Chapter One: A Brand New Day
I peeled my eyes open and was blinded by sunlight pouring in through every window. The movie I was watching was still playing and my air mattress had deflated beneath me. I groaned as I sat up, weird. I had never experienced back pain after sleeping on an air mattress. Oh my God, I'm getting old.0
I looked around the room and I recollected last night's events. Late last night, my mom, my sister, my brother, and I had finally made it to Scarlett's house in the South. Scarlett was a friend of a friend of my mom's and she had decided to let us move in. But, Scarlett and her family had gone on a road trip, so her brother Tony had let us in. My mom knew the Montana family from her other friend, Monty, but we had never met them before.
The world was changing before us. Before we got to the house last night, we'd moved to seven different states after our grandmother died. Since she did, my mom decided that she had nothing holding her back anymore and wanted to move far away from the baggage. With every place came a flaw.
First, our mom met a toxic guy and she wanted to leave him behind. Second, the house had burned down due to the neighbors cooking late at night. Third, the neighbors were loud and rude. Fourth, mom just couldn't continue paying the bills there. The last two were hotels. Sixth, Monty's trailer.
There, his wife's son was like the spawn of satan! He never shut up about anything, he was twelve and in the second grade, he always played video games, he got anything he wanted, we got into multiple altercations over a hundred different things. It was hell, to put it kindly. Oh my God, it was terrible.
Then Monty had suggested that we move in with Scarlett. After a month, we'd finally gotten the green light and made our way there. I hope that this is the place for us. I hope that this is finally the last place we have to migrate to for a while.
Last night, we came in and made ourselves at home, as Jones said to. My mom and siblings took the room across from Scarlett's and I claimed the lounge area. I got comfortable and popped in a movie, Underworld, to be specific. Soon, I drifted off, and here we are.
I sighed as I stalked out of the bathroom, holding my clothes.
"Hey, nice shower?" A woman asked.
She was short and skinny and had red hair tied up in a bun with green eyes. She was sporting a cheetah print tank top with black leggings and electric blue sandals.
"Yes. Oh my God, it was amazing."
"Good, we love having our company feel comfortable."
Hopefully, we're guests for a while, maybe long-term. I just can't deal with moving one last time this decade.
"Well, I guess this is the part where we exchange names?" She laughed and gave me a big hug.
"Yeah, I suppose it is. I'm Scarlett." She said, holding out her hand.
"Levi." I grabbed her hand and shook it.
I retreated to my room and shoved my clothes in my hamper that was in the laundry room. See, the way the room works is, when you first walk in, you will be in the lounge, my room. Then there are two doors, one leads the living room and the other leads to the laundry room. In the laundry room, there are two more doors. One leads to the kitchen and the other leads the outside.
"Huh, never seen you before." I jumped as I heard a voice from behind me.
"Jesus Christ!" I yelled, holding my chest.
Sitting on the brown leather couch was a guy that looked about my age wearing a Metallica tee-shirt with light blue ripped skinny jeans and black Chuck Taylors. He also had a gray beanie on his head, black hair sticking out.
"Nope, sorry to disappoint." He joked.
I laughed mockingly as I repeated what I said under my breath, "Jesus Christ."
"Who are you?" He asked, picking up the Underworld DVD case and examining it.
Oh, honey. Whoever knows me knows, do not touch my stuff. If you do, I just might chop your hands off.
"Levi, my family moved in last night." I hissed as I snatched it back.
"Woah, why so hostile?"
"Because."
"That's not an answer."
"Well, it is for me. Plus, I don't need to spill my guts on my personal life."
As soon as he opened his mouth my phone rang. I held up my finger and slipped my phone out of my pocket. I turned around and looked at my phone.
No Caller ID.
Thinking my Aunt must be calling, I answered the phone.
"Hello?" I chirped.
"Hey, son, nice to finally hear your voice."
"Dad?"
"Who else?" He chuckled.
"Why are you calling me? You're not allowed to have any type of contact with me, my mom, or my brother and sister."
"I'm aware, but I just couldn't stop thinking about you baby."
"Try," I responded before hanging up.
My chest got tight and my breathing heavy. The guy got up off the couch and walked over.
"Hey, you okay?" He asked as he snaked his arm around my waist.
I pointed over to the table that was against the wall across from the couch where my inhaler was. He looked over and ran over to grab it. He passed it to me and I shook It, soon pressing the canister two times and breathing in slowly.
Wow, guess he did take my breath away.
"Better?" He asked, grabbing my hands.
"Yeah."
"What was that?"
"Asthma attack."
He nodded and soon walked away, into the living room. That's weird, when he left the feeling of vulnerability washed over me and stayed there. Why? When he left the room, I felt colder.
That only happened once. Could it be? No. I couldn't be. But was I? No, what am I thinking? Of course not. But could I be? Was I?
