Golden

by Leah Adams

  “Yes, but they need to know Bonnie.” She tried to reason. “I don’t want mom to find out that I knew about this and she didn’t. She’ll just say it was my fault and that she doesn’t want me to come around anymore.”

  I stared at her and I could see the fear in her eyes. Our mom would probably say something like that. She had done it before when Mary hadn’t listened to her. I didn’t see her again until Luria was born. I didn’t want that to happen again.

  “Don’t worry Mary. I’m not dating him.” I told her with a grin.

  “If you do,” She must have seen my glare because she laughed at me. “Or any boy for that matter, and if it starts to get serious or something let them meet him. Please don’t sneak around.”

  I shook my head ok.

  “Bonnie are you going to have time to take Luria to school tomorrow?” Mary suddenly asked as if she had forgotten to. “Dave is using the car tomorrow and he is already dropping Junior off at daycare. I can’t do it; I have to be at my new job to early. Dave can drop her off here in the morning. I will pay you back promise.”

  I just laughed and shook my head. She did always cook for me even with her not living here anymore. I could pay her back by taking Luria to school; it wasn’t like it was out of my way.

  “Sure, I will just leave a little earlier. Just feed her before she comes ok and maybe bring me a plate.”

  Mary laughed and shook her head. “Always.”

  I got out of the car. I waved at her and watched her drive off. I walked up to the house door and stood there for a few moments. I didn’t feel like walking in. I wanted to call Mary and ask if I could stay at her house for the night.

  After I shook my head at the thought, I unlocked the door then I walked into the house. I locked the door then took off my shoes.

  When I was fully in the house I saw that my mom was in the living room working on some papers that were all over the table. I stared at her and tried to walk pass without her noticing.

  My legs had almost gotten me to the stairs when I heard her.

  “Bonnie come in here for a moment please.” She called to me and I frowned.

  I walked back so that I could talk to her. I didn’t want to be in this room. I rather go in my room and do some homework. I stared at her while she was at the table doing her work.

  Her eyes never looked up at me not even once. Her hair was in a bun and she was wearing her glasses. She looked like she walked right out of a business magazine made for people who were beautiful.

  Memories of her before Mary left flowed to my mind. She was so nice then. She always listened, she always called when she was at work to make sure we were ok and to see how our day was, and she always made sure we ate.

  But ever since Mary left she had stopped listening now she just told, stopped calling and asking how my day was now she just called the school, and she even stopped making sure I ate, now if she cooked she put it in the oven. If I ate it I ate it. If I didn’t she never asked. I guess she would just think I wasn’t hungry.

  Ever since Mary left she had also been more into work and she never really talked too much anymore.

  “I called your school today.”

  A frown went across my lips. I wondered what she was going to say about school. Did one of my teachers tell her that I didn’t know the answer to a question or was it something else? My eyes closed as all the possibilities came to me.

  Maybe my grades weren’t where she felt they should be, maybe I needn’t to be a part of some kind of after school thing, or even I hadn’t done the homework that I turned in today the right way. Whatever it was it was enough that she wanted to talk to me about it.

  I opened my eyes and looked at her. She set her pen down slowly then turned to look up at me. My eyes went wide at that. If she stopped working that meant I had done something that needed her full attention.

  What could I have done?

  Her blue eyes stared at me with slight annoyance. She moved her hand to her hair and pushed a piece of her hair that had fallen from her bun behind her ear. She then folded her arms and gave me a long stare.

  “Are you just going to stand there looking at me like that or are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?” She asked and I could read her tone slightly. It sounded like she was mad, but I wasn’t really sure.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” I said and moved my eyes from her face that looked colder then ice.

  “Bonnie, don’t look away from me.” My mom said her voice wasn’t at all soft. My eyes went back to her. “Your teacher told me that you were late today for class.”

  I wanted to scream and yell. I can’t believe she had called my school only to find out that I was late. It wasn’t like I was that late or even had missed school. Now she was going to ask me why I was late, I would just have to tell her I was running late. Then again my dad would know that was a lie, since he seen me get up. I would just have to tell her I was having car troubles.

  If she knew that I was late because I was talking to a boy she wouldn’t let me out of this house forever.

  “Why were you late?”

  “I well….I.” I paused and let out a breath. I wasn’t going to lie. I would just tell the truth. I didn’t want to lie to my mom. “I was talking to a person from school and I lost track of time.”

  My mom put a smile on her face and shook her head. “I thought you were going to lie to me.” She laughed and got up out of her chair. “At least I know you can still be honest unlike your sister. But this Jay I don’t want you to talk to him anymore.” How did she know I was talking to Jay? How did she know about Jay for that matter? I thought wide eyed as she stood in front of me. “One of the teachers at school saw you talking to him this morning and they told me all about him.”

  “You have the teachers spying on me!” I almost yelled.

  “Don’t raise your voice at me Bonnie.” She said her own voice rising. “I don’t have spies. I just call your school to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to. I am your mother and-“

  “You don’t trust me.” I said becoming angry. I could not believe that she was acting like this. No that was wrong. I could believe she was acting like this. She did always call my school once or twice a week. She always asked my teachers what I was doing.

  “No I just don’t want you to end up like your sister. I don’t want you to have a boyfriend until you are done with college.” She said as she looked me right in the eye. “After college you can worry about things like that.”

  “Why do you always act like this?” I asked hoping my voice wasn’t getting too high. I was losing hold of my emotions and I felt like I needed to scream so I could stop this feel that I did not know, but I couldn’t scream at my mom.

  “What’s going on in here?” I heard my dad say as he walked into the room. “I can hear you two in the kitchen.”

  Maybe I had yelled louder than I thought. I shook my head towards my mom. “Ask her.”

  “Watch your tone Bonnie.” My mom said. “She was late for school today because of a boy.”

  My dad looked at me shockingly. “You have a boyfriend?” He asked as if he could not believe that had gotten by him.

  “No, I was just talking to him and I lost track of time.”

  He shook his head and he looked like he believed me. “Ok, she lost track of time dear. She didn’t do it-“

  “That’s how it starts.” My mom said throwing up her hands. “Next thing I know she will be telling us she running away with this boy. I won’t have it. She will go to college rather she likes it or not.”

  “Bonnie, why don’t you go upstairs so you can do your homework.” My dad said. I could tell by his voice he wasn’t asking. I was glad about that.

  “Ok.” I said and started going up stairs, but before I got all the way up the stairs I heard my mom whispered.

  “I will not let it happened again. I will not have it.”

  “Let’s talk.” My dad said just as my feet hit the last
step.

  I walked right into my room. The teenager in me wanted to slam the door close, but the adult in me said not to. I listened to the second voice in my head and closed it lightly.

  After I throw my book bag down on the floor I let my eyes scanned my room. My eyes were searching for something but I didn’t know what. When my eyes landed on my desk I saw that my books that I kept on my shelves were out of place. I frowned hoping that my mother didn’t sink so low that she looked though my things.

  I went over to my desk and sat down. I pulled out my homework and put it on my table. I didn’t feel like doing homework, not that I ever truly did feel like it, but I didn’t feel like doing it at all.

  It was late now. So late that if I didn’t start on my homework right now I may not finish today and have to wake up early to do it. I didn’t want to push my luck with my dad saving me from my mother, so I just went to finish it.

  By the time it was done I was tried. I got into my bed and went to sleep. I didn’t feel like thinking or doing anything else. I was too tried. I was just going to worry about Jay and my mom in the morning.

  “Aunt-t wake up.” I heard Luria yell to the top of her lungs. “Granny said she’s not waking you up. She said she’s not an alarm clock.”

  I jumped up from out of my bed and looked around me. I was in a daze. I stared down at Luria looking into her big eyes. She frowned and grabbed my hand pulling me up.

  “School is starting. Don’t want to be late.” She yelled some more. “Granny and grandpa left hours ago.”

  Hours ago? I said.

  Mom left before dad, but she always made sure I was up before she left and dad always left just a few minutes before I hit the door myself. They couldn’t have left hours ago. I would be in so much trouble if they had.

  Why didn’t my mom wake me up? I should have known she would be mad at me, but to the point that she didn’t want to wake me up to go to school was just too out there.

  I got out of bed letting Luria hand go and I moved the mouse on my computer. I looked at the time and saw that I had time to take a shower, brush my teeth, and I could maybe even eat something before I dropped my niece off at school.

  My eyes looked at her and saw that she had her arms folded. She was looking at me just like how my mom would when she was growing inpatient. I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t want to indulge her.

  “Just wait in here while I get ready ok.” I said to her and began to get my clothes so I could change in the bathroom. “Don’t go down stairs to answer the door or anything. Just tell me if someone comes to the door.”

  I knew someone coming to the door was like probably not going to happen, but I didn’t want to test it and have her get hurt or something.

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She went to my computer and started to play games. “Just hurry ok. My teacher will take away my stars if I am late. I have more than anyone else to.”

  “Ok.” I laughed. “I don’t want that to happen.”

  I saw her roll her eyes at me again then she smiled.

  Shaking my head I went to the bathroom and got ready. After I was done I told her to come on. I noticed that I still had time to eat a quick breakfast, but Luria wasn’t letting me.

  “Mom made you some food and grandpa put it up for you, but we don’t have time!” She yelled speaking very loudly. “So come on, before I am late.”

  “Ok….Ok.” I said. I guessed I would just have to wait until lunch to eat. I didn’t know how I was going to make it without eating my three meals.

  We went out to my car and got in. I drove to her school and it didn’t take that long to get there luckily. I had to listen to her in the background telling me how to get there, since I forgot how. The little girl was too smart for her own good.

  She waved bye to me getting out of the car when we got to her school. I waved at her and made sure she got into the building alright. The teacher waved at me and I waved back then went to drive off.

  I looked at the clock in my car and saw that I now didn’t have to much longer before my first class.

  It took less time than I thought it would to get to my school. I parked in front of the school and got out. Before I went to class I looked around to see if I saw the forbidden four. I noticed that there were four nice brand new looking cars in the parking lot and something told me it was theirs.

  I smiled at that and walked towards my first class.

  First hour wasn’t too bad. The teacher seemed happy that I was there on time and didn’t seem like I was going to make a habit out of what had happened the other day.

  Second hour went by nicely. I turned in my homework and was glad that my teacher didn’t ask me to answer any questions. In fact the teacher didn’t ask anyone who had did the homework to answer any questions.

  Third hour wasn’t easy, but it was always like that. This teacher was mean and this teacher did call on me. I didn’t know the answer for the full question, but I was able to answer part of it. Which seemed like it was good enough.

  But when my next class came along I was just happy that I was about to go to lunch. I would get to see the forbidden four and this time I would make sure to ask Jay everything I needed to know and I would also, watch them. I would try and see if Jay really did have something to do with Brenda or not.

  I eyed the clock in my classroom and tapped my pen on my desk.

  “Some where you need to be, Ms. White?” The teacher asked me, but I shook my head no and a few students laughed. “Well then maybe you would like to start the homework that I put up on the broad.”

  I shook my head and smiled. After a few moments I began to hear whispers.

  “The forbidden four are here today.” I heard a girl whisper. I turned my head lightly trying to listen in without letting them know that I was paying any attention to them.

  “I know.” The other girl whispered back. “They are all here to, and they went to every class I heard.”

  I looked at them briefly trying to see if I knew them, but I didn’t. One of the girls had short cut blonde hair and the other girl I saw had shoulder length dark brown hair. They both looked kind of pretty in a girl next door kind of way.

  “I heard that Damon was talking to that Angelica girl.” The blonde haired one said this made my eyes widen. “You think she’s his next girlfriend for the day or maybe week?”

  The dark haired girl shrugged her shoulders. “You know, how Damon is with girls. But whatever she will be, the little thing is so lucky.”

  “I know, if only I was so lucky.” The blonde girl said. They both started to laugh and I turned forward.

  Damon better not be trying to hurt my friend again. I thought as I glared at the paper on my desk. He didn’t seem like he was that into her the other day.

  The bell rang and I gathered my things quickly so I could get to my locker fast. I almost ran from my classroom and made it to my locker before either Beth or Ang.

  By the time I had all of my stuff in the locker Ang and Beth where in front of me with wide smiles on their faces. I grinned at them.

  “Bonnie Damon asked me out.” Ang said with a wide smile. “He did it in second hour. Like he walked right into the class before the bell rang and asked me out. Everyone saw, isn’t it great?”

  Beth had a wide smile on her face and she was staring at Ang as if she was truly happy for her. I on the other hand was clearly not. Damon wasn’t any good for her. He was going to use her. I wasn’t all together sure for what, but he just didn’t seem like he had just ask her out just because he liked her.

  I knew that from what had been said by him the other day.

  “We could like all double one day.” Beth said with a huge smile. “Well when you get a boyfriend.” Beth blue eyes looked at me like she was making a joke and wanted me to laugh.

  I did and began to walk with them to the café. When we walked into the café I saw that our friends where all sitting down at a table. I then saw that Nate and Leon where sitting at a table th
at they always sat at when they came to school.

  Nate was staring at a teacher; a lady teacher that was clearly old enough to gain his watchful look. I wanted to walk over there just to tell him to stop, but just moved my eyes on to Leon.

  He was eating a salad and it looked like he also had a few slices of pizza with him. His eyes never looked up to anyone around him. He seemed too much involved with the food on his plate.

  My mind began to wonder where Damon and Jay where. They tended to be there with them as well. Maybe they had left.

  I folded my arms kind of upset.

  “There you are Ang.” I heard Damon say. I turned to see that Damon and Jay were both walking to all of us. “Ang let’s go eat outside, it’s very crowded in here.”

  “Ok.” Ang said she then smiled at me and Beth.

  “Bonnie, you want to eat with me and the guys today.” Jay said just when Ang and Damon left. He stared at with his blue eyes never showing me a thing of what he was thinking.

  I looked slightly at Beth who seemed to only be waiting for my answer so she could walk over to her boyfriend. My eyes looked over to my friends and I saw how their eyes were looking at me, like I had lost my mind.

  Keith eyes held the strongest glace. They looked like fire and I was nothing more but melting ice. I could go eat with the forbidden four. Everyone would think that I liked them, but I would know the truth. I didn’t really care what others thought, but I didn’t want my friends to think I had given in to the forbidden four. I bit my lip and shook my head no.

  Beth eyes went wide. She looked over to our friends eyes landing right on Keith and she smiled.

  “I’ll be over there ok.” Beth said knowingly as if she knew just where my no had come from. I didn’t understand what she was trying to say, then my eyes went back to Keith and I thought I did.

  I think he likes me. The way he was looking at me told me he was clearly jealous of my taking to Jay.