AS A TEENAGER.

It has been really long ten years since my brother left for college. That is, after he told me that he'd be there for me no matter what then weeks after we're at the airport waving him goodbye.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply at the image of a seven year old girl crying while watchin' him leave. Mom tried to cheer me up and it worked. She was surprisingly really good at it but I still wasn't the same though.

Life at the house got worse and Stan would show up drunk and beat up mom. I would normally hide in my room with the door locked. The screams give me nightmares till now and I really can't wait to graduate and leave the house.

"What are you doing?" Bethel startled me and I jumped. She laughed. "Don't...don't do that. Ugh!" I said annoyed. "What are you doing here standing by yourself?" she asked me. I just stared at her.

"Not thinking about your psycho dad again." She said but I still didn't answer but my face said it all. Bethel sighed, "Avery" she grabbed me by the shoulders "You're seventeen and soon graduating. You should not be scared of him anymore."

"You're goin' to leave that house and go for college soon." She told me. "You always know what to say, don't you?" I smiled. "Pound it!" She put out her fist and so did I and we fist bumped.

Bethel was my best friend. We met when I was in the ninth grade. All the years before I just hung out on my own like a weirdo that I was. I pushed my hair back behind me ear as we passed a couple of guys across the halls.

Bethel suddenly held my hand. "What are you....?" "Did you see that?" she cut me off. "See what?" I asked confused. "Peter was totally staring at you." She said and I rolled my eyes. "Bethel, we talked about this. I'm not that..." "Kind of person blah...blah I know the rest but this is different." She cut me off.

I raised an eyebrow "Like this wasn't just a normal stare it was a normal stare it was a Peter Parker staring at Gwen stare." "You know." She said and I rolled my eyes and turned around and found Peter staring but he quickly looked away after our eyes met.

I chuckled, "Let's go, you crack head." "Using marvel references doesn't work on me anymore." I said and we went to class. Later that day when I got back it was already getting dark.

That was my life as long as I could remember after Levi left. I didn't want to run into Stan so I found myself a couple of after school activities that kept me busy. Just to let you in on 'em. I babysit, volunteered at a rest home called elder's point and when I don't have schedule for any of those places I go for bible study with Bethel at Ronnie's.

Ronnie's is the best place for hosting a bible study. They have my favourite drink, blueberry smoothies. I smiled to myself as I walked inside. I looked around and it was calm, very calm.

I walked approaching the staircase and I heard a door slam. I didn't want to see who it was because I was afraid that it might be Stan. I ran upstairs "Avery." I heard a voice call but luckily it was mom.

I stopped and turned around, "Yeah." I said. "You're home." She said. She looked weary and her hair was all messy. She scratched her head and looked around "What day is it?" She asked me. "Thursday" I replied.

"Oh!" "Where's Levi?" she asked then I felt my heart split in half. The only mother I had left in this world was falling apart. "Mom" I went down the stairs and hugged her. "Levi's been gone for ten years." "Do you hear that?" she asked.

"Hear what?" I asked but she didn't answer and I couldn't hear anything. I led her back to her room and tucked her in. I went to my room and locked the door. Levi always told me to lock it because Stan could just barge in and do God knows what. I went to the bathroom to take a shower and wash my hair.

Tears fell down my cheeks when I thought of my adoptive mom. She was at the brink of madness and I can't help her. I really wish I could stay here and look after her but I can't.

I'm so sick of Stan and his noise and the drinking. After I got out of the shower I put on my night gown and took my laptop. It was time to pray with Bethel. We did that every day on face time and it was really fun.

There were times that I forgot and she would call me and remind me. I loved the foundation of our friendship was built on God. I hummed a tune while I waited for her to pick up. She picked up but I couldn't see her at the front of the screen.

"Bethel, where are you?" I asked. "Hold your horses, will you?" she said in a distance. "What's this girl up to?" I asked myself. "Nothing you should worry about." She said and sat down then I chuckled.

"Let's start, I'm really tired. Yawn." I said. "Come on, we're just getting started baby girl." She smiled. "Why do I have a feeling you're up to something Bethel." I raised my eyebrow. She giggled making her grey eyes light up. "Hold on." She said as she tied her bouncing brown hair. "Mh-hmm." I said pressing my lips and folding my arms. "I have a special guest over." She smiled. "What do you mean?" I asked. "I invited Peter over." She squealed.

"WHAT!! Bethel, where?" I snapped. "To come pray with us." "Here on face time." She said, "Isn't that great." "No! Bethel. It's not." I said sternly.

"What were you thinking? I don't wanna get involved with anyone right now." "I'm leaving the video chat." I said. "You're serious!" she said "I'm literally pressing the button." I said with both eyebrows raised.

"Relax, Avery. I was kidding. I don't even have his number." She said. "It was a prank." Then I shook my head. "Do you see me laughing." I told her. "Yeah, you're a total buzz kill." She said blankly.

She put her hands together, "Let's pray." She said and I did the same manner. "Would've been fun though." She whispered. "Bethel, quiet." I whispered angrily then we prayed and ended face time.

The next day went as usual. School was boring as always nothing interesting there. There was a carnival for the school's fund raiser but it's weeks away. I don't know whether or not I'll go.

"So you goin'?" Bethel asked me snapping me out of my thoughts as we were heading to Ronnie's. We usually just hung out there sometimes and it felt like a great idea on a Friday afternoon.

"Um....I don't know" I said. "Oh...kay!" she said raising both her eyebrows and we entered the restaurant. We picked the last booth at a corner where you could see the whole place from.

I sat facing the entrance and Bethel in front of me. The waiter came by and he smiled at us. "Hello, how are you beautiful ladies doin'?" he said. I took a quick gaze and back to the window. "Great! Thanks." She said, "I'll have a grilled chicken sandwich and a strawberry banana smoothie."

"Okay, what are you gonna have miss?" he turned to me. I turned my gaze from the window. "She'll have a blueberry smoothie." Bethel smiled at the waiter and he nodded and left.

"I was gonna answer that." I defended. "Really? When?" she raised her eyebrows. I sighed and turned to the window. "Was it before your paranoia or after." She sighed. "For the record that wasn't very nice."

"I'm sorry. Instinct." I said. "Really you're gonna go with that." She said in disbelief. "Look, Ave the waiter was being complimentary. You can't just assume that about people or guys."

The waiter came with our orders and he placed the food on the table. "Okay, grilled chicken sandwich and blueberry smoothie for you and banana smoothie for you." He said. Bethel smiled at the waiter, "Um sorry..." she waited for him to say his name.

"Mick." He said. "I ordered the strawberry and banana smoothie not a banana smoothie." She said. "Oh, I am terribly sorry. It's actually my first day and I'm having a really hard time." He sighed.

"Oh really!" Bethel exclaimed as she stared at me and I knew what she meant. I was a jerk. "I'll go get you your smoothie miss." He said, "Call me Bethel. It's fine." She smiled. The waiter nodded and quickly left.

I let a heavy sigh after he was gone. Bethel was right. I get so defensive over just trusting someone to enter my life. Levi left after literally telling me he'll never leave. I've had trust issues since and I know I should let it go.

"Why aren't you drinking your smoothie?" she asked. I just stared at her then took a sip, "Was that so bad?" she asked and smiled at me. "It's okay, you don't have to beat yourself up. I know."

"Here's your strawberry banana smoothie miss." Mick placed it on the table. "Thanks! And we're friends now you can call me Bethel 'kay?" she smiled. Mick chuckled nervously and nodded before he left.

"Hey, Mick." I blurted and he turned and came back. "Is there a problem, miss?" he asked. "No, on the contrary. I'm the problem." I said and he looked confused. "I'm sorry, I don't..." he said, "I'm sorry, for the way I acted earlier." I smiled.

He smiled and nodded, "It's okay, miss. It might just be my first day but I ran into worse." "Okay. I'm Avery by the way." I said. "Nice to meet you Avery and Bethel. First day wasn't so bad after all." He said looking at us and last look at Beth before he left.

I was taking a serious sip on my drink when I saw it. Peter Kane walked in with his friends. I was staring like a long stare as if I saw my dead father walk in. "What are you...." Beth said turning her head and back again.

She snapped her fingers at me, "Earth to Avery." She teased. I put down my drink. "Is God getting back at me for Mick?" I asked, "Don't be stupid Ave. He doesn't do that." She said. "What is he doing here?" I asked.

"Eat, drink" she said then she sighed, "I don't know, I've never seen him here before." I sighed. "We need a new hang out." I said hysterically. Bethel quickly swallowed after drinking her smoothie. "What? No way!" She exclaimed.

"This place is going to be turned into a jock hangout, can you not see it." I said paranoid. "I didn't know he played." She said, "Basketball." I said. Bethel rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Yet she knows what sport he plays."

"Cut it out! It's not like I wanted to know alright." I snapped. I saw Peter laughing with his friends then he saw me and we stared at each other for like a second and I shook my head and sipped on my drink.

"You were staring at him, weren't you?" she asked. "No!" I said sternly. "Yes you were." She said. She chuckled, "Come on, Ave." "Why do you always do this?" I asked, "Do what? Exactly, try to get you to loosen up and stop thinking that everyone is gonna leave you. I'm here aren't I?"

"It's not like that Beth" I said. And before I could say anything else Peter showed up. "Hey!" he said looking at us. I kept silent. "Hi Peter" Beth said, "Am I interrupting something?" he asked. "No, it's okay." I said before Beth could say anything else

"Cool, uh...I was wondering would you guys maybe wanna come to my party tonight?" he said nervously scratching his neck. "Will there be punch?" Beth asked, "Sure." She said. "Oh, wait. Can Mick come?" she asked. "Who's Mick?" Peter asked, "Our friend. He works here, you probably met him." I replied. "Okay sure. So see you then." He smiled, "Nice to see you." He looked at me, "Avery." I said. "Avery." He repeated then he left.