Coffee Shop

Chapter 3

"Little bro, how was school?" I ask Greyson. Amelia puts her arms around him as they start walking home. Greyson blabbers about school. Amelia has never felt happier in her life. Well, besides when she's with Caterina or lost in a book.

"Ms. Parker said she wants to talk to you tomorrow. I told her you have to work and that I don't know when it would be a good time. But he could try tomorrow while you're working. Is that okay?" Greyson throws that bombshell on Amelia. One more thing she has to worry about.

"What do you mean she wants to talk to me? Why does she want to talk to me? I'm not the parent? Greyson..." Amelia started to panic. They can't know that their Mom is M.I.A. at the moment. If they find out she has been neglecting her duties as a mother-okay that may be a stretch- or just disappearing for a few days. She doesn't have the mental or emotional stability to deal with Child Protective Services.

"Well Mom never showed up. I failed another test." Greyson hung his head.

"Okay. Tell you're teacher to stop by the café tomorrow. You too. I'll help you as much as I can with your homework ok?" She rubbed Greyson's back. 

"Okay." Greyson cheered up drastically. Amelia chuckles as she texts Caterina that they are almost home.

Amelia opens the door hoping and praying her Mom shows up. She walks to her room passing her Moms' in the process. She comes to an abrupt halt. Her Moms' door was wide open this morning and now it's shut. She lightly knocks but doesn't get a response. Amelia twists the knob and her Mom is sitting up in bed watching television.

"Mom where have you been?" Amelia asks worriedly. She's only seventeen and has to act like the adult. When she turned fourteen-about a year after putting her father in jail- her mother grew distant. Amelia did what she had to do to protect her family. She got tired of hearing her mother tell her soon. 

"I was working and doing things with my boss to get a raise." Her mother raises her eyebrows at Amelia. Amelia looks at her mother in deep thought. She decides against saying what's on her mind. It wouldn't be worth the fight and she has to help her brother with homework. it doesn't seem to matter anymore that she isn't the mother she has to play mother cause hers wont be one.

"Say it Amelia." Her mother spits at her. She's still drunk. 

"Nothing Mom. I need to help Greyson with his homework and do mine. That's all I was thinking about." Amelia lied through her teeth. Thankfully, her mother was still too drunk to notice.

"Ok. Thank you honey." Her mom mutters as she falls back to a drunken sleep. Amelia rolls her eyes and walks out the room closing the door softly. Releasing a deep sigh she walks into Greysons room. He already has his math book out. He's doing fractions. That's great this is my worst sub-math. Amelia helped him the best she could but eventually had to use his book. He seemed to understand it better but math is the only subject he keeps failing so it's not horrible.

She cooks dinner for Greyson and heads to her room. Starting her homework she realized she was going to be stuck for hours. Caterina showed up a few minutes later. 

"What homework are you finishing?" Caterina looked at Amelia full of shock. 

"Not surprisingly I read more than I did my homework. So I'm actually doing my half of the History project then I'm gonna finish up Aladdin." Amelia explained.

"Speaking of History. What's it like having the new kid as your History partner?" Caterina was fishing for information on him. 

"I don't know anything about him. Today is the first time we really spoke but it was only because he was sitting at my table at the café. My TABLE!" Amelia practically shouts. 

"Wait you talked to him?" Caterina almost swallows her gum due to the shock.

"Just to tell him he didn't have to move I could find somewhere else. Listen, I know nothing about him so get rid of that glint. We barely talk in school. Also, his name is Benjamin Matthews. He's not the new kid anymore. AND he offered that information to me. I did not ask for his name." Amelia added before her friend died from excitement. Besides, Amelia thought, it will not happen again.

"Okay but everyone keeps talking about him and he is still a mystery. It's crazy."

"Caterina, it's just the first week of school. By next week he'll be old news and the rumors will stop. Can you just stop talking about him." Amelia sighs with exasperation.

"AMELIA!" Greyson yells from the kitchen, " I'm gonna go take my bath now. I finished eating."

"Okay Greyson. I'll be in to say goodnight to you later." Amelia looks at the clock and realizes it is almost nine o' clock. 

"Caterina, " Amelia was about to ready to break down, " I just can't keep dong this. My mom..., " Amelia takes a shaky breath, " she doesn't act like a Mom anymore. She keeps pulling away. I don't know what to do. I can't keep taking care of Greyson by myself and do what I need to do. I mean how can I? I have school, work, friends and I don't get to do anything I wanna do. Why does she get to act like a teenager whilst I'm stuck being the parent." Amelia sighs. A few tears slip down her cheeks. Sometimes she wishes she didn't call the cops that night, but if she thinks about it her Mom could be dead and she could be getting beat on. Then Greyson would be taken away and who knows what would happen to him in the system. 

Amelia shakes her head clearing the negative thoughts from her mind. Even though her mother doesn't seem to care about them anymore she did the right thing. Her mother would have to live with it.

Caterina hugs Amelia as she cries. Amelia smiles. Caterina has been there for her through thick and thin. Amelia couldn't have asked for a better friend.