"WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG", my mom yells at me from the living room. She gets up and walks into the kitchen to stand right in front of me.
"What do you mean, I haven't been gone that long" I say as innocently as I can manage.
"Yes you were," she says not yelling anymore. "Your sister and I have been starving".
"Mom it's only just now almost six. I'm sorry I was just hanging out with James for a little while". With all the times that she's yelled at me I have perfected a monotonous tone with her. I neglected to tell her that we had gone for ice cream because then she would have really freaked.
"Well next time you need to call me so, I know were you are. I have been worried sick about you," she says. Even an idiot could tell that she's lying. It's obvious that she's just hungry and pissed that I wasn't back sooner to make her dinner. I hate when she treats me like I'm her little maid that she can boss around.
"Ok, fine" I say turning around to get the pies started. I take out the pies along with a metal tray to put them on. I turn the oven on three hundred and fifty still conscious that my mom is standing be hind me.
"So, what's for dinner?" she asks. I'm sure she can read the packages in front of me perfectly and that she's just trying to make forced small talk but I answer her anyways.
"Chicken potpies and biscuits" I say not looking at her.
"Awesome, did you remember that mine is-"
"Roast beef, yes" she can hear the annoyance in my tone so she drops conversation walking upstairs to her room.
When all the potpies are on trays I wait patiently for the oven to finish pre-heating. I decide that while I'm waiting I should probably take out the rolls and put them on a tray as well. I poop the canister and distribute them evenly on the tray. I place them a couple of inches away from each other because I know that when they bake they will expand. The oven goes off so, I open and slip the potpies in. I set the timer for twenty minutes in which time ill put the biscuits in. while I wait I decide it would be a good idea to catch up on my reading. I pass my mom as go up the stairs but keep my head down so, she wont try to talk to me.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH" I hear my mom from my room screaming. I pick up my book and open my door to see what happened at the same time Meems does.
"So, is dinner ready?" she asks confused I can't help but laugh at that
"No something's wrong with mom" I say still laughing
"Oh" she says rolling her eyes
"You all right" I ask my mom from the top of the stairs.
"Oh fuck" I hear my mom say in between sobs and screams.
"Are you all right?" Meems repeats from the top of the stairs.
"NO DAMMIT! I THINK I BROKE MY LEG" she scream then adds slightly less loud "Go and get Maria for me please"
"I'm right here," I say stepping into her view, "What happened?" I say calmly
"I fell down the stairs honey I think my leg is broken I'm going to need you to drive me to the hospital" she says. At least that's what I translate it into; it is really more like this:
"I sniff sniff fell down the stairs oh shit this hurts. Just drive me to the fucking hospital."
She continues to scream as I walk down the rest of the stairs. Her leg is broken that much I can tell. It's bent in such a weird way that it almost made me queasy just looking at it. I also know that we have to get her into my truck and that she's too heavy for even me and Meems to carry. Regretfully I start to go get Damon.
"I'll be right back" I call from out the door.
"Oh no you won't get your ass back in here" she calls after me.
I close the door while she continues to rant. I run quickly over to Damon's door. I must look like shit but I stand there huffing and puffing ringing the doorbell anyways. Finally a man opens the door. He is tall with short black hair. His features remind me very much of Damon. His brown eyes look straight at me confused.
"Can I help you", he asks
"Umyes", I say "isDamonhere" I say this so fast that I'm surprised he can even understand what I'm saying, but sure enough he turn and yells Damon's name inside the apartment. It seems like forever that I'm waiting there not that I'm really that concerned about my mom I'm just not a very patient person. Finally he appears at the door smiling wide.
"Hey" he says. He takes in my serious expression and his smile falters. "What's wrong", he adds
"Can you help me with something" I say quickly
"Yea, of course what do you need" he says while he puts on a pair of shoes. I don't answer instead I motion with my hand and start running back to my door. I see him close the door behind him and run after me. When I get to my door I wait for Damon to come up next to me. I open the door to automatic screams.
"MARIA!" she screams, "WERE THE FUCK IS MARIA"
"God I'm right here mom" I shoot I sympathetic look over to Damon he smiles back weakly in return. I really shouldn't have gone over to get him this is my fault.
"You take her arms and head and I'll get her legs", I say to Damon.
He responds immediately taking my moms arms I take her legs softly in my hands so I don't injure her further. We carry her as quickly as we can over to the door. Meems is already there and opening the door for us to leave
"Meems when were out close the door and I'll call you when we get to the hospital", I say to her from behind the doorway.
"Yeah", she says quietly obviously not trying to get in our way.
Damon looks up at my sister and smiles politely. I wish that I could introduce them but we have no time for a sweet introduction. I go back to lifting my mom's feet Damon notices and lifts his side up more to. I'm surprised but grateful that my mom is staying quiet. We get her out of the doorway with minimal struggle. We get her over to my truck when I realize that I left my keys inside
"Shit" I mumble so quiet that I'm surprised Damon even hears me speak. He laughs softly before questioning me
"What" he asks humorously
"I forgot my keys inside the house" I say reluctant. I don't want Damon to think I'm forgetful. Too late for that I guess.
"Do you have your cell phone you can ask your sister to bring them out to you", he says.
"What the hell is taking so long?" my mom says angrily suddenly speaking up.
"Nothing mom we'll be there soon" I say rolling my eyes. I see out of the corner of my eye that Damon is stifling a smile. I sit my mom on the grass and take out my phone in one swift movement.
"Get me the fuck off the ground" my mom says. I dial the number then pick my mom's feet off the ground. "Thank you", says with a smile on her face. Gosh, she is completely delusional.
"Hello?" Meems says into the phone
"Hey, Meems its Maria I hate to bother you again but can you bring my keys out they're on the table", I ask her guiltily. I hear her shuffle some papers before she answers me.
"Yeah, no problem are you by your truck", she asks
"Yup" I say answering her
"Ok, see you in a few" she says
"Alright". I hang up the phone and hold it in my hand instead of trying to put it back in my pocket and haring my mom complain again. "She's coming out now. And thanks for doing this", I add. I feel so grateful that he's doing this for me.
"No problem" he says as if it's nothing to carry my rude and impolite mother to my truck. He smiles wide at me. Already I love that smile more than anything in the world. I smile back knowing that mine probably can't even compare. I look into his beautiful hazel eyes letting my eyes rest there for a little while. He stares back at me with such passion that it's hard to believe we haven't even gone out on our first date yet. After a few seconds I blush and look down at the ground. I hear a door slam in the background and look up at the same time that Damon does. It's dark so I can just barely make out Meems figure but I can hear the pads of her feet as they hit the pavement. She comes over to me trying to hand the keys over. I shake my head
"I'm not going to be able to unlock it can you please do it. Thank you. I promise this is it", I say pleadingly. She rolls her eyes but smiles and does what I ask anyways.
"All right, but this is it", she says sarcastically.
"Yeah, unless you want to come to the hospital with us", I say kidding. I hope she won't take up that offer.
" Um, I think I'm going to have to pass on that one. No way am I going to go to that place where I'll be surrounded by dead bodies that are going to come back to life and eat our brains through a funnel," she says this seriously but I know that she's just kidding. I can't help but start to laugh, as does Damon. Even mom starts to laugh softly. "Hey, don't blame me when your all immortal and eating each others brains", she says. I see Damon stiffen a little but otherwise keep laughing. That weird I think.
"Alright then" I say rolling my eyes yet again. She presses the button on the keys unlocking the door then opens the passenger seat. Me and Damon set my mom upright in the middle then I get in. I'm surprised when I see Damon in the passenger seat next to my mom. I sit there completely stunned but I replace it with a smile. Damon sees this.
"What?" he asks confusion on his face.
"Nothing", I say. "Why" I look up at him with as much innocence as I can muster.
"You just look completely shocked that I'm got in the truck with you" he finishes. I start the truck and back out slowly looking behind me, taking this time to think about my response. I look over to see my mom dead asleep. God she is so insane.
"I guess I kind of am", I say not coming up with another answer.
"But, why", he asks confusion on his face.
"I don't really know I guess I'm just not used to", I take a second to think, and he waits patiently, " people like you"
"Oh thanks," he says. I laugh
"It's a good thing," I say. He smiles at me. "Mind if I ask you a question?" I say softly.
"Shoot", he says casually. I know I wanted to save this question until our date tomorrow but I cant help myself my curiosity is getting the better of me.
"Why did you ask me out", I ask hesitantly. I wait for what seems like forever for him to answer me. I can see in his face that he's trying hard to put all of his thoughts into the right words. I'm scared at what he's going to say and anxious as hell but I keep quiet as he contemplates.
"Well", he begins nervously, "I've noticed you for a while now I guess it's just taken me a while to work up the courage. You seem like the kind of girl that is so lonely but I can tell that that's not who you want to be you want to be. It's like there's something inside of you that's just waiting and yearning to get out. I really want to get to know that part of you. Every part about you really", he smiles softly. " I want to know you", he repeats. I smile laughing softly almost psychotic. He got every part of that completely dead on it 's like he knew every part of me with one look it's amazing. "What?" he asks incredulously.
"How can you know so much about me with one look" I ask him still smiling in amazement.
"It's a gift," he says smiling and laughing as well. " Well let me start" he says. I look at him curiously, but he continues "When is your birthday" I laugh out loud at his simple yet ordinary question. It's amazing that my mom hasn't woken up yet let alone that we can have this conversation when my mom is sitting between us with a possible broken leg. It was just too normal but I answer him anyways.
"February nineteenth" I say still laughing, " What's yours?" I say following his lead.
" March eleventh" he says confidently. "What's your favorite color?" he asks continuing the tirade. I shake my head incredulously trying to figure out why he's even interested in any of this.
"Blue", I say matter-of-factly.
"Good I like the color blue and it suits you. It matches your eyes a beautiful color I'm going to have to agree with you on that" he says thoughtfully. I look at the road blushing brightly. It continues like this for a while until we reach the hospital. When we get to the hospital I get out telling Damon to stay here while I do so. I have to go in and get a wheel chair. He argues it calmly at first but agrees with me.
I walk into the hospital up to the woman sitting at the reception desk. She's a petite girl with short spiky brown hair and blond highlights. She looked to be only about thirty or so not to old. She looked calm as I walk up to her. She's doing a Sudoku book but when she sees me she puts it down pointing her attention to me and meeting my gaze.
"Hi how can I help you" she asks as politely as she can considering it's late at night and I can tell she's tiered by the bags under her eyes.
"I need a wheel chair." I say politely, "I think my mom may have broken her leg. She's in my truck right now and we need to get her in here". The receptionist suddenly looks ready for anything. She sits up straight a business look takes over her face as she gets up.
"Why, of course I'll be right back". She turns and leave and returns back with a black wheelchair. "Do you need some help?" asks ready jumpy to do something.
"No, I think we'll be ok my friend is in the car to help me" I'm unable to use the word boyfriend yet. She hands the wheelchair over to me and I take it from her hands. "Should I just come back in through these doors then?" I ask
"Yeah, I'll be right here just enter through these doors again and I'll take care of it from there" she says confidently.
I go out through the door back over to where my mom and Damon are. I hope my mom is still passed out in the front seat but she isn't. I'm still a little bit away but enough to hear what they're talking about. The question that my mom asks happens to be the question I have been dreading all day.
"So, are you and my daughter dating or what" she asks him slyly. I'm close enough to see the innocent yet devious smile on her face. Damon shifts uncomfortably unable to tell her luckily I arrive in front of both of them. I see a sigh of relief on Damon face that he isn't responsible for spilling the news to my mom about us.
"No, were just friends ", I say coming up behind them. I shoot Damon a sharp look and a wink so he would know to follow along.
"Yeah, were just good friends" he adds charmingly it's hard to believe that he is actually lying through his teeth. This made me nervous he could lye to me at any point and I would have absolutely no idea. No, I think Damon would lye to me in any case. Only it sounds more like I'm trying to convince myself than reminding myself.
"Uh huh, yeah, we'll see how long that "just friends" thing last. You know", she starts as we get her into the wheel chair and start to wheel her into the hospital Damon walking next to me, "me and your dad started as "just friends" too", she says.
"Well its good to see you again", says the receptionist from a few minutes ago. She reaches her hands out and I wheel the chair over to her. She takes it and motions over to the waiting section. "You guys can just wait over there until we're finished".
"Alright, thanks" I say. I go over to the chairs and sit down. Damon follows me and sits down in the chair next to me.
"So, what did you do you poor thing I looks like you were wrestling with an alligator", the receptionist says to my mom laughing in the distance.
"Hardly", my mom says, "I was putting my children's laundry away and when I came down the stairs I simply tripped ".
"Ha" I scoff. My mom hasn't even done laundry in years let alone put it away for her. Just wait until they take her blood and find out how much alcohol is in her blood. Damon doesn't seem to hear my scoff though because he doesn't say anything.
"So-" he says cutting short due to my phone ringing. I shoot him an apologetic glance and hold up my finger motioning one second. The caller id says Meems so I answer it immediately.
"Hey what do I do when this timer goes off?" she asks before I have a chance to say hi.
"Oh", I completely forgot about the potpies that are still in the oven. " Um, put the rolls in the oven and then set the timer for another twenty minutes. You can go ahead and eat without me, but be careful I want to return to a house not ashes." I smile to myself at my little remark. I can imagine her rolling her eyes at me.
"Alright," she says lamely, "so any news about mom". Even I can tell that she almost feels forced to ask about her almost like she feels like it's her duty as her daughter.
"Not really we just got here but I'll call you if we get any more news I promise". I look over and see Damon shift uncomfortably in his chair. "I have to go," I say to her into the phone.
"Okay have fun with your boyfriend" she says
"Uh huh I'll be sure to do that," I say sarcastically into the phone but she's already hung up the phone. I look over at Damon to see that he look really confused.
"What? " I ask him, "is something wrong"
"No, nothing wrong here" he says innocently, surprised that I've noticed.
"It's just that you look really confused", I say unconvinced. He laughs, the sweetest laugh that I've ever heard in my life.
"You can tell" he says it's not a question but I nod anyways. "Well I don't want to be evasive so feel free not to answer this but, I just seems like you don't care at all about your mom" he finishes. He looks at me nervously as though he's asks some question that's going to end the world.
I don't answer him for a few minutes, thinking about what to tell him. I don't know if I really want him to know about my insane mother at the moment but I also don't want to lie to him. For all I know he will run as soon as he hears something that he doesn't like. He touches my arm softly and I feel a slight tingling and I flinch slightly but it goes away as soon as his arm does. In that moment all the mental walls that I have spent so long to put up are just crumbling down. I feel like I can tell him anything about me.
"I guess in most ways I don't", I say lamely.
"But, why" he asks incredulously.
"My mom has never been a mom. I don't think that I have any reason to worry about her. Even when my dad was alive it was him that came to my track meets and him that came to see me as a flying monkey in our school play", I laugh dryly, and I can feel the tears start to form behind my lids from having talked about my dad, "Ever since my dad died it's been me taking care of my mom, myself, and my little sister. I guess you can say I had to grow up a little faster than most teens my age." Damon looks at me the whole time I'm talking with concern on his face, it's just another of the many things that I'm going to have to get used. I feel like his eyes are seeing right into me deeper than anyone has ever seen before. Sure I had dated before but never have I felt someone look at me with such deep compassion, it's breathtaking.
"Your dad died" it wasn't a question
"Yes" I say angrily through gritted teeth, I didn't want to talk about my dad for fear that the tears in my eyes would fall down. It's too late however I can feel one escape. He reaches his hand out and places it ever so gently on my cheek to catch one of the tears. He leans over wrapping his arm around me in a sweet embrace so; I let the tears fall harder.
"It's only a broken leg", the receptionist says having misinterpreted my tears.
I don't answer her just remain lost in Damon's arms. We stay like that until the tears have stopped falling but even then he doesn't fully let go of me leaving one arm around me for my head to lean on. What the hell am I doing, I can't be falling for him. I'll just as hard as I did last time and when he breaks up with me it will be hell again. I know that it will be useless to try and put more walls up in my head when they will just be torn down with one look at Damon's sweet face. After about an hour a nurse comes out and calls my name off a clipboard
"Bubbet family", she calls.
I get up as does Damon taking my hand and squeezing it gently. I expect his hand to drop but it doesn't it stays there. So, we walk up to the nurse our hand intertwined to find out when we can take my mom home.
"We still have a few more x-rays that have to be done you guys can go home and we'll just keep her over night ", she says sympathetically to us.
"Yeah, that fine do you need a number to call in case things go wrong" I ask her politely not because I care but because if she doesn't take a number that could get her in trouble.
"Yes", she says as if remembering a few more things, "and I'm also going to have to ask you a few quick question", she says. She hands me a clipboard and I take it to write my number down on. When I finish I rejoin my hands with Damon's. We turn to leave when I remember her saying something about her needing to ask me a few small questions. I turn back around and she smiles. "Sorry I'm being so forgetful" she says apologetically.
"That's fine no hurry", I say
"All right, they're simple just some questions about what happened to make her fall". She hands me a clipboard again and I take it reluctantly releasing my hand from Damon's again. I read over the part she points to once, twice, a third time. Damon can clearly see the anger and frustration on my face.
"What's wrong?" he asks concern on his face but, I ignore him.
"No she can't do this," I say to no one.
"Is something wrong", the nurse asks politely considering the confusion on her face.
"Yes, this is completely false" I say to her angrily.
"Are you sure" she asks confused
"Yes," I say hard and rigid I hand her back the clipboard but don't put my hand back in Damon's.
"Ok, well," she says confused and deep in thought trying to find out a solution to this odd turn of events. I can see that she's annoyed too but not for the same reason that I am It's clear that she was hoping for a fast one so she could go to bed and now she has to deal with us. "Why, don't you still go home and we can finish this in the morning"
"Thank you", I say agitated but still trying best I can to be polite. She nods and I start to walk out the door to get to my truck before I completely burst with the anger that's in me. I know that Damon can tell I'm pissed off but I have no intention of hiding it. I walk back to my truck quickly and rigid, Damon follows behind me easily.
"So, do want to tell what happened" he asks politely but with a little anger in his voice. I walk over to my side of the truck and unlock the door. I open the door and get in Damon follows my lead and gets in on the other side. I wait until we're both in the car until I start to talk
"My mom is the biggest liar in the world I can not believe that she would do something like this. This is low even for her. She could have at least said a practical name like mine but no she has to go and blame a child," I rant to Damon. "Why on earth would she say that Meems pushed her that's the stupidest thing she could have said? She seriously can't just say she made a dam mistake and fell down the stairs due to lousy footing. I wouldn't even be a pissed off if she said I did it but no she has to blame Meems. Aaahhh", grunt in aggravation. Damon sits patiently for me to stop but listens to every thought with deep care and compassion. "And why do you do that", I add, "You keep looking at me like you really give shit that all of this is happening". I breathe heavily putting my fingers to my head massaging my temples.
"Because", says angrily, "I do. You have to stop thinking that I'm out to get you. I'm here and I will be. Calm down, everything is going to be okay".
"Damon you don't get it not everything can be solved by flashing a beautiful smile", I say
"I know that but sitting here yelling and screaming isn't going to help either. You just need to calm down. We'll come back here tomorrow and get this all straightened out". I can see the worry and pain on his face. I take another deep breathe and look up at him guilty and pain.
"I know I'm sorry. I shouldn't have freaked out on you," I say.
"It's okay don't apologize for speaking your opinion. You had every right to do that. I was just trying to calm you down" he says relieved. I start smiling and then I laugh, he smiles back. "What so funny"
"It's just any other guy would have just plain out told me I was being a bitch or something and here you come with so much patience. It just takes me by surprise every time you do something," I say this shaking my head in delight. This makes him smile.
"I guess that makes me different," he says confidently.
"Yes, it most certainly does," I say still mystified.
I pull out of the parking place and start to head back to the apartments lost in thought. We don't talk we, just bask in the happiness. There is something so different about Damon. The way Damon can just be around me and I'll feel different and unique. All the pain stops when he's with me. When he touches me I get an amazing tingling feeling were ever he touches. It's almost like a delightful high for me. I'm addicted to the wonderful sense of his soft and gentle touch on my skin. We arrive at the apartments too soon. I don't want to leave him and go back to feeling the pain and depression. When we get there I get out, as does Damon and lock my door. Damon meets me around at my door before I'm even completely out, god he moves fast. Yet again he found a way to amaze me. He takes my hand as we walk up to his door but he insists on walking me to my door, which is the farthest down.
"Are you going to be okay until tomorrow?" he asks as we walk.
"Yeah," I say. I know that I may not be but I don't think I should tell him that. I know that as soon as he leaves the hurt will come as well.
"What time do you plan on leaving tomorrow morning?" he asks
"Um," I don't want to leave too early but I also want to get there and have this over with, "Is eight too early" I ask hesitantly
"Nope it's perfect," he says a small smile flashing brightly on his face. I blush and look down. Even though it's pitch black out I'm sure that he can see it. My emotions are so easy to read around him. "You think we can still go on that date," he asks. This makes me smile
"If we hurry," I say
"Well in that case why don't we leave at six." He says kidding. I laugh softly
"Good bye Damon and thank you," I say
"Your welcome Maria"
He leans in and wraps his arms around me I wrap my arms around him as well. We hold them there for a few heartbeats too long but reluctantly release each other. I can feel the warmth from where are skin tough and the small tingling from where we touched as well. All the pain that was previously there has disappeared and is replaced by an overwhelming happiness.
"Good bye," he says.
I turn the knob on my door and am surprised that it's open usually Meems has the common sense to lock it when I'm gone. I'm about to chaise her when I get in but I'm too happy to be upset with her right now.
"Hey," she says to me
I ignore her and head to the kitchen still smiling from outside. I go past the potpies and take a roll instead grateful that she's pre-buttered them. I look up to realize that Meems has followed me into the kitchen.
"What's up with you?" she asks curiously starting to smile at my probably delusional smile.
"Nothing," I say trying to wipe the smile off my face but it doesn't work quite as well as I had hoped. Now I really do look delusional.
"Yeah, okay dish," she says excitedly. My sister and me are really close ever since my dad died. It makes sense though considering we both have to deal with similar things. Yes, mine are worse but still we both understand. The only thing that she doesn't know about me is the rape and e cutting myself. Therefore, I feel almost obligated to tell her everything that happened about what happened tonight. Anger flashes in both my face and my sister's when I tell her about what happened at the hospital and mom's lie, but I also tell her about Damon which makes her smile for happiness.
"Are you going to let me come to the hospital tomorrow," she asks excitedly.
"Um, I don't really know Meems," I say seriously then add, "wont the zombies get to you"
"Come on Maria I have to go. And besides they're called the "muertos sanadors por la noche". She sees the confusion cross my note. "It means healers of the night. They are supposedly descendants of old doctors who died in an explosion only they didn't die they came out perfectly intact. It's said a man there healed them all but he disappeared. All of them were put into psychiatric wards across the US for a while but almost all of them broke out or were killed. More are created every year in hospitals across the world. They're super strong, fast, immortal, beautiful, invincible, enhanced senses, can heal anything. It's even said that some of the early ones can make people dream whatever they want." She finishes
"Wait but if their immortal then how can they die," I ask suddenly interested in it.
"That's the part they didn't touch upon in the book sorry," she says just as surprised as I am that I have taken an interest in the topic.
"So," she says hesitantly, "Does this mean I can go." I had to hand it to her she knows hoe to make me crack.
"I don't know I'll tell you in the morning," I say decidedly.
"Fine" she says aggravated, "good night"
"Good night," I say giving her a small kiss on the check. "Sweet dreams"
I walk up the stairs to my room. I crawl into bed not bothering to get into pajamas or anything. I lie just lie there recalling the day back. I know I'm an idiot for believing I can love again with getting a broken heart but by now I'm in far to deep I know I cant stop. I lay awake staring at the ceiling for an hour at most then fall into a subconscious dream.