“Really Elliot? Again?”

“Mom listen, I really need it.” This is probably the third time this week I have asked my dear old mother for money and I am starting to think she is getting sick of me asking for it. How could she say no to her only child though?

“You said that last time, oh and the time before that.”

“Don’t forget the time before that!” I dad butted in as he walked into the kitchen with my mother and I.

“Mind your own dad!” He laughed at me as if I told a joke but I was being completely serious, this was between my mom and I. His turn will come when I ask him again.

“Elliot, honey, you are seventeen years old. You do realize you could find yourself a part time job and have your own money right?” She did have a point but then would mean that I would have to work and that part doesn’t sound like the best thing for me.

“You see mom, that sounds amazing and almost convincing. But then you and I wouldn’t spend anymore time together.” My mother just looked at me with so much disbelief.

“This is spending time with me? Is that what you call this?” Yeah I guess that was sort of stupid but still, I just need her to give me this money so I can go to the movies with my friends. The more she stalls the less time I have to get ready and go with them.

“Okay mom. Let’s make a deal.”

“Alright this is about to be good.” My dad sat next to me at the table and had a huge smile on his face. Why is he like this? Why was I given him as a parent?

“What Elliot?” There is no way she is gonna be able to say no to me.

“You give me the money for today, and starting tomorrow I will start looking for a job. How about that?” My dad started laughing at me once again and my mom just closed her eyes and shook her head.

I don’t see what the big deal is I felt like that was a pretty amazing deal if you ask me.

“How about this one? I will give you the money you need today, but starting tomorrow you are going to work where we have chosen for you and you will not complain at all.” All I heard in that sentence was money and it was going to me.

“Okay yeah whatever! Thanks mom.” I grabbed the dollars out of her hand and went upstairs into my room.

In my defense I don’t really need a job, I am still in school and that should be my main priority trying to pass. Who am I kidding of course I am going to pass I just like using that excuse so my mom will leave me alone about the entire job thing.

None of my friends’ parents bother them about this so why should mine? Theirs just want them to have the best high school experience and mine want me to already grow old and be an entire adult.

Maybe if I was eighteen that would make more sense and I would put more thought into it but you know what, I am not. I just turned seventeen and I am in no hurry for everything I just want to take each day at a time.

‘Pick me up, my mom took the car so I can’t drive. Please?’ My best friend Shepley had texted me, him and I have been going to school together since like grade school if I am not mistaken.

‘Yeah I’ll be there in a few.’ I looked at myself in the mirror once more to make sure I looked presentable enough. And not to sound cocky but I do look good.

I had just recently got a hair cut so my hair was long on the top and short on the sides so of course I was feeling myself for sure.

Alright that was enough looking at myself I really needed to get going. I grabbed my keys off of my dresser and headed downstairs so that I could leave the house. I hollered at my parents that I was leaving so they didn’t wouldn’t be upset that I didn’t say anything.

Out of all of the things they get mad at me about that is one of the things that drives me insane. Like you all bought me a car for my birthday and they don’t expect me to just up and leave with it? If I didn’t answer the first time that might mean I am gone or something.

As I walked to my car I looked across the street and seen this kid sitting on his steps by himself. For as long as I can remember now they have lived in that house and this is only like the second time seeing him out of it.

He seemed liked a strange kid because I hardly ever seen him talk to anyone, him and I go to the same school he is a freshman and I think he talks to one person or something like that.

But whatever that was enough of staring at him I needed to get going before we were even more late.

——

“Can I please stay with you tonight Elliot?” Shep had asked me as I was driving us home from the movies. He has been acting strange all night like not really saying much and just out of it. He even had this pretty attractive girl come up to him and he just rejected her.

Shepley was not a bad looking guy, he was a bit shorter than me but he was built to say the least. His red hair was short and he had some dark eyes that all of the girls loved. Now he didn’t look as good as me with my blonde hair and green eyes but I won’t put him down too much.

“You know I don’t care Shep and you know my parents don’t mind it either. Is your folks cool with it?” He hesitated to answer as he looked in front of him. Something really was not right. “Shepley?” He jumped at the sound of his name being said once again.

“Yeah yeah they are cool with it man.”

“Is it your dad man?” He took a deep breath and leaned back in the seat.

“It isn’t like he has done anything wrong because he hasn’t. Just, him and my mom won’t stop arguing all the time. She doesn’t want to be with him and he loves her too much and then they bring me into it and it is just so overwhelming.” His parents have been doing this back and forth shit for years and they always brought him into it.

I should have known that this is the reason why he wanted to stay with me tonight, whenever they fight he never wants to be home.

That would explain why his mom took the car tonight as well.

“You know you awe always welcome at our house, we love having your red headed ass there.” I said as I put my head on his head to mess up all of his hair. He started laughing as he pushed away my hand and fix his har.

“Don’t hate on my hair just cause you now have the fuck boy haircut Ell.”

“Oh don’t you talk about my haircut, it looks good.” He scoffed at me and rolled his eyes. How dare he talk about my hair. “Do not bring that hate over here, I will drop you off at the corner right now and not think twice about it.” Shep turned his head at me with the look of disbelief. 

“So this is how we are now? I thought you loved me man.” I laughed at his words as I started to turn on my street. 

When I pulled up to my house that kid was still outside doing whatever it was that he was doing over there. 

“Hey isn’t that the guy that goes to school with us?” Shepley asked as he got out of my car. 

“Yeah it is.” I don’t know why it matters if it is him or not because neither one of us knows him at all. 

Like I said we both have only seen him at school a couple of times. 

“There is a rumor going around that he might be gay, you hear about that?” Even if he was I don’t see why it would matter. 

“What do you think about that?” I don’t know why I asked that, I didn’t mean to but it just came out. 

“That is his business Elliot, I don’t care what he is. Come on, I am ready to go lay down, after all that food I am in desperate need of some sleep.” When he says all that food he means an excessive amount of popcorn. 

We went straight to my room so that we could get ready for bed since we had school tomorrow but my mother thought it would be a great idea to start yelling for me to come downstairs. 

I groaned as loud as I could when I walked down the steps so my mom could hear my aggravation.

“Oh don’t give me that Elliot.” 

“Mom I am trying to get ready for bed. I have school—“

“You start work tomorrow, it is nothing hard and I think you can manage it.” This is not the conversation that I was wanting to have. I mean I wasn’t wanting to have one to begin with.

But I was definitely not wanting to have this one, I thought she would have forgotten about what we talked about earlier. 

“Please no.” I wanted to cry real bad.

“We had a deal. Anyways you are going to be babysitting one of the neighbors kid tomorrow.” I am going to be baby sitting a fetus? 

“I don’t do well with kids mom, I don’t know how to deal with them they make me want to hit them when they start crying.”

“Elliot!”

“What? I am only being honest! I am going to catch a charge being a baby sitter, do you really want that?” 

“Do you know how unbelievable you are?” She shook her head at me and rolled her eyes. “He isn’t a young kid Elliot, he is fourteen his parents just don’t want to leave him alone.” A fourteen year old that can’t stay at home by himself?

What does he just want to catch the house on fire or something? Cause if I am there we might both do that together. 

“Why mom? Why this? You couldn’t have picked anything else?”

“You wouldn’t do anything else. This is simple and you don’t have to go far. You got this. Now get to bed.” Hold up why is she treating me like a kid all of a sudden? 

“I’ll go to bed when I say mother.” She gave me the look of death that made me laugh as I began running up to my room to get out of her line of fire. 

When I got to my room Shepley was already in his spot on the floor asleep, he always goes to sleep so easily when he is here. 

I sat down on my bed and thought about this...job my mom decided to make me do. 

Could it be the kid from across the street? I mean he is a freshman so he has to be around that age my mom said.

Why it matters if it is him or not beats me. I guess I am just curious about who he is since we both have lived her for like ever. 

I wasn’t going to over think it though, I closed my eyes and let myself drift off to the sleep that was much needed.