Slave to the Geek (Discontinued)

Chapter 16: Momma's Home

Rori Everhart

“We did not raise you to go gallivanting with boys during a school night doing god knows what then coming home at this hour Rori,” my mother spat.

“Teenagers are allowed to have fun mom,” I told her. “And it’s not even that late.”

“It’s nine thirty. I think that qualifies as late in this house,” Daddy dearest decided to chime in.

“What are you going to do then?” I eyed them both, “Ground me?” I scoffed at them. “You can’t even be here long enough to do that.” My mother’s eyes were glazed in fury at my sharp words.

“Rori! How dare you say that to us! We are your parents.” She said to me, her face beet red in anger. It was unbecoming.

“Well then why doesn’t it feel like it?” I didn’t want to hear another word from their mouths but it seemed that what I said sucked out all the possible replies to that. The light thumps of the stairs I made as I jogged my way up the stairs were soothing because it meant I was close to my room, my safe haven, away from those strangers.

Ten minutes later, I heard a knock at the door. I was contemplating whether or not to open it but I was sure it wasn’t my parents since they never come here. Not even five feet close to here. I cracked open the door, leaving only a space for my head to fit in.

“Miss, would you like your dinner?” he asked, holding a silver tray in his hands. He was taller than me therefore I really couldn’t see what was on it.

“What did Clemence make?”

“She didn’t make it. She ordered the barbeque pizza from Joe’s. It’s your favorite and you need to eat.”

“You had me at barbeque pizza,” I opened the door wide enough for him to step in. He put the tray on my study table and was about to leave but I stopped him. “Eat with me Miles. I know it’s your favorite too since you’re the one who brought me to Joe’s for the first time.”

He gave me a soft smile before sitting down on the chair while I sat down on one of my bean bags. I took the biggest piece and bit the tip, eyes trained on Miles who was about to take a bite.

“Mrs. Lawrence is getting intimate with a 1993 bottle of red wine in the kitchen while Mr. Wilson is locked up in his study skyping with a business partner from Japan.” He knew me better than I know myself.

“I wasn’t asking.”

“But your eyes were.”

We both ate the whole box while watching the replay of the playoffs on television. By eleven, I went to sleep. Miles tucked me in like a father to his child. I know I’m not seven but sometimes it feels good to have a fatherly figure in my life especially when my real father is here. Ironic isn’t it. I didn’t sleep that much that night.

5 am. I was up and it was weird.

My parents are back and I haven’t tried to smother them in their sleep. Not that I tried but I have done a lot of different things in my mind. If I was infuriating to them, then they were maddening to me.

Blowing the hair that was in my face; I pulled myself up and scanned the room. I stood up, letting my messy waves tumble down my shoulders. I walked towards my window and brushed aside the sheer cotton fabric of my curtains, revealing the orange tinted sky of dawn. I felt a smile flutter unto my lips.

It’s a going to be a good day and my parents back home are not going to ruin that. At least while I’m out of the house.

Dressing up in a pair of dark jeans and a black sweater, I slipped into my white tennis shoes and gathered my things. By the time it was six thirty, I was ready for school with a lot of time to spare. I went downstairs for some cereal. Clemence and Miles were up. She was preparing some breakfast for mom and dad while Miles tidied up, not that the house was ever dirty.