Midnight Snack
972 Words
I was sitting on my bed brushing my hair in a ponytail thinking about today's events. Sam brought me home and explained that he moved out from his parents house to be more independent. The boy, Alec was his roommate well one of them. The house was big enough that he said there were a lot of people that lived there. Alec didn't like unknown people in the house and has a bit of a temper so Sam didn't want me to see the argument to come. When we got to my house my father ran to me and Joshua shrugged, but I could see the relief in his eyes. I got a quick lecture. Thanks to Sam being there it wasn't as long as it would've been. My father liked Sam, always have.
I made my way down stairs to eat the meatloaf I know my brother made. I didn't open the microwave, knowing Josh put my plate in there, I just started it at two minutes and checked my phone dismissing all the missed calls and worried texts from Josh and my dad. In that moment I got a text from an unknown number.
"hey, Ellie : )"
"Who's this?"
"Who else calls you Ellie?"
"Sammy?"
"The one and only"
"How'd you get my number?"
"Your brother gave it to me"
"Of course he did. Thanks for dropping me off at home."
"Np couldn't let you go alone. I've been thinking and we should hang out. for real this time."
"For sure, I haven't been here since I was 10 I'm going to need someone to show me around."
"Okay! I'll pick you up at noon tomorrow"
"See you then : D"
"Good night Ellie"
"Good night Sammy"
The microwaved beeped and I put my phone resting easy in my bra and took my plate out. The scent of meatloaf hit me and made my mouth water. After grabbing a fork I made my way to the living room where I heard gunshots. I guess my dad got Josh that game he wanted. Joshua was slouching on the couch with a red controller in hand. I sat next to him and watched him play his new game.
On the screen was a man pulling another out of a dark blue muscle car and get in himself. "That poor man" I said stuffing my mouth. "El, your not suppose to feel empathy for the people I rob" He didn't look at me, too focused on driving the car that he was ruining. "But why cant you buy a car or something" I never played the game with him, I never really understood the fun in playing these types of games. Josh sighed "Stealing the cars is part of the fun"
"How is taking some poor women"s car fun?" I said gesturing the the women he was now pulling out of her car. He sighed again and shook his head. "You'll never understand" he was right, I wouldn't so I just ate and watched in silence. When I finished, I stood went to the kitchen, wash my dish and turned back to my brother. "So, do you like it here so far?" I asked. He paused the game and made his way to me as I sat on the counter. "Well, yea, I love it here. You know that" I did. He gave me a concerned look.
"How are you handling things?" I thought about it for a while before replying. "Great." I lied, and he saw right through it. "I know you've never been closed to dad, but can't you at least try?" I sighed. "I am trying, I just don't know how to live here. Everything is so..." I tried to find the right word. "Different... from home"
"I know but you've lived here before and from what I hear you loved it as much as I do. What changed? How come you never visited when we moved. Mom said she gave us both a choice, why did you choose not to visit?" how do I tell him? How do I say that I overheard them arguing that night? That our father was lair, who had secrets. I don't necessarily know what those secrets were but I know it ruined their marriage. I didn't want to ruin our dad'd image in Josh's eyes. I couldn't do that to him. He was only fourteen after all.
"I- I don't know" I didn't have an answer for him, not one I could tell. Before I could stop it, a single tear was falling down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. He sighed gave me a soft smile. "you should get some sleep, it's almost midnight." I laughed at that. "Says the one who's been up playing games." He laughed now and I playfully nudged his shoulder and hopped down.
I waited for him at the bottom of the stairs as he turned off the console and T.V then we both made our way upstairs, laughing and joking. We reached the top and our rooms were the opposite directions so we split up. When I reach my door, I put my hand on the knob. "Josh?" I could tell he opened his door by the gust of cold air that hit me. "Yes?" I turned my head to see him in his room with the door wide open and the A.C running.
"Never give anyone my number without telling me" He smile at me like he was trying to hold on a laugh. "For sure sis. But in my defense... he seemed like he really really wanted it" He shut the door with letting me reply. I went in my room and closed the door with a new thought on my mind. Did Sammy really want me number?
I got in bed and under the covers then went fast asleep. That night I didn't dream of the wolf but instead of that night. The night everything changed.
- Writer
