Grief
We just looked at each other with Aaron and Alyssa in the car.
“Hah, you’re joking!” I said. “Right?”
He stayed silent, Aaron got out of the car and asked “What's wrong”
And I just stared at him. My eyes began to sting, and I tried to blink away the tears but they started to flow.
“Tori what happened?” he asked “Are you okay? Why are you crying”
Before Uncle Harry or Aaron said anything I hugged Aaron and just bursted out crying. That's when Alyssa got out of the car and hugged me and asked what happened.
I could barely speak. My throat was incredibly tight, but I managed to get out a few words.
“It’s… my mom…”
Aaron asked, “Is she okay? Are you okay?”
“No…” I responded. They didn’t continue asking and just hugged me again.
“Can you take her? I trust Alyssa. I will come get her tomorrow,” said Uncle Harry.
Aaron nodded. I was still crying.
They took me to the car and Alyssa sat in the back with me and just comforted me the whole ride. I was able to stop crying and told them all I knew. (which wasn’t much)
“Tori, I'm so sorry,” Aaron said, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Tori quick warning, our mom is on a business trip so you will meet our stepdad for the first time.” Alyssa said.
It made sense their mom was a lawyer. Her name is Angila jones. The A name ran in their family. Their dads name is Austin but I didn’t know why they got divorced. He's not dead; they saw him every other weekend. Well Alyssa did Aaron didn’t I guessed because he was going to be 18 soon. Then we arrived at their house. Their house was big. They were rich like I said. Their step dad loves showing it off. It was three stories, it was brown and there were two fountains. And a bunch of trees in front of it. I've been there before so their mom knew me but I never met their stepdad.
“Aaron Jones where were-” the man paused in his shouting and looked at me
“Luis, this is Victoria,” said Alyssa.
“Oh hi, Victoria. My name is Luis. I'm Aaron and Alyssa’s stepdad,” he said in a calm voice.
“You can call me Tori if you want,” I said in a half-teary voice.
“Are you ok?” he asked.
Alyssa told him about what happened.
“Oh you can stay as long as you need, you can sleep in the guest room,” he said happily.
Then Alyssa took me to her room and said “I’mma get some food- stay here.”
“Ok” I replied
Then she left. Aaron came in and asked “How are you feeling”
“Why did you get in that fight? I saw it.” I asked
Before he said anything Alyssa came into the room.
“Hey, I got food. Aaron, do you wanna stay here and eat with us?” she asked
He said “Sure” and got a fold-able table (and chairs). We sat down and ate. All I could think about was my mom and if she was dead or not. As you could Imagine I got no sleep that night. I really thought she was dead. And the next day Aaron and Alyssa were getting ready to go out.
“Aaron, you stay home with Tori. I have a big test that I can’t miss!” Alyssa told Aaron as she got her backpack. “You say yes or I will stab you, ok? Bye” she walked out of the house.
“Well I don’t want to be stabbed.” he said jokingly “Are you ok?”
“I guess” I replied
“I’ll be right back with breakfast what do you-” I cut him off
“Answer me why did you get in that fight and who were you fighting?” I asked
He gave me a blank stare.
“Hey, answer me. Why? Who was it?”
He shifted his weight from side to side. And started walking to the kitchen
“Hello?” I asked.
"His name is Leo. he gets in fights all the time," Aaron explained as he was making breakfast. "He was gonna try to fight Alyssa, and we can't have that can we?" We just stared at each other. "He only goes after friends of the people who stand up to him, so be careful around me. Want some bacon?"
"Sure" is all I could say after that when I found my voice "I know how to fight. I'm not just some scared little girl if that's what you're implying."
"That's not what I said but I think-" he stopped himself
"What were you gonna say, Aaron?" I asked, smirking.
"He is the second strongest person in the school. There is no way you can beat him."
"Who is the strongest?" I asked
"Don’t worry about it." Aaron said calmly, "Now you need to know something about him. He will not go down without a fight. You can't call him a jerk without a punch to the gut," he said, finishing the bacon. "Now eat and tell me more about you."
A few hours later my uncle came and got me. “We couldn't find her. I am so sorry but we will keep searching.” uncle harry said as he was driving me to his house.
And the next day I did go to school. I decided to be sad and mourning for months was not going to do anything. when Aaron drove us and Jess was there.
“And who is that?” she said looking at Aaron.
“Alyssa’s brother,” I replied.
“Wow, he's-” I cut her off.
“A senior,” I laughed.
“Oh even better!” Jess said.
“Jessica!” I yelled.
We both just laughed it off and nothing happened for the rest of the day. Well, except at the end of the day someone came up to me.
“Hey,” that guy said
“What?” I said.
“Is it true your mom died?” he started laughing.
“No!” I replied. “What is wrong with you?”
"Well someone is spreading rumors about it." He looked around and then pulled me closer to him "Someone you know well" he started laughing again and walked away.
I ran to the bathroom not knowing what to do. Was it Aaron, Alyssa or Jess? I don't know. Then the bathroom door exploded when I put my hand on it. I flew back and hit my back on the gray concrete wall.
“OW” I could not do or say anything. My back was in so much pain. Some teachers and students ran into the bathroom, one of them was Jessica. I wasn't about to pass out or anything but I just couldn't talk or move. Teachers came and made sure I was ok. All that they did was send me to the nurse and thank god it was ok.
“So what happened?” asked the nurse.
“I-I don’t know” I stuttered trying to figure it out myself.
“Well if we find out who made the door explode we will tell you.” the nurse said, smiling at me. That had to be it, someone had to make it explode. That explained it someone made it explode to get me hurt. I mean someone had to have tried to kill me. But I was fine? How? I asked myself.
“Now do you want me to call your uncle to take you home?” she asked
“No, I can go back to class”
“Ok,” she said “but if you need to come back and call your uncle”
As I was going back to class Jess stopped me in the hallway.
“Ok Tori this might not be the right time but I-” I have a habit of cutting people off.
“You are having a birthday party” I guessed
“Yea how did you know”
“You always have that when you're about to tell me about it” I pointed to her purse which had a blue envelope with light pink writing. And bright pink glitter on the blue bow.
“And of course, you're invited,” she said, handing it to me.
“What about me?” Mia laughed
“Go to class mia.”
“No i’m ditching”
“Again?”
“Me too,” I said
“Also don't you think Aaron is kinda cute? '' Mia asked.
Not gonna lie he is kinda cute. But I would've never admitted it.
“Not really.” I replied
A few minutes after they left two kids came up to me
“Hey, you,” one of them said “Your name Victoria Shallows?”
“Why” I asked
“Jess is planning on embarrassing you”
“What?” I asked “No she can't be she’s my best friend she would never”
“Be careful at her party” they said at the same time and they walked away. All I could think about for the rest of the day was the party. Was she going to do what they said? My focus was all over the place, but I managed to get through. But why would she do something like that? I knew she would never. I completely forgot about the bathroom thing. But like every year I’m gonna need to plan her birthday party.
