My Best Friend's Brother

Last Day Alive

"What the hell were you thinking?" My mother slammed her bags onto the kitchen counter as she shoved me through the house.

My eyes were puffy from my nonstop crying and my voice has become hoarse, "I wasn't..."

"You're damn right, you weren't thinking."

I held my head low and prepared for the worst. She walked over to me and I closed my eyes.

I felt her arms wrap around me, "But thank God you are okay...," she pushed my hair out of my face and touched my chin, "But you are grounded."

I nodded my head in agreement, I knew I was grounded before we ever left Sarah's house tonight. Before I could get my clothes and my bag up the stairs, there was a knock at the door.

Mom looked at me and then at the clock, it was almost 4AM in the morning, "You expecting someone?"

I shook my head side to side. She grabbed a knife from the block on the kitchen counter and slowly walked towards the door. She drew it back, ready to fight. Her hand slowly reached for the door knob, and turned it to the right, the door opened.

"Oh my god, Mrs. Jones!"

Mom pulled the knife down to her side and behind her back, "My Heavens, it's four in the morning..."

I had recognized the voice on the outside porch, "Can I talk to Emilie? It won't take but just one second...."

My mother leaned back and peered at me from around the door. My chest pounded and my nerves shot through the roof.

She wiggles her bottom jaw side to side unsure of how she wants to answer, "You have five minutes, at the kitchen table. That's it."

He thanked her, and stepped through the door.

My heart pounded heavier and harder, "What are you doing here?"

He pulled the bar stool from the kitchen table and waited for me to sit down, "I don't have long... but I don't need long. I wanted to tell you that I am sorry..."

"Liam-"

"Let me finish..," he ran his hands through his hair. I could tell he was just as nervous as I was, "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let all this happen.. and I shouldn't have left you tonight."

My stomach turned at the thought and the sight of him and Sarah leaving the police station earlier tonight. I was left all alone until my mother arrived.

He rubbed the side of his finger across my cheek, "I'm really sorry, Em."

My eyes fell to the ground.

"Times up. Go home." My mother pulled Liam up by the arm and walked him to the door, "Better say goodbye because you wouldn't be seeing her for awhile."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Jones... I should have done better.."

He left without a scene and my mother faced me after closing the door, "Do you want to explain to me what's going on? Why is he here apologizing and not Sarah?"

I felt so tired, "Can I go to bed, please?"

She crossed her arms and sighed, "We will talk in the morning."

The walk to my room was exhausting, and brought me to tears. I couldn't stop my thoughts from running miles a minutes through my head.

Just minutes after closing my eyes, I had drifted to sleep.

My mother woke me up by banging on my door at 9AM. Less than five hours of sleep... today was going to suck.

My phone was dead and I was almost certain that I had left my charger plugged in behind Sarah's couch. My cheeks started to blush as I remembered that I almost kissed Liam on that couch.

My mother became impatient and unlocked my door with the spare key, "Breakfast is waiting on the table. I have to go into town to run a few errands. You better not leave this house or so help me God-"

"I won't, Mom."

She stared at me silently, but finally gave me a hug, "I love you. Don't forget to call your dad around noon," she paused and saw my facial expression, "No, I haven't told him."

I hugged her back and then she left.

I dug through drawers looking for an old charger, luckily I found one in the kitchen.

Once my phone charge just enough to spark to life, dozens of notifications came through. I had twenty two missed calls from Sarah.

"Hello-"

"OH MY GOD ARE YOU ALIVE?"

I roll my eyes and grab a plate and two pancakes, "She hasn't killed me yet. What about your parents?"

"Oh," she laughed, "I blamed everything on Liam, surprisingly he agreed and took the punishment."

My chest burned, "You blames it on Liam? He didn't do anything. AND YOU were the one who ratted us all out."

The other end fell silent for a moment, "I'm sorry... I was scared..."

I could hear the genuineness in her voice and I knew deep down I would have been scared too, "I know."

A voice called for Sarah on the other line, "Gotta go, I will call you back later."

End button clicked.

My pancakes were well past the cold stage but I didn't care.

Eating pancakes in my pajamas on the couch watching Vampire Diaries seemed completely normal, and not at all like my last day alive.

The house phone rang.

"Hello?"

I could hear crying, "Emilie honey, it's me," my moms voice cracked as she held back tears to speak, "There has been an accident," my heart started pounded so hard that my ears were throbbing, "It's your Dad."