I Only Bite When

Chapter 1 - The Good Samaritan

"Raven, could you start making tea please, love?" Asked my mother as she lay on the couch watching the soaps. "Oh, and after that, iron Rosie's school uniform would you. Thanks sweetheart." I reluctantly got up from the small desk at the side of the living room where I was busy doing my university coursework, put my long, jet black hair in a bun and started to cook some pasta.

My name is Raven Jones. I'm eighteen years old and have way too much responsibility. Not in the typical rebellious teenage 'I hate my life' kind of way. No. This is much more real than that.

You see, I live in a small town in England in a council house with my mother Roxy and my six year old sister Rosie. In this town, everyone knows everyone. We definitely live below the breadline, as I am the only one who has a job, and that's only part time at the local restaurant. My mother can't work because she suffers from chronic anxiety and depression, which lead to her alcoholism. To be honest, I can't remember the last time she left the house. She has trouble looking after herself, never mind Rosie and I, so that's left to me to do. In a way, I don't mind. I'm a bit of a control freak, so I like to do things my way. On the other hand, I hate seeing my mum like this, and I often feel it's all too much for me having to do everything. I want to be able to be a normal teenager and hang out with my friends at the weekend. Well, I say friends, I don't have time for friends. I hardly have time to breathe. However I do have one true friend who I can rely on. Her name is Jenny. I've known her all throughout my school life. She's very fun-loving and intelligent. She has fair skin, freckles and beautiful wavy auburn hair. Jenny is forever worrying about me though, as she knows all about my family life, although she can't understand what it's like as she comes from quite a well off family. We're very different people, but that's what makes us work. Jenny's parents treat me like one of their own. Especially her dad, but I think this is partly out of sympathy for me because he knows I never knew my dad. Mum never talks about him. She hates when I bring him up. All I know about him is his first name. Joe. Mum had me at a young age; eighteen. Like my age now. I reckon they just lost contact after she told him she was pregnant.

I don't want to sound awful but I feel like my sister got off easy as mum doesn't know who her dad is. It's bad for Rosie, yes, but at least mum isn't hiding anything from her - she just doesn't know.

I'm not judging my mum, I love her, but she made some pretty bad decisions a few years ago, when her mental health began to deteriorate. She would sometimes leave for days, partying her troubles away. Sometimes I would be left on my own to fend for myself until my nan realised she hadn't heard from us for a day or so. My nan, Lynne would then look after me whilst she was gone. Nan died couple of years ago. It still hurts to this day. She was like a mother to me. I can't thank her enough for how she looked after Rosie and I during mum's bad days.

After tea, I ironed Rosie's school uniform, made sure she brushed her teeth and went to tuck her into bed. She's a good kid - she hardly ever gives me any hassle and always does as she's told. I think that's because she knows how much I have to do for her and mum. Kids are smart. They understand more than we think.

As I walked into Rosie's room, she jumped up onto her bed and sat down. I sat beside her, when I noticed her staring at me, trying to figure me out. "Are you happy, Raven?" She asked, curiously. I have to admit, this took me by surprise. "Of course I'm happy." I replied, as I moved my sister's short dark curls from in front of her face. "Why wouldn't I be happy when I have the best sister in the world?" I said as I tickled her. "Raven stop it!!!" She squealed. I tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead. "Nighty nighty" I whispered. "Pyjama pyjama." Rosie giggled in reply. I left her bedroom and closed the door behind me. I decided to go and check on my mum, as I thought I heard her go to bed before.

I quietly opened up her bedroom door and noticed she was fast asleep. Passed out from the alcohol no doubt. I quietly shut the door behind me and went downstairs to complete my coursework.

As I finished up my last psychology question, I was disturbed by loud banging noises behind me. I soon realised it was someone frantically knocking on our front door.

Not wanting them to disturb my family's sleep, I quickly rushed to answer the door. "Alright, alright, I'm coming." I mumbled in annoyance. When I finally unlocked the door, I was quite surprised to see who was standing opposite me. It was a girl from my school who is a couple of years below me. Her name is Steph. We had a few karate classes together a few months back. We talked a little during the classes and our mums knew each other, however we were never close friends or anything. Her older sister Cara is on my course, too. I don't talk to her all that much, though. I tend to just keep to myself when I'm not hanging out with Jenny.

"Steph?!" I said in surprise. "What are you-" before I could finish my sentence, she pushed past me and entered the living room. "Lock the door!" She exclaimed. She looked terrified. "W-what?" I asked. "Oh for God's sake just lock the f*****g door!" Confused and slightly scared at this point, I locked the door and then turned to face her. Before I could ask what was happening, her terrified expression already told me everything I needed to know.