Shadows

16.Simple, I don't get in trouble.

"Get out."

I stare at him for a few seconds.
.
.

"Mr.Emmett," I whispered to keep my voice from shaking, standing at the doorway, "Amy got hurt." I showed him my stuffed elephant, torn at the ear.

He glanced at me from his study, "get out."

"O-okay."

"Mom! Ma! Can we-"

"Get out."

"Goodmor-"

"Happy birth-"

"I'm-"

"Please-"

"Get out."

"Get out!"

"GET OUT."

"Okay."
.
.

"Well?" He raises his eyebrows, his dirt brown eyes smothering- an all too familiar kind of smothering, I realize.

I swallow the lump in my throat, "fine." I grit my teeth, you too? "fine."

I open the door, and swing my bag over my shoulder. Then slam the door closed, sending him cursing inside. He is the queen of drama queens.

For a split second I think about apologizing, but I censure myself for that thought. He doesn't deserve it.

With that, I hurry down the street. I want to go as far as possible, before he re-considers his decision.

Or maybe I just don't want him to see the tears building up in my eyes- I don't know. It doesn't matter. I- don't matter.

I shake my head.
Over-dramatic much?

It's getting dark now, the lampposts have turned on. I slow down, trying to regain my composure, trying to dim down the emotions swirling inside me, the world is getting too tight for me. My heart is getting chipped with every passing second, the pain sending waves of needles plunging into my body.

One family member. Just one.

The desperation slowly morphs into anger, the pain into fire. No. No.

I kick a pebble on my way, hands in the pockets of my jacket

Sucks. I wish the old Aiden would come back. I hate this new guy. That new self-centered jerk.

I walked a good distance when a car honks behind me. His car.

"Change of plans," Aiden says, driving alongside me, "get in the car."

I don't look at him, maybe I'm scared of what he'll see, maybe I feel like if I look at him I'll break, but my voice stays blank, "I'll just walk home."

"Walk home?" He mocks, "what, you want to get kidnapped?"

"What difference does it make to you?" I ask the floor.