• Everyone has something they are scared of, right?
    Well that’s what I was told when I was younger, when my mother was ‘normal’. At the time I couldn’t think of anything that I was afraid of. But then my mother got into some bad business and began to bring home strange people. They scared me to death. As I grew older I began to get used to it, and I was cured of it.
    I began to handle it, though up to certain points. As I watched my drugged up parent ‘grow up’ in this sort of world, I began to wonder: Is she running from something she’s scared of? Are these drugs and booze a way of getting away from her problems?
    I blinked at the reflection of myself in the mirror and pursed my lips. It’s been years now that I’ve dealt with my mothers issues. But I tended to escape from it by leaving the house for hours at a time. Or locking myself in my room till morning.
    I sighed and kicked the door to my closet closed, grabbed by gray jacket from the back my my computer chair, and slid out of my bedroom door. Then I pulled a key from my pocket and locked the door. I sighed as I took in the smell of alcohol. I closed my eyes and prayed that today wasn’t as bad, then started down the stairs.

    “Oh, you have got to be kidding me!”
    I skipped down the rest of the stairs and faced the living room. Beer cans littered the floor, glass bottles, of who knows what, and cigarettes covered the entire surface of what was left of the living room table. As I crept closer, I caught my mother’s figure sprawled out on the floor, and a guy I didn’t recognize laying on the sofa. I began to feel irritated. My mother was like a troubled teen, she brought home strange men, got drugged up and drank till they passed out. As far as I could tell, her life wasn’t complete without the drugs, alcohol, and sex. Lucky for me, the two still had their clothes on.

    “Oh, real mature mom.” I rolled my eyes and bent over to check if she was still breathing. She stirred then and looked up at me with a groan.

    “I just cleaned the house before bed, and you bring home garbage. Perfect.” I grabbed a large black garbage bag from behind the sofa and started throwing cans and bottles into it.
    “Wake him up, will you?” My mothers voice sounded hoarse.

    I looked over at the snoring mess of a man and almost gagged. He smelled of dirt and beer.
    “What’d you do? Pick up a hobo?” I had to kick him, hard, twice before he realized what I was doing. He flinched against the sunlight that had crept in through the crack in the window and began blinking furiously.

    “You. Get out. Now.” I said each word slowly and pointed toward the door..
    “Who da hell are you?” He sat up and rubbed at his face, causing my stomach to do flips, and not the good kind. He was dirty and smelled really bad.
    “If you don’t move it in five seconds, I’m calling the police!” I screamed at him, while trying to hold down a wave of nausea. The man stood to his feet and wobbled slightly. Once he found a good balance he started for the door, which I opened for him. But he stopped and turned to face my mother.

    “I’ll be back fo’ mah money later.”
    “Get out!” I kicked him in the gut and pushed him through the door, then slammed it shut, not bothering to care if he fell down the steps or not. I turned on my mother, who was just sitting up and rubbing her forehead. “Again mom? Why do you do this? Do you want to die!”
    “Don’t you talk to me like that Emelyn Redwick.” She said after I had made a full circle around the room to collect all the cans.
    “It’s a wonder how I came out normal with all the crap you suck down! Not to mention the drugs!” I went on, ignoring her.
    “It’s none of your damn business, now help me up.” she held up her arm towards me. I shook my head.
    “Don’t talk to me like I’m your friend, mom. You know other people can go to their mothers for guidance or help. But I can’t even take you seriously! I’m leaving.” I threw the trash bag onto the couch and went to put my shoes on by the door.
    “Where do you think you’re going young lady! Leaving you say? Where is a 15 year old going to get money!”
    I turned to glare at her. “I’m 17 and you’ll be surprised at what I can do. Oh and mom? I’m going to school. In case you forgot.” I yanked open the door, made sure my keys were safely in my pocket and stepped out. The man I had kicked out was no where to be seen. That was sort of a bummer, I was planning on kicking him on my way out.
    I knew I was already late for school, I wasn’t planning on going today, in fact I hadn’t been in school for the last three weeks. Not that my mother knew, or cared for that matter. School never really held in interest for me. Sure, I liked reading. I even had a bookcase in my room filled to the top with all kinds of books. But what was I going to need algebra for? I was never going to be some math geek in the future. I wanted something other. Something fun and life changing.
    The sun was burning down on me as I made it further into town, it had to be at almost noon. I raced across the street and stopped to retie my shoe in front of a dry cleaners place. I caught the reflection of myself in the glass and paused, there was a light bruise that had formed on my left cheekbone, and I had forgot to cover it up makeup.
    Great. Now everyone was going to think I had an abusive boyfriend or something. But the truth was my mother had hit me when I asked her to keep it quiet. Usually I never spoke to her when she was drugging it up with her so called ‘friends’ but I didn’t realize that she was not only high and drunk, she was also upset. Who would have thought my mother had feelings?
    I ran my hand along the bruise and sighed. Oh well. I’d have to make up some story for it. I brushed a thin hand through my dark brown hair and made sure my eyeliner wasn’t smeared. The eye shadow really brought out the color of my eyes: caramel brown. I took off when I saw the cleaner lady staring at me from the other side of the glass and began to run. My destination was the music store called: Melodies.
    The place I’d been going for the last 3 weeks. I found it when I was with a school friend. She played the piano and had to make a stop there to meet someone. Once she had dragged me in I was hooked. Not only did they have instruments and music sheets. There was a whole back section that sold CD and magazines. Instead of finding peace at home like normal people did, I was more at peace when I was surrounded by music. Oh, and the fact that the store worker was funny, and cute.

    I pushed open the see through door and smiled brightly as the cool air from inside rushed passed me. As I passed the first aisle I saw a head peek over the top of a guitar that sat on the front desk.

    “Well, if it isn’t the caramel eyed shorty.” He spoke out, waving to me.
    “It isn’t my fault that you’re the green giant, Jared.”
    Jared shrugged and laughed.
    “So when do I get lesson for the guitar? I could do with the piano too.” I spoke as I made my way over a ton of boxes that blocked my way.
    “Whoa there, you have to take it slow my little prodigy.”
    I leaned against the counter, rolling my eyes and picked up a sheet of what looked like hand written music. “What’s this?” I asked looking up at him.
    “Some guy I practice with lent it to me.”
    “It doesn’t have a name.” I pointed out as he took it back.
    “He wrote it himself. Says he hasn’t come up with a name yet.” Jared put it into a vanilla folder and slipped it under the desk.
    “Seriously? He must be really talented.”
    “Trust me he is. This guy can play any instrument you put into his hands.” Jared picked up the guitar and began strumming it.
    “Will you play it? I want to hear.” I asked, tapping my fingers on the counter.
    Jared stared at me for awhile and shrugged. “I can’t play it very well. But tell you what, when he comes in you can ask him.”
    I smiled and pushed off from the counter. “When is he coming?’ I asked as I made my way to where a red electric guitar hung from the wall.
    “He was supposed to be here already, but give it a few.”

    Then, as if on cue, the tickling of the small bell sounded and we both looked up to see someone come through the door.
    “Sorry, I’m late. I had a bit of a…problem.” His voice was gentle.
    “No prob. Oh introductions. Emelyn, this is Leon. Leon, Emelyn” Jared used his hands when he spoke, pointing back and forth between the two of us.

    Leon stared at me for what felt like hours. His extremely light blonde hair hung straight and was layered into a messy style. The bottom layer stopped just where is neck ended, and his shoulder began, the top seemed to be naturally spiky. His bangs hung just below his eyebrows. I also noticed that both his ears were pierced, his left side had a longer earring that looked like a long, sharp tooth. His eyes were a piercing black color, which was odd because I’d never met anyone who had the lightest blond hair and black eyes. Ever. He was dressed in a black t-shirt, with a longer sleeved white shirt underneath, and plain light blue jeans. I noticed he wore a necklace, but it was hidden under the neck of his shirt.

    “Call me Lyn.” I said, suddenly feeling shy, I held out my hand towards him.
    Leon smiled and took hold of my hand. I noticed that his hands were very soft for a musician. It was odd right?

    “It’s nice to meet you, Lyn.” His smile was dazzling and I had to look away in order remember to keep breathing.
    “We were just talking about you.” Jared leaned over the counter towards us.
    I saw Leon look at me in my peripheral vision and I smiled faintly.
    “Really? What about me?” Leon smirked and went around the counter to sit on a high stool. He grabbed the guitar from the counter and began lightly playing a song I didn’t recognize. It had a slow and gentle rhythm.
    “She wants to hear that song you wrote.”
    “I didn’t say that!” Leon stopped playing and glanced up at me. “Not exactly like that…” I trailed off, I could feel the blood in my cheeks burning. Jared laughed.
    “Lyn’s shy, but she really does want to hear it.”

    Leon’s head tilted slightly as he stared at me, I looked away finally and he laughed.

    “Maybe another time. I don’t admit it much, but I’m a bit shy too.” He winked at me.
    “Yeah right.” snorted Jared, who had bent over to pick up a box. He took out a box cutter and slid it under the tape. When he looked up his eyes narrowed as they took in the other side of my face. “Where’d you get that bruise?”

    I felt the adrenaline in my body kick in. I hadn’t had enough time to think of a story.

    “Oh, it’s nothing. Really. I fell.” The words rushed out of my mouth way to quickly to sound convincing.
    “Into whose fist?” Jared demanded, he took my chin in one hand and tilted my head to the side for a better look.

    “I mean it Jared. It’s nothing. I promise.” I smiled and my eyes drifted towards Leon who stared at me, his eyes stopping on the bruise on my cheek, then he looked down at his hands.
    “I swear if I find out your lying…” Jared let the threat trail off and I nodded.
    After a couple of minutes of Jared’s intense staring, Leon broke the silence when he began playing another soft song.
    “I won’t be able to make it tonight.” Leon said, his eyes concentrating on his fingers as he played.
    “What? Seriously?” Jared tossed the box cutter onto the counter.
    “Yeah. I have something to do tonight, and I can’t put it off this time.” Leon’s playing seemed to get faster.
    “What a drag.”
    “What’s going on tonight?” I asked curiously.

    Jared shrugged and began to dig around in the box at his feet. “There’s this party tonight, that’s all.”
    “Can I come?”
    “Absolutely not!” Jared handed me a smaller box and I placed it next to other ones that looked like it.
    “Why not?” I asked, refusing the next box.
    “I’m not letting a minor go to this party.” Jared pushed the box into my left hand.
    “I bet he,” I pointed to Leon who had stopped playing to watch us. “isn’t even 21.”
    “It’s true, I’m only 18.” Leon answered with a smile. Jared threw him an angry look.
    “No. You’re not coming. End of story.”
    “I’ll be careful! I know how to take care of myself.”
    “Why do you want to go so bad?” Jared asked, throwing the big empty box behind the counter.
    “It’s better then being home.” I frowned and began picking at a string that hung off the sleeve of my jacket.
    “Your safe at home.”
    “Don’t be so sure…” I shrugged and kept my eyes on my wrist.
    “I’m not letting a high school girl come. That’s my final answer. Which reminds me, shouldn’t you be in school?” He asked.
    “I thought you said it was my business if I didn’t go or not.”
    “Which isn’t the brightest thing I’ve said I’m sure.” Jared stabbed the next box.
    “I can’t go now. School’s almost out.”

    An awkward silence filled the room, it made me want to scream just to fill it with noise. Normally Jared was a pretty cool guy, but today he was acting strange, which was way out of character for him. I finally let out a sigh.

    “Jared, I’m sorry.” I said this a little louder then I’d meant to.

    At that moment Leon had gotten up from the chair and retrieved a silver cell phone from his front pocket.

    “Yes? You found him?” He answered in a lowered voice.
    “It’s okay Lyn. I’m just having a bad day I guess.” Jared rubbed his forehead with the heel of his hand.
    “Okay, make sure you keep watch. I don’t think I can handle another one.” Leon pinched the bridge of his nose.
    I smiled at Jared, trying not to seem obvious that I was listening to Leon as well.
    “Just do it. I’ll be there soon and we can look into it tonight. Yeah, okay.” Leon hung up, I didn’t realize we’d been staring at each other till I heard his cell snap shut. I looked away quickly and pretended to be interested with a piano study book.
    “What was that about?” Jared asked him.
    “Oh, my friend’s dog got loose last night. But we think someone…took him.” I noticed the pause but Jared didn’t.
    “Damn that sucks. But at least you guys got it back, right?”
    Leon shrugged and stepped out from behind the desk. “I have to leave. But I’ll see you tomorrow.”

    “Sure.” Jared waved with two fingers and picked up a large box and started towards the back room. “I’ll be back.” He disappeared.

    Leon paused as he passed me, one of his hands lifted my chin and then brushed lightly over the bruise that rested over my cheek bone. “Help is always near if you need it.” He smiled and hurried to the door.
    After a couple seconds, I spun around and pushed open the front door.

    “Hey! What do you me-” I stopped myself and noticed that the street was empty. I looked up and down the street but there was no sign of him. I frowned. What did he mean? I lifted my hand to the bruise and held it there for a long time before Jared called my name and I realized I was blushing. Shaking it off I pulled open the door and stepped inside.