Page 6 of Reaching Avery
I wasn’t sure if she’d left to go to work yet because it was still a bit early for her job, and she worked nights. Her line of work upset me, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. Not until I could get a job and start making my own money to help take care of her.
She loved me and Declan and was an amazing woman. Selfless, loving, and so freaking kind-hearted. She deserved better than dancing on a pole all night, being groped by horny, old men and being made into a damn sex object. Just so she could pay the bills and keep food in our bellies.
Well, as much as she could.
I hadn’t eaten a full meal in about two days because mom hadn’t been able to grocery shop due to not getting paid yet, and any food we’d had, I’d given most of it to Declan, telling him I was full or not hungry.
A guaranteed two meals a day was one of the main reasons I was looking forward to school starting.
“You okay?” Declan asked as I stopped in the grass and stared at the house.
Moving my gaze to him, I answered, “Yeah. I’m not ready to go in yet. It feels too great out here. Just give me a few.”
He nodded before going inside.
The house had a weird smell, a muskiness that lingered on all the furniture and carpet. The cramped interior didn’t help, either. It had two bedrooms—so Declan and I shared a room—but the room was so freaking small that we could both barely fit into it. The living room and kitchen blended together, and the one bathroom was so small, I could hold out my arms to the side and touch the walls.
It was the best Mom could do, so I didn’t hold anything against her. Heck, it was better than sleeping under a bridge. With it feeling amazing outside, I wanted a little longer to enjoy the fresh air.
***
Monday morning, I was showered and dressed before anyone else woke up. Mom had worked late the night before, and I cracked open her bedroom door to check on her. She hadn’t taken off her makeup and some black was smeared down her cheeks, but she looked peaceful as she slept.
I pulled the blanket up to cover her and kissed her forehead. After tucking her in, I went into mine and Declan’s room.
“Come on, D. Wake up.” I gently shook him. He snored and rolled over to face the wall. “Don’t make me tackle you.”
He slept like a rock and had always been difficult waking up. I shook him again and was ignored, so I grabbed the blanket and tore it off him.
Declan jerked up and glared at me with heavy-lidded eyes. “You ass! I’m cold.”
“Well, get up and put some clothes on.”
Once he was dressed, we went into the kitchen, and I searched the fridge for anything to cook. Looking inside, I saw nothing but an expired carton of milk and some questionable slices of cheese.
“Let’s grab breakfast at school,” I suggested.
He shrugged, and we grabbed our backpacks before walking to the bus stop. Riding the school bus was a little embarrassing, especially since I was the oldest kid on it. We didn’t live close enough for me to walk to school, though, and I couldn’t afford the city bus every day.
Oh well. Kids already made fun of me, so I shouldn’t care. It was just one more thing for them to hound me about. It didn’t even matter that none of them had met me yet. They were all the same.
Arriving at school, I reluctantly stepped off the bus with my old, tattered backpack and headed toward the main building.
Declan waved at me before heading toward a group of giggling girls. I rolled my eyes and kept walking.
For being middle of August, it was cooler than average. The cloudy day and wind coming off the sea might’ve had something to do with that. Port Haven High sat right beside the shoreline, which I guess was kind of cool, but scary in a way as well.
Large bodies of water freaked me out. Not sure why. Maybe it was because I didn’t know what lay beneath, or the thought of getting lost at sea.
I didn’t know how to swim either. So yeah… that too.
Students were standing outside, talking to each other as they waited for the first bell to ring. Most were in at least groups of three, but some had like eight or more, all laughing and talking loudly. I’d never had that type of friendship; one where I could be myself and know they were laughingwithme and notatme.
I passed them, keeping my head down and trying not to make any eye contact. If I didn’t look directly at them, they’d ignore me.
I sort of brought it on myself, I guess. But in a way, I didn’t. That was me: the emo kid who loved wearing skinny jeans, black shirts, eyeliner, and who listened to alternative rock. Yeah, I might’ve been too skinny and too pale, making me look like a walking corpse most days, especially with all the black around my eyes, but it was how I expressed myself.
“Hey, guys. Looks like Jack Skellington is in our class,” some dude said as I passed a group.
