Chapter 5:

After our meeting, I dial dad's number up for a ride. Please pick up. Nope, straight to voicemail. Let me call Craig. I dialed his number, four rings, and he's not picking up either. Shit. When am I gonna get a car? I can't call Quinn. Her 'debate practice' ended early. "Hey." I turn around, Sam's backpack slings almost off her shoulder. Why is he still here? I rub my eyelids.

"Why are you still here?" he asks as he approaches me. I rest my fist on my hip.

"Why are you still here?" I ask back.

"Really?"

"Then that answers your question. I thought I was the only one here."

"I'll give you a lift," he points to the parking lot. I can't wait for dad or Craig. Mom works from home, so she doesn't need a car. God, I need my own vehicle.

"Uh," I hesitate, picking my bottom lip with my teeth.

"Just get in the car, stop being stubborn."

I sigh, "fine." I walk over as he leads the way. It was late. I had to get home for dinner and he's my only hope. Even though I don't want him to be. I enter the passenger seat, he enters the driver's seat. He has a nice car, a black Honda. It's clean. Smells like pineapples. Oh, it's the car freshener hanging on the rearview mirror. "Where's Jessica?"

"She went home after volleyball practice," he answers. I nod. He starts the engine. I buckle in my seatbelt. The ride starts off silent. He turns on the radio to fill it. The song Bad Guy by Billie Eilish was almost over. I hum to the tune while staring out the window. This is my first time being in his car. I used to wonder what it would be like.

I sigh, looking at my phone. It's almost 4:30. I see mom's text. I text her back that I'm coming home now. I peek at him, one arm out the window and the other on the wheel. I lean my elbow on the car door, staring out the window. Straighten by The Migos comes on. Please no. I just got this out of my head.

"Can you please change the song?" I beg.

"Not a Migos fan?" He looks over to me.

"I heard it a billion times." From TV, YouTube, because it's on repeat from my brother's speakers. An earworm. It's catchy then it gets annoying. Now I'm sick of it. However, my favorite is Takeoff.

"They should be an inspiration to you. They have the confidence you lack."

"I have confidence," I scoff.

"They have stage presence, they put on a show."

"That would be Beyonce, actually."

"Beyonce exudes stage presence. Plus she's hot so no one will look away," he chuckles. 

"You're saying I have to be hot to be looked at? You're a pig."

"I'm saying you should be less timid."

Timid? I'm not- I open and close my mouth. I shake my head, "please drop me off." We were in our neighborhood. I climb out of his car, wanting to slam his car door but me being so nice I shut it gently. I step away, holding the straps of my backpack.

"See you at school Monday, Maya!" He yells out the window before reversing up to my driveway. I clench my jaw, refusing to see his face. The lights were on, dad nor Craig were not home yet. I'm not timid. I open the front door, slamming it behind me. Who the hell does he think he is?

"Hey! Stop slamming my door!" Mom says as she emerges from the bathroom.

"Sorry," I mumble, locking the top and bottom.

"Everything ok at school?" Mom asks.

I sigh, "yeah," then roll my eyes.

"Then why the attitude?"

"Samuel Rodriguez," I state and then groan.

"The neighbor boy?"

"Yes." I enter the kitchen, opening the fridge. I take the juice jug out.

"Isn't he the one in your drama club?"

"Yes." I take a glass from the cabinet.

"Oh, he's so amazing! The last play at your school made me cry," she gushes.

"Oh God, mom! Not you, too." I lift my head up to the sky. He got to my mother.

"He's talented."

"He's all right, but there are plenty of other actors that deserve more." I sip from the cup. When I invited my family, I expected them to see me for my first role. Then my nerves came, I didn't have many lines. Four lines, tops. It was a full house. I managed but I was shaking from my fingers to my toes. Of course, he stole the show. Making everyone swoon and faint like he's Harry Styles. I'll admit, he was good. Amazing as my mom said. I can't believe I admitted that.

"Sounds like you're jealous," she sings out the sentence.

"Quinn said the same thing, I'm not." I lick my lips. I'm not jealous of him. I can't stand the fact that as talented and confident as he is, his ego is too much. Trying to change the subject about her and dad but she looked exhausted. "When's dad coming home?" I lean against the counter.

"In an hour," she answers. "Did your brother call you?"

I shake my head no. "How are you, mom?"

"Just tired, sweetie." She gives me a small smile. I smile too. "So, when is your next play?"

"We don't know yet. Ms. Laughlin was set on Taming of the Shrew, but some thought something else in mind." Someone, meaning me. 

"Are you gonna audition?"

I shrug. As much as I want to be in a main role, I might not be the best. "Mom. Am I timid?"

"No, just shy."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"Sweetie, you've wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember. You recite all your favorite movies. You begged me and your dad to take you to that musical you like. You need to give yourself a chance and show people what we see. Passion."

I nod. I love to act, showing my emotions. Playing different roles. Then I think I look stupid and they will see the same thing. Both of us hear the front door open, we look to see who it is. Dad comes in, behind him was Craig. Dad's home early. He unloosens his tie, Craig closes and locks the door.

"Hi dad, hey bro," I say to them.

"Hi, Maya," dad says as he takes off his suit jacket. He's home early. Maybe that's a good thing.

"Why are you home early?" Mom asks, walking towards him.

"Hours have been cut," he simply says. He sits at the dining table. Craig meets me in the kitchen to get a water bottle.

"So, what does that mean?" Mom sits in front of him.

"It means hours have been cut. They're doing layoffs." He drops his briefcase near the table.

"For how long?" She frowns.

"Hey, we should go upstairs," Craig suggests. He pulls me by my elbow. My feet plant to the ground until I give movement and follow my brother upstairs. I sigh, closing my room door behind me. I sit on the edge of my bed. I don't want to hear them argue. I open up my Spotify app to play some Kendrick Lamar, connecting it to my Bluetooth speaker. I pick up one of my books but have no desire to read. Screw it. I take out my laptop, let me watch a movie to distract myself. It's loud enough to blare out the arguing. Hasn't his job heard of vacation days? Mom should be happy that less hours for him to be home more often.

I scroll and browse through the selection. What's there to watch? Instead of a movie, I'll watch a series. I've seen most of these. I want to watch Vampire Diaries again, but I like to try On My Block. I've heard great things about the show. Maybe a rewatch of New Girl. But then this new Jake Gyllenhaal movie looks good. I still haven't watched the Lady Gaga doc, I'm sleepy. I feel drowsy, my head tilting to the side. My door kicks open, the knob hitting against the wall. "Huh?" The noise startles me, I snap my head up.

"Mom says to take out the trash," Craig says as he hangs out halfway in my room.

"You can't knock?" I stand up from my bed, giving my upper body a stretch.

"Nope." He shrugs.

"Why can't you take it out?"

"Mom said you should," he smiles quickly then shuts the door. I sigh, rolling my eyes. Let me hurry up before she yells out my name. Putting on my shoes and jacket, I head downstairs and to the kitchen. I grab the stinky trash. I wish I had gloves. I drag it on the floor, but mom scolds me to pick it up. I oblige, lifting it as high as I can. I walk outside, lifting the lid, and tossing it inside.

"Don't lie to me, Sam!" My attention went to the other side of the street. I see Jessica waving her hands up and down in anger. Sam jogs over, trying to calm her down, she backs up, pushing him away, "don't touch me!" She screams and stomps away to her car. Sam stands as he watches her drive away. He runs his hands through his hair. What the hell? I turn around, walking slowly to my house but kept my eyes on the scene. Jessica drives off, more like speeds off. She passes by my house, hmm. Another fight, I guess.

"Fuck!" He kicks one of his garbage cans, the sound makes me jump, my heart skips a beat, I've haven't seen him so upset before. I raise an eyebrow. Tucking my hands in my pockets, I step away from the cans. My eyes still don't leave Sam's house, he stands rigid out front. I step inside and shut the door gently. It seems mom and dad stopped arguing. Dad has a glass in his hand, three ice cubes and brown liquid standing in the kitchen. I approach the sink to wash my hands.

"Oh, dad, some friends and I are going to the mall tomorrow. Is it ok if I go?" I bit my bottom lip. Please say yes.

"Sure. Just don't be home late," he agrees.

"Ok. Um dad. Is everything ok?" I frown.

"Yeah sweetie, everything will be fine." He kisses my forehead, walks off to the kitchen, I go to the stairway. I hope everything will be fine. It has to be fine. I lay back on my bed. I've seen them fight, this time it looked serious. But so did all of their fights. And they get back together like nothing happened.

Mom yells my name for dinner, I exit my room, heading downstairs. Another silent dinner, this time stew and rice. I clear my throat as much as possible, mom doesn't mind Craig being on the phone. Mom and Dad were not looking at each other. I open my mouth to speak, "My drama teacher is planning another production."

"That's great, Maya. What is it for?" Dad asks before he takes a sip of his drink.

"Not sure yet, maybe something the school will approve."

"Are you gonna audition?" Craig questions, looking up from his phone. I think I've been asked that question way too many times.

"I- I am." I decide. I want to. It's my senior year, I want it to be memorable. Something to say, 'I did that, and I kicked its ass!'

"Oh. That's good." The rest of the conversation dies down. After dinner, it's an awkward dessert. Chocolate cake. I eat as fast as I can so I can go to bed. I place my plate in the sink, telling everyone good night. I change out of my clothes, into my nightgown and enter my bed.

Finally, a chapter update! More will come soon! Hope you enjoyed!