Addiction

"ACE!!! Give it back to me!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

The green-eyed, freckled face, slim as a stick boy was running in front of me.

We both were passing through the forest taking the shortcut we always use while going home from our middle school.

Ace and I became friends during the last year's summer camp. He was two years older than me, and he saved me from the constant bullying I got from the senior students. I have been bullied all my life because of the ugly deposits of fat on my abdomen and even my face. But Ace never made me feel any less. He always stood by my side and was always there to help.

"If you want it, come get it, Amy!" He taunted, dangling my favorite One Direction keychain in his hand.

"I swear ACE, I will kill you if anything happens to the keychain!! Harry Styles threw it directly at me during the concert." I whined.

"Ohh you think that he was looking at you?? They were throwing it to everyone, you are just one of their admirers." Ace explained.

Hah! He doesn't know.

I folded my arms, "No, I am not!! Harry Styles is going to marry me one day. When I will grow up and will wear sexy clothes and makeup, he will come for me. And I will give him my first kiss."

"Oh really?" He kept the keychain in his pocket and started coming toward me.

"Yes!" I shouted taking back a few steps.

Ace came closer to me and caged me against the tree. Being a 13-year-old, the position was highly intimidating for me but I didn't show it to Ace. I acted as normally as possible.

"So... You will give your first kiss to Harry Styles?" He asked again.

"Yes! I told you that didn't I??" I replied with irritation.

"Ohh... I am sorry that he won't be able to take it." He stated.

I frowned. Why was he saying that??

"W..what? How do you know?"

Soft lips were instantly planted on mine and I sucked up my breath.

Ace was kissing me!!!

His tongue swiped along my lips sending a shiver down my spine. My heart rate started increasing and a funny feeling in my stomach started building up.

"Because I took it first." He whispered huskily leaving my lips.

My wide eyes searched his face for any explanation, but he turned around and started walking towards the house leaving me rooted to the ground.

I walked past the forest and then to my lane, all the way thinking about the kiss I just shared with Ace.

My first kiss.

He took my first kiss.

My mum's car was missing outside our two-story house, but my dad's car was there. Taking out my key to the house I inserted it and entered inside. The tv was turned on very loud and there were clothes scattered on the floor. My dad's shoes were tossed to the side of the couch and my mom's pink stilettoes...

Wait...

My mom doesn't have pink shoes, she hates pink!!!

My heart started pumping hard, I was not naive and the scene in front of me was making me nauseous. I climbed up the stairs and tiptoed to my parent's bedroom. No matter how loud the tv was I could still hear them. A woman was screaming my dad's name and I was sure it was not my mother.

Anger flared inside me and I banged on the locked door loudly. No one responded. I banged again but this time I heard my name from downstairs.

"Amelia?" My mother shouted.

Ohh shit.

I ran back downstairs, tears streaming down my eyes.

"Mom..." I hugged my mother tightly, sobbing hard.

"A..Amelia... What happened baby?" My mother soothed.

I looked at her. Fear must be evident in my eyes, I had to tell her, that she has the right to know.

"D..dad is upstairs...." I sobbed.

I saw the color drain from my mother's face. She gulped and briefly smiled at me.

"L..let's get something from the diner." She suggested.

What???

"Mom? Dad is upstairs with someone else and you are going to the diner?" I shouted in disbelief.

My mom looked at the floor ashamed.

That means... No!

"No! Tell me, mom, you didn't know this before?? Tell me you are not living with a cheater?" I wailed.

"I have to." My mother smiled sadly.

"What? Why? I don't understand mom!" I screamed.

"Listen Amelia. No one can give us a luxurious life as your father does. And... maybe he will realize his mistake someday." My mom mumbled.

I couldn't believe my ears. Is this lady for real?

"Mom are you crazy?? Your husband is fucking someone else in your own house and your bedroom and that's what you are saying?? Why don't you leave him?" My voice was getting louder with the passing time.

"Amelia! You can't speak to me like this. I don't want to struggle and have a difficult life. Your father is not leaving me, I can't leave all these luxuries and go live like the poor. Both you and I should ignore your father's private life and enjoy our own. I am not going anywhere and neither are you. Because no matter what I still love him and I still need him in my life. Now end of discussion!!!" My mother bellowed in anger.

What kind of a woman she is?

Unbelievable!!!

I ran to my bedroom and locked the door. The whole night I cried my heart out. Thinking about my cheating father, about my mother's decision. I was hurt because of what my father did to my mother, but I was astounded to see my mother's no reaction to it all.

No matter how much you love someone if they cheat on you it should be the end of the story.

Cheating is wrong!!

I sobbed into the pillow, I was feeling alone and I wanted to let it all out.

Ace's face flashed before my eyes and I decided that I will talk to him tomorrow. At least I have a friend whom I can count on.

My vision started to become blurry and I went into a deep slumber.

***********************************

Reaching the school the next day I searched for Ace. He was not thereby our meeting point in the morning and he wasn't even at school. Thinking he might be sick I decided to pay him a visit after school.

The instant the school ended I made my way to his house, the door was locked and nobody was inside.

I asked the neighbors but they knew nothing about Ace and his mother.

I visited the house every day for a whole month, but nobody was there ever.

Ace had left. He didn't even bother telling me, I felt hurt, and especially I felt cheated.

From that day onwards, I promised myself that I would never let a man cheat on me again.