Today was the day we'd be able to get our house tonight. It was two weeks. They said the house was ready at night. So nighttime came and we decided to go to the house. But by the time we got their it was on fire.
I was horrifid. My mom was screaming and crying. She was saddened by the fire because of the valuables inside. They were from my ancestors.
As for my dad he was scared and anxious but kept calm and held mom tight. My sister was angry. She wanted to know that whoever did this was in trouble. Only one thing survived the fire. And that was a lighter.
Not just any lighter but a gold lighter with the name Andrew on it. I knew who attamcticly did it. It was my ex boyfriend. We had to report to the police and head back to Angelica's. It was was like that for weeks.
A few days after that I got a letter from Andrew saying he was sorry but I just burned it. After that, he went on another trail to burn down our house. I'll spare you the boring details but he claims he accidentally burned down our house with a lighter he dropped when he smoked a cigarette. But here's the thing he doesn't smoke and there was no evidence that he did smoke. Many coworkers claimed that he burned the house with a lighter and some gas oil.
Nonetheless, the court found him guilty. He was sent to juvenile detention for a year or two plus therapy for his drinking problems and anger issues. I wasn't shocked that he would end up like this but his parents were. Everything was different without my ex-boyfriend. Like I was empty.
Like there was this emptyness and I didn't know what to do. It was hard trying to make new friends so I sat alone again cause I didn't know anyone. I'm shy and I like meeting new people but it also gives me anxiety for some reason. Next semester I had a second lunch. I was alone until John said, "Can I sit here?" I replied "Yes"
"I heard your house got burned down."
"Yep"
"Sorry that your house burned down. What is your family going to do now?"
"We're staying at my Mothers friends house for the time being until we land on our feet."
"That's good that you're alright. I take it you and Andrew broke up?"
"Yep."
"Good. Do you mind if my friends come here?"
"Nope. I don't care either way."
"I just making sure."
"Thanks."
"You welcome"
Someone of John's friends came over to the table and said "Hey John." "Hey Maximus," John said.
"And your Lewis I take it? Hi, I'm Maximus."
Maximus gave out his hand for me to shake. I shake his hand and say "It's nice to meet you." Maximus is mixed, transmasc, pansexual, and emo. Maximus then said "I heard your house got burned down. Sorry, that happened to you." All I could reply with was "Yeah shit happens."
"True. So true."
Next was another two friends of Johns. Nino and Mary Ann. They're both the same age as me. There wasn't much to talk about. They asked me for pronouns. I replied with he/him but for some reason, I didn't feel great with that response. Later that night I started questioning my gender.
Was I a she/her or he/him? Was I transgender? Was I genderfluid? What am I? Who am I?
Just then I get a text from an unknown number. It says "hi, this Linda. Andrew mom. I'm here to talk about my son."
What exactly do you want to talk about your son? Cause he has quite the criminal record." I texted back.
"Look my son has been deppsed lately."
"Sorry to hear that."
"This is where you come in."
"No. I've had it with your sons bullshit! He burned my house down! Broke our electricity! And now you want to me to do something for you?!"
"Let me make this clear. I'll give you $500,000. If you vist my son tomorrow.
"And if I don't take the money?"
"Look you need money and my son needs a friend. Your one of the only friends he has."
"What about John?"
"John's a different story. Him and his friend aren't really getting along right now."
"Let me guess he sued him for harassment? Or something?
"My son would never! He just did some physical things to him."
"Whats that suppose to mean?"
"That doesnt matter! You in Or are you out?"
"Out"
"What if it was 2 million dollars?"
I should've said no but my family needed the money so I texted "Deal. I'm in."
The next day I sat at the same spot where John was. "Hey Lewis, how's it going?" John said. "Going good. Listen I need to ask a favor of you."
"Sure. What is it?"
"I need you to drive this Saturday at the juvenile detention center."
"No. Absolutely not."
"Look I need-"
"Don't care. Not doing it."
"What if their was $2 million? Andrew's moms paying me to visit him."
"$2 million you say? Fine ill do it but only if I get half of the money. 1 million for each of us."
"Deal."
"Saturday right?"
"Right."
"What time?
"9 am to 10 am."
"Okay but what about your parents?"
"I'll just say I'm going to the gardens with you."
"What if your parents find out?"
"They won't. I promise."
"But what if they do?"
"Oh well, they'll just have to deal with it."
"This is a recipe for disaster."
"It is but you agreed to 1 million dollars each."
"True but if things go south I'm saying you dragged me into this."
That Saturday I told my parents I was going to the gardens and that John was going to drive me their. My sister didn't care she was busy talking to friends. John arrived and I went out the door. I went in the car and we drove to the juvenile detention center where we would meet his mom after words for the money. I went inside and they directed me to where I would be visiting Andrew. John decided to wait outside and wait until I was done."
The guard said "Andrew you got a visitor"
I sat down and used the phone to say "Hey,