Every family has their own issues

Cleo jumped on my back and wrapped her arm around my shoulder in front of the school gate where I had been waiting for her.

"let's go to my place" I hated the fact that she had assumed I didn't have any plans. However, she pulled me along towards her car before I objectified.

"wait for__ I need to text my mom," I told her. I quickly took out my phone from my bag to drop a message to my mom, letting her know I was at Cleo's place. It didn't take a minute for her to send ok, don't be late.

Cleo's place was more significant than my house. While our kitchen was clustered up with the living room, hers was spacious. The floors were made of tiles, and the interior décor was woody. We stopped by the kitchen to get some snacks before moving into her room.

We spent a good number of hours doing homework, and when I was done, I stretched out my hands up. My legs had gone numb from crossing it while sitting on the floor. I looked up to see Cleo reading her books. I sighed deeply before taking out my sketchbook to draw. Cleo asks randomly.

"Do you think Mindy will forgive Ryder?" I paused. This is related to me; how? Mindy and Ryder were one of the people dating in our set, turns out that Ryder had cheated on her at a college party he went to. She found out the next day never to underestimate teenagers with gossip. They flow like water.

"I mean, I don't know, Cleo" I continue drawing my line.

"This is why everyone says you are such an introvert" I stared at her. Cleo wasn't any better than me. She disliked talking to people, and she hated when people made her repeat her words, which is why she hates any student body position.

She quoted said 'people were stubborn and stupid, and any information passed to them needed to be said multiple times. She also didn't like school activities. A word people would call her was a snob. But I wasn't going to tell her that people at school called her that Cleo took words like that so seriously.

I nodded my head to her answer.

"I__" she was interrupted by the loud noise from the living room. We both heard voices getting louder by the minutes. It was clear that Cleo's family was having a fight.

"I regret knowing you" Cleo's face changed. She carried a sad demeanor. She covered her ears with her pillow, trying to block the noise away from her. I got up to close the door, but that did not stop the hurtful words said by her parents at each other from reaching our ears. I stayed until the fight was over.

I said my goodbyes to Cleo, who had remained in the same spot even after their fight.

I walk out of her room. As I step forward, I see Axel's room slightly opened. I walked towards the room to take a peek but was disturbed by the footstep coming upstairs. I quickly leave the hallway only to meet Cleo's mom in the middle of the stairs with a laundry basket filled with clothes in her hands. Her eyes were soggy still; she smiled when she saw me.

"Hello, Avery. How is school going for you?"

"fine"

I continue climbing down, passing her in the middle of the stairs.

"Tell your mom I need to know how she made her spicy chicken the other day."

"Yes, Vanessa"

I bolt out of the house. I knew it was late walking back home. I arrived home ready to climb the stairs and crash on my bed.

"you are late," my mother said from the dining room when I arrived.

"I am sorry" I stared at her. There were a lot of bills on the table placed in her front. She took off her glasses to rub her eyes. I looked at the bills. There were more than previously.

"Daddy gambled again?" I asked. She sighed deeply. Too tired to say anything.

"I think we need to stop paying for your studio" I frowned. Before she died, my grandmother left me that studio. However, she stipulated in her will that she would continue to pay half of the cost until I reached the age of 21, which would be my responsibility.

"We could move all your artwork to the garage."

"my works will not contain the garage. It is too small, and if it is not in a cool place, the artwork will be damaged," I complained.

She hit the table hard "what do you want me to do?"

"We are behind on bills. it's just a hobby, not a job."

I think my mom hates anything in the form of art, my dad used to be a writer, but he hasn't written any book in 15 years, just random jobs. The last job, he got fired from it about 6months ago. I believe my mom is scared that I would be like him.

"I would owe you as soon as I get a job. Then, I would pay you with the money I earn."

She sighs again.

"fine"

I kiss her on the cheeks "thank you, mom" I leave her to sort the bills and head up the stair. I need to speak with my dad when he comes back. I go to my bed, put on my mp3 player, and turn the world off.

My family problems are not the same as Cleo's, but it just made me realize that every family has its own issues to deal with.