Cell Mates

03|| The Aftermath

03

If I thought spending a night in jail in questionable company was bad, namely the sloppy drunk who'd come in smelling suspiciously like the inside of a barf bag, I had another thing coming when my sister showed up. Not only was she too enraged to speak, but she rarely got that dangerous glint in her eye that told me I'd better watch my back. I wasn't the only one to inherit our mother's raging streak.

"Mia?" I asked tentatively testing the water fearing I'd get easily burned if I pushed her too much too fast. There was no telling what she could do. The drive from the police station had been spent in silence, one where Mia, my older sister wouldn't even look at me.

The few brief words she's muttered from the door to the cell opening to the car door being shut in my face were spat through clenched teeth. In all the years I'd been living with her I hadn't seen her this full to the brim with rage. Not when she'd lost the case against her rival defence lawyer – one that cost her a hefty paycheck – nor when she walked out of our house upon finding out our parents had separated, conveniently forgetting to inform her of their newly acquired status.

"Sam, I'd suggest you don't breathe a word. Not one or I swear to God I will leave you on the side of the road, are we clear?"

"Crystal," I affirmed and settled on looking out the window instead. The night flashed by in a blur, the city lights and pier bonfires melted into fractions of colorful moments. I quickly glanced at the speedometer only to see the small indicator needle push past 90, putting us at least 30 miles above the speed limit.

Sighing, I knew that small talk was over and it would be for a while. Silent meals, cold shoulders, and a refreshing bundle of threats wouldn't be spared at my expense for the next couple of weeks. I silently prayed that that was all that awaited me.

A faint buzzing drew my attention to the pocket of my jeans just as we were pulling up into the drive way. I quickly scrolled through the recent messages and found the unread envelope icon blinking next to Vic's name. I really should delete her from my contacts, I thought with a bitter scowl.

Just as I was getting ready to open it, a hand snatched the phone out my hands. My eyes lifted to Mia's in the driver's seat, expectant of an explanation that should've been clear.

"You've lost the privilege, Sam. In fact, you've lost a lot more. Like my respect for you, and my trust. If you think that you're getting this back anytime soon," she said dangling the phone in between her thumb and forefinger, "you're delusional."

A huff of exasperation at her playing the adult escaped between my teeth. She did this every time I did something wrong, something that wasn't up to her standards or in line with her moral code, or whatever she was about to go on about in her little speech. Mia was the type to try and compensate the absence of a parental figure in my life. But I was waiting the day when she caught on that her stern lectures or feebly imposed rules weren't going to cut it.

"Things are about to change around here Samantha and then you'll wish you would've listened."

"Uh-huh," I said, following her into the house. "Thanks for bailing me out. I swear I won't be any more trouble. I've learned my lesson." Blah blah blah. My usual spiel got me out of trouble plenty of times before, I didn't see why this time it should be different.

Unexpectedly, she spun around on her heel and came face to face with me. "I don't think you have," she replied eyes narrowing at my sarcasm. "That's the worst part. But you will."

An eerie chill descended upon us, as we engaged in a starring war. But I knew she was bluffing when it came to this. I'd been through this process of Mia trying to be "responsible" for me more times than I could count. So I decided to appease her and bow my head in submission, trying to hide the growing smile until I got to my room. Nothing was going to change, and in my household that was pretty much law .