Chapter 14

                I was more than relieved when my father didn’t bother me for the rest of the day. Occasionally, I would catch him passing by the bathroom just to check up on me. I was starting to feel guilty about telling him off earlier in the morning, but a part of me was proud of myself for finally standing up to him, no matter how scared I actually was on the inside.

                When my father left for work after dinnertime that night, I decided to finally get out of my room and watch some TV in the living room. I thought I was going to stay home for the night in my pajamas with a bowl of popcorn on my lap, but just as I was about to put the bag of popcorn in the microwave, Hayden decided to call me.

                “Hayden?” I asked, as I placed the phone to my ear, pacing around in my kitchen.

                “Aerial? Are you busy tonight?” he asked.

                “I was going to just have a movie night by myself, but I’m free if you want to do something.” I said, picking up some empty cigar boxes on the couch. I frowned as I stared at the empty box. I knew my father was an alcoholic, but I also thought I knew he gave up smoking ages ago, when mom was still here.

                “Do you want to get dinner? There are some things we need to talk about.” Hayden said, making me shudder. Had Alex told Hayden about what happened last night?

                “Alright, I’ll get dressed.” I murmured, tossing the empty box of cigarettes in the trash basket.

                “My car’s getting a new paint job. Can you walk over to that old diner just a few blocks from your house?” Hayden asked.

                “Are you talking about the one we went to last time for pancakes?” I asked, frowning, as I began to toss out a thick sweater and jeans from my dresser.

                “That’s the one. Hurry, okay? I’m almost there.” Hayden said, as I wiggled myself into my skinny jeans.

                “I’ll try.” I mumbled, as the other line went blank.

                It took me ten minutes to walk to the diner, and from the glass windows, I could see Hayden waiting at one of the booths. As I entered the diner, a whiff of coffee and pancake batter filled of nose, making my stomach rumble.

               I approached Hayden, sliding into the red leather seat across from him. He gave me a small smile, making me frown. He didn’t look like his usual self today. He didn’t have that cheery aura around him.

                “Is something wrong?” I asked, giving him a worried look.

                Hayden sighed, raising an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”

                I frowned, hoping that he wasn’t talking about Alex. The last thing I needed right now was to have a conversation about him. “What do you mean?”

                Before Hayden got to say anything, a perky waitress approached our table with a notepad and pen in each hand. “What can I get you guys tonight?” she smiled, her red lips stretching wide.

                Hayden looked at me, signaling for me to order first. “I’ll have the Fatty Breakfast Meal and a chocolate and vanilla milkshake.”

                The waitress giggled, as she nodded, jotting it down on her notepad. “What about you, sir?” she turned to Hayden.

                “I’ll have the same thing, without the eggs, though. And a strawberry smoothie.” Hayden ordered.

                The waitress ripped the sheet of paper from her notepad, holding it in her hands. “Coming right up.” She gave us one last dazzling smile, before disappearing through the doors to the kitchen.

                Hayden made sure no one was around us, before he spoke up again. “I want to know why you moved out of Alex’s house.”

                I pursed my lips, crossing my arms stubbornly. “Why don’t you ask him that?”

                “Aerial.” He warned.

                I sighed, rolling my eyes. He really wasn’t going to give up until I gave him an answer, was he? “Alex and I might’ve gotten into a fight the other night.” I paused, letting out a deep breath of air. “Things just blew up last night.”

                “What did you guys fight about?” Hayden pushed.

                I ran my hands through my brown hair, feeling frustrated. “His mother came home the other night, and he wasn’t home. She told me how she was a single mother, and work was always in the way of Alex. That night, before she left, she made Alex some leftover dinner. When I told Alex his mother made it, he made a huge fuss about how he wouldn’t eat it.” I paused, groaning with stress. “He was being so arrogant and stubborn. I kept telling him how lucky he was to have a mother, and when he asked why I even cared, I told him. I told Alex that he was lucky enough to have one that wasn’t dead.”

                Hayden’s eyes widened, as his face went pale. “Oh, Aerial, I’m-“

                I cut him off, nodding. “I know, Hayden. You’re sorry. So was Alex.”

                Hayden cleared his throat. “Alex didn’t know. If he did, he wouldn’t have said it.”

                I scoffed, as the waitress came back with a tray of food in her palms. “That really makes no difference.” I muttered, as she placed a large platter of food in front of me.

                “He cares about you, you know?” Hayden said when the waitress went away.

                I scoffed at the irony. “Oh, that’s funny, because just last night, he told me how he didn’t care if I left. He said he never cared.” I said, trying to not make my voice sound shaky.

                “He lied.” Hayden flat out said, making me raise an eyebrow. “He’s Alex. He doesn’t want anyone to know if he cares about them.”

                “Then how did you know he cares about you?” I asked mockingly.

                Hayden chuckled, and shrugged. “I just do. We’ve been with each other for years.”

*

                “Clarice taking me out for ice cream,” I paused, licking the vanilla ice cream that was covering my spoon, “I could get used to this.”

                Clarice laughed weakly, shrugging. “It’s just a way of me saying thanks.”

                I frowned, raising an eyebrow. “Thanks? For what?”

                Clarice smiled, taking a bite out of the large banana fudge sundae that was settled in front of her. She specifically requested the waiter to give her five chocolate scoops with an uncut banana, drizzled in hot, chocolate fudge. Fine, right? But, when the waiter asked Clarice if she wanted any additional toppings, Clarice replied by asking if they could put pickles on it.

                The waiter looked at her like she was out of her mind.

                But anyways, Clarice got what she wanted.

                When I asked her about it, she simply shrugged, and said that she was craving pickles.

                “For being there when I told my parents the news.” Clarice muttered. “Even though my dad probably scared you away, you still stayed with me through the whole night.”

                “It’s what I’m supposed to do, right?” I asked.

                Clarice twisted her lips. “I don’t know. I mean, you didn’t have to. Especially after everything I’ve done to you.” She paused, poking at her ice cream. “I left when you needed me the most. But, when I need you right now, you’re not running away.”

                I pursed my lips, staring down at my now mushy ice cream.

                Suddenly, I wasn’t in the mood to eat my treat anymore.

                I sighed. What was I supposed to say to that?

                “Do you ever miss her?” Clarice suddenly asked, startling me.

                “Who?” I asked, even though I knew exactly who she was talking about.

                Clarice looked uneasy, as she looked away from me. “Your mother.”

                I felt myself stop breathing, as I gulped. Talking about my mother never came easy to me. My throat always felt tightened up whenever I did. “All the time.” I whispered.

                “I could never imagine living without my mother.” Clarice paused, giving me a small, sad smile. “You’re so brave, Aerial.”

                My eyes reached Clarice’s for a slight second, before we split apart. “Thanks.” I muttered, barely meaning it. I wasn’t brave. I was cracking on the inside.

                “If you don’t mind me asking,” she paused, searching my face for answers, “how does your dad cope with it?”

                He deals with my mother’s death by taking it out on me.

                “Honestly, Aerial.” Clarice looked at me with a worried expression. “I’m here for you.”

                Licking my lips, I nodded. “I know.” I whispered.

                “My dad hasn’t been the same since she died.” I started off. Clarice frowned in confusion, because as far as she could remember, my father had always treated the both of us with so much love and care. “He started to drink. At first, it wasn’t so bad. But, after a few months, he would come home completely drunk and wasted.”

                Clarice’s eyes widened, her hazel orbs filled with regret and guilt. “He never hit you, did he?”

                I gulped, as I tore my gaze away from hers. Suddenly, I heard her gasp, and I watched a tear slid down her cheeks. “Oh God.” She muttered, clamping a hand over her lips. “I-I didn’t know.”

                I nodded, licking my lips. “No one did.”

                “I-I wish I could’ve helped.” She whispered, voice so fragile and genuine. “I was way too caught up with being popular. I didn’t even realize-“

                “It’s fine.” I cut her off.

                Clarice frowned, twisting her lips. “He doesn’t still, does he?”

                I stared down at my hands, eyes dropping. “I wish he didn’t.” I muttered.

                “Is that why you’re staying over at Alex’s house for now?” she asked.

                “Yeah.” I muttered. “But, I kind of moved out a few days ago.”

                Clarice blinked. “So, you’re back with your dad?”

                I nodded. “But, he hasn’t done anything bad, yet.”

                “You’re always welcomed to stay over at my place, you know?” she offered. “My parent’s love you, and I do miss those sleepovers we used to have when we were kids.”

                I let out the first laugh I’ve had in a long time. “I remember.” I paused, smiling. “Thanks.”