The Beginning
ï¡ï¢
My life was very tough on me. I had grown up at a very early age. I knew about the hardships of life at the tender age of six. Despite the fact poverty I lived in, I still tried to make the most of it. My family is the best thing my life had to offer. They all loved me just as much as I loved them. My father, despite his drinking problem, loves me to death. My mother is like a friend, always helping me out and giving me advice. My brother, Christian, is my backbone, always supporting me.
I was lying half asleep when I heard the door close. I got up from my bed and went out to my living room. I turned on the light and saw Christian sitting on the couch.
"What are you doing up?", Christian asked me, surprised.
"I should be asking you that. I was falling asleep when I heard the door close. Why did you get here so late?", I backfired.
"I went out with some friends", he said.
"You should really stop lying, your nose will grow big. I'm going to sleep, you should too, we have school tomorrow", I reminded him.
"Yeah, I'll be in bed in fifteen"
I went into the room. Fifteen minutes later, like Christian had said, he was in the room. He and I shared the same room because we could only afford a two bedroom apartment. We only had two rooms, one for the adults, and the other for the kids. Christian and I had a very close relationship, we connected in a way that no two other people could. It was embarrassing, mainly because Christian and I were growing adolescents. Christian was sixteen, and I was fourteen. A girl my age shouldn't have to share rooms with a sixteen year old boy, even if he was my brother.
"Angel, where's Momma", Christian asked.
"She's at Aunt Clarissa's house. Aunt Clarissa got really sick, and Momma went over to take care of her and Georgie."
"So we're here alone with Tom?", he asked.
"Christian, why don't you just call him Daddy? Or anything that shows he's your father?", I asked.
"I don't want him as a father. He's a drunk and a low-life. I'm disappointed in him, and I always will be", he said to me.
"Christian, he may be an alcoholic, but he's still our father and he loves both of us", I said quietly.
"No, he doesn't. He loves you because your his little girl, but he has never loved me. Face it, he resents ever having me as a son", he said trying to disguise the pain.
I sat up in the bed, and walked over to his. I touched his cheek and he closed his eyes.
"I hope you don't believe that Christian. He does love you, we all do. If you ever feel like your not loved, just come to me and I promise I'll give you that love. Your my brother, I'll never reject you, just you remember that", I said.
"Go to sleep Angela", he said as if I had hurt him more with my words, rather than make him happier.
Sleep came easy to me that night, but I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with Christian's feelings. I wondered if he was telling the truth about Daddy not loving him. Now that I thought about it, I had never once heard Daddy say he loved he loved Christian, or speak nicely to him. He was always, serious, strict, and had a cold tone. Maybe it was just a man thing, but I didn't know.
The next morning, I woke up a bit groggy. The alarm clock had gone off. I got up and headed toward the shower. I quickly showered and got out of my bathroom. I went inside my bedroom where Christian still lay asleep, as usual. I nudged him gently on the shoulder. I whispered in his ear, " Come on Christian. It's time to wake up"
He mumbled something and got up. After Christian left, I put on my panties and bra. I got a pair of jeans and a shirt and put them on my bed. I wrapped my hair in a towel and then put on my clothes. By the time I was eating breakfast, Christian had gotten out of the shower. I went into the room while he was putting on his shirt.
If you hadn't gotten here so late maybe you wouldn't look so sleepy. Where were you last night? Tell me the truth", I said.
"I was walking around, thinking; you know to get some thing off my mind"
Christian always did that, whenever he felt mad, sad, or was distraught, he would go for walks by himself. Lately, he had been going more often.
"Okay, Come on Christian, we're going to be late", I said.
"I don't like school. Can't we just skip it?", he asked.
I was tempted to but I couldn't say yes.
"Come one Christian", I said getting my backpack, " It isn't that bad. How about we meet up for lunch, and sit down together to eat? I want to spend time with you, and I don't want you alone in the library anymore".
"Fine", he said.
I knew he enjoyed sitting with me instead of being in the library by himself. He pretended he didn't, but the truth was, he wouldn't sit to eat with anyone else but me. We got out of the house and walked toward the school.
"Did daddy get home yesterday?", I asked worried that he hadn't.
"Tom, yeah, he got home. He got late and drunk as usual", he said his voice filling up with anger.
"I'm just happy he was able to get home safely. Please don't hate him", I pleaded, "At least do it for me"
"Angel, you know I can't say no to you", he said with a sigh, " I'll try and be nice, but I can't make any promises.
I laughed and thanked him. We got to school in five minutes.
"I'll see you later", I told Christian. He nodded, then left.
School was the same as usual. First was English, History, Mathematics, and then lunch. It wasn't until lunch that things seemed to get interesting. Christian and I had just sat down with out lunch trays when my best friend Jessica came around. Jessica was 5'3 inches, had black hair that shone like the sky at night. She had a small round nose, and small lips; her hips were big, and waist slender, she was very attractive for a fourteen year old girl. I still had certain parts of my body to grow.
"Hi Jessica", I said as she stood in front of me.
"Hi, well okay, guess what I just found out!"
"Just tell me. I'm not good at reading your mind."
Christian smiled.
"Jacob Anderson wants to take you to the Valentine Sweetheart Ball!"
"Jacob Anderson? He wants to take me? You're joking with me, right?", I asked skeptically.
"No, I'm not lying. He told Andy, and Andy told Nicole. Nicole then told Vanessa, who then told me!"
I looked at Christian's face, his smile had dropped to a frown faster than an anvil.
"But why would he want to take me to the dance? Why is he noticing me now? I mean I have been here for a while."
"Dang girl, I'm more excited about this than you are", Jessica said sitting next to Christian.
"I'm thrilled, but shocked at the same time, that's all", I explained.
"I get you. Oh my goodness, Jacob Anderson has got to be the cutest and most popular guy in the eleventh grade. You are going to say yes is he asks you, right?", she asked me.
"I suppose I will"
"I wouldn't think twice about it", she said practically drooling from the thought of Jacob asking her to the dance.
I smiled and looked at Christian who had a strange, far away look on his face. All throughout lunch Jessica talked about Jacob as if he were planning to ask her and not me. I kept glancing at Christian's face, and all the time he had the same far away look on his face. After lunch I spent the whole day thinking of the things Jessica had said and the look on Christian's face.
After three more periods of classes, the school bell rang. I went to the backside of the school where I usually met with Christian. I was looking at the field of the school with my back turned from the exits, like always. "Hey Angela", I heard a voice come from behind me.
I turned around, there stood six feet tall, Jacob. His blonde hair was brushed back without a hair out of place. He wore jeans with a green plaid shirt to match his eyes. He wore the sexy smile that revealed his pearl white teeth that every girl loved.
My heart started to pound. It took all my courage just to say, "Hi Jacob"
"How are you doing? Who are you waiting for?"
"Oh, I'm waiting for my brother. I always wait for him to talk home", I stated.
"Do you want a ride home? I can give you one in my new Mercedez- Benz", he said with a lot of pride.
"Oh no, I wouldn't want you to go through any trouble"
"It's not trouble, I insist, I would be honored to take you", he said in a charming voice.
"I'm going to have to tell my brother. I mean I don't know if he'd mind"
"That's cool, you can ask him now", he said pointing to Christian who was walking up to, and looking at me with the same look on his face he had during lunch.
"Hi Christian, listen do you mind if you walking alone today? Jacob is going to give me a ride in his car, unless you want me to walk with you", I said.
"Yeah, sure, you didn't have to ask, I can walk by myself.", he said bitterly.
"Thanks Christian, I'll see you later", I said and waved at him.
I kind of felt bad for leaving him to walk by himself, but something about Jacob made me want to get in his car. Jacob and I walked to his car. He opened the door for me. After I sat, he went around got on the driver side. He started the car, it's engine purred softly. The leather seats were brand new like everything in his car.
"Hey I wanted to ask you something. You know how there's a dance next Friday. Well I was wondering if you'd like to go with me, would you?", he asked.
"Turn here", I directed him toward my house, "and I would love to go with you to the dance".
"Hey want to come over my house? You know to relax a little?", he asked.
"Relax?"
"Watch TV, get some snacks"
"Well, I don't know", I said nervously.
"It's just my house. We'll only watch TV and I'll get to know my date for the dance", he said.
"I, well, I suppose I could go to your house", I said reluctantly.
"Great", he said turning the other way and picking up speed.
"You know Angela, I've been watching you for a while."
"Really?", I asked surprised. I thought he didn't know I existed.
"Yeah, and you seem like such a nice girl. That's why I asked you to the dance. I like nice girls"
"Oh? But you went out with Johanna, and a lot of people have a second opinion on her", I said as a matter of fact.
"Yeah, but that's why I broke up with her"
"Oh"
"Hey, there's a football game on Friday. Want to come watch the game. You can be my lucky rabbit's foot. We'll win for sure if you're there", he said.
"Oh come on, you'd win whether I was there or not, but I guess I could go", I said trying not to disappoint him.
He took a left turn and drove up a long driveway. A huge house came into view.
"That's your house?", I asked shocked.
"Yeah, my family has one in Europe, and another on in California"
I was stunned with the information he gave me. He could had easily bought three whole blocks for the price of one house. He stopped the car and came to my door.
"What do your parents do for a living?", I asked.
"My dad is lawyer my mother doesn't really work. She's more of a traveler, she enjoys spending my dad's money."
We walked toward the mahogany wood doors. He fumbled with his keys, and opened the door. The house was completely empty. The house was huge, the entrance had a spectacular chandelier. It had two paintings of a garden with fairies in it. The table in the middle was big and had a vase filled with Orchids, Birds of Paradise, and Peace Lilies.
"Come on, let's get something to drink", Jacob said reaching for my hand.
The kitchen was spotless, unlike the one at my house. It had an island in the middle, and small table on the side.
"Where are your parents Jacob?", I asked.
"My dad's at new York working on a big case; My mom's in Egypt. Would you like a coke, scotch, or beer?".
"Wow, you must travel a lot"
"I just go to one house to another. Most of the time I'm at my Aunt Tanie house. She lives in Florida. Have you decided on what you want to drink?"
"Just some coke, thank you", I said.
"You know you have a pretty face. You should posing for a professional photographer".
"Oh no", I said modestly, "I don't think I'm good in front of a camera. I'd get too nervous".
"Nonsense, you know I know how to take pictures and develop my own pictures. I have my own darkroom built outside of the house. Maybe you'll pose for me some time", he said bringing back the sexy smile that could melt any resistance in me.
"I, ugh, I don't know", I said nervously.
"Oh come on, you'll have lots of fun", he insisted.
"Well-"
"I won't take no for an answer. I won't let you go until you say yes", he said.
I sighed. "Yes", I said smiling.
"How about Thursday?"
"I'll see if I can make it", I replied.
We sat down in his living to watch TV on his big screen TV. He put his around me. With the slightest touch of his arm around me, my heart started to pitter-patter.
"I meant what I said, you really are pretty. I'm glad I kept my eye on you"
He brought his hand to my chin and looked into my eyes; His eyes looked to sincere. I was so excited that my heart was thumping at one hundred miles per hour. He lowered his lips to mine and gave me my very first kiss. He kissed long and hard. He slipped his tongue into my mouth and his hand moved to the top of my breast. My body was filled with such exhilaration that I felt I would explode. His hand lowered to my stomach. His hand headed for the button of my jeans. A sense of panic came to me. Wasn't he going too fast?
"Stop", I said while he kissed my neck.
He kept on kissing my neck, moving down to open my blouse. He got to unbutton the first few buttons on my blouse, and the one on my jeans.
"Stop", I repeating pushing his face.
"What?", he said angrily
"I don't want to do this. I want to go home", I said.
"I'm sorry, all right, I'll take you home"
He got up and got his keys while I button my jeans and shirt.
"I really am sorry"
"It's okay. I should really get home"
We walked toward the door. He opened the door for me and we both got into his car. The whole ride to the house we listened to music.
"Well, here we are", he said turning off the ignition.
"Thank you", I said reaching for the door.
"Wait", he said reaching for my elbow", your going to come on Thursday?"
"I'll try and make it"
"Good", he said and kissed me on the lips.
I got out of the car quickly. I waved back to him when I reached the door. I opened the door and stepped quietly inside. I stood there dazed, frozen at the door.
"Hey, you're home", I heard Christian say, "why are you standing there?"
"I, ugh, I was just wondering what time it is, that's all", I lied.
"It's three thirty. Momma called, she asked for you, but I told her you were showering. She says she's going to have to stay in Aunt Clarissa's house again. It seems she's getting worse."
"Oh dear, I hope she gets better. I don't know what would happen if she passes away, not that she will. Thank you so much for covering for me, Christian. I'm sorry I came so late. I just- I thought-"
"It's okay, just don't do it again without Momma's permission"
"Thanks Christian", I hugged him, "I won't do it if I don't have Momma's permission and yours".
He didn't respond to my hug, just stood there. "Go start your homework Angela", he said.
ï¡ï¢
My life was very tough on me. I had grown up at a very early age. I knew about the hardships of life at the tender age of six. Despite the fact poverty I lived in, I still tried to make the most of it. My family is the best thing my life had to offer. They all loved me just as much as I loved them. My father, despite his drinking problem, loves me to death. My mother is like a friend, always helping me out and giving me advice. My brother, Christian, is my backbone, always supporting me.
I was lying half asleep when I heard the door close. I got up from my bed and went out to my living room. I turned on the light and saw Christian sitting on the couch.
"What are you doing up?", Christian asked me, surprised.
"I should be asking you that. I was falling asleep when I heard the door close. Why did you get here so late?", I backfired.
"I went out with some friends", he said.
"You should really stop lying, your nose will grow big. I'm going to sleep, you should too, we have school tomorrow", I reminded him.
"Yeah, I'll be in bed in fifteen"
I went into the room. Fifteen minutes later, like Christian had said, he was in the room. He and I shared the same room because we could only afford a two bedroom apartment. We only had two rooms, one for the adults, and the other for the kids. Christian and I had a very close relationship, we connected in a way that no two other people could. It was embarrassing, mainly because Christian and I were growing adolescents. Christian was sixteen, and I was fourteen. A girl my age shouldn't have to share rooms with a sixteen year old boy, even if he was my brother.
"Angel, where's Momma", Christian asked.
"She's at Aunt Clarissa's house. Aunt Clarissa got really sick, and Momma went over to take care of her and Georgie."
"So we're here alone with Tom?", he asked.
"Christian, why don't you just call him Daddy? Or anything that shows he's your father?", I asked.
"I don't want him as a father. He's a drunk and a low-life. I'm disappointed in him, and I always will be", he said to me.
"Christian, he may be an alcoholic, but he's still our father and he loves both of us", I said quietly.
"No, he doesn't. He loves you because your his little girl, but he has never loved me. Face it, he resents ever having me as a son", he said trying to disguise the pain.
I sat up in the bed, and walked over to his. I touched his cheek and he closed his eyes.
"I hope you don't believe that Christian. He does love you, we all do. If you ever feel like your not loved, just come to me and I promise I'll give you that love. Your my brother, I'll never reject you, just you remember that", I said.
"Go to sleep Angela", he said as if I had hurt him more with my words, rather than make him happier.
Sleep came easy to me that night, but I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with Christian's feelings. I wondered if he was telling the truth about Daddy not loving him. Now that I thought about it, I had never once heard Daddy say he loved he loved Christian, or speak nicely to him. He was always, serious, strict, and had a cold tone. Maybe it was just a man thing, but I didn't know.
The next morning, I woke up a bit groggy. The alarm clock had gone off. I got up and headed toward the shower. I quickly showered and got out of my bathroom. I went inside my bedroom where Christian still lay asleep, as usual. I nudged him gently on the shoulder. I whispered in his ear, " Come on Christian. It's time to wake up"
He mumbled something and got up. After Christian left, I put on my panties and bra. I got a pair of jeans and a shirt and put them on my bed. I wrapped my hair in a towel and then put on my clothes. By the time I was eating breakfast, Christian had gotten out of the shower. I went into the room while he was putting on his shirt.
If you hadn't gotten here so late maybe you wouldn't look so sleepy. Where were you last night? Tell me the truth", I said.
"I was walking around, thinking; you know to get some thing off my mind"
Christian always did that, whenever he felt mad, sad, or was distraught, he would go for walks by himself. Lately, he had been going more often.
"Okay, Come on Christian, we're going to be late", I said.
"I don't like school. Can't we just skip it?", he asked.
I was tempted to but I couldn't say yes.
"Come one Christian", I said getting my backpack, " It isn't that bad. How about we meet up for lunch, and sit down together to eat? I want to spend time with you, and I don't want you alone in the library anymore".
"Fine", he said.
I knew he enjoyed sitting with me instead of being in the library by himself. He pretended he didn't, but the truth was, he wouldn't sit to eat with anyone else but me. We got out of the house and walked toward the school.
"Did daddy get home yesterday?", I asked worried that he hadn't.
"Tom, yeah, he got home. He got late and drunk as usual", he said his voice filling up with anger.
"I'm just happy he was able to get home safely. Please don't hate him", I pleaded, "At least do it for me"
"Angel, you know I can't say no to you", he said with a sigh, " I'll try and be nice, but I can't make any promises.
I laughed and thanked him. We got to school in five minutes.
"I'll see you later", I told Christian. He nodded, then left.
School was the same as usual. First was English, History, Mathematics, and then lunch. It wasn't until lunch that things seemed to get interesting. Christian and I had just sat down with out lunch trays when my best friend Jessica came around. Jessica was 5'3 inches, had black hair that shone like the sky at night. She had a small round nose, and small lips; her hips were big, and waist slender, she was very attractive for a fourteen year old girl. I still had certain parts of my body to grow.
"Hi Jessica", I said as she stood in front of me.
"Hi, well okay, guess what I just found out!"
"Just tell me. I'm not good at reading your mind."
Christian smiled.
"Jacob Anderson wants to take you to the Valentine Sweetheart Ball!"
"Jacob Anderson? He wants to take me? You're joking with me, right?", I asked skeptically.
"No, I'm not lying. He told Andy, and Andy told Nicole. Nicole then told Vanessa, who then told me!"
I looked at Christian's face, his smile had dropped to a frown faster than an anvil.
"But why would he want to take me to the dance? Why is he noticing me now? I mean I have been here for a while."
"Dang girl, I'm more excited about this than you are", Jessica said sitting next to Christian.
"I'm thrilled, but shocked at the same time, that's all", I explained.
"I get you. Oh my goodness, Jacob Anderson has got to be the cutest and most popular guy in the eleventh grade. You are going to say yes is he asks you, right?", she asked me.
"I suppose I will"
"I wouldn't think twice about it", she said practically drooling from the thought of Jacob asking her to the dance.
I smiled and looked at Christian who had a strange, far away look on his face. All throughout lunch Jessica talked about Jacob as if he were planning to ask her and not me. I kept glancing at Christian's face, and all the time he had the same far away look on his face. After lunch I spent the whole day thinking of the things Jessica had said and the look on Christian's face.
After three more periods of classes, the school bell rang. I went to the backside of the school where I usually met with Christian. I was looking at the field of the school with my back turned from the exits, like always. "Hey Angela", I heard a voice come from behind me.
I turned around, there stood six feet tall, Jacob. His blonde hair was brushed back without a hair out of place. He wore jeans with a green plaid shirt to match his eyes. He wore the sexy smile that revealed his pearl white teeth that every girl loved.
My heart started to pound. It took all my courage just to say, "Hi Jacob"
"How are you doing? Who are you waiting for?"
"Oh, I'm waiting for my brother. I always wait for him to talk home", I stated.
"Do you want a ride home? I can give you one in my new Mercedez- Benz", he said with a lot of pride.
"Oh no, I wouldn't want you to go through any trouble"
"It's not trouble, I insist, I would be honored to take you", he said in a charming voice.
"I'm going to have to tell my brother. I mean I don't know if he'd mind"
"That's cool, you can ask him now", he said pointing to Christian who was walking up to, and looking at me with the same look on his face he had during lunch.
"Hi Christian, listen do you mind if you walking alone today? Jacob is going to give me a ride in his car, unless you want me to walk with you", I said.
"Yeah, sure, you didn't have to ask, I can walk by myself.", he said bitterly.
"Thanks Christian, I'll see you later", I said and waved at him.
I kind of felt bad for leaving him to walk by himself, but something about Jacob made me want to get in his car. Jacob and I walked to his car. He opened the door for me. After I sat, he went around got on the driver side. He started the car, it's engine purred softly. The leather seats were brand new like everything in his car.
"Hey I wanted to ask you something. You know how there's a dance next Friday. Well I was wondering if you'd like to go with me, would you?", he asked.
"Turn here", I directed him toward my house, "and I would love to go with you to the dance".
"Hey want to come over my house? You know to relax a little?", he asked.
"Relax?"
"Watch TV, get some snacks"
"Well, I don't know", I said nervously.
"It's just my house. We'll only watch TV and I'll get to know my date for the dance", he said.
"I, well, I suppose I could go to your house", I said reluctantly.
"Great", he said turning the other way and picking up speed.
"You know Angela, I've been watching you for a while."
"Really?", I asked surprised. I thought he didn't know I existed.
"Yeah, and you seem like such a nice girl. That's why I asked you to the dance. I like nice girls"
"Oh? But you went out with Johanna, and a lot of people have a second opinion on her", I said as a matter of fact.
"Yeah, but that's why I broke up with her"
"Oh"
"Hey, there's a football game on Friday. Want to come watch the game. You can be my lucky rabbit's foot. We'll win for sure if you're there", he said.
"Oh come on, you'd win whether I was there or not, but I guess I could go", I said trying not to disappoint him.
He took a left turn and drove up a long driveway. A huge house came into view.
"That's your house?", I asked shocked.
"Yeah, my family has one in Europe, and another on in California"
I was stunned with the information he gave me. He could had easily bought three whole blocks for the price of one house. He stopped the car and came to my door.
"What do your parents do for a living?", I asked.
"My dad is lawyer my mother doesn't really work. She's more of a traveler, she enjoys spending my dad's money."
We walked toward the mahogany wood doors. He fumbled with his keys, and opened the door. The house was completely empty. The house was huge, the entrance had a spectacular chandelier. It had two paintings of a garden with fairies in it. The table in the middle was big and had a vase filled with Orchids, Birds of Paradise, and Peace Lilies.
"Come on, let's get something to drink", Jacob said reaching for my hand.
The kitchen was spotless, unlike the one at my house. It had an island in the middle, and small table on the side.
"Where are your parents Jacob?", I asked.
"My dad's at new York working on a big case; My mom's in Egypt. Would you like a coke, scotch, or beer?".
"Wow, you must travel a lot"
"I just go to one house to another. Most of the time I'm at my Aunt Tanie house. She lives in Florida. Have you decided on what you want to drink?"
"Just some coke, thank you", I said.
"You know you have a pretty face. You should posing for a professional photographer".
"Oh no", I said modestly, "I don't think I'm good in front of a camera. I'd get too nervous".
"Nonsense, you know I know how to take pictures and develop my own pictures. I have my own darkroom built outside of the house. Maybe you'll pose for me some time", he said bringing back the sexy smile that could melt any resistance in me.
"I, ugh, I don't know", I said nervously.
"Oh come on, you'll have lots of fun", he insisted.
"Well-"
"I won't take no for an answer. I won't let you go until you say yes", he said.
I sighed. "Yes", I said smiling.
"How about Thursday?"
"I'll see if I can make it", I replied.
We sat down in his living to watch TV on his big screen TV. He put his around me. With the slightest touch of his arm around me, my heart started to pitter-patter.
"I meant what I said, you really are pretty. I'm glad I kept my eye on you"
He brought his hand to my chin and looked into my eyes; His eyes looked to sincere. I was so excited that my heart was thumping at one hundred miles per hour. He lowered his lips to mine and gave me my very first kiss. He kissed long and hard. He slipped his tongue into my mouth and his hand moved to the top of my breast. My body was filled with such exhilaration that I felt I would explode. His hand lowered to my stomach. His hand headed for the button of my jeans. A sense of panic came to me. Wasn't he going too fast?
"Stop", I said while he kissed my neck.
He kept on kissing my neck, moving down to open my blouse. He got to unbutton the first few buttons on my blouse, and the one on my jeans.
"Stop", I repeating pushing his face.
"What?", he said angrily
"I don't want to do this. I want to go home", I said.
"I'm sorry, all right, I'll take you home"
He got up and got his keys while I button my jeans and shirt.
"I really am sorry"
"It's okay. I should really get home"
We walked toward the door. He opened the door for me and we both got into his car. The whole ride to the house we listened to music.
"Well, here we are", he said turning off the ignition.
"Thank you", I said reaching for the door.
"Wait", he said reaching for my elbow", your going to come on Thursday?"
"I'll try and make it"
"Good", he said and kissed me on the lips.
I got out of the car quickly. I waved back to him when I reached the door. I opened the door and stepped quietly inside. I stood there dazed, frozen at the door.
"Hey, you're home", I heard Christian say, "why are you standing there?"
"I, ugh, I was just wondering what time it is, that's all", I lied.
"It's three thirty. Momma called, she asked for you, but I told her you were showering. She says she's going to have to stay in Aunt Clarissa's house again. It seems she's getting worse."
"Oh dear, I hope she gets better. I don't know what would happen if she passes away, not that she will. Thank you so much for covering for me, Christian. I'm sorry I came so late. I just- I thought-"
"It's okay, just don't do it again without Momma's permission"
"Thanks Christian", I hugged him, "I won't do it if I don't have Momma's permission and yours".
He didn't respond to my hug, just stood there. "Go start your homework Angela", he said.