14. Home

Chase.

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"Shit!" I scream as I stumble out of the car.

"Fuck!" There's smoke coming from the hood. My headlights are completely fucked.

I put my hands to my head as the throbbing begins. I feel dizzy and nauseous.

I sit down on the ground with my head in my hands. I take a few deep breaths.

When I look up I get even dizzier.

"Ow!" I groan.

What do I do now?

After quick deliberation I decide to call Sky.

After a few rings it goes over to voicemail.

"Dammit!" I kick against the car.

Aron's in class.. I could call someone from school. Even if they're fake friends, they're dying to get on my good side.

After a long time of searching through my blurry phone I manage to call Wayne.

"Yo, dawg!"

"Wayne, I need your help. I totaled my car. My parents are gonna kill me—"

"Dude, bzzz, back up. You totaled your car?!"

"Are you gonna help me or not?" I push.

"Where are you? I'll pick you up and call someone for the car. I got you, dude."

I sigh of relief.

"My parents can't know."

"They won't. I'll just tell my guy I drove the car. No feds, no nothing. Cause you sound drunk as a skunk right now."

"Alright, hurry."

× × ×

I'm at Wayne's house. He knows someone who got rid of the car. Thankfully, nobody asked about my parents. Wayne let me crash with him. My mom would have been so angry if she saw the state I was in.

Mom: Chase, where the hell are you? Your principal told me you fought one of your classmates and that you skipped school today! Get your butt home!

Speak of the devil. I groan.

"Trouble at home?" Wayne asks as he comes into the room with two bottles of water and takeout.

"The principal called my mom! I'm dead!" I groan.

"Hey, at least she won't know about the car."

"Uh.. I'm pretty sure she'll know about the car when I don't bring it home tomorrow."

"Right.. Shit, man." Wayne pats my back and hands me a bottle of water.

"Thanks." I open the lid. "For everything."

"Sure, man. I had to after you kicked Luke's ass today. That was fucking fire, dude." He laughs.

I think it was stupid. I've turned into such an idiot. I hate my life.

I down the bottle of water.

"I thought he was your best friend."

"I wouldn't say that. I mean, honestly, he's just been bossing everyone around and treating people like crap lately. He totally deserved what he got. I'm glad you're in our group now, dude." Wayne pats my back.

I guess maybe Wayne and the other guys are not fake like I thought. They're just tired of Lucas' crap, which is understandable. And.. they actually like me. It's surprising but I'm happy they're really my friends.

Wayne shoves me a tray filled with Chinese food.

"Thanks." I smile.

I take a bite and then immediately feel nauseous.

I run into the bathroom.

I hear laughing from the bedroom as I throw up into the toilet.

This is the most embarrassing day of my life.

× × ×

I stick the keys into the door of my house the next day, hoping my mom won't be home.

"Chase, is that you?" I hear my mom from the kitchen.

"No..." I mumble.

My mom stomps into the hallway. She looks really angry.

"Chase Timothy Chambers!"

Not the full name!

"Where on earth were you last night? I was worried sick!"

"I was just staying at a friend's house."

"And you couldn't have called me? And what's this I hear of you fighting at school and skipping class! What is wrong with you!" She screams.

"I'm sorry." I say quietly.

"Sorry is not going to cut it, Chase! "

"Well, what else do you want me to say!" I snap.

My mother gives me a horrified expression.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me! I'm your mother!"

"And I'm your son! You need to stop treating me like I'm just some punching bag you can scream at whenever you feel like it!" I yell.

My mother pulls away. "I didn't raise you to be like this." She says quietly, her voice shaky.

"You didn't raise me at all." I answer. I turn around and run up the stairs.

I slam the door to my room and fall down onto the bed.

My phone buzzes in my pants.

Sky: hey, was busy w rose last night. didnt see ur call till today. see u tonight ok?

Shit. I totally forgot. We're having dinner tonight because Loren's coming home from college.

I groan into the pillow. I don't wanna see her. I don't wanna talk to anyone. I just wanna be alone in my room forever.

× × ×

My mom's in the kitchen, cooking Loren's feast. I'm setting the table.

I feel really guilty for yelling at her before. I didn't mean to.

The doorbell rings.

"Chase, can you get the door?"

"Sure!" It must be my dad.

I walk towards the door and open it.

"Hey, dad."

"Son!" He gives me a tight hug.

"I'm so happy to see you again! I've just been so busy practicing piano, you know?" He pulls away.

Busy planning my demise. I sigh.

We walk into the house together.

"Where's your car? I didn't see it in the driveway."

I go pale. Shit. I totally forgot.

"Um.. It's.. at a friends house." We enter the dining area.

"Why?" My dad laughs.

"Uh.."

Think, think...

"Chase.." My dad gives me a concerned look.

"I.. lost it."

"What?!" My dad screams.

I flinch. And the murdering begins.

"What's going on?!" I hear my mom from the kitchen.

Is this what they call a double homicide?

My mother rushes towards us.

"What do you mean you lost your car?" Her voice is loud and the way she's looking at me it's like she could strangle me.

"How does one lose a car?!" My dad raises his voice.

"I sort of.. drove it into a tree." I admit quickly.

"Do you know how much that car cost?! I can't believe you would be so reckless! How did this happen!"

"Well, how do you think, Steven? It is you who wanted to give the kids this liberal upbringing and look what's happening." My mom accuses.

Here we go.

"Oh, so it's my fault? I'm not the one that drags them out to lavish parties with bratty kids, no, that's good for their upbringing!" My dad screams.

Even divorced these two can't stand to be in the same room. They're usually okay when other people are around but when it's just me or Loren they let it all out. Plus, I think my mom's pissed things aren't working out with Marco.

"It was my fault! I was drunk and I crashed into a tree, okay?!" I scream.

"You were drunk driving?! Are you an idiot?!" My mom yells. Her face is red with anger. I think there's actual steam coming from her ears.

My dad's just shaking his head.

"Do you know how dangerous that was? You could've died!" He screams.

"Maybe that was the point." My mom mumbles. Her eyes brimming with tears.

"Oh God," My dad mutters.

"Mom!" I beg. "No! It was an accident!"

My mom shakes her head. A tear streams down her face as she covers her mouth with her hand.

"Dinner's almost ready." She whispers and walks towards the kitchen.

My dad looks at me so sadly and desperately.

"Chase, if you ever feel—"

"Dad! It was an accident! How many times do I have to tell you!" I snap.

I can't take it when they get like this. It's like they're not even listening to me.

The door bursts open and in comes Loren.

"I'm home!" She says cheerfully.