Living Without a Mom ~ Chapter 5: Missing You
Either I have writers block or no motivation. One of the two. Eh, school is being crazy at the moment. A geography essay and maths exam are just two of the things going on. This story is also probably gonna be shorter than expected, just a heads up. I want to try and put Leighton under the spotlight for this chapter, Opal seems to steal a lot of it.
As the weeks went by, Leighton found himself drifting apart from his mother and girlfriend. Yumi continued to nag about breaking things off with Opal. It was almost like she wanted a bad relationship with her son. But not being as close to Opal was surprising. She hadn't really been answering to Leighton's texts as much as she used to. They still saw each other weekly, but only on Saturdays. Though even then, it wasn't the same anymore.
After having yet another argument with his mom, Leighton stormed out of the house whilst it was hailing outside. Great. Well, he wasn't going straight back inside. He wanted to prove a point, whatever that may be.
Leighton kept on walking. He didn't know where he was going. He actually wouldn't be surprised if he just walked so far in a straight line that he ended up in the ocean. But whatever. He thought about life. It was looking better in the friendship department. He'd made friends with Anabelle, Opal's friend, as well as some other people. Even though things still weren't exactly the best right now, they were way better than they were in Hidden Springs.
Already giving up, Leighton sighed and made his way into Hogan's diner for shelter. He and Opal always used to hang out here. Now he's usually there all by himself. Leighton looked away as Connor Frio, Jared's younger brother, walked in. Sure he was nothing like his brother, but still. Things were just awkward between those two and they always would be. It just went without saying.
Leighton wasn't leaving any time soon. The hail outside was even worse and was rattling off the roof and windows of the diner. After ordering some fries, Leighton sat down at his and Opal's booth and stared outside. They always sat there. The only reason why is because Opal once spilt her drink on the red seat and somehow it never came off. Strange backstory, but it made that seat ever more personal.
Leighton was interrupted when Jessica Bachelor and her best friend Zelda Mae came running into the diner. Oh no. Not them. They were the most annoying eight year olds that Leighton had ever encountered. Shouldn't they have a parent with them? Oh, there's Simis Bachelor. He steered the two girls to the booth behind where Leighton was sitting. Great, now he had to listen to those two scream and yell about everything. As Simis walked off to order, a head appeared on either side of Leighton's head. Jessica and Zelda were standing on the seat of their booth and leaning into Leighton's.
'What do you want?' he muttered. Stupid kids.
'Just wonderin' where your girlfriend is.' laughed Jessica. Zelda giggled. Leighton was so close to smacking their heads together.
'Yeah, usually you two are always in here whilst doing kissy kissy and all that other boring love stuff.' added Zelda.
'She moved away.' Leighton then began to mutter under his breath, 'And I wish that you two would do the same.'
'What did you say there?'
Leighton was about to finally snap but then Simis returned with food.
'Girls, sit down and stop bothering Leighton and Opal.' he ordered.
'Daddy, you're so silly. It's just Leighton there.' laughed Jessica.
Without another word, Leighton stood up and left the diner. The hail outside had stopped and the ground was now covered in puddles. But he didn't feel like going home just yet. Instead he found himself making his way over to Opal's old house. There he stood, just staring at it. It was a grand old building that went up three floors. It looked quite traditional, probably was one of the oldest buildings in Sunset Valley. Once Opal said that apparently a guy fell from the attic in there and died. Wow. And to think that Leighton was once locked in there. It was near to the cliffs that dropped into the ocean.
Leighton sighed as he turned away from the house. He wished that Opal still lived there. She gave him a reason to wake up in the morning.
He had a strange feeling though that Opal was cheating on him with someone else. She'd been acting differently around him and he'd Googled why. It all seemed to add up.
Though even if she was cheating on him, he'd forgive her. She was just that kind of person.
After another walk around town, Leighton finally went home. His mother only nodded as he walked in through the front door. He did the same back.
Present day
Sam was trying to do the hardest task that anyone could ever possibly do; remember what his mother looked like from memory.
It was physically impossible but he tried anyway. When grandma Yumi would eventually arrive home, he'd ask where his mom was buried. He wished that he could just have one moment to talk to her.
On the bright side though, it had finally stopped raining. Sam smiled sadly at the thought of his mother.
What brought him to think of her this much today? It was just a random thought that just decided to stick into Sam's mind. Strange.
Ten years earlier
'Hey Opal, can you come over? I feel like hanging out and I miss you.'
Leighton was on the phone to his girlfriend for the millionth time that week. Safe to say that they were becoming close again.
Urgh, I give up. I'll write a long chapter once school's out. Same with even thinking about new story ideas. Plus right now I have the worst concentration span ever. I was listening to I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans whilst writing this. Somewhat fitting. Hey, this story is already reaching a climax. Sorta.