1 ~ ᑕᕼᗩᑭTᗴᖇ 1 ~ Life as we know it ~ (Part 1)

I'm Lorrielle Saunders, but everyone calls me Lori, unless I've got into trouble. I'm seventeen years old, I've got a twelve year old sister Pearl and a seven year old brother Thomas. I have a tough life to deal with at home and at school which makes me want to make a break for it. My Mom is a thirty nine year old Pop star with over twenty nine million followers on social media. She goes by the "Lady in Red" but her name is actually just Kate. My Dad had passed away five years ago, so I mostly looked after my two siblings as my Mom was never at home anymore.

One Saturday evening, my Mom and I were arguing, about me slacking off at home. "You left Tomas crying in the bathtub, he could have drowned!" Mom shouted. "I hadn't mean to! A friend from school called about homework and then I lost track of time and I completely forgot" I said. I felt guilty, not just because I sounded like a total brat but because when Thomas was a baby he had a bad experience with water. He never learned to swim, because of his fear and that became a problem when we went on vacations to places with swimming pools or even places with beaches nearby. This was the only thing Mom got sensitive about, because she was the one who caused Thomas's fear of water.

I get so tired of Mom shouting at me, it happens in the little time she's at home. That's another thing about Mom, she is never at home and she is missing out on our lives. She misses all our important events and she is never at school meetings because of how busy she gets, but Pearl adores our Mom. She thinks Mom is the best. Mom always brings home teddy bears for her. They both have a love for teddy bears and it's kind of their thing. Mom and I don't really have a special thing we enjoy together except the stars.

When Dad was still around the three of us would always take blankets outside and we would enjoy looking at the stars, while Thomas and Pearl were asleep inside. Those were honestly the best times of my life. Deep down I do still love my Mom and she loves me. After all she is still my Mom, and Dad would not have wanted us to fight the way we do. So I kind of owe it to him to act a bit kinder towards my family.

The next morning, I heard Mom sneak out at seven a.m. to meet her friends for breakfast. They were celebrating Mom's new album, which sounds amazing by the way. Pearl and Thomas woke up a few hours later so I gathered them on the couch to watch some tv, once they got comfotable I left them to go outside for a bit.

I was sitting outside on a warm Summers day, reading a book when Pearl had come to join me."Where's Mom?" Pearl asked concerned. "She went out for work" I lied. "On a Sunday?" Thomas asked.

Thomas was young, but he was most certainly not stupid. He could always tell when I was lying, but this time he just shrugged and just went with it. You're probably wondering why a little boy that is afraid of water is able to be so smart well I'm still trying to figure that out to this day.

"Yeah, it's okay though, gather all your blankets and pillows and we can make a fort in front of the tv. Pearl you can also bring all your teddies and we can have a tea party" I said excitedly, trying to distract and entertain them at the same time.

We had a bunch of fun for hours, but it was getting late and Mom was not back yet. I was getting worried. I tried calling Mom more than once. It was ringing, and the one time a guy picked up. I did not recognise the voice though. "Who's this?" I asked, shouting into the phone. He responded, shouting back at me with "Nick, to whom it may concern!" I have never heard Mom mention a Nick before.

Maybe it's because the only time we speak it's because she is shouting at me for some unexplainable reason. "Um. Well actually I'm looking for my Mom" but before I could finish my sentence he had ended the call.

I was frustrated. Who was Mom with? It sounded like she was out, with all the loud music in the background. How could this be? Honestly, it did not surprise me. I was a little disappointed in Mom and it was not the first. I thought I would have learned by now. What am I going to tell Pearl and Thomas this time? Do I go look for her? No, that's a stupid idea. I can't go alone and where would I start looking anyway? All these thoughts ran wild through my mind, but it was time for Thomas and Pearl to get ready for bed.

"Guys!" I called. "You need to get ready for bed." I said. They came running down the stairs. "Where's Mom?" Thomas asked. "Yeah, Lori do you know?" Pearl added. "She got caught up at work, I'm sure she will be back any minute." I said while chasing them up the stairs trying to tickle them.

Once we got in the hallway, Thomas pulled me aside and asked "Mom's not really at work is she?" How do I reply to that? Do I tell the truth or do I lie to him? Well he clearly knows that I'm lying so I might as well be honest with him.

"No Thomas she is not at work and I honestly don't even know where she ended up this time." Okay maybe that was not a good idea to tell a seven year old about his missing Mom. "Please just don't tell Pearl, okay?" I begged quietly. "Okay I won't, but do you think Mom is okay?" he asked. "Yes of course she is. Now quickly! Go get ready for bed you little detective" I said, gesturing him to go to his room.

It was past midnight, Pearl and Thomas were fast asleep, as I hear Mom unlocking the door. "Mom?" I called. Then I heard two pairs of footsteps, one was a pair high heels and the other was a pair of formal shoes. Mom appeared down the hall and then there was another figure. A man.

"Where have you been? I got worried!" I said. "I was out, having a good time with Nick! Which I can never do anymore." Mom mumbled, sounding like she had a couple of drinks. That was an answer I did not want but somehow I expected it to come from her. By this time she was stumbling around the house. "This is Nick, Nick this is my daughter Lorrielle." Mom said. "So you were the one on the phone earlier" I said.

"Mom you said that this would never happen again, I covered for you. As far as Pearl was concerned you were at work! and as for Thomas, he figured out that you were not at work... so how do you feel about yourself? I can't keep making up these stories so that it benefits you. I'm tired of lying to them. I was really worried sick!" I blurted out without even thinking. By this time Mom was looking mad. "How dare you talk to me like that? And in front of a guest, I'm your mother and I'm sure I did not raise you like this!" she shouted, coming closer to me.

"Well with you going out all the time, I don't think there was any time for you to raise me or at least not properly" I shouted back. "It's not my fault that we have so much fun and want to stay a longer or even go back all the time, plus can't I have a bit of fun every once in a while?" Mom shouted with 'that' look in her eyes.

"It's not just every once in a while Mom! It's most of the time, you're never home! I'm tired of sitting on this couch every time you decide not to come home or come home late. I'm tired of all these late nights, having school the next morning and being too tired to think straight while I try to write my tests. I'm tired of you being the irresponsible one, where you go out and have fun and I have to look after my siblings. I can't look after Pearl and Thomas as much anymore, I need to focus on my school work. I'm supposed to be the irresponsible one at this age. I'm the one who is supposed to be going out with my friends and you are the one who is supposed to put me in order, but it's the total opposite situation here" I shouted.

I think I was shouting a bit too much, because my throat started to sting and I could feel tears start to form in my eyes. I had to wipe them away because everything was a blur. Mom and Nick were stunned, I don't think Mom has ever heard me shout like that before.

I was sure by now Pearl and Thomas would be awake because of all our shouting. Or should I say mostly my shouting. "You have everything you need Lorrielle" Mom started. There it was, Mom used my full name, now I was expecting the worst. "All three of you have everything you need, no complaints. You're over exaggerating!" she said, while tripping over the rug which made a huge noise.

She tried to help herself up, but she struggled and so Nick had to help her up. I let out a little giggle. "You know what Lorrielle, you think that you're a grown up, pointing out all my mistakes, I can also do that" she added. "Well someone has to play the role of being a grown up in this house!" I said, realising that I went a bit too far.

Pearl came crying down the stairs. "What's going on and who is that man?" she asked, sobbing. "This is Nick" Mom said "What are you doing up this late Pearl? Go back to bed!" I intended to say, but it came out as a scream and it only made it worse. "Keep your mouth shut! Don't you dare talk to my Pearly like that!" shouted Mom. "Go to your room!" Mom ordered me, in a tone that gave me shivers.

That was it, I was done. "Do you even want me here?" I shouted, across the room and halfway up the stairs. There was a silence, but I could hear Mom whisper to Nick, "Sorry about that. Do you want something to drink?" Not getting a message was also a message. So Mom did not want me at home and I could see that now.

I felt the tears running down my hot face. It felt like bees were stinging me. At this point I could not hold back my tears. I ran up the stairs and I found Thomas sitting curled up against the wall. He looked up at me and asked, "When is all this fighting going to end Lori?" My tears kept on pouring after I heard his soft little voice ask that question. "Soon Buddy, real soon, but you need to go back to bed. We have school in the morning" I said as carried on running towards my room. I jumped on my bed, got under the covers and stuffed my face in the pillow. It was settled I'm running away tomorrow, no one needs or wants me here.