The Art of Life (33 page)

               
“Well, go get your backpack, I
will take you home.”

               
“We can take her,” Kent
interjects.
 
“I have to go to Cassandra’s
anyway.”

               
There is a pause as Jeremy’s
almost stutters.
 
“Oh, I am usually the
only one who takes her to her house.”

               
I put my hand on him and say,
“It’s alright.
 
She probably isn’t back
yet.”

               
“Who isn’t back yet?” Josh asks.

               
Looking at me out of the corner
of his eye, Jeremy just replies slowly, “Her mother.”

               
My eyes scan both Josh’s and
Kent’s faces.
 
Taking a deep breath, I tell
them everything.
 
“My mom is an
alcoholic.
 
I have never really had any
friends and no one knows about it.
 
Jeremy has been the only one who has seen it.
 
I don’t share this information with people
normally, but you both seem trustworthy.”

               
“You are not alone,” Josh
says.
 
“My dad was an alcoholic most of
my childhood.
 
I was just lucky that my
mom left him when we were little.
 
It
destroyed his life and ours in ways.
 
I
didn’t have a father when I was supposed to.
 
My mom was great, but sometimes a boy needs a father and I didn’t have
that.”

               
I snort.
 
“I have no father and my mom has been drunk
most of my life.
 
I have no siblings,
cousins…..nothing
, no family.
 
Because my mom was such an embarrassment and
I was so socially awkward, I kept to myself and had no friends.
 
My mom can work and function, but when she is
at home, it’s another story.”

               
“Well, I understand,” Josh
retorts.
 
“So, why don’t I take you
home?
 
None of that will faze me.”

               
“Sounds good,” I reply.
 
I turn and walk right into Jeremy.

               
He looks down and says, “Are you
sure about this?”

               
Shrugging, I answer, “I think
so.
 
Someone, other than you, has to see
my world someday right?
 
Your friends
don’t go to my school, and I don’t think they are the type to say anything.”

               
“No, I will kick them somewhere
more painful than their shin, if they ever do anything to hurt you.”

               
That makes me smile.
 
“So protective of me, and we barely know each
other.”

               
“I think we know each other
now,” Jeremy replies, as he just stares at me.
 
I look back for the briefest of seconds.
 
He has such pretty eyes and they hold such warmth.

               
“Not to break you two up,” Kent
shouts, “But we have to get going.”

               
Turning, I shake Jeremy’s
keys.
 
“I will go grab my bag and
stuff.”
 
So, I sprint upstairs and throw
everything into my backpack.
 
When I turn
around, I find Jeremy waiting for me in the living room.

               
“Do you have everything?” He
asks.

               
“Yup, thanks for the great
weekend.
 
You have no idea what it has
meant to me; especially you letting me stay over.
 
I am glad that I didn’t have to be home by
myself.”

               
Jeremy takes a strand of my hair
and puts it behind my ear.
 
“I am always
here if you need me.”

               
“Aren’t you sick of me yet?” I
ask.
 
“I am kind of a drag if you want
other girls around.”

               
“I can still go on dates if I
want to,” Jeremy replies.
 
“I just
haven’t found anyone to go on one with.”

               
I put my hand on his.
 
“You will, I promise.
 
You are a great guy with so much to offer,
and I don’t mean your car and bike.
 
I
mean, you personally, have so much to offer a girl.”

               
“You are so damn sweet,” he
chuckles back.
 
“A guy will be very lucky
to have YOU.
  
I also mean that.”
 
Bending over he kisses me on the forehead.
 
“You better get going before Kent has a
coronary.”

               
“Okay,” I say, “Bye Jeremy.”

               
“Bye toots,” he replies.
 
With that I walk out the door and go home.

               
Luckily my mom isn’t there when
I get back.
 
I spend the evening washing
all my new clothes.
 
I hang everything up
to dry because I don’t want to ruin it right away.
 
Should I wear something tomorrow?
 
I think I will.

               
Finally, I am making myself a
cup of tea in my pajamas, and I hear the front door open.
 
“Mom?”
I call out.

               
“Yeah, who else would it be?”
She giggles.

               
Grabbing my cup of tea, I walk
into the living room.
 
That’s when I come
face to face with a guy.
 
He is a lot younger
than my mom that’s for sure.
 
“Uh, hi,” I
mumble.

               
“Hey,” he drawls out.
 
“My name is Howard.”

               
“I’m Isabelle,” I say
slowly.
 
Howard gives me the willies big
time.
 
“It’s nice meeting you, but I am
going to bed.”

               
My stomach turns as I walk past
him and go up the stairs.
 
When I get to
my room, I lock it.
 
Creepy
guy in my living room, creepy guy in my living room.
 
I set my tea down on my night stand and grab
a book.
 
Crawling into bed, I open my
book and read.
 
Suddenly, I hear a rock
song playing.
 
It actually makes me shoot
up in bed.
 
I sit there for a moment
before going, “OH!”
 
I dash across my
room and grab my cell phone.
 

               
It says I have a text.
 
It takes me a minute, but I finally open
it.
 
The text says: I’m bored.

               
Really Jeremy?
 
I text him back: I am drinking tea, reading
and going to bed.

               
He responds: That’s right.
 
Someone has SCHOOL in the morning. Ha
ha
!

               
Biting my lip, I write: So,
there is a creepy guy in my house.
 
His
name is Howard.
 
Who names their kid
that?

               
Are you okay!? I get as a reply.

               
I say: Yeah, locked my
door.
 
I am going to drink the rest of my
tea and go to sleep.

               
Jeremy replies: Fine, talk to
you tomorrow.
 
Night
babe.

               
I text: Night stud.

               
My tea has cooled and I just
drink the rest.
 
Turning off my light, I
go to sleep.
 
Of course, I fall asleep
with a smile on my face.

               
I get ready for school the next
morning.
 
I put on a pair of jeans that
actually fit me and a fashionable t-shirt.
 
My mom is in the kitchen when I come down for breakfast.
 
She looks at me and says, “Cute outfit.”

               
“Thanks,” I reply happily.
 
Not much could bring me down right now.
 
“How was your weekend mom?”

               
“It was fine,” my mom
mumbles.
 
She is obviously still feeling
the effects of the weekend.

               
Grabbing an apple, I say, “Well,
I am off to school.
 
See you later.”

               
My mom just waves her hand.
 
Rolling my eyes, I grab my backpack and
leave.
 
I plug my ear buds into my phone
to listen to music.
 
The weather is nice,
but I know it’s going to start to cool down soon.
 
Good thing I picked up some fall
clothes.
 
I will have to deal with winter
when it gets here.
 
I will probably get a
new winter jacket, too.
 
Mine is still in
good shape, but isn’t very attractive, but I will donate it to the coat drive
in November.
 
I know that makes me sound
a little shallow.
 
I don’t like my coat,
so I am going to give it to someone else, but someone else will appreciate it
more than me.
 
I wish I could just buy a
whole bunch of coats and donate them.
 
That would be nice.

               
The halls aren’t as loud on
Mondays, as they are on other days.
 
No
one wants to be here after the weekend.
 
For the first time, I am one of those people.
 
I grab my sociology book and shut my locker
door.
 
Turning I run into Eric.
 
“Oh hey,” I softly exclaim.

               
“Did you have a good weekend?”
He asks.

               
“Yeah,” I reply.
 
“I am sorry I didn’t get to call you.
 
Though I did get a cell phone and you are in
it.”

               
Eric smiles.
 
“That’s good.”

               
Suddenly, I feel an arm go
around my shoulders.
 
I look to see Jack
standing there.
 
“Dude, Eric, her boy
Jeremy has a 1967 GTO.
 
This thing is
awesome!
 
Miss Isabelle here is going to
pick me up for school if he lets her take it.”

               
“That’s cool,” Eric says.

               
I look at Jack.
 
“I think he should probably replace his tires
after Saturday’s stunt.”

               
“That was the most epic peel out
ever!” Jack yells.
 
“Eric, you should
have seen it.
 
It was awesome!”

               
Another guy comes walking
up.
 
His name is Rick, I think.
 
I remember seeing him at the coffee
shop.
 
“Are you talking about that great
car?”

               
Jack says, “Yes.
 
Tell Eric how ridiculously cool it was.”

               
“It was beautiful, that was for
sure,” Rick replies.

               
“I am a little jealous I didn’t
get to see it,” Eric says a little apprehensively.