, do you?” she asked.

                I nodded, giving her a smile. “First door to the left.”

                She winked. “You got it.”

                I walked up the stairs, knocking the white bedroom door. “Clarice? I’m here.” I said, as I pushed open the door.

                I found Clarice applying some hot pink lip gloss in front of her vanity, which was overloaded with different makeup products. “Oh, hey.” She said, keeping her lips pouted.

                “Your room’s certainly gotten a lot,” I paused, taking in all the pink that was covering her room from the ceiling to the floor, “pinker, huh?”

                Clarice shrugged, giving me a weak smile. “Well, Aubrey and Kelsey helped me redecorate my room after I joined the cheerleading team.”

                I nodded, taking a seat on her bed that was overflowed with pink throw pillows. How do you sleep with so much crap on your bed? “You like it like this?” I asked, eyeing a deadly, neon pink feathered pillow.

                Clarice bit her lower lip, shrugging. “Not really, but I got used to it.”

                I sighed. “So, what did you call me here so early for on a Saturday morning?”

                Clarice turned to me with a nervous smile on her face. “I called you here today for moral support.”

                I frowned, getting curious and slightly worried. “What are you talking about?”

                Clarice took in a deep breath, slowly releasing it out. “I’m going to tell my parents that I’m pregnant. I want you to be there with me.”

                “Really?” I asked, surprised.

                She nodded, giving me a hopeful look. “So, will you be there for me?”

                I smiled. “Always.”

*

                “You’re what?!” Clarice’s father asked dangerously low.

                We sat at the Adams’ dinner table, where Clarice and I sat across from her parents.

                The look on Mr. Adams’ face was scary mad. His face turned bright red, and his hazel eyes that Clarice inherited where dark with rage. Mrs. Adams, on the other hand, looked as if she were about to pass out. Her face had turned pale the moment Clarice said she was knocked up.

                “I-I’m pregnant.” Clarice said again, making Mrs. Adams wince.

                Mr. Adams slammed his fists against the dinner table, making the salt and pepper shakers clatter at the end of the table. “Unbelievable.” Mr. Adams hissed under his breath, shaking his head back and forth quickly. “How long have you been pregnant?” he asked, spitting out the last word as if it were some foul language.

                Clarice legs were shaking under the table, as she bit her lower lip nervously. “A little over a month now.” She admitted, making her mother gasp.

                Mr. Adams’ eyes widened, as his ears turned red from fuming. “Clarice Jane Adams,” he paused, staring at his daughter like a complete stranger, “you waited a full month before you told us?”

                Clarice’s eyes leaked with tears, as I patted her arm reassuringly. “She was scared, Mr. Adams.” I told her parents gently, hoping to lift away some of the tension.

                Mr. and Mrs. Adams’ eyes snapped towards me, as if they’ve noticed me sitting at the table for the first time since Clarice has spoken.

                “Aerial,” Mrs. Adams gasped, “you knew all along?”

                I shifted my bottom on the chair uncomfortably, nodding uneasily. “It’s kind of the reason why Clarice and I are talking again.”

                Mr. Adams looked completely insensitive, as he licked his lips, running a hand through his bald head. “Aerial knew before we did?” he asked, looking at Clarice’s face for answers. When she didn’t reply, Mr. Adams shook his head, getting up from his chair. It scraped backward, creating an echoing screeching noise that would make someone’s ear bleed.

                We all watched as Mr. Adams disappeared through the front doors, and listened as his car drove away.

                There was so much silence, that it was killing me. I watched as Clarice’s eyes lingered onto her fingers, not daring to look at her broken mother, whose cheeks were tearstained.

                “Who’s the father of the baby?” her mother asked, not looking at her own daughter. “Is it that rude boy you brought home a few weeks ago?”

                Clarice’s breathing sharply hitched, as she licked her lips. “Yes.” She croaked.

                Clarice’s mother pushed herself up, off the chair, as she began to exit the kitchen. “You are not my daughter anymore.” Mrs. Adams’ voice cracked, making me close my eyes. “My daughter would never make such a stupid decision.”

*

                I came back to Alex’s house a little later than midnight. Part of the reason why I stayed out for so long was because Clarice became a mess, and was sobbing in her room the entire night. She finally fell asleep while we were watching our fourth movie that night. The other reason why was because I didn’t want to face Alex. I hadn’t spoken to him since that night, and I’ve been doing a pretty darn good job of avoiding him. Hayden even told me that Alex asked him to check up on me, which only made me snort and turn the other shoulder.

                “I thought you were never going to come back.” A voice startled me, as I locked the front door after opening it. I jumped, letting the keys slip out of my hands. I dropped to the ground, trying to find the keys in the dark.

                Suddenly, the lights flickered on, as I snatched the keys from the floor. Hovering over me was Alex, who looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.

                Sure, I lived in his house for now, but I’ve barely spared him a glance this entire week. This was the first good look I’ve gotten of him since that night.

                “I was just out a little later than expected.” I mumbled, pushing past his shoulder.

                Alex grumbled from behind. “When are you going to stop ignoring me?”

                “I’ll stop when I want to!” I snapped, glaring at him.

                “You’re living under my roof, and you’ll talk to me when I want you to!” he shouted, making my clench my fists by my sides.

                Did he really think he could control me just because I lived in his house? “I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to.” I hissed, turning my back on him, as I began to walk up the staircases.

                “If you’re living here, then you will.” He spat, making me stop in my tracks.

                I closed my eyes tightly, as my hands trembled by my sides. “Then I’ll leave.” I said, staring him right in the eye. Alex’s eyes widened with surprise, as he stared at me with a blank expression, like expected. “I’ll leave by tomorrow morning, and that’s a promise.” I told him, trying to sound strong, but my voice just cracked at the end, giving off my weakness.

                It took Alex a while to regain composure, but he finally stood up straighter, crossing his arms. “Fine.” He tried to smirk, but it came off as a forced smile, making my heart ache with pain. “Go do what you want. I don’t care.”

                I don’t care.

                I don’t care.

                Those three words broke me, as I dragged myself up the stairs. I bit my lips to stop them from quivering, as I closed my eyes tightly to keep them from crying.

                Alex didn’t care.

                Why did it hurt me so much to know he didn’t care?

                Before the crack of dawn, I already had my stuff put together in my duffel bag, ready to go. I barely got an ounce of sleep last night, so I figured I just leave earlier. It would be early enough that Alex would still be asleep, so I wouldn’t see him.             

                This was it. I was leaving, and I would have to go back home. I would have to go see my father again. I took in a deep breath, wondering how pissed off he would be at me for leaving and never returning any of his phone calls.

                I closed my eyes tightly, taking a deep breath of air before walking away from Alex’s house. I couldn’t help but want him to come chasing after me, and tell me he was sorry. That he wanted me to stay.

                The house was a complete mess when I got home. After weeks of not being here, the furniture was covered with trash, and there was a pile of dirty dishes and burnt toast in the sink.

                I walked lightly towards my father’s bedroom, noticing that he was knocked out on his bed. I entered his room, rolling his shoulder over to see if he was alright or not.

                Suddenly, my father stirred, as my eyes widened.

                What should I do? Run out and leave?

                “Angel, is that you?” he asked me, letting out a tired grown.

                I backed away from him, as he sat up, stretching out his arms. My heart was beating against my chest.

                His eyes lingered over to me, as they opened with surprise. “Aerial.” He paused, looking at me to see if I was real or not. “Baby, you’re home.”

                He got up, and started to come closer to me, as I sank down in the corner of two walls. “Stop.” I begged, covering my head with my hands. “Please, don’t.”

                My dad stopped in his tracks, staring at me with hurt eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just- I just miss you.”

                I glared at him, not believing a word he says. One minute, he was going to be nice to me, and then he was going to turn against me once he was drunk. “I’m home, but that doesn’t mean I came home for you.”

                “Don’t talk to me like that.” He said sternly.

                “I can’t talk to you like that, but you can hit me?” I asked, backing out of his room. “Just leave me alone, dad.”

Alex and Aerial <3

Anyways, this chapter is dedicated to taylovee727. She's amazing, & I suggest everyone to check out her new website http://ateengirlslife.weebly.com!

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