I haven't update in a while so yell at me…but to make up for it I made this chapter long so yay?shrugs I just realized how strange some of the chapter titles are (especially this one)… Anyway I got five reviews (thanx for reviewing) so shout-outs go to:
Thalia-Sandy – The coming chapter are gonna be pretty sad, but it'll be ok...maybe.
princess moon shadow – Yay, glad to see you still love and good for you.
BiccaBoo – I edited some of the other chapters, but I gotta find time to replace them first, thanx for not yelling to me about that bit.
Jnr Cpl Scarlett – Why not keep 'em happy? Cuz I'm kinda mean, at least my bf says so...nah it's cuz they both are still in a lot of crap.
the real vampire – This chapter isn't really dark but the coming ones (mostly about Hunter) will be, good to know you're sticking with this.
Disclaimer: The album 'Meteora' does not belong to me. Neither does the band 'Linkin Park' or the song 'breaking the habit' so you can't sue me…and I'm making that band richer, so yeah…
Chapter 10 You're My Mom But I am Yours
Kira got up at five and tried to finish her homework, but she was too tired to think about science that early. She left the apartment quietly and went over to her mom's house. Kira entered the house that smelled of throw up. Kira wrinkled her nose as she sprayed air freshener in each room. She cleaned most of the mess in the house and then went into her old room. It looked the same except some of her things were missing. She had taken most of her CDs to Hunter's place and had only left a few at her mom's house. She looked through the few when she came across Linkin Park's CD 'Meteora'. Kira took out the CD from the case and put it in her old stereo and skipped to the ninth song, and it started playing…
Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again
I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit tonight (1)
Kira listened to lyrics carefully and, for the first time in three years after having bought the CD, realized how much she could relate to the song. Kira sighed, as the song continued playing, when she heard her mom groaning and complaining over her hangover and headache. She heard her mom get up; she knew the process by heart so she locked the door to muffle the sound of her mom being sick. Kira grabbed a pair of scissors tightly and she slid to the floor and closed her eyes. She hated this place. She hated it with everything in her; even though it had been where she had grown up in.
Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again
I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends
She didn't plan on cutting herself, but somehow just having a tight grasp of something sharp gave her control.
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit tonight
The song ended and she opened her eyes as the next song started. She didn't hear anything downstairs so she turned off the music and went to the bathroom where her mom was at. Cecile was having trouble getting up so Kira went over and helped her to the couch. Once Cecile was settled, Kira put over a warm blanket and then went to flush the toilet, picked up all the empty liquor bottles, and made some instant soup. She let didn't wait for it to cool, because it was getting late and she tried to feed it to Cecile even though she was resisting the food. She hated having to do this almost every morning but it was better than staying there 24/7.
"I need you to take me somewhere today", Cecile croaked with her eyes closed.
"What for?" Kira asked as she tried to get her take some noodles.
"Don't worry about it. Just come here right after school", Cecile said annoyed.
"I need to know 'cause if it can wait, I have something really important to do today", Kira said, "I think the Vodka and Tequila can wait."
Saying that was a big mistake because the next thing she knew Cecile had grabbed the soup and thrown at her, she gasped "Mom, what the hell – "
"Don't talk to me like that – I'm your mother!" Cecile, said in an incredibly icy voice, "You come home and you're taking me to the bank to pay the bills."
Kira didn't say anything as she looked at the mess on the floor. She turned around and looked at the clock; it read 7:30, "Shit!" she said out loud, "I'm going to be so late." And she would be. It took her ten minutes to clean her mom's mess. Kira looked down her wet clothes that smelled like soup. Out of all the things she had left there, clothes wasn't one of them. She quickly went upstairs to grab the Linkin Park CD, put it in her bag and she ran out of the house. She looked at her watch; it was almost eight o'clock. She stopped and looked around, she knew she could get in trouble with Dr. O but he said that he was going to have a conference if she was late again, so she morphed.
Once she got to the apartment she quickly de-morphed, but shouldn't have.
"Late for school Ranger?" said a too-familiar voice behind her; it was Elsa surrounded by a swarm Tyranodrones, "I think you'll end up with either suspension or detention, don't you think?"
"Listen, I really don't need this right now, so if you don't mind I can kick your ass later", Kira said irritated.
Elsa glared at Kira and then yelled, "Attack!" and the Tyranodrones charged at her.
Kira quickly shouted, "Dinothunder, power up ha!"
By then two Tyranodrones had grabbed hold of her feet and made her trip. She flipped up and tried to use her Petra Scream but a Tyranodrone cover her mouth as a bunch of other ones bunched on top of her. She was immobile and tried to kick out of the swarm when she heard someone bellow, "Thunderstorm, ranger form ha!" and then heard a blasting noise, "Hunter!" Kira gasped.
"You ok?" he asked and she nodded.
They looked over at the Tyranodrones and then charged at them. Kira fought easier now that they weren't constantly tripping her and every time they did Hunter helped her rebound. They were only a few left, "De-morph and cover your ears", Kira said as she de-morphed. Hunter de-morphed and covered his ears as Kira opened her mouth a let out screeching, painful scream. She signed as they disappeared.
"You ok?" Hunter asked, Kira nodded, "What are you doing here…it's late."
"I know, I just need to change my clothes", and before he could ask she added, "I was trying to feed my mom soup and she accidentally knocked over on me."
"Oh, ok", Hunter said not realizing she had just lied, "Well, I gotta go before I'm late, so I'll see you later", Hunter said. Kira nodded and he quickly Ninja Streaked.
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Kira ran in through the front doors of Reefside and made her way to the front lady's desk and breathlessly said, "Kira Ford, I need a late slip, please", she knew the drill already.
"Do you have a note?" The woman asked as she put her brown hair in a ponytail.
"No, but can't I just go to class?" Kira said confused, usually she didn't need a note.
"I'm afraid you've already used all your free excused slips; you've even used the five you could have used next semester", she said raising her eye brows.
"What does that mean?" (2)
"That means you need to stop being late – it's fifteen minutes before second period, Miss Ford!" she exclaimed.
"I know its just that something came up, I'm really sorry, but can't I just go to class?" she asked desperately.
The woman rolled her eyes and handed her and unexcused slip. Kira took it and as quickly went to her locker and then fearfully went into Dr. O's class. Everyone turned to look at her and even Dr. O stopped what he had been saying. She walked over to him and handed him the slip and avoided looking at him. She sat next to Connor who tried to get her attention, but she ignored him for the next five minutes until the bell rang.
"Kira, wait – I need to talk to you", Dr. O said, as she had dreaded, "Why were you late?"
"I got attacked by some Tyranodrones. They were swarming all over me and it wasn't until Hunter came and helped me that they left", she said.
"What was Hunter doing at your house at this time of the day?" Dr. O asked raising his eyebrows.
"Huh?" Kira said without thinking, "What do you –", and then she remembered he didn't know that they lived together, "Oh, I don't know he could having been going to work", she shrugged.
"Why do I get the feeling you're leaving something out?"
"I don't know, but I have to get to my next class", she said struggling with her books.
"Go on to your next class, I'll be calling your mom for a conference", he added as she walked out. Kira felt her stomach turn; I'll be calling your mom for a conference.
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Kira quickly went into the empty bathroom…at least she thought. She pulled out a compass and right when she had it ready to drag it across her skin, she heard a strange sound. Kira quickly put up her compass and walked over looking at the floor to see if someone was in a stall. Then she heard a loud moan and saw to pairs of feet in a single stall; one male, one female. Kira shuddered and quickly went back over to the sinks to wash her hands. Then the stall opened. From the mirror, Kira saw Claire coming out of the stall with Delores's boyfriend; her mouth fell open. Kira spun around and her black pigtails swayed with her. Claire's eyes got wide and she quickly said, "If you tell anyone about this I'll find out something about you – you know I got my resources."
Before Kira good say something the both of them walked out and Kira stood there, dumbstruck.
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During last period Kira was called up to the office to talk to the principal.
"Miss Ford, in this file it says that you have been late 65 times this semester to first period and 45 times last semester, but that was in your junior year. Then there have been times where you have been late to your other classes on random days, and all your excuses are that you were sick in the bathroom or that you dropped your books", Mrs. Edward said, the assistant principal, "Over this past year, you have been late and absent ridiculous amounts of time and only about ten percent of the time you have had an excused note – would you tell me what is going on?"
Kira sat in the chair uncomfortable, looking at the floor desperate to think of a good lie, but her mind was blank. She rubbed her arm warmers and then said, "Nothing is going on…it's just…"
"Just what?" Mrs. Edwards said raising her eyebrows.
Kira stuttered and stuttered when Mrs. Edwards finally took over and said, "Miss Ford, do you have an eating disorder?"
Kira quickly blurted out, "No!"
"Then what is it?"
"It's nothing. Really, I'm just a clumsy person…"
"In your freshmen and sophomore years you did great in all your classes and never were late to a single class. In your junior year you were a little shaky. Now on your senior year, your most important year, you are messing up completely. You're late almost everyday, you are tardy to a lot of your classes, and your grades have dropped drastically." There was silence and then she added, "Dr. Oliver had all ready told me about his plans for a conference, now I want to talk to your mother on Monday morning."
This can't be happening, Kira thought as Mrs. Edwards wrote down the time of the conferences.
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Later during fourth period Connor noticed Kira upset, "Hey, Ethan!" Connor hissed to Ethan who rolled his eyes and turned around and mouthed 'what', "What do you think it up with Kira?"
Ethan shrugged, "Something to do with all her absences and tardies", he whispered back. Connor bit his lip…something wasn't right and he could tell Ethan was thinking the same thing.
The bell ringed and everyone walked out quickly before Mrs. Chapman, the choir and drama teacher that had been feeling for the history teacher, could announce what their homework was, "Hey! Kira wait up!" Connor and Ethan accidentally chorused. The three of them stopped and gave each other a strange look, "Have lunch with us", they chorused yet again. They walked to the cafeteria and sat a remote table.
"So what's going on?" said Connor.
"Dr. O's calling my mom for a conference…"
"So? Dr. O's called my mom thousand's of times…what's the big deal?"
"My mom isn't exactly polite…"Kira said as Claire walked in who glared at her as she sat next to Delores.
"You know if the both of you got into a fight again that would be something", said Ethan.
Yeah, that would be something, Kira thought as she put her water to her mouth. She saw Dr. O walk in and sit down with the other teacher and her stomach turned again.
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The last bell rang at quarter 'til four and Kira rushed out before anyone could stop to talk. She got back to the apartment and surprisingly found Hunter on the couch smoking a cigarette, "I thought we had a deal – I'd go to school and stop cutting you would got to work and stop smoking…wait what are you smoking?"
"Cigarette's that you buy at the grocery store – nothing illegal K? So don't yell at me. As for why I'm home early is because there's this new kid and he cut off time of my shift", Hunter said putting out his cigarette.
"That's bad right?"
"If you consider getting a smaller paycheck and getting even more behind in bills than we already are – then yeah, it's bad", Hunter said going over to get a bag of chip, "No idea how we've been able to survive with just basically junk food", he chuckled and he noticed Kira only gave a week smile, "What's going on?"
"I'm suppose to take my mom to 'pay bills' but that always mean stop by the gasoline station for booze…and Dr. O is calling her for a conference", Kira said laying her head on his shoulder.
"That's…not…good. I wish I knew what to say but I don't and I'm sorry", he said forcing a chip into her mouth making her smile.
"It's ok. Glad tomorrow is Friday, though. I'm gonna go take my mom wherever it is she wants to go and I'll be back." Hunter nodded and she left.
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Kira went over to her 'home' and it took about half an hour to get her mom out of the couch and ready. Cecile directed her to a nearby grocery store that was gargantuan.
When they got in the store Cecile stumbled over to a clerk and asked where the booze were at, "Over near the frozen section. Ale twelve on my right", he directed and smiled at Kira, "You're Kira, right?"
"Um…yeah, who are you?"
"Yo, I'm Travis's brother. I just started work today", said the green-eyed blonde.
"Oh, yeah Hunter told me about you, Trey right?"
"Yeah, sometimes Hunter begins to talk about you so much it makes me sick – no offense…"
"How old are you?"
"I'm sixteen…why?"
"Oh, nothing it's just – "
"Kira! Quite chatting with your little boyfriend over there and help me find some liquor", Cecile said groggily, yet angrily.
Kira sighed and said to Trey, "See you later."
It didn't take long for Kira to find her mother's favorites and they were back to the house in half an hour, "Mom, don't drink too much…"Kira said as she laid the bags on the kitchen table. She knew it was partially her fault because she didn't have to take her to get booze and yet she did and didn't know why…
"I'm your mother – you can't tell or ask me what to do!" Cecile screeched before covering her mouth to go to the bathroom. Yet, again Kira had to help her to the couch.
"Come on…mom…get up", Kira said putting Cecile's arm around her neck. They walked slowly to the couch and Cecile fell again. Once she finally got Cecile on the couch, Kira put her hand on her forehead. She was extremely cold, so she turned up the heat and made half an instant soup (3) and was able to feed most of it to Cecile. She dried up the cold sweat on her mother's face and put a thin blanket on her. Just when she was about to walk out Cecile merely sat up and hollered, "Where do you think you're going?"
Kira turned around slowly and said, "Home."
"You must be as stupid as you look! This is your home!"
"No, Cecile this place it Hell, not home…"
"Listen, Kira I am your mother – so don't go around calling me by my first name!"
Kira shook her head, "You may be my mom but really I am yours and you have no right to tell me what to do and what not", Kira hissed and walked out quickly. For the first time in a long time she had stood up to Cecile. It was true though; Cecile wasn't her mother…
Kira got back to the apartment to find Hunter asleep on the couch with and ash tray on the floor next to him. I hope he doesn't get as bad as my mom, Kira thought.
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(1)I was laughing when I was typing that even though it's a serious (and great) song, cuz I was listening to the radio and they were playing 'Baby Got Back' by Sir-Mix-A-Lot, lol. Music is going to be a big part in this story so I hope you guys don't mind reading song lyrics. I also hope none of you mind me calling you 'guys' even though we're all girls (I think), lol.
(2) If you didn't understand that let me break it down: Each semester they are allowed five unexcused late slips so they can go on to class. Kira had already used all five and gone on to use the ones for the 2nd semester and then used all ten. Something my school used to do with absences excuses (now they changed it to something completely stupid) btw I'm just using semesters and not going into trisemeters and all that cuz it'll give me a headache.
(3) For those of you that may not know instant soups only take 2-3 minutes to make…I eat 'em when I'm feelin' lazy :-D.
If you don't know who Panic! At the Disco you might wanna give them a try if you like Fall Out Boy – right now I'm all about bands, so yeah…leave a review please, I give cookies.