The Boy Next Door

I arrived at their doorstep around two hours later, I was wearing a small black dress that came up to mid-thigh and three quarters down my arm. Along with fish net tights and boots that reached my knees, kinda going for the stripper-esque vibe, not feeling the pentagram sweaters today. Maybe I can implant the slut persona instead of the satanic one, it'd be less horrifying to her anyways. I was kinda nervous, not really about the dinner but about my mom. Which is weird since I don't usually take her into mind because I know she's strong and shit but I don't know this time, I had a bad feeling. She hasn't messaged or called me like usual, but I'm perhaps I'm just over thinking this too.

I straightened out my dress and fixed my hair. There was some yelling before I knocked nevertheless I still proceeded. After a few seconds of shuffling, the shouts died down a little, soon the door swung open with ease. A smiley old lady who I've come to learn to hate appeared. The little dimples that were placed on both sides of her cheeks rapidly disappeared once she took in my appearance. The pleasant, welcoming facade was replaced with a scowl.
"Oh don't you just look lovely" she snapped at me with an oh-so-obvious sarcastic tone.

"Nice to see you too Mrs.Iero." Behind her, inside the house was Frank, holding his hands in a prayer pose, mouthing "THANK YOU" at me. hah I just saved that bitch from getting screwed by his mother didn't I?

I giggled at his melodramatic response which caused the Mrs to quickly turn around and catch frank in a mid prayer state, with his eyes closed and head tilted slightly upwards. She slapped his arm hard then yelled at him to set the salad or something.

"Veronica, darling please come in I have to talk to you about something, regarding your mother"
Her tone was serious this time, no more sarcastic and snarky comebacks, this was genuine concern which obviously scared me. What happened to my mother? is she dead?! what if she's dead!? oh god no I can't lose my mother yet, just because I act like I hate her doesn't mean I don't need her!

My eyes started to brim with tears, my nose was slightly clocked and I felt light headed, just the thought of me being parent-less scared the crap out of me. She saw my panicked state and quickly engulfed my in a warm hug.
"Oh nononono it's not like that sweetie she's still alive, don't cry" She stroked my hair while reassuring me that everything was fine. Other outrageous possibilities ran through my mind as the tears subsided, she sat me down on the sofa in front of a small coffee table. She was being really nice, I guesss i should stop with my asshole facade too.
"Okay listen Veronica, the police rang me this morning and told me that your mother is being imprisoned in...Albania" I stopped my sniffling and pathetic crying, the moment she sai 'Albania' What the fuck is my mother doing in Albania when she's supposed to be in Vegas at work?!? Are you fucking kidding me?

"WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE DOIN-"

"Sweetie calm down, she was caught smuggling drugs there, apparently when she was in Vegas she met a guy and....I guess you can predict what happened from there"

"Fucking drugs?!? What the hell was she thinking, I was worried sick about her and she ends up smuggling drugs for some guy? Jesus Christ this is so much to take in" By now I was pacing the living room practically yelling at myself for even worrying about her.

A look of sympathy took over her face as she sat dumbly on the couch, not knowing what to say in a situation like this. I don't blame her, it's not everyday that you find out your mother is caught dealing illegal substances for some guy she's probably fucking. and Albania?!? Where the fuck even is that?

"You can always stay here for the time being, I mean I don't mind"

"no no it's okay I'll be fine, I don't want to be a burden. The house is normally empty anyways"

"are you sure? I can set out a bed and everything its no fuss rea-"

"No. I'm fine" Well that came out more bitch-ier than expected. I gathered my bag from the floor that dropped when I came in and stormed out. I could hear her calling after me, something to do with eating dinner but I just ignored her and walked hurriedly away. I was so mad, no fuck that, I'm furious. She's the one who always nags me about being sooo irresponsible and shit but look who's talking now. What a fucker, I thought something really bad happened, how long is she going to be there for? Is she even going to come back? I highly doubt it. She'd be too ashamed of her actions and end up living there with her partner in crime. Ugh she's disgusting.

I stomped back into my house, slammed the door, ran up the stairs and crawled out my bedroom window to sit on the roof. The sun was setting so I moved further up to get a better view. I let out a scream that pierced the mid-April air, a few birds departed the roof as well. A little later the silence was disturbed by the beautiful melodies of 'High Regard' by The story So Far. I grabbed the box of cigarettes from my sling bag, along with my lighter. I rolled my thumb over the spark wheel a couple of times but the thing wouldn't do jackshit. Great just fucking great, my mom's in prison, my lighters broken and I think it's about to rain, Anything else wants to fuck up? I threw the damned lighter of the roof, not caring where it ended up, the thing was old anyways. I kept the cigarette loosely in between my lips as I laid down, one knee still up for support.

"Don't hurt yourself there sweetheart" I didn't even need to get up and see who it was, the voice was all too recognizable. If it weren't for my crappy mood I might've enjoyed his accompany, ah but C'est la vie all we can do is blame my mother. I still can't grasp it. Albania?!?

"Fuck off twat" He chuckled and climbed up, laid down and handed me a lighter. Even though I really needed a lighter I didn't want to take it. Something to do with my over cocky attitude. He probably new I wanted it anyways, so he brought it to my lips and lit the cigarette.

"your welcome"We sat in silence for most of the time up there, the only sound was the music and the occasional sigh that emitted from either one of us. He helped himself to a cig from my box a little after he lit mine. I focused on the smoke so intently that it calmed me down, the way it spiraled into the air and disappeared was relaxing for the mind. This was nice. Just the two of us sitting on a roof, smoking while listening to pop punk bands from my shitty phone as we watched the sun set. I liked this, i liked him, i liked 'us'.

Notes

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