When I awake the next morning, I hear laughter downstairs. I put on my slippers and head downstairs. I freeze when I see my dad standing in the kitchen with a blonde-haired lady. I just stare. He looks at me. "Oh Stormie... I didn't see you there," he says, smile fading. I don't speak. I can't move. I am frozen. "This is Annabell," he says. I look at him.
Is he for real? I turn and leave. I have no idea where I am going until I end up in front of Emily and Jake's house. I just stare at it. The door opens. "Stormie... what's wrong?" I hear Emily ask as she steps outside. "Oh my God, it is freezing out, aren't you cold?"she asks me. I just stare at her.
I hadn't noticed how cold it is. I can't feel anything. How can he bring her home? To our home. Where mom used to drink coffee... 'Who is he?' I think. Jake is now stepping outside, eyeing me.
My hair is a mess. I have only a tank top and shorts on. Black slippers. Make-up smeared from yesterday. I look a mess. "Is she OK?" Jake asks, eyeing me. "I don't know, she hasn't said anything," Emily says. Jake steps towards me, dropping his jacket over my shoulders.
I don't move. I feel a tear fall down my face.
Everything I had been keeping in is threatening to escape. "He brought her home," I say, voice barely above a whisper. "Oh thank God, there you are," Derek says, running up to me. He takes one look at me. "Don't worry, he got a earful," Derek says. "Y'all come inside. It is freezing out here," Emily says. We follow. I don't remember commanding my feet to move but they do.
I look around. Their house is huge. Empty, but huge. We make our way to the living room. "Y'all can stay here this weekend if y'all want. Our mom is out of town on a business trip," Emily says. We nod. "Thanks," Derek says. "I'll find Stormie some clothes," she says, before disappearing down a hall. I sit down on the couch.
My head is racing. It isn't that I don't expect Dad to move on... It is the fact that he and Mom haven't been in love in years. He has been with this stranger. He has spent most days with her over the last ten years. Did he miss my soccer games to be with her? My first dance, first heart break...
I feel he picked her over our family. I am more angry than hurt. The dad I know isn't real at all. I had made excuses for him. He had to work more because he is a single parent now. I spent so many nights without him because of that when really he was with her.
I look at Derek. He and Jake had sat down and started playing video games. Dad put Derek in this position to basically have to be the parent. He had stopped going out. Had started hanging out with me. Making sure I was taken care of.
Emily returns with a pair of clothes. "Here these should fit," she says, smiling at me. She shows me to bathroom. I go in and change. Looking at my self in the mirror, I brush my hair and wash my face before heading back to them.
"So, there is a party tonight at that dude John's house. He is on the football team," I say. They are all staring at me . "His parties get crazy," Derek says. "I really could use the distraction," I say. They seem to be thinking about it. Jake looks at me like he is trying to read me. There's something dark in his eyes.
"Fine, but if it gets too crazy, we are leaving," Derek says. I smile. "I'm hungry," I say. Emily eyes me. "Well, we don't have much here, but we can go out." I smile and nod. Derek runs home and gets the car. We go to the local diner. Emily and Derek sit beside each other, so I am stuck beside Jake.
I order a sandwich, milkshake, and brownie. "I... don;t think I have ever seen you eat this much," Emily says, eyeing me. I nod. "Yeah..." I say,laughing it off. She just watches me. They start talking about random things. I eat and listen.
I notice Kyle is sitting at a booth alone. Part of me feels for him. The other part smiles. They notice. "What are you smiling at?" Emily asks. "Karma," I reply. She follows my gaze. "Oh, that's the guy who pretend to like you?" she asks. Derek looks at me, his expression looking sad. His first-ever girlfriend spent most of her life torturing me. "What a dumb-ass," Emily says. I smile at her.
I look at the window and the dark sky is threatening a storm. "We should get ready for the party," I say. They nod. We pay, and make our way back to their house. Emily and I go upstairs and get ready. I curl my hair, wearing more make-up than normal. She pulls out a knee-length, black leather dress. I stare at it in awe. "Wow," I say.
She smiles. "Try it on," she says, throwing it at me. I smile and obey. Her mouth falls open.
"Stormie, you look..." She takes a deep breath in and smiles at me. "Thanks," I reply, feeling anxious. She wears a matching red dress. We check ourselves out one last time. Hooking arms, we make our way down her giant spiral staircase.
Derek and Jake are waiting by the door. Their eyes widen. "Wow... um... y'all look..." Derek starts, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah... I mean..." Jake tries to help him out, avoiding eye contact with me. We smile.
"Thanks guys," Emily says smiling. We make our way to the car. My heart is racing having to sit close to Jake. I'm still feeling confused about things with him. One minute we are friends... maybe more than friends... but then he goes cold.
The letter he left is so confusing. I can feel my heart racing. I decide to put him and my dad and his whore out of my mind. I am going to have fun tonight. I stare out the window as we make our way to the party.
We pull up to the house. It is a huge Victorian home. Lights light up the entrance. All different colors. It feels like a premier. We find a spot to park. We make our way up the stairs.
The whole school is here or so it feels like. The inside of the house is breathtakingly beautiful. "I am off to find the drinks," I say. Jake and the others look at me. "I'll go with you," Emily says. I smile, grateful to her. We find the drinks. I grab a shot of vodka and slam it back. Emily is wide eyed watching me.
I glance at her. "Aren't you going to drink?" I ask. She looks back at the guys. "Sure," she says, not sounding so sure of herself. She throws a shot back. I take three more. I start feeling buzzed. "Hey Stormie," John says. I look at him and smile. He's never noticed me before, I think to myself.
"Wanna dance?" he asks. I glance at Emily and the boys. I catch Jake's eye. "Sure," I say, smiling at him. "Why not?" We make our way to the dance floor.
We dance to a few songs. The music slows down and I start to pull away.
He pulls me closer. I stare at him, feeling a tad uncomfortable. His hands start to wander. I smack his hand. "Don't do that," I snap. He smiles at me. "Dressed like that, you're begging for attention," he says. Suddenly I feel lightheaded. I stumble back a bit, before he pulls me so hard towards him my arm hurts.
"Let me go!" I yell at him. The music is too loud. He nor anyone else can hear me. "Let's go upstairs," he says with a smile. I shake my head no. He drags me behind him. My heart is racing in my chest. 'What do I do?' I think to myself
"Let go of me," I say, trying to get my arm away from him. All of a sudden, someone is pulling me from him. I turn my head to see Jake and Derek. "I think she said to let go of her," Derek growls at him. He throws his hands up.
"She could have just said no," he says, winking at me before walking off.
"Storm, you OK?" Jake asks. I cross my arms over my chest. "No... nothing is OK," I snap. I head outside for some fresh air.