The thing About us

Today was my tryouts for high school cheer leading,  I'm going to be a freshman when summer is over, I can't believe it. After camp, I will be in high school, starting the next chapter of my life. "Good luck sweetheart. I'll see you when I get home from work and you can tell me all about it- until then I don't want to hear if you've made it! Because I want to be there in person when you tell me." My Dad says. I laugh, "Next!"  "Sounds like you have to leave Kiddo! Good luck. Love you."  "Love you too Dad, see you tonight!" I hung up the phone and placed it in my bag. After talking with my Dad my nerves are gone. I smiled and waved my hands to the coach and proceeded with my routine. Everyone has the same routine so we wouldn't waste time. I smiled when I was finished, I wasn't winded as much as I was when I practiced at home.   "The following girls, welcome to Silverton High school- home of the foxes. Lorell- flyer, Julie- Back spot, Alyssa-Base, Jessie-base, Henry- Base, Rosa- flyer, Congratulations girls, you have made varsity. See you in three months." The  coach slaps her papers against the table and my heart is racing. I can't believe I made it to varsity! As a flyer! I've never been a flyer before, I'm excited to learn something new. I was about to call my Dad when I remember what he said. I smiled and congratulate the other members joining me. 3 girls and two boys.  I changed out of my uniform in the girls locker room that was unfamiliar to me, placing my things into the bag when I am approached by the oldest girl in the new group; Alyssa. She's 16, and she's the base. "Can't wait to cheer with you! Congrats on the flyer position." She smiles. I smile too and thank her. I grab my bag and slip my sandals on heading for the car waiting for me in the parking lot. I run to my Mom's car and throw my bag into the trunk, I close it and hop into the front seat smiling at my Mom. "Well?" She stated.  "Based on the smile on my face I didn't make it. In fact, I made the C team." I stated sarcastically. She laughed.  "That's  a shame I was hoping to be a cheer mom..." She starts her car and hides her laugh from me. I buckle my seat belt trying to stop myself from bursting but I couldn't hold it in any longer. "I MADE FLYER!!!! ON VARSITY!" I screamed. My Mom breaks the car hard and stares at me, her eyes ghostly. I felt scared when I forgot the rule, the only rule the Peterson family strictly obeys by. "No screaming in the car unless there is a giant ass spider or you're dying. BUT OMG MY DAUGHTER MADE FLYER! AND VARSITY" She yells out the car window in the summer air. My Mother was a cheerleader, in fact a varsity flyer, same with my grandmother and my Great Grandmother; a family tradition I guess. My mother was a golden cheerleader, she actually- well that's actually how she met my Dad- he was a nerd, a sweet nerd. My mother and I share looks but my father and I share sympathy; I inherited my Dad's sweetness and innocence and that's why my mother fell in love with him. He wasn't like the di*k jocks that hit on all cheerleaders for their small asses...and other things. My mom had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, with naturally long eyelashes. I inherited that, except I got these bright hazel eyes that almost seem caramel when the sun shines right into my eyes, weird but true.  My Mom and I laughed the whole way home, picking up fast food on our way there of course. My Mom's phone rings just as we're about to put the food on the table,  "It's Dad."  "Don't tell him anything, he wanted me to tell him in person." She nods her head and answers the phone. "hey baby, what's up?" Their was a silence, probably waiting for a response from my dad. "No problem Josh, we'll see you later tonight." I had my head slightly turned because I was confused, Dad is usually home by 5 o' clock at night, which is in fifteen minutes.  "Your father's boss is keeping your Dad at the office, they have a super big project they're working on, he said he'll be home around 9." I lower my shoulders, he never stays late- he always wants to go home to see us at the end of the day. But I shake my head to shake the thought. I sit down with my mom as we eat and talk with our mouths full. I'm leaving for New York on Thursday which can't come any sooner, I literally have three days until my flight and I'm extremely excited, I miss my friends.  I decided to practice some flyer moves in my backyard that I'm snatching from YouTube. It's hard when you don't have bases and spotters. So I used blocks and practiced my flips for worst case scenarios. It was about three hours before my mother called me in the house.  "Lorell! Time for bed, go brush your teeth and hair!" I walked in behind her as she yells. I'm a freshman, I don't need a reminder to brush my teeth... "But what about Dad? I want to tell him the big news!" I smile, trying to play a game. She smiles and I felt for sure I won until she opened her mouth and spoke growling words.  "You can tell him in the morning, now go brush your teeth, and get off to bed please." I grunt and quickly spin around heading for the stairs.  *Knocking*  I turn around towards the door, my Mom throwing the towel in the sink, "Who the hell could be knocking at this time of night?" She says obviously irritated. She opens the door and to my surprise it's the police. I panic and hide on the sofa.  "Mrs. Peterson?"She places a hand on her hip with her eyebrow raised.  "Yes. what can I do for you officers?" The officers remove their hats from there heads and places them over there chest. I've seen to many movies to know what that means. I watched my Mom collapse, passing out, probably hit her head hard on the linoleum. But I couldn't hear anything, it was only the three of us, My Dad, my Mom and I. There was no doubt about it, My father has been killed. I saw them trying to lift my mother off the ground but she wasn't budging. At first I thought I was going to become an orphan all in one night, but I quickly saw red and white lights shining through the windows eventually running to my Mother and placing an oxygen mask over her face.  Two days later I was sitting in one of the chairs listening to peoples repeated words 'Sorry for your loss' why are they sorry? They didn't do anything, it was a drunk driver who killed my Father. He was only ten minutes away from home, I could feel tears wanting to break free but I kept them sealed, I don't know for how long. I was supposed to leave for camp today but my Mom talked with the coach who also happens to be her best friend and it's okay if I'm a few days late, it's only conditioning.I heard someone cough behind me, I don't want to hear the broken words, not to me. I ignored it, I didn't want to turn around. The person respected that and let me be, I'm curious on who it is but I just want to be alone.  "We grief on this day because the world has lost a great soul-" I scoff quietly to myself. If only they knew... My Dad was an amazing person not just a soul or spirit, but a breathing human.  There were a lot of people I never even met, they probably are what we call 'Funeral crashers' they're like wedding crasher but they're uninvited guest that show up at funerals instead. When the service is over I grab my Mom's hand.  "I don't want to be here anymore." I say coldly.  "well we can go ho-"  "No, I don't want to be here." She knew what I meant the second time, I didn't want to be here in Oregon anymore. I wanted to go to camp. Of course I felt guilty and selfish, but I was heart broken and wanted to have fun; I've never been someone to hang in sadness for too long. Without any further constellation my Mother handed me off to one of her good friends to take me back to my house and onto my flight that my Mother somehow forgot to cancel.  I get off the plane and take a taxi to my Cheer camp where I would be spending three months at, it will be a hole day before school starts- just enough time to sleep. Three Months Later Man, I have gained so much knowledge in flying, It should be a piece of cake when I get to school tomorrow for practice. I wait in anticipation to see my Mom when I suddenly remember how I left things... I haven't forgotten my Fathers death not for a single moment. But I'm sure it was hard for my mother to be in court watching the drunk driver lying on the stand. She sent me one letter and it was all about court. The drunk driver managed to get 180 days in jail and a single charge of DUI. No murder conviction or vehicular man slaughter, basically a slap on the wrist. He claimed to have mental problems that led him to drink and it was my Dad's fault for running a stoplight and failure to pull over for lights and sirens... absolutely ridiculous. It was a police pursuit while endangering everyone's lives including my fathers. I grabbed my luggage from overhead and walked off the plane, I was wearing a gray turtle neck with a jean jumper over it paired with black ankle boots. I waited for my luggage on the belt until I saw my white with pink roses hard shell suitcase. I grabbed it with my free hand as I walked down the stairs. I noticed my Mom, at least I thought it was until I saw her- rather the person- kissing a stranger who looked like a fu*king rabbit with giant those giant ears. I avoided looking over there by searching for my Mother, I couldn't see her anywhere. When I walked further away from the stairs and towards the door I heard her voice. I turned to see, there she was along with the fu*king rabbit. I crossed my arms and let my body rest by shifting most my weight to my right hip.  How could she kiss someone after her husband just died? After my Dad just died, her lover of 21 years, I find her locking lips with a stranger to me.  "You looked like you were about to walk out the door-" "I was. I was looking for you. Who is this?" She smiles nervously. She places her hand on his shoulder exposing the rock on her wedding finger.  "This is Dexter. My Fiance." My heart crawls into my throat making my blood boil. How could she?