A/N: I was trying to resist starting another story, but I just couldn't help myself. So far I'm not in over my head, so I think I can handle updating four stories. I like the challenge. This story idea just came to me when I was at work the other day, we weren't busy so I had a lot of thinking time on my hands. This is different from all the other stories I am currently writing. I wanted to take a look at high school life, so here it is. Hope you enjoy.
1. Breathe
High school is supposed to be the best time of your life; unless you're invisible. I lived in a small town, and yet, I still wasn't seen. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I had been run into in the hallway, or how many times I have had the door slam into my face because no one realized that I was there.
Other than Angela, I didn't have any friends. Her father and my father were friends, so we'd been destined to be friends before we were even born. Our fathers were policemen. My father died when I was a baby. They went on a call and the perpetrator had been armed with a gun, killing my father with a shot through the heart. Angela's father had retired last year and now owned his own business.
My mother had taken years to start dating again, she worked a lot after the life insurance money ran out, trying to make ends meet. Three years ago she started dating this guy that seemed great. I liked him, he would take me to the bookstore or we would all go out to a movie, kind of like a family. He was the closest thing to a father I had ever had. Everything was going great until he my mom told him that she was pregnant with my baby brother. He walked out on us that night, saying that he didn't want a baby, leaving my mother devastated and on her own to raise a baby.
The day after I turned sixteen, I got a job to help her out. She was already working crazy hours at the hospital as a CNA and we were getting to the point that we really needed money, the child support that Phil paid helped a little, but not enough. It was kind of a win win. We would have extra money, I was working at the used bookstore that I loved.
I was a Sophomore, and at sixteen, had never had a boyfriend or, at least very least, been kissed. It's not something that I thought about a lot; I really didn't have the time, between school and work, I was lucky if I was able to go out with Angela on Friday or Saturday nights. She really helped get my mind off of things when I needed it.
"Hey, Angela," I whispered to her. We were in Biology, my worst class, and for the life of me, I hadn't been able to focus on anything that Mr. Banner was saying.
"What's up?" she paused her note taking to look at me.
"Can I barrow your notes later? I missed most of them." I looked at her sheepishly.
"Sure," she smiled. "You don't even have to ask, Bella."
"Thank you." I looked back at the power point that Mr. Banner was showing.
"Do you want to come over to my house later? I can help you with this." she offered quietly.
"I can't," I looked at her once again. "My mom is working late and I have to pick up Tyler from the babysitter after school."
"Okay, the offer still stands anytime you need it."
Angela's home life was the opposite of mine. She still had both of her parents and lived on the opposite side of town than I did. Both her father and mother did well for themselves and I'm pretty sure that she could go to any college that she wanted. I would be lucky to even go. The only way being if I got a scholarship, and if I didn't get my biology grade up, I didn't see that happening. I had A's in every other class, but this one.
When the bell rang, Angela and I walked slowly to gym. We were lucky, we had most of our classes together.
I didn't hate gym, but I didn't like either. Although, were in the middle of sex ed. at the moment, and I just didn't want to have that with a male teacher. I tried to get my mom to sign the piece of paper to get me out of it, but she wouldn't have it, saying that it was important to learn how to say know. The last time I checked, I don't really remember them promoting anything other than abstinence, with a little about contraception thrown in for fun.
Angela and I took a seat on the bleachers next to each other. The rest of the class was already here by the time we were.
"Hey," Lauren came and sat next to us. I wouldn't consider her a friend as much as a friendly acquaintance. "Did you here that Mike and Jessica are doing it? Apparently he bought a box of condoms yesterday at the drugstore." did I mention that she really liked to gossip?
"Who told you that?" Angela asked skeptically.
"Ben Cheney. He was cashiering when he bought them." she looked us expectantly.
"Ben also likes to make things up." I commented. "We are in the middle of sex ed. he probably is just saying because he got inspired."
Lauren huffed before looking straight ahead. I guess we didn't have the reaction she desired.
"Do you think it's true?" Angela whispered to me.
I shrugged, "Mike has always been a horn dog."
"Yeah," she looked at her hands.
"Students!" Coach Clapp yelled, "Put the phones away or they will be sent to the main office and your parents will have to come and pick them up. Who would like to explain that one?"
There were groans as all the students put their phones away. I didn't have a cell phone, we couldn't afford it, and if we could the only person that would call me is Angela.
"Let's continue." I drowned him out, waiting for the final bell to ring so I could go home.
Times like these I missed playing dodge ball. That wasn't as embarrassing as this. Especially with immature teenage boys laughing every time he said the word vagina or penis, that is what I lived for. Why couldn't boys mature as fast girls? That would make life a lot less complicated. In high school, everything was a big deal, whether it be who you're dating, sleeping with, etc. I wasn't dating anyone. I was doubtful I ever would.
I love my mom, but when it came to boys, I wish my dad was still here. He could give me perspective, I mean after all, he was a boy. He would know how they think, but these days, they usually only had one thing on their mind. Sex. I wasn't ready for that. I just wanted a guy to notice me. That's all I want.
When the bell finally rang, Angela and I were the first one's out. I tripped going down the bleacher stairs after stepping on the string of my backpack.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Bella!" Angela called as she started walking one way, and I, the other.
"See ya!" I started down the sidewalk toward Mrs. Mallory's house. She ran a babysitting business out of her home, she was also Lauren's mom, but because the cost was so cheap, we took Tyler there to stay during the day.
Lauren's mom was nothing like her. She didn't gossip and always gave me cookies to take home every Friday afternoon. They were really good cookies, by the way. She was one of the sweetest people you would ever meet.
I kicked a rock with my foot, watching it skid on the pavement. It was early November and the air was just starting to get a chill, it felt nice. The leaves were starting to change from green to oranges, yellows, and reds. I loved fall, I loved all the colors that it brings. My mom says that fall was my dad's favorite season; knowing that made me feel more connected to him, like I shared something other than the color of my hair and eyes with the man.
When I got to the Mallory's house, Mrs. Mallory was standing on the porch with Tyler and his small bag of stuff.
"Hello, Mrs. Mallory," I greeted her with a smile. "Thank you for watching him." I took his bag from her, swinging it over my shoulder.
"You don't have to thank me, sweetie. He's a treat to be around." she smiled at Tyler.
Tyler really was a treat, he didn't cry a lot as a baby, and now at two, he hadn't started the terrible two's, although, there was still time.
"I'll see you, soon," she said as I started down her steps holding my baby brother.
We didn't live far from Mallory house, which was a blessing because he still didn't walk very fast, and got heavy very quickly.
"Stay there, bud." I set him down on our porch while I unlocked the door. "There," I opened the door so we could walk in.
Our house was a small two bedroom, two story house. Tyler still slept in with my mom, which I was thankful for, not that I didn't love my brother, just as a teenage girl, you need your privacy.
Our living room was still marked with the remembrance of my father. The pictures he hung on the walls were still there, along with his stuffed fish. His chair still sat in front of the fireplace. My mom didn't have the heart to change anything, I didn't blame her. I couldn't imagine losing the love of my life so suddenly like that was a one-year-old to take care of. I respected her greatly for everything that she has been able to do over the years. We may not have much, but what we did have was filled with love.
My mom and I got along great for the most part, but like every other mother and daughter, we fought, mainly about stupid things that didn't even matter. She had been on me recently because of my biology grade. I had a C, while I was getting straight A's in everything else. I just didn't get biology. What I needed was a tutor, and while I love Angela dearly, she just wasn't great at explaining things.
"Sissy, cheerios!" Tyler exclaimed. It was a tradition that everyday when we got home, I gave him cheerios as a snack before dinner.
"Okay, okay, let's go get some cheerios." I took his hand and lead him to the kitchen, putting him in his highchair before getting down the box and pouring some in front of him.
"Yay!" he clapped his hands as he started eating.
I sat my backpack down, picking up the note and money that my mom had left on the table and read: order pizza or take out, will be home by nine.
"What do you think about pizza?" I looked at Tyler who didn't care. He was happy with his cheerios. "That's what I thought."
I was sitting on the floor in the living room doing my algebra homework, while eating my third slice of pizza and watching TV, I couldn't have it quiet when I was studying, the noise, as crazy as it sounds, helps me focus, when my mom walked through the front door. She looked exhausted and the hair was coming out of her ponytail.
"I ordered pizza," I told while she put her stuff down by the door.
"Okay," she took a seat on the couch next to my head. "What are you wathing?"
"I don't know, it just came on. I wasn't paying attention, you can change it if you want."
"Did Tyler go down okay?"
"Yeah," I drew doodles on my notebook paper, "he went down okay." I looked up at her. "I have to work tomorrow. Three to eight."
"Okay, I don't work tomorrow, so that will be fine." she smiled at me.
My mom always says that she wishes that she could be a better provider, but I didn't see where she went wrong. With all the circumstances that had been thrown at us, we were doing amazingly well. Money was tight at times, but we were a family, and to me, that was all that mattered. I didn't that I didn't have everything that everyone else I had, I had a mom that loved me enough to fight for what we had. I really looked up to her for that. I definitely got my fighting spirit from her.
"I'm going to take a shower," she stood from the couch stiffly.
"I'm going to bed soon. Just wanted to let you know in case I wasn't here when you came back down."
"Goodnight," she kissed my head, "I love you. See in the morning, I'll drive you to school in the morning. Do you want a ride to work?"
"No, I like walking, but I'll take you up on your offer to drive me to school."
She squeezed my shoulder before heading up the stairs, seconds later I heard the bathroom door shut, and the water turn on. I can't tell you how many times I've heard her crying when I walked by. Our life wasn't exactly the one that she had planned for us, but you can't always plan everything in life. Of course, there were times that I wish that things were different. Like when there father-daughter events or there had been something that I wanted as a child that we couldn't afford, but I was sure, one day, it would all pay off.
