Chapter 1

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

If you had my love and I gave you all my trust would you comfort me? ~ Jennifer Lopez


Two years later

I walked inside and set my keys on the table near the door. The smell of smoke entered my nostrils, halting me from taking my shoes off. I scrunch my eyebrows walking farther into the house.

"Ma?" I called out.

No answer.

I hurried to the kitchen where the smoke was coming from. My eyes widened at what I was witnessing.

There was fire. Everywhere.

I slapped a hand to my mouth calling for my mom again. The fire was spreading rapidly, the flames growing bigger forcing me to the front of the house. I grabbed my phone punching my mom's number in as the smoke clogged my lungs.

She picked up after three dials. "Hello?"

Burning tears pricked my eyes. "Mom, where are you?"

"I'm at work," her voice lowered. "What's wrong?"

I let out a sigh of relief, stepping out of the house and sitting on the curb. "Th-the house," a sob broke out. "It's on fire!"

She gasped on her side, and I heard movement in the background. "Are you serious?"

I nodded frantically but then remembered that she couldn't see me. "Yes."

I heard my mom curse under her breath. "Go outside and wait for me. I'll be right there."

"Ok." I sighed hopelessly looking back at the burning house.

Around five minutes later my mom came and jumped out of the car running over to me. "Hey baby," she hugged me, holding my face. "Are you ok?"

I nodded pointing back to the house where the flames now reached the windows on the second floor. I sobbed again looking at the chaos.

She turned back to me, her eyes hollow. She sat back down on the curb as we waited for the Firetruck to get here. She was still wearing her restaurant's uniform, a dark apron with white stripes and a red dress shirt behind it. We stared at the road saying nothing to each other.

When the authorities finally got here, they sprung into action attacking the roaring flames. They told us the damage was too much and that we wouldn't be getting our house back. I felt as if someone struck me in the stomach and then tripped me causing me to fall flat on my face.

My mom took us to the hotel to stay the night. She didn't say much after we got there. I know this hit her hard because we had just gotten the house too, after moving out of our old apartment.

When my dad died, my mom sold the house and moved us into an small apartment and we've been living in it until she could afford a house again.

I passed my mom walking out to the balcony and allowed the refreshing air to blow in my hair. I was leaning on the railing when I got a notification from my phone. Series of messages poured down from friends and family asking if I was ok and to look at the local news.

Curious, I went back inside, sliding the door closed. I was about to ask where the remote was when I noticed my mom staring dully at the screen. On the tv was our house burning down, my mom and me crying in the background.

My jaw dropped as I sat down numbly watching the screen. Great, now everyone's going to know as soon as I go back tomorrow. Another tear slipped out of my eyes. My heart sank at my realization.

Everyone knows.

-----

"Aniya!"

I turned my head to Lilly and Quinn running in my direction. They sputtered out questions of concern.

I gave them a feeble smile. "I'm ok, my mom found a hotel for us to stay in at the moment."

They looked at me with sorrow and pity in their eyes. They hugged me again walking into the school with me, arms linked.

I looked down at my outfit hoping no one would notice I was wearing the same thing as yesterday. Because all my stuff burned down in the fire my mom washed our clothes in the hotel's laundry room.

Lilly and Quinn dropped me off at my first period but not without giving me another hug. I sighed walking to the back of the classroom and setting my head down. I want nothing but to disappear.

I felt a tap on my elbow. I lifted my head up to a tall dark figure standing in front of me. I lifted my tired eyes to his face and my eyes widened. It's Victor Simon.

"You're sitting in my seat," he pointed, sending a cold stare my way. The seat I usually sat in was vacant in the front where the bright lights were.

I groaned, putting a hand to my head. "Can I please just sit here for today?" I pleaded with tired eyes.

He placed his hands down on the desk leaning forward so that the tips of our noses were practically touching. His frosty eyes pierced mine as if he was looking deep into my soul. My breath hitched at his sudden closeness.

"No," he coldly says.

I gulped and lowered my head. Picking my black bag up, I walked to the front and sat down huffing. What an asshole. I felt my cheeks warm and angered myself even more to the fact that I was blushing.

Why am I like this?

The math teacher strolled in, setting her bag on her desk and searching the classroom. Her eyes landed on me and walked in my direction. "Hey Aniya," she gently said. "I heard about what happened, and I just want to let you know that I will always be here if you need anything." She looked at me with caring eyes.

I nodded trying to produce a smile upon my lips. "Thank you, Mrs. Gerry."

She nodded, squeezing my arm and getting up to start the class. I set my head down over my arms wishing this day would be over.

By the end of the day, I could barely recall what went on during my classes. I don't think I possess the will to anyway. Declan tried to cheer me up during class but he failed miserably.

My mom picked me up from the car rider lane and dropped me off at the hotel before going back to work. I was sitting on the bed trying to catch up on homework when the door clicks and is pushed open revealing my mom. A takeout bag from the restaurant in her hand.

I sighed, setting up the narrow table by the window. It's a good thing my mom owns a restaurant. We silently ate and enjoyed our steak.

"So," my mom breaks the silence with a hesitant smile on her face. "How was school?"

I sighed for the thousandth time today. "It was ok, and how was work?"

"It was okay, I got some great news today," she added, taking a sip of her drink.

"We're getting the house back," my eyes widened, glistening with hope.

"No," she grimly said. "But we do have a place to stay now," she smiled.

I raised an eyebrow while swallowing my food. "What do you mean?" How did she find a place so fast?

"Well, it turns out that an old friend lives around here and heard about the news and offered to let us stay at her house," she giggled.

"Really?" I beamed. "Do I know her?"

She shook her head. "No sweetie, we lost touch when you were just a baby."

I hunched my shoulders. "Oh."

"We move in tomorrow after school."

I nodded, smiling. It's not our home but it's a house and mom won't have to worry about paying the hotel bills any longer . I looked out the window to the rain gently pouring down generating white noise.

I laid my back on the bed looking up at the smooth ceiling. Maybe things are going to turn out alright...

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net