Never Before | ✓

Chapter five

Chapter five

I unlock the door and enter my house. I am greeted by nothing but loneliness and am once again reminded that I'm not the same old Sl...ugh...Amber.

I walk into my kitchen and find two slices of pizza in a pizza box. Dad must've left me this. There is a sticky note posted on the cardboard box.

Order one more if you want. I deposited some money in your bank account. You can now use your card.

xoxo, dad.

I smile. He hates my mom but not his daughter. My phone beeps, notifying me that I have received a text. It was from my mom.

Mom: I'll come home late. Inform your dad, too.

A bucket full of rage is splashed all over me. Why can't she be a normal mother and love me for who I am?! I know I did a mistake and she hates me for that but why show it? Couldn't she be nice to me for once? All she does is distance herself or be really formal as if I am some worker at her house.

Me: Why? Hooking up with some guy?

It was rude, I know but I couldn't help it. My phone buzzes again with her name on top but I decide to ignore it. I freshen up and change into some comfy baggy pants and a loose white t-shirt. I brush my hand through my scar but flinch. It still hurts a lot more than it is supposed to. I tie my hair in a messy bun and begin eating my dear pizza.

I watch The Vampire Diaries while eating it and chugging coke. My phone buzzes again with a text from Wes.

Wes: Mind if I add you to our group which includes Charles, Caleb, and Ellie.

Me: of course you can.

I keep my phone aside and finally decided to study biology. I genuinely like biology but I want to study extra for my test which will be in the next three weeks. I take out my planner and set up a schedule.

I'll study from five to eight. Then, go out for a short walk, have dinner, study if I'm not tired, and then go to bed.

After studying for two hours, I take a break for ten minutes and decide to check my phone. I confront my mom's text.

Mom: you're a spoilt brat. I'm not interested to scold you.

Ouch. That pierced a knife through my heart. It was worse than what I had expected.

Me: what can I say? you raised me up.

I check the group chat which is filled with 20+ texts. I just brush those off but one catches my attention.

Caleb: I'm not attending school tomorrow. I didn't save Amber's phone number yet so if you're reading this, Amber, then please give me the papers entitled H&L. Ask anyone for my address.

I text him personally.

Me: why me?

He doesn't respond so, I go back to studying for another hour until I'm mentally tired. As scheduled, I go out for a walk after dressing up a little bit. Darkness has engulfed me all around. There were a few people who past across me. One of them was my neighbour's son. He introduced himself as Aaron.

After thirty minutes, I walk back home and find my dad's car in the driveway. I barge inside my house to greet him but I find out that he wasn't alone. A tall man with dark blue eyes is sitting on the couch. He flashes me a fake smile.

"Oh, Larry, meet my daughter," dad introduces me and I walk closer to them. He extends his hand toward me and I hesitantly shake it.

"Amber Night. Nice to meet you, sir," I say. He nods. "Larry Graham. Nice to meet you, too. Do you go to Brimville High?" I nod. Is he stupid or what? There is no other school in Brimville.

"Amber, where's your mother?" He asks with a forced smile.

"She will be late," I say. He grits his teeth. "Fine. Go upstairs. I'll order dinner for all of us." I do as he says.

°•°•

"So, did you make any friends in Brimville High?" Larry asks (and yes, I'm calling him by his actual name). I feel a burning gaze of my father on me. He really wants me to answer this question.

"I did make one friend," I lie. I made five friends and even visited one's home. I see my dad sigh in relief.

"That's good. My son went there, too."

"What's his name?" I broach. He looks at the food uneasily and speaks in a stern voice after clearing his throat, "Yeah, he ahh...left me." I instantly feel guilty for him. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, honey. He got into wrong stuff and went to live on his own. I do have my other son to fill his space."

I nod my head and sip a glass of water. A few minutes later, we are standing at my doorstep waving Larry goodbye. He hops in his car which I didn't notice before and drives off after flashing us a tired smile. I close the door.

"How dare you're mother didn't inform me!" My dad yells and I flinch. Is he going to be the cold self again?

"I'm going to sleep," I say and walk away but he clutches my wrists and makes me turn around. My dad is furious but why is he angry with me? I didn't do anything. He never behaves like this. Not to me.

"Listen, Amber, if I find her with some other guy again, I swear, I will walk out of your lives. You better tell her to behave." He shoves my hands away.

"Why are you yelling at me?" I couldn't help but ask. He lets out a deep breath. "Because I'm tired of this. I have to tolerate her only for you and if you, too, do something again then I'll lose my shit. If that psychopath of your killer comes to us, I'll tell him to kill your mother first." Saying this, he walks away.

I run into my room and cry my eyes out. I've never seen him this abusive and rude to me. I can't believe he said that. He hates mom so much. He is tired of this. Tired of me. Forty minutes of crying and I was almost asleep when the door shuts with a loud thud. Dad must have gone out for some fresh air. I hope he reconsiders what he said before. After ten minutes, the doorbell rings. I guess, he is back. I go downstairs and open my door. My mom flashes me smile and tilts her head.

"You loook sooo much like him," she slurs and walks past me. Her clothes are slightly dirty and even crinkled. I quickly shut the door and run toward her, making sure that she doesn't fall off.

"What happened to you, mom?" I ask. What did she do to herself?

"I was in the bar when I met this nice well-built man. I couldn't resist him. I just had to give in. He took it away. He took my virginity," she slurs. She is really drunk. She can't even think straight. She has a real daughter and is saying that she was virgin all along. My dad's word ring in my head once again.

'If that psychopath of your killer comes to us, I'll tell him to kill your mother first.'

I need to save her. I need to do something. If dad comes back and finds her like this, he will lose his mind. Fuck. Ugh. I somehow manage to hold her up and carry her to my room. She mutters something continuously about how amazing that man made her feel and how soar she really is. I almost vomit when she uses the words 'I want him inside of me.'

Tomorrow is going to be terrible. I hope she forgets everything and doesn't get into a fight again. I take my sleeping pills and let the sleep take all over me.

(Who can guess Amber's real name?)