I pull up in my drive way, nervously looking at the house. Miles drove me to pick up my car at Jason's house where I had left it last night and lucky for me, Jason wasn't home, I might have escaped him but there's no way of escaping my mom.

I breathe in deeply before creeking the front door open, peeking through before letting myself inside.

"Nickolas, is that you?" My Mom asks from the living room.

Screw my life.

"Y-eah" I stutter, slowly closing the door behind me.

She comes into the hallway and starts walking towards me like she's about to smack the shit out of me but she surprisingly doesn't, she gives me a tight hug that almost suffocates me.

"I thought something bad happened to you." She says through our hug.

"I'm okay, Mom." I reassure her.

Maybe I might have misjudged this whole thing.

"Good, now I can do this." She pulls away and slaps the life out of me, "Where in God's name were you?" She drags me by the ear into the living room like I'm ten all over again.

I spoke too soon.

"Ouch, that hurts." I whine, rubbing my ear and cheek.

"Tell me where you disappeared to last night." She demands, crossing her hands over her chest and waiting for me to explain myself.

"I crashed at my friend Jason's last night and I went to school this morning then came home from there." I lie.

"Nickolas Benny Adams." She calls my full name.

You know shit is about to go down when your mom calls you by your full name.

"I'm telling the truth Ma, I swear to-"

"Don't you dare swear, Nick, I called your school this morning and they said you weren't in school." She growls.

Fuck, I should have thought about that.

She's already disappointed in me for doing a lot of shit and now I'm lying to her.

"Okay fine, I'll tell you the truth." I let out a sigh of defeat as I sit on the couch and mom sits beside me.

Not how I pictured my death but here it is.

I rest my elbows on my knees, looking down at the coffee table, "I went to a club with my friends and we got way too wasted, that's why I wasn't at school today." I don't look at her once.

"A club? Seriously? What are you doing with your life, Nick?" She asks.

"It was just for fun, mom." My tone comes out as a whisper.

"And that's the problem, don't you see? You're having too much fun, going out to parties every Friday night, you drink almost every day and you're hanging out with the wrong crowd." She scolds. I huff.

"I'm eighteen, mom, what did you do when you were eighteen?" I ask her, already feeling irritated but not quite showing it.

"I didn't treat my mother like shit and I studied my ass off." She gives me the perfect answer.

I feel like she has answers to every question, it's almost unbelievable.

"Good for you, mom." Feeling like I'm done with this conversation, I stand up to head over to my room.

"Is this about Kayla again?" Her question numbs my legs and I freeze.

"Excuse me?" I turn to look at her again.

"Sweetheart, I know what you're going through but please, you have to forget about her or else-"

"Or else what? I'm gonna go crazy and you're gonna have to put me in some psychiatric hospital? Or get me back into therapy, is that it?" I snap at her.

"Hey, I can never lock you in some psych ward, I just want to know what is going on in my son's life, that's all." she shrugs, slightly shaking her head.

"She broke me, okay? that's why I drink and party all the fucking time it helps me forget." I say truthfully.

Mom slowly strides towards me and just hugs me again.

"You're not broken, sweetie, don't say that." she rubs my back gently.

I hate that she doesn't stay mad at me for a long time, I want her to stay mad because I don't deserve this kindness.

"I'm sorry for being such a bad son." I apologise quietly.

Have you ever met those women who have been through it all? If you haven't, my mom happens to be one of those women. She really has been through some fucked up shit, me adding more fucked up shit on top is too unfair, she literally raised my brother and I on her own because our asshole father was never home, in fact, it didn't make a difference when he was.

"It's okay," she pulls away, "Now, let's go make some brownies for your brother's new girlfriend." She says excitedly, walking to the kitchen.

"Wait, Adam has a girlfriend?" I follow her into the kitchen.

She nods yes and I sit on the counter, I watch as she starts pulling out brownie ingredients, my mom relieves stress through baking, that's kind of how I know how to bake myself. I just watch her bake sweet treats and I end up learning something.

***

Friday.

Sitting with Victoria and Lilian in the cafeteria. at 'the wrong crowd's' table as my mother called them is tiring, all these people talk about is money, parties, hotties and sex. it's really obnoxious but what can I do?

"Dude, check that out." Miles comes from literally nowhere and points at Jason, Amanda and Allison while sitting next to me.

They look like they're having a deep conversation.

"What's up with them." I ask, nodding my head towards them and taking a bite on my fry.

"Get this, Sofia got detention so Jason thought it would be a good idea if Amanda sat with us but they have to get permission from the pretty best friend Allison." He spills the drama.

I bet Allison is disapproving like the seventeen year old parent that she tries to be.

Allison Allison Allison, God I almost forgot about her but now that I see her it's all coming back to me. The smile, sarcasm, humour and not forgetting the weird one meter apart thing.

My eyes rake down her body, she's wearing black ripped jeans, a blue jumper jacket, a white crop top and boots. I'd do anything to see that girl in a tight dress, but I'll take what I have right now, I let my eyes linger on the skin that's showing on her stomach.

Flat stomach, small waist, nice tits, nice-

"Jason is such an ass." Says his sister, I look away from Allison.

"Yeah." We all agree.

Poor Amanda, she's gonna be heartbroken.

Allison walks out on them and they start coming over, Jason having his arm around Amanda's shoulder makes me roll my eyes.

He had the same exact hand around Sofia on Wednesday.

"Hey guys." He greets as they both take their seats.

No one answers him and he doesn't question why because deep deep down, he knows why.

I, on the other hand, give Amanda a welcoming smile which she returns, I know the rest of these people don't want her here. To them, this is like replacing Sofia.

"Guys, It's Friday, let's talk parties. Who the hell is hosting tonight?" Victoria asks everyone and I immediately block their voices out.

I promised my mom I would try to change for the better and that's what I'm going to do.

My eyes go in search for Allison around the cafeteria, I spot her sitting next to that Carl guy. He has his arm around her and he's whispering things in her ear which keeps her smiling.

She would probably knee me if I ever put my arm around her like that.

Carl suddenly pauses and goes bug eyed. He then gets up from his seat then stands on top of it like he's about to make an announcement.

I hope they are getting married tomorrow.

"Yes! She said yes! She'll go to the stupid dance with me!" He shouts, flying his hands in the air like a child.

Oh brother.

"Nobody gives a shit!" Miles shouts to Carl.

My eyes shift to Allison, I can tell she's wishing her seat can just swallow her whole or teleport her somewhere else, like feeling my gaze on her, she looks my way and we lock eyes. I'm not the type to look away when I'm caught staring but she definitely is so she looks away.

Coward.

"I think that is the most romantic response I've heard a guy make about this dance." Says Victoria with her hand on her chest like it warms her heart. I roll my eyes at her.

Some bullshit.

"There's Allison." Victoria leans on the table and whispers to us, why is she whispering? It's not like any eavesdroppers are gonna care.

Allison is on her way to the exit.

"Hey Allison!" Lilian calls after her, she turns to look.

She looks around her, kinda like she's looking for another Allison.

"Liliana, Allison is not to be fucked with." Jason warns his sister.

By that statement, you can only assume that she's on her way here.

"Don't call me Liliana and I'm not gonna fuck with her." She hisses at her brother.

Oh she's definitely gonna fuck with her.

The next thing I know, Allison is standing by our table and waiting for someone to talk.

"Hey." is what Lilian thinks of saying.

"Hi." she responds with a fake grin, I can tell when she's faking it, even though she doesn't show that she's faking it.

"I like your uhm...shoes." Compliments Lilian, Allison stares down at her own shoes.

"I like your uhm... sarcasm, it's almost convincing." She now fakes a laugh.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Lilian's mood gets serious.

Jesus.

"Depends, are you calling my shoes ugly?" She fires back.

"She's feisty, I can see why you like her." Miles leans over and whispers to me, I push his face away.

I don't fucking like her!

"Maybe I am." Lilian stands up, giving Allison a daring look, "What are you gonna do about it?" She's calling for a fight.

Why do I feel like there's more to this than meets the eye? Did I say something about Allison to Lilian on Wednesday night?

Why am I even asking, I probably did but who cares.

I hate that alcohol makes me forget shit.

"Is she daring me right now?" Allison snorts, somehow amused. "listen queen bee.." she starts, dropping her smile.

We are all silently watching them.

"You might think you're all that and shit but you don't scare me, jump on top of me and rip my hair out if you want but I refuse to be bullied or talked down on by you little rich-"

"Okay, that's enough." I get up, walking over to her, I grab her wrist and drag her away from the table and out of the cafeteria. She tries to get out of my grip but fails.

The hallways are empty since everyone is in the cafeteria, I let go of her hand from there, placing both hands on the wall behind her on both her sides, this way, our faces are close and there's no way of escaping me.

She hitches her breath, I smile.

"Princess, it's not okay to call out rich people on being rich." I whisper, locking eyes with her.

She's looking tense, nervous, anxious, scared and afraid. It's amazing how I'm able to bring out so many emotions in her.

"I told you to let me live in my own world." she furiously grits her teeth.

Here we go again with the worlds.

"Uh-huh but I can't, your world is my world too silly." I tuck her hair behind her ear, "And I can't stop thinking about talking to you." I slowly graze my thumb along her bottom lip, she releases a hot breath when my other hand makes contact with bare stomach.

I'm just teasing but I think she likes it?Cause why else hasn't she kneed me yet?

Her lips are so fucking soft though.

If only I could just.. taste.

One taste.

I stare at her lips, maybe I even swallow while staring at her lips. She extends her hands to my chest, pushing me away and making a run for it.

I laugh.

Who the hell runs?