Chapter 10:

Mom and dad are ignoring each other. They look at each other and don't say a word.

To be honest, this is better than arguing. Although the house is quiet and tense, it keeps the peace to a maximum.

As I sit on the couch flipping channels, I tilt my head to the side. Mom clears her throat when she joins. As dad shuffles his feet, he sits on the loveseat.

"What are you watching?" Dad asks me.

"Nothing really." I keep flipping channels until I stop on Big bang Theory. My favorite episode was on. Sheldon had a mental block from work. He was in the ballpit.

"Oh, I don't know why you like this show. That Sheldon is so annoying." Mom's disdain in her voice when she enters the living room.

"But he's funny," I reply with a chuckle. She shakes her head. I'm watching the episode with concentration. I chuckle at what Penny says to Sheldon.

The silence is deafening between them. Dad's scrolling on his phone. Mom's reading her book. Ok, I gotta go. I throw the remote on the couch and head to my room. They can do that alone.

As I get up to my room, my phone rings. It's Quinn. "Hello?" I say as I answer.

"Hey, did you know Sam's having a party?" She asks.

"He is?" I raise an eyebrow.

"You didn't know? You live next door to him."

"Well, we're not exactly close." I jump on the bed and lay on my stomach.

"He said he's having one this friday. Wanna go?"

I look out the window again. A shadow looming in his room. I roll off the bed, onto my feet and walk to the window. Pulling the curtain back, his room's empty and dark. In fourth grade, his mom invited us for a party due to our class winning a spelling bee contest. I even memorized the word I had to spell: Successful. That was a long time ago. The fact that we lived next door for years and that was the first and last time I've been in his house says something.

"So, you'll go?"

"I don't think so." I putter my mouth.

"Shall I list the pros for you?"

"Please don't," I beg.

"Pro: it's easier for you. He's right next door. Walking distance in case you get drunk. And he throws some great parties."

"Cons: My parents find out I'm drunk at the boy's next door's house because I thought the punch was non alcoholic but it's been doused with vodka. I get grounded and don't see the light of day until I go to college. I will probably get arrested if someone brings drugs and/or weapons." I don't drink but I doubt mom and dad would let me go to a party with alcohol and no adult supervision. They met his parents once when we had PTSA meetings in grade school.

"You don't drink anyway. It's just in case you do. We gotta go, though. It's our senior year. We should make it memorable. Not just with after school activities." I sigh, closing the curtains back. She does have a point.

I'm not in a mood to party. "We'll have fun."

"You said that last time. Freshman year. You got into a fight with that Caroline girl." I didn't think Quinn could throw a punch like that.

"Hey, that bitch had no right to throw soda on me. Claiming I hit on her boyfriend when he was hitting on me. And that was a new top too."

"True, I'm not in a mood to party."

"Maya! Please! I don't wanna go alone."

"What about Tyler?"

"He's coming."

"So you won't be alone. I will."

"You'll be with us."

"As a third wheel," I frown.

"Ok, you can have fun. You don't have fun," she says.

"Yes I do."

"You're always worried about drama or your parents or your grades. It'll be a good distraction for you." She has a point. Who wasn't worried about grades our age? I want to get into university.

"Would he even invite me in?" I fiddle with one of my book's pages.

"You're not a vampire," she chuckles. I chuckle as well and then sigh.

"Quinn, do I roll my eyes a lot?" As my best friend, she should be honest.

"Uh, well no?" it comes out as a question.

"Oh my god, I do?" I don't even notice.

"Not as much, it's like, ok. You occasionally do. Like when you're annoyed or pissed at something you saw or heard."

"Yeah! That's what I said," I shake my head.

"So, you'll come?"

"Ok, I'll go." I finally agreed.

"Awesome! We'll meet you at your house at nine!" I smile at her gleeful tone.

"Awesome." We hang up on each other. Could be fun. I hear the door slam and flinch. I get up in a rush and run downstairs. "What happened?"

"Your mom went for a walk," dad says, shaking his head with a growl.

"Walk?" I snap my head back and scrunch my face.

"It's ok, she had to clear her head. she'll be back." He clears her throat and forces a smile. I pick at my lips with my teeth, dad passes me by as he heads out. Craig rolls his eyes, wearing his jacket.

"Where are you going?" I ask with a frown.

"Out." He gets his keys locking the door behind him. I scoff, placing my hands on my hips. I'm alone. I grab my shoes, keys and phone and head out. Weren't they just sitting on the couch? All their cars are gone. I roll my eyes, if only I had one. What the hell is going on? I step away from my house, walking as far away to the bus stop to the mall. I don't have any cash. Crap. Instead, I jog to the park. Not a lot of people there, mostly some walking their dogs. Wish I had one.

Sitting on the bench, I look at the scenery, it's beautiful. The way the cloud moves around the sun, you can tell the earth is rotating. When did it stop being simple? My eyes sting, tears drip off my cheek. I wipe them off. Don't cry, there's no point. I feel my phone vibrate. It's snapchat stories from my friends. I watch each and every one, Quinn's still with Tyler, he kisses her cheek. I smile, so cute. Nathan's at home, in front of the tv watching Minions movie with his cousin which he captioned: one more time, he says😐

There's another story with Anna and her boyfriend on a scenic route for a picnic. So sweet! Scrolling through the rest, I exit and go to youtube, putting in my bluetooth headphones. Hamilton comes on my recommended list, I start playing "My Shot" in low volume. I mouth the words to myself.

Dogs bark as they run through the grass, one brown fluffy one comes toward me. He looks like my old toy dog I called Brownie. Similar dark brown fur, floppy ears. He sniffs my foot, I don't mind.

It moves up to my lap. I jump, "whoa. I don't have any food," I mutter, patting his head. It's so furry. My fingers massage under it and I look for the name tag. "Chewy," I read out loud. "Where's your owner?" Their black eyes look up to me and whimpers. Aww, I pout. I wish I could take you home. But mom and dad hate dogs. Pets in general. We never had one, even when I begged and pleaded. I pull off one of the headphones, seeking their owner.

"Chewy, don't do that. Sorry, she tends to escape once I let her go for a run around." A boy with loose curly hair comes up, finger brushing her fur. His smile is bright, showing most of his teeth. His eyes, light hazel. The sunlight hits his face, making it look green. A thud hits my chest and I gulp.

"I-it's fine." I stand up, Chewy comes around my ankles and licks them. I jump and let her continue.

"She seems to like you," he says. Our gazes meet, I clear my throat and hold my face.

"See ya," he pats his thigh for Chewy to come along. She barks and follows behind him.

"Wait," I stop myself, standing up and my shoulders slump. I should have asked for his name. Damn.

The giddy sensation came back when we went our opposite ways. I almost skip the rest of the way, stumbling on my feet when I arrive at the doorstep. "Ow." I open the door, it was quiet. Then I heard footsteps coming downstairs.

"Where were you?" Dad asks.

"The park." I pointed.

"Mmm. And your brother?"

"Out. Where's mom?"

"Upstairs."He waves his hand dismissively, walking off to the kitchen.

"Is everything-"

"Maya, it's fine." His tone is short before he walks away. I feel defeated, dragging my legs upstairs. I can't talk to Craig because he's always out. I shake my head, going to my room. It's making my head hurt thinking about this with no one to talk to. I look to my side, Sam's light is on. I noticed movement, no. He won't care. I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling until I got tired.