Troubled

TWENTY SEVEN

CORA PHILIPS

I didn't know where I was going, I just walked straight. Ahead into the road. Maybe where we came from, but the road was deserted. Maybe because the warning hasn't been cleared yet. I curse. The warning. I spaced about it before walking out.

When I told Xander to take the pepper, I was expecting him to take a shot, seeing that the guy he was looking up to took a shot, I didn't know he was going to take it.

Then Kyle who knew nothing lashed out, I don't even know why he lashed out. It was a game, he did tell Xander to take a dive into the water fully clothed, so why was mine different?

Anyway, who cared about him? I needed to find a cab or something home, or at least shelter.

The place was quiet, only the sounds of my footsteps filled the air. My phone rang inside my pocket. I assume it was mom before accepting the call.

"Hello mom?"

"Sorry not your mom. It's me Xander. Where are you? The warning hasn't been cleared." His voice sounded like he was worried.

I get angry at him, if he didn't eat the pepper I wouldn't be outside when it wasn't safe to do so.

"I will be fine Alexander, thanks for your concern." I say as I end the call.

I was furious. Nothing made me want to rip my own hair off as regret. I regret letting Kyle come, I regret going with them, I regret playing their stupid game. I regret everything.

I open my phone to try and find myself an Uber. My phone takes its sweet time to load while I wanted albeit not patiently. Maybe I do need a new phone. I walk further down the road until the house I came from disappeared from my view.

Finally it loads and Ubers are not even working. Just f*****g great. Just perfect. If I tornado wanted to hit me, I was almost sure I would survive that one, I housed tornadoes inside of me after all. So a measly tornado that didn't come out of me couldn't kill me, right?

I swallow before dialing mother.

She didn't pick up, so I dial dad instead. He picks on the first ring.

"Cora?" He sounded really surprised. I don't call him much. So I understand his surprise.

"Hey dad, is uhmm is mom there?" I don't know how to ask.

"Yeah, but she fell asleep half an hour ago."

"Okay. Can you pick me up?"

Dad pauses. I can sense he has questions but he was dad, he wouldn't ask me if I don't say anything about it.

"Sure honey, where are you?"

I look around, but find nothing to show my location.

"I'll send you my live location right now." I say before sending it.

"Okay sweetie, I'll be there as fast as I can. Be safe."

He hung up. I felt rotten. What kind of daughter was I? I was bringing him out of safety into danger, and the two of us would be stuck inside a vehicle till we got home. I was way worse than the tornado. If mother heard of what I did, I would be toast, but dad, dad wouldn't hear the end of it from her.

I find a filling station quickly and walk into it immediately. At least it was shelter.. ish.

After about fifteen minutes of standing there, a lone car rolls into the asphalt. I recognize the car, a white pick up truck. I wave at him and he lulled to stop.

"Hey daddy." I greet.

He smiles at me before revising.

"Hey sweetie, how was school today?"

"You know... Schooly?"

He chuckled a bit. I close my eyes as he drove. We sat in silence and I tried to keep my thoughts violence free. No traces of anger whatsoever. If I tried my best, I'm sure I won't hurt the man that risked his life even after the warning to come pick me up.

"The warning should clear soon. The tornadoes have started to calm down a bit." Dad informed me.

I turn to face him as he drove.

"Really? Was there one close to our house?"

"Yeah, but it was a tiny one. It vanished almost as soon as it started."

I nod.

I wished I was a tornado, just passing through people's lives and disappearing few seconds after. That way my life would not be so hard.

When Kyle said everyone in school hated me, I actually couldn't care less, but I had to leave. Because I knew the argument would get longer, louder until the disasters were triggered. I didn't want to sit there take the brunt of his unfounded anger and then be the reason a pencil was poking out of his eye.

So I left. The whole school hating me couldn't affect me, I wasn't Xander. My phone started to ring as soon as I thought of him.

I checked the caller ID and find it to be Xander. I put the phone on airplane mode instantly.

Dad gives me a side glance but said nothing. I was grateful. I didn't have the strength to explain anything to him.

"Cory was asking for you every two seconds."

At the mention of his name my insides turn to mush. I missed the little guy so much.

"Did he do his homework?"

"Not yet, he said he was waiting for you to help him. He said I wasn't right, his sister was." He shook his head playfully.

"Well he isn't wrong." I say referring to the one time he helped me to do my homework and I scored a zero.

He laughed. I missed it. Now we were so distant we didn't have any recent memories to reminisce.

"That was one time." He defended just as our house came into view.

"Yeah? And?" I tease.

"Okay, you win."

We go into the house together and I head straight to Cory's room. The joy I felt as soon he calls my name could make me fly.

"Little man."

I reach down to hug him.

"Where have you been? I ate spaghetti without you."

I chuckle, I didn't realize how hungry I was until he mentioned food.

"Okay, I'll go eat and come back here, that okay?"

He nods and I go back out, hoping to eat something before mom came out.

Unfortunately life wasn't always that easy. She was coming out her room. She looked at me in surprise.

"Tomorrow is Wednesday. You have to see Miss Suzie tomorrow."

Fuck.