Alter Ego

Part 13

     The smell of weed wafted around the room as three boys fought with wooden toy swords. Blue glanced to her right where Mage sat on a dirty old couch, his girlfriend on his lap. Mage wore a leather studded jacket and plaid, red, pants. His hair was styled into a mohawk and honestly, his girlfriend didn't look much different. He may have been older than Blue, 20 compared to her being a child, but besides Benny, Mage was the only one she could trust. When she didn't want to go home she'd stay with him. When she and the boys had nothing to do he'd make things fun, even though the adults told the neighborhood kids not to go near him. Most likely because of his looks and lifestyle.

     Blue eyed the three boys. Benny. She recognized him but couldn't remember the names of the other two. She looked up at the wet spot on the ceiling. This was all so familiar. Was it a dream... or a nightmare?

"Hey, It's getting late. You kids should head home now before your parents start to worry." Mage announced. 

His girlfriend clung to him, kissing his neck, "Hurry up and get out of here. The adults need some alone time."

     Blue hated her. She was so bossy and always rude to them, but because Mage was Mage, the kids listened, said their goodbyes, and headed out the door. Blue paused in the door frame and looked back at the couple. The girlfriend was already making her way to the bedroom as Mage stretched, walking over.

"Don't wanna go home?" he asked.

Blue shrugged.

"Your dad back from his business trip?"

Blue nodded.

Mage sighed and glanced at the bedroom door, then back at Blue, "You're welcomed to stay here."

Blue nodded, lightly hugging his leg before going over to sit on the couch. Mage brought some spare blankets and a pillow before handing her the T.V. remote, "Don't stay up too late."

Blue nodded.

     That night was a windy one. The house creaked as Blue stared at the T.V. screen, trying to ignore the argument coming from the bedroom. Blue knew she shouldn't have stayed. The girlfriend always gets mad about it and yells at Mage. He tries to tell her to keep her voice down so Blue doesn't hear, but Blue doesn't mind. She was used to it. It's all she's known. At least no one came out of it with bruises and scars. At least she didn't have to hear her mothers crying, pleading voice and her fathers slurred cussing. At Mage's house no one yelled at her. At Mage's house no one hit her. At Mage's it was safe.

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     Blue washed her hands in the girls bathroom sink before starring at herself in the mirror. She was in a shit load of trouble and there was no way out of it this time. She hurried out the door and over to where Benny was waiting for her.

"So we heading over to Mage's place?"

Blue nodded, "Yeah. I got something I wanna tell you guys."

     The two made their way off the high school campus and down the block. Mage's place wasn't too far from the school so it didn't take long for them to arrive. The house was the same as it always had been. Surprising in all these years Mage never really fixed it up. I guess moneys hard to come by these days. No wonder lots of people had been joining the homeless community as of late. Mage must be holding out for their sake. 

Benny and Blue entered the house without knocking and spotted Mage warming up some frozen burritos, "Hey kids, whats up? Rough day at school? Wait, wheres the third one?"

Blue sat at the kitchen table. Mage had changed a bit over the years. He may have kept some of his punk aesthetic but he was obviously older. He also traded in his signature black mohawk for a shorter, choppy, bleach blonde look, "Nixon had football practice today."

"Forget all that. Apparently Blue has some announcement to share and i'm dying to know." Benny smirked before sitting down.

Mage sat down next to them as Blue fidgeted, "Well? What is it?"

There was a long silence before Blue finally spoke, "I'm pregnant."

Mage flung his head and glared at Benny.

"Whoa! Don't look at me! I didn't do it!"

"Who's it it?" Mage asked.

Blue glanced away, "It doesn't matter."

"Like hell it doesn't! Who is he!?"

"It doesn't matter because he wants nothing to do with the baby."

Mage paused and sighed, "Shit this sucks..."

"You're telling me." Blue mumbled.

"So about your parents," Benny started, "They're gonna be hella pissed."

"That's why I haven't told them. Or Nixon. He can't know either."

"What's the plan? You keeping it?" Mage asked.

Blue nodded, "Yeah. I want to. It's my responsibility."

Mage ran his hand though his hair, "You know that's a lot of work, right? Babies are expensive and you're just a kid. How are you going to take care of it?"

"I don't know...I don't plan to tell my parents. Ever. Maybe I can just drop out of school and run away or something."

Benny stood up, "I can help you! I'm about to graduate so I can get a job to help take care of you and the baby. If possible maybe we could stay here with you Mage."

Mage sighed, weighing all the options, "I'm not your guys' parents. I'm not going to tell you what to do but, Blue, I think it's important you tell your parents. You're still a kid. Running away, dropping out of school, that's all stuff I did, and look at me. Living in a crappy, broken down house, barely able to make ends meet. I don't want that for the two of you."

     The house was silent and all anyone could hear was small drops of water  rhythmically plopping down into the kitchen sink.

"Fine. You're right. I'll tell them."

Mage nodded before standing up, "Now get home you two. It's a school night. We can talk more about this tomorrow."

Blue and Benny said their goodbyes before heading out. The walk home was in silence and felt like it lasted forever.

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     As Blue expected, her parents didn't take the news well. She sat on the coach, emotionless and numb, as she was screamed at. At one point her father got up and threw the lamp across the room as her mother tried to calm him down. Blue feared for her life but at the same time feared nothing. Her father stormed off up stairs and her mother followed. Blue starred into nothingness and placed her hand on her abdomen. The bulk of the anger was over. She survived. She could go see Mage tomorrow. It was going to be ok.

     An hour passed before Blue decided it was safe enough to head upstairs to her room. She tip toed up the stairs as to not catch anyones attention. As she reached the top she could see her mother to the right of her, leaning against the hallway wall. Her mom's eyes darted towards her and before Blue could speak, she was shoved. Blue's eyes grew wide as she flew back, tumbling down the staircase. Pain wrecked her body as she finally landed at the bottom. She couldn't move and could barely breath. She caught a glimpse of her mother's feet as they made their way down the stairs, stopping in front of her.

"Your father was very angry you know. This is what's best for the family. For us. You don't want you father to be angry. Hopefully that ended things. If not, we can try again later." 

Her mother stepped over her body and the last thing Blue heard before passing out was the sound of her mother humming and the clanking of dishes in the sink.