Un-Ordinary Girl

Chapter 7

          After work, I went to grab my bike from the apartment and rode to the key shop. Phil, the key shop owner, made me another key at a discount since my birthday was this week. I thanked him and rode quickly home. After I got up the stairs, I saw Jackson at my door. He looked a bit perturbed. It seemed almost like he was unsure if he should knock or not.

          "What's the matter Jackson?" He jumped a little but faced me all the same with a small frown on his face.

          "Mrs. Wong isn't home and I left my cell phone charger over there on Saturday." He looked a bit grumpy about it. "I was wondering if you knew when she would be home."

          "In two weeks. But I have a copy of their key. Let's go get it." We walked over to their apartment after I dropped my things off in my apartment and  put the spinach lasagna in the oven. We found it in my room in their apartment.

          "You would think that you were their child due to the fact that they have so many pictures of you with them in here. And you have your own room here complete with everything that you could need! It's all really incredible." I blushed a bit.

          "The Wong's raised me basically. I was really lonely because my mom hates me and I don't have any siblings. I would hide here when she would be violently drunk. But, I won't need to hide this week. My Nana is coming over today to spend the week with me." We were silent for a moment. Then he spoke.

          "You don't have to be alone anymore you know. I'm your best friend now." Something about those words made that I have been waiting forever to hear made something in me swell. I felt my eyes well up with tears. I crashed into his chest and cried hard. I couldn't stop. He held me and rubbed my head. It made me feel better but I still kept crying. I always ended up crying here. I always was hugged here by someone who actually cared about me. And I always felt loved here by those people. After I had finally calmed down, I looked at the clock that was in my room and saw that it was almost time to take the lasagna out.

          "Would you like to stay for dinner? I'm not sure what you had planned but, my Nana is coming over so my mom is going to be somewhat pleasant." He looked shocked that I would offer that. I was really hoping that he would accept though.

          "Sure. I would love that." I grinned a little through the remaining tears on my face. We left the Wong's apartment and I let him into my apartment. I still had to prepare a salad and fix garlic bread. I looked at the stove clock and saw that I still had an hour before mom would be home with grandma. I had pulled out an nice outfit from my closet at the Wong's to wear. I wanted to look my best for Nana.

          "Can you tell me about my father?" He nodded.

          "Yeah. His name was Alexander Whitewolf. He was a great guy. He mentored me for a while. That was before my parents accident. He mentioned having met a woman but could never find her again. Then one day, he came across her while he was in a nature preserve. She was two months pregnant. He tried to talk to her but she freaked out on him and left Alaska and never returned. After the incident at my last foster parents home, he talked the courts into letting me live on my own."

          "Is he still around?" He shook his head. I felt my face fall.

          "He soon died after the courts approved. He had a heart attack. That's why I just moved in this past weekend. I went to his funeral first. But he did say that he wished that he could have met his child first. He was a really good person." We sat silent for a while longer until another question popped up into my head.

          "Do you really not like Tracy? She is really pretty. And popular. And also captain of the cheer squad." I wasn't sure why I was asking or if I really wanted to know the real answer.

          "Naw. She isn't my type. Besides, I already have my sights set on another girl." For some reason, this knowledge pissed me off. I quickly pulled the garlic bread out of the oven and tossed a salad together while avoiding looking at him so he wouldn't see the hurt clear as day in my eyes. If he started dating the girl that he had his eyes on, she most definitely wouldn't want his best friend to be a girl. Let's not even think about the fact that I must admit, I probably do have a crush on him.

          "Stay right there. I'm gonna go get dressed quickly before my mom and Nana get here. They're due here in twenty minutes." He gave me an affirmative. I ran to quickly get changed. By the time I finished, mom and Nana were walking through the door. I quickly ran out there to do any damage control that will be necessary.

          "Hello ma'am's. My name is Jackson Stewart. I live next door. I also attend school with Katelyn. She's my best friend." I lightly blushed as he mentioned being best friends.

          "Well bless my soul. Jackson. I haven't seen you since your parents funeral." What the hell? How does Nana know Jackson? "Hello Katelyn dear."

          "Hi Nana." I gave her a big hug. "How do you know Jackson?"

          "His parents volunteered regularly at the community center that I also volunteered at. They always brought little Jackson with them. He was such a good helper." I tried to imagine a younger Jackson but couldn't quite get the image to clear in my mind. I shrugged it off.

          "Oh. Well, dinner is ready." They all went to wash their hands and then came to sit at the table. Mom still hadn't said anything and it was making me increasingly nervous. I served everyone else first and then sat to eat myself. I got compliments on dinner from everyone but mom. She looked unhappy. I wonder if she had a problem with the food or if she had a bad day at work. After Jackson left and grandma got into the shower, mom pulled me to the side none to gently.

          "Why was that THING in my apartment?" she hissed at me. So that was what was bothering her.

          "He really helped me out today so I invited him over for dinner to thank him. It isn't like I invited dad over." I don't know what made me say that but I did and wasn't going to take it back. She slapped me after I mentioned dad and I looked at her in shock. She actually struck me with Nana in the house! She usually restrains from doing anything that Nana will pick up on. I felt tears well up in my eyes but I also got very angry. So for once I yelled at her. "Why did you slap me? I didn't do anything wrong! All I do is try to help you! And what thanks do I get? Nothing but mental and physical a***e!"

          "Don't you raise your voice at me! I am your mother!"

          "Oh yeah! Well I wish you weren't!" I ran to my room and slammed the door shut and locked it. I grabbed a duffel bag and packed some stuff including my money box after checking it first. All the money was still there. After leaving the key for grandma on a key chain on top of her suitcase in my room, I went to the Wong's apartment. I couldn't be home tonight. I really wanted to kill my mother. She was such an asshole for that. She didn't even know the extent of half the s**t I go through to help her. But why should I care. Nothing I've ever done has ever mattered to her. She just does enough to keep Nana off her back. I hope Nana nags her tonight.