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It could have been because I slept with my mom’s fiancé, or it could have been because he treated me like a whore after that.
I don’t like myself.
I haven’t left my room in two days, and I haven’t eaten. All I’ve done is drink water, which is bad because a human body needs food, but I don’t feel like a person anymore after what I did. For a couple of days now, my mum has been knocking on my door and begging me to talk to her or let her in, but I won’t.
How can I face my mom after what I did? I haven’t heard from Sebastian at all. He hasn’t even begged me not to tell my mum.
“Pumpkin, someone is here for you.” My mom’s sweet voice came from the other side of the door. I took off my white sheets and tiptoed to the door. I bent over and put my ear to the door to try to hear a familiar voice.
“It’s me, Naomi.”
What the hell is she doing here?
I quickly opened the door and threw my arms around her neck to pull her closer to me. At first, Naomi was surprised, but she quickly hugged me back. Naomi is my cousin on my dad’s side. In a lot of ways, she’s like my sister. It’s always been me, Maya, and Naomi, but after my dad left us, she left me, too.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion.
“I owe you a visit, didn’t I?” Her thick accent came through.
“I missed you so much,” I said with a small smile. We let go of each other but held hands.
“I knew you would come out of your room.” My mom smiles at me, and then everything hits me all at once. I stood in front of my mom after sleeping with her fiancé last night. I felt sick to my stomach, and my smile turned into a frown.
Naomi asked, “Are you okay?” She was clearly worried about my health. She gently put the back of her hand on my forehead to check my temperature.
I must have looked sick.
******
“Let’s all go eat at Momma’s Berry’s like we used to when you were younger,” my mom said with excitement.
No way, I don’t want to be around you or your fiancé.
“That would be great.” Naomi jumped up and down like a kid, and I couldn’t say no.
“Of course,” I said quietly.
While I got ready, Naomi and my mum went downstairs. I chose to wear my baggy denim jacket with some leggings and a white tube top.
I didn’t want to make noise, so I slowly walked down the stairs. I went into the kitchen and saw Naomi drinking water and my mum sitting on Sebastian’s lap. I wanted to stomp over to my mom and pull her away from Sebastian, but I couldn’t because he was kissing her right in front of me. I hold the edge of my jacket tightly in my hand to keep calm.
Naomi said, “You look cute.”
“Thanks.” I smile at Naomi and completely ignore my mom and Sebastian.
“Come on, girls.” My mom started to walk with Sebastian’s hand in hers. I really want to break an arm right now.
Please stop. Aria
The ride in the car was quiet, and Naomi was shocked by how different it was here than at home. I kept looking out the window at the bright blue sky getting darker. Mom and Dad would take Naomi and me to Momma Berry’s when we were younger. I miss my dad so much.
I wonder if my dad is sad that I’m not there.
My cousin and I sat together at a table outside, and my mom and Sebastian sat across from us. I didn’t look at Sebastian at all.
My mom asks, “So Naomi, how is your mother?”
“She’s doing great,” she says. “I’m so sorry about my uncle, too; my mom told me about it.”
“It’s okay; we’ve moved on,” my mom says as she kisses Sebastian on the cheek. I squeeze Naomi’s hand tighter, and she looks at me with interest.
“Okay,” Naomi says with a smile. Naomi asks, “Sebastian, what do you do for a living?”
It takes Sebastian a while to answer, but when he does, the words come out easily. “I run a business.”
“Oh nice,” Naomi says.
“How about Maya and that guy? What was his name again?”
“Caleb,” I said softly. Naomi nodded quickly, and I couldn’t help but look down at my lap. “I don’t talk to either of them anymore,” I said.
“But you and Caleb were so cute together with your secret little relationship.” She says this in awe, thinking of Caleb and me if she only knew what happened.
“It’s over,” I yelled at her. I didn’t mean for my voice to sound so harsh, but it did. Naomi must have seen that my shoulders were getting tense because she quickly changed the subject.
“I’m so happy to see you guys again,” she says with a smile. “Especially with everything going on with Nora.”
“Talking about her, she’s been really sad,” my mum says.
“That’s awful.”
My mom says, “I was wondering if you could come with me to see her. She hasn’t been eating or going out. Naomi, she would be so happy to see you.”
That means they’re leaving me alone with Sebastian. I have to do something to keep them there.
“Of course I will,” she says, smiling warmly at her.
Naomi is always too nice for her own good.
“Mom, do you have to go?” I asked.
Please tell her no. I can’t be alone with him again.
“Yes, dear,” she says.
We kept eating without talking. I didn’t even try to talk to Sebastian or look at him; I just couldn’t. Naomi was talking about her college and some things that have been going on in her life lately. I was trying to come up with a way to get out of being home alone.
Sebastian said to my mom, “I have to take this phone call.” She nodded.
Sebastian went outside, far away from us. I was curious why this phone call was so important. He usually ignores his calls when he’s with us. I couldn’t help but lean over the table a little to try to hear something, but I didn’t hear anything. After a few seconds, he ran inside and grabbed his coat off the chair.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go. Something went wrong with my work package, and I need to take care of it.” He kissed my mom and turned to face me. “I called an Uber to take you home.” He left the restaurant quickly.
Sebastian is acting strange, which is strange. While my mom and Naomi ate their delicious meal, I played with my food with my fork and thought about how quickly he left. My mom didn’t even think it was strange.
After we were done eating, we all walked out of the restaurant. My Uber was waiting around the corner, and my aunt was parked right outside. I could never go with my mom to see my aunt because she hates me. I said goodbye to my mom and gave Naomi a quick hug.
I whispered in her ear, “I love you, Naomi.”
“I love you too, Pumpkin,” she whispers back.
I walked slowly to my Uber and got in. I was confused, angry, and tired because I had so many thoughts in my head. The drive to the house was quiet and peaceful, and I liked it. If my dad ever called my mom, would she tell me?
I quickly tipped the Uber driver and then walked to the front door. When I got there, I stopped because the door was slightly open, which was strange. When I pushed the door open, my hands were shaking.
“Hello?” I yelled, but no one answered.