Chapter 5Home sweet home

  The walk home is a rather uneventful journey. Shopping pza gives way to slightly less packed shopping pza that gives way to suburban hell that eventually ends with my house at the end of a cul-de-sac. One red SUV in the driveway means mom is home and dad’s at work. Goodie for me.

  A pit forms in my stomach as my key slides into the lock, the texture of the pins and tumblers is bright against my fingertips. A soft click and a slow turn gives access to home sweet home, I keep my steps light and the door lighter as I shut it behind me before releasing the doorknob. A couple quick tugs on my ces leaves my boots abandoned at the front door to fend for themselves.

  ‘Gearbreakers’ is tucked in my folded hoodie, hidden from prying eyes. Carpeted, perfectly clean, stairs stand between me and my oasis in this hell I call a home. One step, two step, Three step, four step, there's more. Shuffling sounds from the kitchen signals my mom is downstairs and not up, it tells me I have time, an air of opportunity. I bolt up the remaining stairs and find myself past the threshold of my own space for the first time since this morning.

  Satanic band posters line my walls, you know the ones. Alice In Chains, Tool, Slipknot, Highly Suspect. This is the one pce I can be myself, I don’t have to be what anybody else wants me to be. Home sweet home.

  My bed groans with protest as I throw myself onto the king sized cloud. Dark purple pillows dive to the floor in response, my new book digs into my hip and I let out an oof. I roll over twice with the agility of a ninja and reach into my bedside table and pull out the dust cover for ‘Ye Olde Holy Bible’ and slip it onto my copy of Gearbreakers.

  About three hours go past and I’m completely absorbed in the story. That is until I turn the page and I’m face to face with my biggest fear. I’m not sure fear is the right word. I know I can’t find the right one that describes the feeling in my stomach as I stare at the graffitied receipt wedged between the pages of my book. 4.99 employee discount, phone number, heart.

  My phone is in my hand before I even know it, the number typed into a new text message. Bnk. Bnk. Bnk. What should I write? Hidden novel abandoned recklessly on my bed. I sprint downstairs and into the kitchen.

  “Hey mom, where’s Felix?” I ask eagerly

  “Hey honey, I don’t know, did you check on my bed? That’s his usual sunbeam this time of day.” She says softly as she chops carrots.

  “Oh truuuuue. Thanks mom”

  I’m gone before she even has a chance to question it, like lightning. Before Felix gets a chance to prepare and let out a begging meow, I’m on him like white on rice. My face mushes into Felix and the rotund siamese immediately gets to licking my hair.

  “What’s up, buddy. Do I need a bath?” I giggle and bring my phone out in front of the both of us and snap a handful of selfies with a surprisingly genuine smile on my lips.

  I pick out a selfie with Felix mid lick on a tuft of my hair and a soft smile gracing my gothic lips. Before I get a chance to second guess myself, I hit send. My face turns a light tinge of pink, the phone gets stuffed back into my pocket and I scoop Felix up into my arms. He accepts his fate and ys there like a tub of getin in my arms. Jiggling while I return to the kitchen to properly greet my mother.

  “Good afternoon, Mother. How was your morning?” I ask with a faux royal accent.

  She tries to keep up the py accents “My morning was quite good, Daughter. What hath brought-eth your…” She sighs deeply “I can’t do it. What’s got your face so blushy like that?”

  “Felix tried to give me a bath and it tickled.” I look down to where Felix is still actively licking the split ends of my hair as he lounges in my arms. The perfect lie.

  “Oh yeah? You sure you didn’t meet anyone fun at the coffee shop today? It’s not like you to just run out and visit work on your day off.”

  “I just went to taunt Tara since she’s stuck there with Jake all day. Jokes on her for picking up a shift when I’m not there.”

  “Oh, how is Tara? I haven’t seen her in a while. Maybe I ought to swing by the coffee shop when you’re both there.”

  You me, Tara, and my stalker not-crush. What a grand time that would be.

  “Yeah that would be fun, mom. I’m gonna head upstairs and read. Let me know if you want any help with dinner or something.”

  I’m gone before she gets a chance to reply. My steps speed up as I feel my back pocket vibrate with a text message. Felix jiggles faster in my arms as I climb the stairs. Feet finding a rhythmic pattern that would make Danny Carrey jealous. Time to see what she says.

  SgathaChristie