Chapter 1
woke up to the sound of a baby's cry. I sighed, knowing that he was left alone again.
"What is wrong with these people?" I asked myself as I rushed out of my room.
My heart broke as I saw baby Ethan crying on the kitchen floor. The poor baby's face was red and puffy from all the crying. I knelt down to pick him up and gently patted his back to soothe him. Ethan soon stopped crying, his tiny hands gripping the back of my shirt.
"It's okay you're not alone anymore,"I said softly as I continued to pat his back.
I checked the time on my phone. It was 6:40 PM . Had I really slept for that long. The house was quiet now that Ethan had stopped crying. Where was everyone else?
I heard the front door open, laughter soon followed after. The deep and loud voice of a man made me shiver in fear. Who was in the house? The last time I checked this was just a girls house.
I breathed out in relief when I saw my mom in the living room. The relief quickly turned into fear when a tall and overly muscular guy walked in and hugged my mom from behind. I frowned when he began to touch her inappropriately. His hands were moving all over her body. All my mom could do was giggle and kiss him in a sloppy manner. This made me realize that she was drunk.
"Is this your daughter Darlene?" The man eyed me intently. He smiled at widely,revealing his very yellow teeth."You didn't tell me she was a pretty one," he winked at me, making my skin crawl.
Mom looked at me with disinterest before looking back at the man. "The other one I have is a lot prettier,"she said while attempting to drag him away.
"Mom where's Macy?" I asked quickly. Before I went to sleep, Macy and mum were taking care of Ethan. I needed to know if he was given something to eat or not. Knowing both of them I doubt if they feed the poor baby without me being there to remind them.
"Do I look like your sister's keeper?"Darlene glared at me.
"Ethan was left all alone. I woke up to him crying," I answered, feeling irritated.
"The boy is fine besides he wasn't alone if you were in the house," she rolled her eyes at me. My mother then proceeded to make out with her man in front of me.
"Something could have happened to -"
"Are you trying to imply that I'm irresponsible?" She asked, glaring at me. "I've taken care of you and your sister for years and you both turned out just fine!" Darlene breathed heavily.
The muscular man hugged my mother lovingly and placed her head on his inky chest. "You better respect your mother young lady,"he snarled at me.
I glared at the man before walking away from them. Ethan began to cry again,making me feel stressed. I didn't know if he was hungry or tired. I tried to rock him to sleep but it didn't help. He just cried louder. I then decided to make him some food. If his not tired that means he's hungry.
I opened the fridge and stared at it in shock. Where was all the food I bought yesterday? Why was it empty so soon?
"Mom!" I shouted in frustration. What was Ethan going to eat now? I didn't have money on me right now.
"Leave me the fuck alone!"she shouted back.
I decided to call Macy but she didn't pick up. These people were going to kill me with stress. What was I going to do now? I just got paid yesterday and spent all the money on food for the house and new clothes for Ethan.
*************
I took a deep breath before knocking at my friend's house. I was thankful that she lived across the street from me. It was embarrassing that I have to ask for food from her house. What would her parents think of this? I hope they weren't around. Her parents hated my mom because of her reckless lifestyle.
I smiled tightly when Abigail's mum opened the door. She was smiling until she saw me.
"Can I help you?"she asked, looking at me intently. Her arms were now crossed. The serious expression on her face was intimidating.
"Hi, Mrs stone," I smiled nervously at her. She only nodded at my greeting.
"This is embarrassing to ask of you.......,"I paused, feeling the anxiety consume me. Why did I have to be in this situation? Do this for Ethan. "Do you have any leftovers I can have?" I asked quickly.
Mrs stone's eyes widened a little and then nodded in response. "Didn't think Darlene was that bad of a mother,"she shook her head in disappointment.
Before I could say anything I heard footsteps coming towards us. "Mom dad wants to know we're his socks are,"I heard the voice of my best friend." He wants the ones with the rainbow cows on them."
Abigail smiled widely at me as soon as she reached the door. " I haven't seen you in a long time. Thought you forgot about me," she frowned slightly.
"I've just been really busy. Sorry,"I sigh. Ever since Ethan was born I haven't had time for a lot of things. I was mostly stuck between working and taking care of him.
"You're never to busy to hangout with Ivy,"she scoffed. She looked at me with hurt in her eyes. She waited for me to respond but I didn't know what to tell her without putting her in danger.
Mrs stone cleared her throat, getting both our attention. "I'll go get some of the leftovers,"she looked at me with disapproval before walking away.
"Ivy doesn't give me much of a choice,"I sighed. I wasn't allowed to leave her or else something would happen to me and the people I care about. I was her friend for life, that's what she would always tell me whenever I tried to escape.
"Sometimes I think you don't want to be friends anymore. Whenever we try to hangout ivy always pulls you away. It's always been like that even in highschool," she scoffed, looking at me with contempt.
"Ivy really needs me," I say quietly, looking down at the ground.
"And I don't?"Abigail fumed.
My phone rang in my back pocket. I took it out and my chest felt heavy with worry immediately I saw who was calling.
"It's Ivy, isn't it?" Abigail asked bitterly .
I nodded my head in response. She just mumbled something under her breath and then walked away,leaving me alone.
Mrs stone came back a minute later with a few lunch boxes filled with food. "Return the lunch boxes tomorrow,"she said and then shut the door in my face.
My phone was still ringing in my pocket. I didn't answer it until I reached home and warm ed some food for Ethan to eat.
"Hey, I couldn't -"
"My driver is coming to pick you up in five minutes. Be ready,"ivy said sounding panicky. She then ended the call immediately.
I was filled with worry after the call. It was unusual for Ivy to sound scared. I hope nothing too bad happened. Whatever happens to her good or bad affects me twice as much.
I frowned as I fed Ethan. The poor baby was really hungry. He ate with quickly with a lot of determination. I made funny faces at him as I fed him, making him giggle with laughter.
"I swear your mom doesn't love you as much as I do,"I kissed his forehead. This made him throw his food at me.
Ethan giggled at me as I cleaned my face up. " This is what I get for showing you love," I shake my head at him, a smile on my face.
I heard the front door open and went to see who it was. Macy walked in looking tired in her nurse uniform. I didn't know she had work today. Macy told me today was her day off.
"You could have told me you were working today," I said as I watched her drag herself to the living room.
"You would have made a big deal about taking care of Ethan if I did,"she groaned when she took off her shoes.
"You need to hire a babysitter. I won't always be around to take care of Ethan," I would be going to university in ten days. Ivy made sure that her and I would be living in the university's hostels.
"I can't afford one right now,"she groaned. "You're the only one who can help me Alyssa."
"What do you want me to do?Give up on university?"
Macy looked at me with a hopeful expression on her face. I looked at her in shook, wondering if she was serious.
"I'm not going to do that ," I looked at her in disbelief.
"I thought you loved Ethan,"she said, looking angry at my answer.
Before I could respond to her a car was honking continuously outside our house. That's probably ivy's driver. He was never the patient type.
"I have to go. I fed Ethan already, make sure he sleeps on time,"I said while walking away from her.
I could hear Macy shouting as I entered the Mercedes. Poor Ethan started to cry because of the noise. I sighed as the car drove away from my house, wondering what ivy has in store for me.
