Page 19 of Salace

I wish me and Dad got along better. It’d be nice to get some advice.

I run a hand down my face as I stop at the next light and sigh heavily.

Of course,heknows exactly how I’m feeling, sans the guilt.

Mom turns a blind eye; he keeps screwing around.

I chuckle ruefully.

Guess I’m more of a momma’s boy than I thought.

I just hate feeling so out of control of my life right now.

Eden didn’t use to be so bad, and if she did, I purposely ignored it. Having someone to call my own, and do that thing with my tongue that she raves about, has been kind of nice.

It was just…

I finally started to notice the angry girl that sat alone in the cafeteria. The one that never raised her hand to answer a question, took her tests quietly, always finished first, and somehow still managed to come in last.

Though I doubt having an alcoholic for a parent is easy. Not that I should judge; one of mine happens to be a whore, and that has to be worse.

Doesn’t it?

“Fuck,” I grumble, as the light turns green and I press down gently on the gas pedal.

There’s that guilty feeling again.

Only this time, it has nothing to do with prying myself away from the girl I’ve been dating. Instead, it has everything to do with assuming that I can relate to Aimee and that my life is just as bad, if not worse, than hers.

And that’s not friendship.

Comparing my situation to hers, even if only to myself, seems selfish.

I can’t be the kind of friend she needs—or anything else—unless I stop secretly pitying my own life, and start really listening to her about hers.

With my mind finally becoming clearer on all of the things Ishouldbe doing, I clear my throat and glance at the car that pulls up alongside of me.

You’ve got to be kidding,I think, as a small smile curves the corners of my lips.

I gently smack the palm of my hand against the horn, and wait.

The driver of the car leans across his passenger and arches an eyebrow at me. I shrink down in my seat a little bit since it wasn’t his attention I wanted.

Taking a deep breath, I repeat the motion, then allow the breath to escape slowly when she finally glances at me in annoyance.

I grin and wave.

Aimee locks her eyes on mine, then shakes her head, before forcing a tight smile onto her lips, and giving me a quick wave in return.

Then a car horn blares behind me and I realize that the light has been green for longer than I’ve noticed.

I roll my eyes and make a face at Aimee, then press down on the gas pedal, stealing one more curious look at the man driving their car before I do.

Aimee rests the top of her head against her window and goes back to her world of alcohol-addicted mothers and absent fathers.

I decide I know where I need to go right now.

To the ice cream shop to drown my sorrows in a large, chocolate shake.

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