Chapter 6 – He's back (1 out of 2) 

 

I never know what to expect when it comes down to my family. Whether my father shows up and decides he really wants to be a father or the fact that my mom takes him back every time.  

My father had left my mother, my sister, and I when we were young. He was a drunk. He never really cared about anyone but himself. He would beat my mother literally till she fell on the floor with bruises and blood coming out of her nose. I never really cared for my father, which made my school day, that Tuesday morning, a living hell. 

** 

“Ally, breakfast is ready,” my mother called. I had been getting dressed because today was the day that I was going sit with Michael at lunch.  

“Coming mom!” I hurried out of my room and down the stairs.  

As I reached the table, my mother started, “So, I got a call from the school last night and...” 

“Sorry mom, the bus will be here in less than 5 minutes I got to go.” 

“Oh okay, be safe please.”  

I grabbed my bag that always hangs by the door, and I put my shoes on. Quickly, with my sister behind me, we ran to the bus stop, just barely making it. 

As I got on, I sat in the seat behind Nicole, “Hey.” 

“Slept in?”  

“Yeah. I had stayed up late last night texting Michael.” 

She chuckled, “It seems you two have been getting along.” 

“Yeah,” I smiled.  

“You have a crush on him, don’t you?” 

“I mean how can I not?” 

She laughed and looked ahead as the bus drove over the bridge. I took out my headphones and started playing Spotify. Music always spoke to me. As we continued over the bridge, I stared out the bus window thinking while we were on the to Michael's stop.  

As we reached the next stop, Michael was the only one getting on. He got on and I scooted over so he could sit next to me. He looked at me and sat next to someone in the front. ‘Why did he not sit next to me?’ I thought. 

A couple more miles later, we reached the school. Everyone on the bus rushed to get off to roam the halls of the school. As I got off, I quickly rushed over to Michael. “Hey, why did you not sit with me on the bus?” 

“Did I have to?” He seemed like he had a bad night with his family.  

“No, I’m sorry.”  

“It’s fine. How was your night?” 

“It was great because I was talking to you,” I said bumping into his shoulder. We had reached his locker, and I started to smile. 

“What?” he said notice my smile. 

“I’m just happy to have you as a friend.”  

“Yeah?” he laughed.  

“Mhhm,” I said. He finished putting his things in his locker as we head to mine. I started to put my things in my locker.  

“Allison?” I knew that voice. The scratchy tone and the scariness of my younger days arrive. I closed my locker door, and there he was. My father, who was gone for a decade, was standing next to my locker looking into my eyes. Suddenly, my whole world started crashing down.