Chapter 7- Cole's Escape, Murder and Smoke

When I dropped from my window I could still hear the faint screams of my parents. Now they were on the subject of education, my education. I tried to tune it out as I walked down the road and past all the suburban homes.

Luckily, I came to my senses when I was about halfway to the auto place. What am I doing? I am walking down a road late at night and I don't even remember where that car place was. I knew it was past work and the school, but after that do I take a right or a left? I'm not even supposed to be out after dark, at least, I don't think I am. My parents weren't all that big on rules. No, I shouldn't be out here at this time. I have now set a rule for myself. Unless…my T.S.B. needs me too. I hadn't noticed that I was at the beginning of the long driveway until I had started pacing at it. Okay, final decision! I am going to go down there and see if Cole's here, if he is I stay, if he's not, I go. There was a dim light in the pole barn. If the door had not been open I never would've noticed it, but when I got closer I could see the whole inside of the building. There were tools hanging everywhere. Some on neat shelves, some on nails. There was only one car in the barn. I could only classify it as a modern Chevrolet, but I'm pretty sure that Cole could name every part inside the vehicle.

I didn't knock. Firstly, because I hadn't seen a door in the first place, and secondly, I didn't care about rules or being polite. When I was inside the building I couldn't believe how much more it held then it had appeared. Before it looked like there were tools everywhere, but now I could see that they actually were everywhere, even on the high ceiling. I couldn't even imagine how many mechanics would kill for a tool place like this. I traced the ceiling with my green-brown eyes and imagined what it would look like if I painted a picture of this.

Cole: Melinda!

Me: Huh? Oh, Cole! This place is even more amazing then I thought. There's equipment everywhere.

Cole: Thanks. What brings you down here?

Apparently Cole had been working with grease, he was completely covered with the globs of goop. I didn't know how to answer his question, I just stared at him for a moment. I could also see a cigarette in his mouth. He quickly stamped it into the dirt and waved away the smoke.

Cole: Alright. Well, if you want we can go somewhere. I don't know what's open at this time but-

Me: No, you shouldn't have to leave because of me, I just came to talk for a while, I guess.

Cole: You guess? Then I suppose you'll be helping me.

Me: Sure!

I didn't know why I sounded so enthused, I had never liked cars or being dirty for that matter, but tonight was different, like every other night for the past year.

Cole: So, parents can be terrible, even when they're still together.

Me: Apparently.

Cole: Could you hand me that wrench, it's the third one on the nail by the door.

I followed his directions and I actually understood. I quickly handed him the small wrench.

Cole: Thanks.

That night Cole and I just talked. Nothing special, I suppose, mostly about our parents. What normal T.S.B's talked about. I hadn't brought a watch, nor was there a clock in the barn, but I knew I should have left hours ago. The sun was already up and I was not the least bit tired. That night had been relaxing, and yet, exercise at the same time.

Cole: Oh shoot!

Me: What?

Cole: It's already five!

Me: Five! Five am!? I stayed out all night! My. Parents. Are. Going. To. Murder. Me. Brutally.

Cole: I didn't bring a car so I can't drop you off. My dad literally will kill me. I'd bring you home and explain if I could, but I really have to go.

That moment something kicked in, a sense of athleticism. I ran, I didn't care who saw me or how weird I looked to the people who were on their way to work. Cole had turned the opposite direction of me when we reached the end of the dirt driveway. I wasn't tired and I wasn't getting tired, for the minute I took advantage of my physicality. I couldn't stop, all I could think about was getting home, sneaking into my room and possibly getting away with everything.

As I approached the front door I knew something wasn't right. Mom's car was still in the driveway and all the lights in the house were on. This is going to be rough.

Mom: Melinda Sordino!

Dad: Get in here right now!

I slowly closed the door with a look that only my T.S.B. could have at this time. I squinted, waiting to get punished. Maybe they'd take away my computer privileges, as if I had any, or they could just make me quit my job that had obviously manipulated my brain.

Mom: Where were you?

I couldn't look up at her. I hadn't been disciplined all that much in the past, I hadn't needed it, an yet, it felt like this was normal.

Me: [mumbling] I was just in town.

Dad: Melinda, if you don't tell us the exact place you were this second you'll be here all summer, forbidden to any art classes.

No! I had saved up two hundred dollars just for those few classes. Manual labor and my life savings had helped with the cost of the classes. I was not going to let this happen. There was only one thing I could do. Be completely honest.

Me: I was just in town, I walked a while. Do you know how stressful this is?

Mom: You think you have stress!? Well, I'll be-

Me: [not giving a genuine crap of what anyone thinks] Yes, my life is stressful! I am an adolescent and I am forced to keep a job just so this family can pay the rent for this crappy house! We should just move into an apartment, then we'd get to have a personal buzzer. Cancel all vacations and totally get rid of the electricity!

I did not know what was happening, but I couldn't stop, like what had happened when I was running. I had to keep going, no matter what. When this was all over I'd be glad to be allowed back in this crappy house.

Me: If we got rid of the electricity then we just might have a chance at being a normal family that doesn't live at the computer or watches TV when they get home from their no profit business. Oh, and the glares, every time I walk down the sidewalk I am glared at in ways only child abusers and rapists should be looked at.

What was happening, I was unloading too much. All my feelings were coming out excessively,

Me: NO! This isn't over yet! I don't even know how you two had somehow been granted the right to produce a child with the money you had back then. Look at me, dad! You never look at me! It's like you're afraid I'm your daughter and if you could you'd probably trade me in, but at least the next kid you get won't be as screwed up as I am. I mean Andy's gone and the neighbors are finally starting to talk to you now, but I doubt it after tonight. Of course what has changed? You two have been fighting for months! I'm just joining into the lifelong fight! I should just go move in with Col-David, he understands me and everyone knows that you were ready to ask for a small donation to the 'stupid girl who got raped' charity. For your information, I am completely normal, or I was, until you people screwed it up.

They were speechless. I could tell, dad looked like he was about to faint and mom couldn't process anything I'd just said.

Me: And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get ready for work, because we all know who's keeping this family alive!

I stormed up to my room and didn't care about anything. Somehow I had forgotten to do the laundry and my uniform was still in the dirty clothes hamper. Fine! Screw it all! I grabbed the shirt, pants and tie and put them on without a second thought. Before I knew it my feet were running, again, and I couldn't stop, again.

Boss: You're late.

Me: I don't give a crap.

I angrily approached the outside break area. I had to calm myself down. If I kept going like this I'd get an ulcer. I could see two other employees on break. They shrugged at me and one handed over a cigarette. Right after that they went back inside.

For a moment I looked at the nicotine filled lung disease plea. I always overanalyzed things, it was how I thought. I'd over think this and I would completely change my mind. I knew what I needed. I needed to calm down. I remembered a bit of knowledge from a report in the sixth grade -nicotine has been known to kill, but acts as a stimulator- besides everyone smoked. Mom, Cole, those guys that were just here. Luckily there was still a lighter outside. I wouldn't want to go across the street to the gas station to buy matches.

My hands were on the verge of trembling, possibly from the cold, or the fact that I was just about to light a cigarette. I could die from this. Nicotine has killed. My thumb flicked trigger. A small flame appeared. I stared at the lighter, then, the cigarette laying on a nearby table.

Cole appeared in front of me. He picked up the cigarette and lit it. I was half expecting he'd take it away and use it for himself, but then, he handed it to me. I looked at him for an awkward moment. It was the way he stared at me that made me grab the nicotine substance. His eyes were unmoving. I couldn't compare that stare to anything. It wasn't mean, but I could barely tolerate it. Sounds like something Andrew Kaman would invent.

I pushed the cigarette to my lips. Why am I even doing this? Peer pressure sucks. Now I'm over thinking things again. Just ignore everything. It was easy to take a drag, I've seen my mother do it millions of times. I wasn't surprised how good it felt, but I was surprised how fast I'd finished it. I closed my eyes tightly.

Cole: What's wrong Melinda.

Me:

Cole: It's okay. Smoking isn't that bad.

Me: Cole, it is bad, it's very bad. Millions of people die from it and death is not okay. I know all that, but I think I like it. And smoking works. It calms me, but it's still a terrible thing.

Cole: Oh, Melinda. Smoking isn't a terrible thing if it helps you. It helps both of us.

I couldn't say anything else. I needed to think. Unless thinking would just have me end up absolutely nowhere, which it usually did. I over think thinking. Ugh. Cole led me into work and told me to take it easy, cleaning windows and sweeping floors. Luckily, I was able to avoid our boss. I kept my head down for the remainder of the day.

Cole: Do you need a ride home Mel?

Me: [mumbling] I suppose.

Cole wasn't happy, but somehow he took on the same emotion I had and kept quiet the whole ride home. As a goodbye Cole gave a short, quick wave and drove off. The moment I entered my house I knew something was wrong. Mom was standing in front of the TV and Dad was blocking the hallway. I was trapped.

(Okay, well, I don't really have much to say. Sorry, David has been forgotten. So now he has been completely deleted from the story. Kidding! Just making sure you're still alive and that this chapter didn't put you to sleep. David will be back…sometime…peace/\love\/see ya