"Don't tell me you don't answer your phone when you are driving?"

Austin asked staring at me and then at my phone which wouldn't stop ringing. I glanced at my phone and it was still mom calling. I don't even know why I wasn't answering.

"I do."

I said taking it. Just when I was about to answer, the call ended.

"Just what I needed."

I muttered sarcastically putting the phone back.

"You don't wanna talk to your boyfriend?"

He asked with a smile and I rolled my eyes. He probably thought I cancelled the call.

"Boyfriend?"

I enquired.

"Jeah. Who else could be saved like that?"

He answered. So he was referring to the saved name. I had saved my mom's number as 'Forever.Loved❣" the time I got a phone. Does he really think just because that's the saved name, the person is my boyfriend?"

"Someone I'll always love. Forever."

I said with a smile parking the car in front of the house.

"Finally we're here. You're such a slow driver and yet you said you are better than me."

He shook his head as he got out of the car.

"I'm better than you. Period."

I replied.

"Yes you are. That's why it took you an hour to reach your house when it took me ten minutes the other day."

He said sarcastically laughing at me.

"I drove slowly because I wanted to save your ass of a life. You would surely have fallen out of the car if I drove at my best speed."

I boasted and he laughed even more. We both knew I was just saying that because I didn't want to admit he was better so I later joined in his laughter.

"Fun time is over. Let's get inside."

I said locking the doors and walking ahead of him.I didn't even know we were having fun. And it's more like, good time is over. Let's face my mom. I'm positive nothing will go wrong.

"There are other better ways to have fun. Wanna try?"

He said behind me and he was surely too close for my liking. Better ways to have fun? Such a pervet.

"Like kicking your crotch hard now and then. That will really be fun."

I said looking back at him as he chuckled.

"Or maybe pounding on it. Hard."

He retorted and I groaned. Does he have to turn all my words into his perveted jokes.

"Whatever."

I said annoyed and he laughed. I opened the door and I wondered why she didn't lock the door this time. I went inside and Austin followed me as he stopped laughing.

No one was in the sitting room and that surprised me. Mom would always be sitting there, waiting to pound me with questions. I walked upstairs to my room with Austin behind me.

"We'll start with poetry then we can do the math quiz I told you about the other day."

I said and he groaned.

"Poetry really?"

He asked as if annoyed by the word itself.

"It's Mrs Hattson you should hate, not poetry itself."

I said with a smile placing my bag on the bed.

"I never said I hated her."

He said and I gave him that 'really' look.

"You don't have to say it. The way you look at her says it all."

I said and he chuckled. I doubt there's anyone at our school who likes Mrs Hattson.

"Alice!"

A loud voice pulled us out of our thoughts. My mom's angry voice coming from downstairs.

"Alice! Get over here now!"

She shouted again and I looked at Austin just to find him staring at me. He must've noticed the anger in mom's voice.

"I'll be right back."

I said walking to the door. I looked back at him and he was still staring at were I was sitting.

"And please, don't mess up my room."

I said jokingly with a smile. He looked at me and smiled back.

"I won't."

He said and I left not bothering to close the door.

"Alice!"

Mom shouted again and I hurried down the stairs.

"Coming."

I muttered. I walked into the sitting room and I found her pacing around the room.

"I'm here mom."

I said and she stopped pacing. She stared at me and anger was visible on her face.

"Listen here Alice. This is not your house so don't think you can do what ever you want around here."

She said and I wondered what she was getting at now.

"Do you really think you can sneak your manwhores in my house and I'll just approve of it?"

She shouted angrily.

"Mom, I didn't sneak him in. He's just a guy I'm ordered to tutor by-"

I tried explaining.

"Shut up."

She shouted.

"Shut up. Just admit you are a lil bitch who sleeps around with married man and even have the nerve to bring them in my house."

She said standing a few inches away from me that I could smell her breath. Gosh, she was drunk. Why does she always accuse me of sleeping around with married men? I know she's drunk but can't she accuse me of anything better.

Like stealing or insulting her? I would prefer that over the things she says to me. The disgusting stuff.

"Both you and I know that what you are saying is not true. So tell me mom, what do you get from saying all this things to me? Just what satisfaction do you get from hurting your own daughter?"

I said all so frustrated. I needed to know. Like there's even an explanation to that apart from just being drunk.

"This should be the last time you bring your people here because next time if you do, you'll regret it terribly."

She said shaking me and pushing me on the edge of the sofa. What would she do to me? Is there anything more worse that she can do to me?

"First you stole my money, then you took my liquor bottles and now you bring your clients in my house. How much more will you disrespect me Alice? How much more?"

She shouted angrily as she slapped me hard on my right cheek. Disrespect? She thinks I'm the one who is disrespecting her? I closed my eyes as I let the pain slide. She gave me one last angry look before she walked away. I watched her as she walked out and slammed the door.

A tear slid down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away. Crying was just useless in my case. I took a deep breath and walked to the kitchen.

I grabbed a drink and walked upstairs to my room. I entered the room and found Austin looking at a picture on my table. It was of mom, dad and I. And it was taken on my 13th birthday. When we were actually a happy family.

"C'mon let's get to work now."

I smiled.