Page 20 of Wasted Oil

"Fine! Okay! Mel, you know I love you, and that I will do anything for you, but when I ask you this question I need you to be honest with me. Can you do that?” I swallow thick Xavier has never been this nervous to talk to me, never has he questioned my honesty. I can’t speak, fearful of what might come out of his mouth next so I settled for a nod.

"Alright then, I heard what dad was saying out there about you and the whole situation. I want to know how much of what he said is true.” Honesty Mel.

"All of it?” My voice is foreign to my own ears. I can lie and say that none of that is true but to say it to my little brother? To lie straight to his face when all I see is that fourteen year old trying to hold it together the day I left.

"Everything that he said is true. When I got there everything was good for a year, I just didn't think how hard it would be to find someone to make me a star. I had been comfortable and when I noticed that I was running low on rent money I started a job at a bar waitressing to make a little money on the side, that's where I met David. That's a story for another time. Shortly after, I got fired from the job and it was like a domino effect. I tried to come up with money for rent and even started another waitressing job at a hole in the wall diner but I was already too far behind and that truck out there was another reason I lost my money. The bug had broken down and I needed something reliable to get me to gigs. When I finally lost the apartment I had just come home from one of our gigs to find the door locked and a pink eviction notice on the door. Enter David, he found out and was quick to take me in and said that he needed a roommate and that all I needed to do was give a little something for rent without putting a specific number on it. And now, here I am. . . A loser, failure. A fucking fraud.”

Neither one of us said a word, what could I say? I told him the truth and nothing but the truth and I know what Xavier is thinking. He thinks I'm a loser as well, he has every right to.

"You’re not a loser Mel, just lost. You’ll find your way and when you do I will be there in the front row watching you succeed in your dream.” Blinking away the tears I throw my arms around him bringing him in for a much needed brother and sister hug.

“Alright gorda enough of this lovey dovey shit. I came up here to tell you that dinner is ready apúrate.” Giving him a shove we both stand and make our way downstairs ready for a dinner that will be to put it simply, Awkward.

“Are you serious Mav? He told you that! “You're getting older by the minute?” Alex is pacing around her room while reiterating the conversation between my father and I.

“After all that "I told you," that's the only thing that you remember? That he told me I’m getting old? Goose, I told you that he knew where I was this whole time and you are stuck on him calling me old?”

She flips around to face me.

"Yes I’m serious Mav! Being called old at our age is an insult!” I laugh as her hands flail in the air, putting emphasis on the words she speaks. She notices my laughing and crosses her hands over her chest popping her hip to the side, her eyebrow shooting up in a “Did I say something funny?” face.

"I'm sorry but honestly this whole thing is funny to me. I mean what was I expecting really? That he was going to be different? That when I got there he was going to sit me down and apologize for beating me?” My voice grows quiet.

“I knew that he wasn’t different but I was hoping that maybe. I don’t know Al, I just wish everything was different.” She stops her pacing and walks over to where I’m sitting and pulls me into a hug. I freeze again before hugging her back with the same need for comfort and the need to be understood. I let out a slight sniffle while pulling back from her. “I don’t know what to do anymore.” She clicks her tongue.

“Leave that to me! All I want you to do right now is go in there, put something on other than sweats and get ready for the best welcome home party of your life!” She pushes me off the bed throwing a pair of jeans my way hitting me in the face then shoving me into the bathroom. She's right, I need to drink and let the stress of my return wash away into the night as we dance and sing our asses off.

Not even forty-five minutes later a honk from outside grabs our attention.

"That must be Johnny. Let’s go, the night awaits us!” Why is she so happy and in a hurry to get us to Jansens? I ponder for a moment before remembering this is Alex we are talking about people think she is high half the time with how giddy she is, when in reality she is high but not on anything but life.

Walking out the door Johnny is there awaiting us.

"Well as I live and breathe. Melanie Alvarez ‘The Oil Princess’ back in town.” I never really liked Johnny, but for my best friend's sake I put on the most semi genuine smile I could muster up.

"How's it going Johnny?”

"I'm good, can't say the same for you though. I heard that you lost your apartment and have been working at a shitty diner.”

Is there a, I lost my apartment sign on my forehead? Did I update my status on facebook to homeless by accident? I cut my eyes towards Alex who has her hands up shaking her head in innocence.

"Don’t look over here, I haven’t told a soul.”

"She didn't need to, I read over her shoulder one day when y’all were texting each other.” Irritated already, I come back with my own.

“Yeah and I heard you're still living with mommy and both slumming it under your aunt and uncles house working as what are they called?” I snap my fingers “Right, a janitor at the high school. Still trying to relive those glory days huh, Johnny?” The way his face tenses tells me I hit him below the belt.

"Funny princess, if you'd stuck around or checked in on your old life you would know my mom got married and moved. Also I'm an assistant coach, not the janitor.”

I knew his mom got married cause I actually do keep in touch with my past life via my best friend but I like to fuck with Johnny.

"Is there really a difference between the two?" I ask sarcastically.

"Ladies please, you're both beautiful. Can we go now.” Alex steps in before it gets nasty.

"What babe? It’s all love, right, Mel?” I look over to Alex seeing her already stressed from our banter.

"He’s right, all love here.” I punch Johnny in the arm like we are best pals. She gives a smile and pecks Johnny on the cheek before slipping into the passenger seat and I into the back seat next to a pair of dirty socks and a smelly gym bag. Gross, how does Alex deal with him and this smell? As if she knows what I’m thinking already she turns in her seat looking directly at me.

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