My Revenge Obsession

Chapter Four- You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison

 I tried to ignore the worried look on my mother's face as she turned back around and started to drive. One of my main worries while inside rehab was that upon my release she wouldn't let me see my friends again. We both knew that it wasn't the fault of my mates that I'd ended up so twisted, but they hadn't exactly helped the situation either. But, then again, I had nothing to fear; mum would always accept my choices if they made me happy.

 The question was, would I really be happy surrounded by everyone again? The last year of my life had been too awful to put into words, and I felt like such a changed person. There was no way of telling what might happen until I tested it out. Throwing myself in at the deep end would be the only way to make a decision; would I stay or would I go?

 The familiar streets were lined with crammed in houses, so many people living so close to each other. Wondering whether they knew about me and what had happened to Matt, it hit me for the first time how open my life was becoming. Anyone could find facts about me and my brothers and our thoughts in the local newspaper or in Scriveners. I didn't even have to be famous to be read about. One positive that could come from the situation was if a kid was suffering from similar problems and got comfort from our story, or even helped. However there was also a possibility that we were just making everything worse...

 Who knew?

 Pulling up outside Jake's house was daunting. He hadn't been there for a couple of days, instead staying at my mother's to help her get things ready for my return. He didn't know who was in there, and nor did I. That worried me. There were three possible ways for this to suck. One: nobody was there. Two: everybody was there and didn't care. Three: everybody was there and cared a lot.

 Placing a hand lightly on mum's shoulder in thanks, she turned to me once again with a concerned expression. I tried to arrange my features into a soothing look, but almost definitely didn't manage this properly. Jake got out the car and I took several deep breaths before opening the door and joining him. We looked up at the house for a moment and I was reminded ever so slightly of standing out the front of Restoration with my mother just before my admittance. Why was that place as equally terrifying as somewhere that had once been my home?

 My legs almost refused to cooperate but I eventually managed to force them to step forward. Another step, then another, then another- then we were at the front door. I looked back to my mother but she had already driven away.

 Jake bent down to get the spare key from under the mat and I rolled my eyes because only he wouldn't have a key to his own house. The front door swung open and I was shocked.

 It was clean in the hallway. There was no pile of dilapidated shoes near the front door, no stray beer cans lying around and it smelled fresh. Looking at the floor I tried to figure out if they'd put in a new carpet or if I'd just never before registered the colour due to now missing dirt stains. Going inside was like stepping into another world, warm but unfamiliar to me.

 "Anyone in?" Jake yelled, slamming the door behind us.

 "Everyone, I think!" Rich called back from the kitchen.

 "Yeah?" Jake shouted. "Well get your asses over here, I've got a six foot fucking four surprise!"

 There was a clattering of pans and then Rich came sprinting down the hallway, running straight at me. He didn't technically hug me but rather shoved me backwards into the door, pinning me there for a while. I awkwardly patted his back and waited to be released.

 "How's it going, man?" Rich immediately started babbling. "It's so fucking good to see you out! How're you feeling? Oh man, I can't believe your back! D'you want something to eat? I was just making an omelette, I can make you one too. I learned how to cook! Kind of. I can make, like, two dishes. But I can microwave the shit out of a ready meal. You want anything?"