Always Yours

I was still fizzing over what happened with Franko.

“Aubrey are you okay?”. My mom asked.

“Fine”.

I didn’t see him the rest of my shift. By the time I came out from hiding in the back he had left. I was angry and pissed off that he thought I was embarrassed to be seen with him. But what bothered me more was why he cared so much.

He was Franko fucking Mendez. He had lots of friends was always surrounded by people so why care what I thought?

We weren’t friends. We weren’t involved in each other’s lives. It was time I put an end to whatever the hell was going on between us.

“Are you sure?”.

“I’m fine mom just tired”.

“I think it’s great that you have a job, but I don’t want it becoming your priority. School is what you need to be focusing on”.

Of course, she would say something like that. God forbid if I ever fail a test or get anything other than an A. She wasn’t helping my mood and I had to bite my tongue to stop me saying something that would get me into trouble.

They had always been strict. Firm but fair. They weren’t bad parents I just wish sometimes it could be different.

“I am focused I’m always focused. My grades are good I’m not failing any classes. If anything, I’m doing better than I should be this early in the year”.

“I know that, Aubrey. I just want what’s best for you. I want you to have a bright future. Did you go shopping today?”.

I think it was wise that she changed the subject. I had never talked back or argued with her but with the way I was feeling tonight it could have been a first.

“No, Alice wasn’t feeling good”.

“I can take you tomorrow if you like”.

“Yeah, sure”.

I wasn’t getting my hopes up at the chance of spending some time together. We’ve tried this before and every time she’d get called into work.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“We’ll get you a full new wardrobe and a new jacket. That one’s looking a bit worse for wear”.

There was nothing wrong with my jacket but who was I to tell her I didn’t need one. As we pulled up to the house, I was a little surprised to see my dad’s car in the drive. I was always in bed by the time he got home.

“Chinese for dinner or did you eat at the diner?”.

“Why is dad home early?”. I asked.

“He’s not home early honey he’s home when he’s supposed to be for once”.

Something felt off. I wasn’t convinced that this was normal, and I had a feeling something had happened. I mean to get to eat dinner with them as a family, that rarely happened.

But I said nothing and headed inside.

Once I cleaned up and got into my pjs I headed back downstairs. I didn’t get to finish my burger, so I was hungry enough to have dinner. It was nice, all sitting round the table enjoying each other’s company and talking about our day.

“We’re really proud of you Aubrey”. My dad spoke. “You went out and got yourself a job. I think you’re ready for the responsibility of having your own car”.

“Really?”. I grinned.

“Yeah, sweetheart really”. My mom placed her hand on top of mine. “We also think you’re ready for a little more responsibility with other things”.

“Like what?”. I frowned.

“Staying home alone for the weekend but only if you feel okay with it”.

Wow. I never saw that coming. Being home alone for a full weekend without supervision. No parents, no one watching me. Having free reign to do as I please.

“Yeah, I’ll be okay”. I could survive one weekend on my own. “Can I ask why?”.

“You’ll always be our little girl Aubrey but you’re growing up and it’s time we let you”. My dad spoke.

“Okay”. I smiled.

For the first time in forever it felt like I had my parents back.

…

True to her word my mom took me shopping. She knew I was working at 2 so we left the house before 9 and had been walking around the mall for the last hour. I had a spring in my step, I was genuinely happy.

My relationship with my mom was never bad but I always felt I couldn’t really talk to her about much. Talking boys was a no go and god forbid if I ever brought up sex.

“What else do you need Aubrey?”.

I think I got everything. She really wasn’t kidding when she said she was buying me a new wardrobe. I would have to throughout most of my old clothes for my new ones to fit.

“I think I’ve got everything”.

“Shoes, we didn’t get you any shoes”.

“I don’t need shoes mom”.

“Then how about we stop for breakfast at the diner?”.

“Or we could just go home for breakfast?”. I didn’t see the point in going there now to then have to drive back later for my shift.

“We have nothing in. I haven’t done the food shop yet”.

“Okay”.

The full drive to the diner I couldn’t settle. My stomach was in knots I felt sick and I’m quite sure if I tapped my fingers off the dashboard one more time my mom would cut them off.

I prayed he wasn’t there. I prayed that his friends weren’t there. I didn’t want to face him. He said all he needed to and just as I thought he was breaking down my walls they shot back up.

He could be an asshole when he wanted to be. But maybe that’s the Franko I needed to see. Maybe that was the real Franko and not the bullshit he puts on when he’s around me.

The anger I felt last night rose within me.

I hated how much he got under my skin.

“Aubrey?”.

“Yeah?”.

“You would tell me if something was bothering you, wouldn’t you?”.

“I’m fine mom”.

I couldn’t tell her even if I wanted to. She wouldn’t understand. The minute I told her she’d shut me down and tell me I was too young for boys. Throw Franko’s name into the mix and she’d ground me for life.

As she pulled into the carpark, I chewed the inside of my cheek until it hurt. He was here and no doubt with his asshole friends. I felt sick, my stomach churning at the thought of seeing him.

“Aubrey?”.

“Hm?”.

“Please tell me you’re not having sex”.

“What, no”. I made a face.

Why would she think that? I hadn’t even kissed a boy never mind having sex with one. I hadn’t even been on a real date, and she thought I was having sex? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I ran a hand down my face.

“You haven’t been yourself lately and dad and I were getting worried”.

“So, you thought I was out having sex?”. I laughed. “Geez mom why not slap a chastity belt on me right now and we’ll call it a day”.

“That’s not funny Aubrey. We worry about you; we notice the changes”.

Could have fooled me. That’s what I wanted to say but of course I didn’t. I may say a lot of things about them, but I would never intentionally disrespect them. They were my parents and I loved them.

“I’m fine mom and I’m not having sex”.

“Thank god. I had all these thoughts running through my mind. I thought you were involved with that Franko boy. Boys like that are no good Aubrey. When the time is right, you’ll meet a nice boy and settle down”.

Yeah right.

I followed her inside keeping my head down.

“Where’s best to sit honey?”. My mom asked.

I shrugged. “I’m going to use the restroom”.

Once inside I locked myself in a stall and waited. I didn’t need to pee, but I was hoping by the time I went back out he would be gone. I heard the restroom door open and then there was a knock on the stall door which caused me to jump.

“Someone’s in here”.

I was in no mood to put up with those girls today. If they could put gum in my hair, then they were capable of doing just about anything.

“Open up princess we need to talk”.

Wait that wasn’t Franko. Opening the stall door, I frowned. “You do know this is the girl’s bathroom, right?”.

“You heard from Alice?”. Tommy spoke.

“I haven’t and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you”. I side stepped him so I could wash my hands. He had some nerve asking that anyway. Wasn’t he the one with another girl on his arm just yesterday?

“Right, I forgot you girls stick together”. He smirked.

Was he smirking right now? Didn’t he know how much he had hurt her already? She had fell for him hard and he clearly didn’t give two shits about her.

“You’re a bastard”. I glared.

“Wow chill”. His smirk faded; his eyebrows furrowed. “I’m joking Aubrey”.

“Whatever”. I dried my hands on some paper towel and popped it in the bin. I had to get back to my mom before she came looking. “Can you please move?”. I sighed.

“Can you tell her I wanna talk if you see her?”. He moved to the side letting me past.

“No”. I walked back into the dining area and clocked my mom sitting by the window.

If Alice wanted to be involved with Tommy, then that was on her. I wasn’t getting involved in any more of their shit. I could tell her to stay away from him until I was blue in the face, but it didn’t mean she’d listen.

“Apparently our meals been paid for”. She spoke as I sat across from her.

“What?”. I frowned.

“I went up to order our breakfast and pay but was told it had already been taken care of. Do you think it’s because you work here?”. She asked.

No, it had Franko’s name all over it.

“Yeah, mom that’s what it’ll be”.