Chapter Four
Scar POV
"Hey, Scar..."
"What're you doing here?"
I heard the accusation in my voice.
"I... I didn't want you to be alone for Thanksgiving..."
"But being alone for three months is okay?!"
I couldn't help it. I was pissed. She looked down.
"You didn't even tell me you were leaving! It wasn't until the money got here that I realized you were actually gone! I thought I just kept missing you when you were home!"
She stood up from the couch.
"Moving here for me was a mistake. I couldn't do it, anymore... But, you... You're happy here."
"It's illegal..."
"Baby, listen to me..."
"Don't..."
I stepped away from her.
"Do you ever think of anyone but yourself?!"
She didn't even flinch.
"I tried to... I just... Can't get over this..."
"That's not an excuse for leaving your 16 year old daughter to live by herself."
She sighed.
"Please... Can't we enjoy Thanksgiving? Then we'll talk, I promise..."
I gave in.
"Okay... Fine... As long as you're clean..."
"I am today."
The next day went fine. I called Cam and told him I wasn't coming over, that my mom didn't have to work after all. Friday morning, I walked into the kitchen and started making coffee, ready to clear the air.
"Mom, you up yet?"
I didn't hear a response. I walked down the hall and opened her door.
"Mom?"
The room was empty. When the bag she'd brought with her wasn't there, I knew she was gone. There was a letter on the night stand.
My dearest Scarlett,
I know what you think and you're right. I'm a terrible mom and I always will be. I don't know how to change it. I wish your dad were here, I would've never left. I'm so glad we got to spend the day together. It was nice. I have to get back. There's some money in my dresser.
I love you.
My blood began to boil. Love me? Yeah, right. Dad was the only one who ever loved me. I was pissed beyond belief. The phone rang several times, but I didn't answer it. I just sat on the couch, staring at a picture on the wall of us. Me and her. I heard my door open.
"Hello?"
I didn't move my eyes from the picture.
"Hey, there you are, I've been trying to... Wait, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Danny."
I could feel his eyes burning a hole in me.
"Um... Where's your mom?"
"She left. Gone before I woke up this morning."
He looked at what I was staring at. He walked out of the room, but I could hear him on the phone. Eventually, everyone in the gang was there. I hadn't seen them, but I could hear them. They all walked in a few minutes later.
"Scar..."
"Don't, Cam."
I finally looked at them. They all looked pissed, but I knew it wasn't at me.
I walked over to that picture and took it off the wall. The next thing I knew, I was throwing it across the room, nearly hitting Mikey with it. It shattered. I didn't even mean to do it.
"Mikey, I..."
"It's okay."
Hearing his voice gentle startled me.
"I'm okay, now."
They stayed all day. Jason went out and got us food, and it was unofficially decided that everyone was staying.
Keegan was sleeping with me.
"You know, your mom would kill my mom if she knew about this."
"Really?"
"Oh, yeah. No one approved of June Hurst."
"I can't blame her. I mean... How could she do this to you? Leaving in the first place was bad, but coming back and giving you hope? That's low, even for her..."
"Yeah... And now the gang knows she was gone."
He sighed.
"They already did. I told them a while back."
"Jackass..."
"I ain't gonna lie, though. When Danny called us, I was sure you'd be crying when we got here."
"You won't ever see that. I don't cry in front of people. I don't even cry alone."
A couple of weeks went by, and things went back to normal. I was alone, my mom was gone, and I got money in the mail. One afternoon, someone was knocking on my door. When I opened it, it was a police officer. My heart was pounding.
"Can I help you?"
"You Scarlett Curtis? June Curtis's daughter?"
I nodded. He took off his hat.