+25 BONUS Homework I was thoroughly bushed after practice . Taking a week off without sleep was not good for cheer . Now I sat in my kitchen staring at the pile of paperwork that I needed to get done . I separated everything that needed to be turned in sooner in one pile and later in another . As I began working on some calculus homework , my doorbell rang and I jumped up . Feeling a horde of butterflies erupted in my stomach . When I opened the front door he gave me a tight smile and raised his eyebrows . " Hey . " " Hi . I'm set up in the kitchen . It has more surface area to set my work on . " I let him in and shut the front door . I led him into my kitchen and watched him set his book bag down on one of the empty stools and sit down on another . I sat down opposite him and chewed on my bottom lip . There was a weird energy between us and I wasn't quite sure how to address it . " I have this pile that needs to be turned in these next couple of days . The rest have due dates up to next week . " I pointed at each pile and he picked up the calculus paper I was working on . " The first few questions are wrong . You didn't multiply the correct number here . And he erased a couple of X's and he wrote the line . I stared at the math and felt myself deflate . I was good at math , but I was so tired . I took the paper from him and looked at what he pointed out to me . I fixed it and turned it back to him . He nodded and smiled . " Yeah , that looks right . " " I just hate this type of math . It's so complicated to me . I'm good with numbers but this is ... ugh ! " " Yeah . But after you learn it , it isn't so bad . What all did Danforth give you ? " I passed a while packet to him and watched him raise his eyebrows . " We didn't do half of this in class . Why does she hate you ? " " I dated her grandson and dumped him in the ninth grade . She has never gotten over it I guess . " " Pete ? " " Yeah . Like two weeks of jamming his tongue down my throat and I was done . " " Ew . Well , if you want we can go through the ones I've done already , and then we can see about the extras she gave you . " " Okay . " He took all of the papers they had done and it was a small pile compared to the giant packet she gave me . I rolled my eyes and groaned . Up the stairs , I heard my mom call for me and I winced . " I'll be back . " I looked at James and he nodded and continued to look through my paperwork . I ran up the stairs quickly and stopped dead at the stench coming from my mom's room . I stepped in slowly and sighed when I saw the giant puddle of vomit dead center of the bedroom and the front of my mom's pants 1/3 Homework +25 BONUS soaked with piss . " Mom , what the hell ? Why didn't you go to the bathroom ? " She mumbled something unintelligible and I closed my eyes . I walked around the vomit puddle and grabbed her under her arm and hauled her to the bathroom . I helped her out of her clothes and turned the shower on . Once inside , she slumped down to the small seating area and let the water run down her body . I watched her , anger starting to bubble up my chest . Why did I have to do this ? I stepped into the shower fully clothed and helped her wash . After I had her fully washed and dried I put some bed clothes on her and laid her in her bed . I was grateful she didn't piss in it , or else I'd have to change her sheets and all of that shit . I cleaned up the vomit as best as I could from the cream carpet , but it left a giant yellowish stain . It was only as I stepped out of my mom's bedroom and saw James standing at the top of the stairs that I remembered that he was there . I felt my cheeks burn and I closed her bedroom door . My clothes were still dripping from being in the shower with her and I didn't know how to explain it . " Let me change and I'll be right down . " He nodded slowly and began walking back down the stairs . I walked down the hall to my bedroom and clenched my fists . How could I have forgotten that he was here ? I changed out of my wet t - shirt and pants and pulled on a big t - shirt and a pair of pajama pants . I brushed my wet hair and left it down to dry and wiped the makeup off of my face . Downstairs I stood at the doorway to the kitchen feeling awkward . James looked up from my homework and stared at me blankly . I didn't know what to make of it . So I did the only thing I could think of . " I'm hungry . Do you want something ? We have pizza rolls , chicken nuggets , corn dogs , frozen waffles ? " He smiled and shrugged . " Whatever you want , I'll take it too. " I busied myself making us some pizza rolls in the air fryer and grabbed us a couple of sodas . " Is she okay ? " " Yeah . " " Are you ? " I felt my eyes tear up , but I didn't want to cry around him . It's all I seemed to do . I nodded and didn't say anything else . I pushed my hair behind my ears and sat down in front of him . " You can talk to me if you want . I won't say anything to anyone . " " It's normal . Or ... at least around here it is . Only my dad would take care of her . " I sighed and shrugged . " She's been an alcoholic all my life . I've never known her to be sober . " " I'm sorry to hear that . " " I don't need pity . " " I know . " " I've never had to do it myself . My dad usually ... It's embarrassing . " 2/3 Homework +25 BONUS " It's not your fault . " " I know . I'm ... it's not something I go about publicizing . Chloe's the only other person that knows how bad she is . ** " I won't tell anyone . I promise . " He placed a hand over mine and I nodded and smiled up at him . " Thanks . " " And ... I have a confession . " " You told Michael . I know . I heard you . " " You did ? " " Yeah . It's not a big deal . I'm okay with it . " " I'm sorry . He's my best friend and we tell each other everything . " " So did you end up telling him all of the gory details ? " " You heard that too ? " " Yes . So did you ? " " After you left , I did . " " I'm sorry about that by the way . I didn't mean to make you feel like I was using you . I like you and I'm okay if you just want to remain friends . Or not . " " F * ck , you were awake the entire time ? " I giggled and stood up to get the pizza rolls . " No. I went to sleep , but I heard that part . " What else did you hear ? " " That you're dressing in a couple costume with Pink Streak . " " Pink streak ? " " Yeah . Nose ring ? " " Lara ? " 11 I snapped and pointed at him . " Bingo ! That one . Do you need costume suggestions ? " I wiggled my eyebrows at him as I set his plate of pizza rolls in front of him . " I am not wearing a couple costume . "