What About Loyalty

Chapter 12

It took the majority of the night to clean up all of the evidence. Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. In almost four hours, I had to mop up the blood that was on my bedroom floor, wipe off the blade and hilt of the knife I had used, and, most important of all, bury my dead mother's corpse in the backyard.

The next day was Saturday, so I didn't have to worry about my suspension until Monday. It was also the day Ali came over to check on me. From my bedroom, I heard her knock on the door, but either due to my laziness or the fact that I was still in a bad mood, I didn't answer it. I guess Ali finally noticed it was unlocked, because I heard the door open. She found me laying on my bed in my room.

"What happened to you?" Ali asked when she got a first look at my mutilated face.

"Long story," I replied.

Ali walked towards me. "I heard you got suspended."

"Yeah, it kinda sucks, but I'll make the best of it."

Ali must have noticed how depressed I sounded, because she asked me, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Sure. Fine." I answered.

"Are you sure, because you sound like something's bothering you."

"No, nothing's bothering me." I know I shouldn't have lied to Ali, but I just didn't feel like telling her what happened to my parents. Not that I don't trust her or anything, but... y'know what, I got nothing to say here.

"Harvey, I'm your best friend. You can tell me."

"If there were something bothering me, then I would tell you." I was beginning to lose my patience.

But Ali was relentless. "Then why don't you-?"

"JUST SHUT UP!" I honestly have no idea why I shouted those exact words, because after I did, I saw that Ali had a frightened expression. So I calmed down a little. "Sorry," I told her, "but I'm not in the mood right now, okay?"

Ali seemed to understand. "Oh," she simply replied.

"So I think it's best if you come back later, okay?"

"Sure." I heard a squeaky noise and saw Ali walking out of the room. "See ya later." Soon after, I heard the front door open and shut.

With Ali gone, I went back to playing Angry Birds on my phone.