WANTING YOU

Astrid's POV "No! Dad! Don't leave! Don't leave us. You cannot do this to mom and I. Why aren't you fighting for us, why aren't you fighting for your own daughter! Why are you wrecking our family?! Dad! Come back!" I leaped out from my sleep with tears in my eyes. I clutched my chest which was beginning to feel like it was tightening as my alarm sounded on nightstand next to my bed. "Astrid, sweetie, are you up?" I heard my mom called from her bedroom at the end of the hall. "I'm up." "Then stop that 'thing', would you," she said, referring to the alarm. I stopped the alarm, picked myself up from the bed and proceeded into my bathroom where I looked at my low self-esteem reflection in the mirror. "Get it together, Astrid," I said to myself. Slowly and deeply, I breathe in and out before hopping into the shower. ~ "Breakfast is ready!" mom called from downstairs. "Almost done, mom!" I responded. I grabbed my hoodie and my glasses then dashed down the flight of stairs. "Well aren't you in a gleeful mood this morning," mom observed as I sat down to breakfast. "It's Friday." "Every teenagers' favorite day of the week." "Uh-huh." "Well, I have to leave for work now, sweetie. I have a meeting first thing this morning and I cannot be late. Have a great day at school and remember to set the alarm and lock the door, okay? I love you." "I love you too. Have a great day at work." "Thank you. Bye." She left the kitchen busy like a bee with her coffee and a slice of toast only. ~ I couldn't recall the day mom and I sat down to have a decent and proper breakfast. Ever since dad left, she had been too busy to even eat. All the responsibilities were now on her and only her. We never heard from dad and he no longer contributed anything towards us. I finished my cereal, set the alarm, locked the door and awaited my school bus on my waiting point. ~ Pacific Way High School was my living nightmare and I was a senior. As I walked through the halls to my locker, I accidentally stumbled into Annalise McQueen and her boyfriend, Trent Ambrose. Head cheerleader and Quarterback star to the football team, they were the most popular couple in the school. Annalise was also rated most beautiful girl. Her captivating ginger red hair was a treasure to her warm beige complexion. Her face didn't contain a single pimple but she enjoyed wearing fullglamour makeup. She was perfect in the way society and horny senior boys would describe someone's appearance, but in manner she would treat someone, Annalise was a beast. And her boyfriend was no better. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" she immediately snapped at me. "I'm.. so.. I'm sorry," I stuttered. "Sorry? How about I give you something to be sorry about?" she spat and made a threatening approach towards me but was stopped by several of her friends. "It was an accident.. I didn't mean.." "You're wearing the world's biggest glasses but yet for all you've managed to bump into my girlfriend and I. Watch where you're going next time," Trent ridiculed me. "I'm sorry," I spoke and quickly removed myself from the situation. "She's such a loser," I overheard them saying while they laughed as I scurried towards my locker. "Good morning," Keri Lee greeted. I sigh a relief. Keri was my best friend and we had been best of friends since our Freshman year at P-H-S. "Good morning," I greeted her back. "Are you okay, you look like you were chased by a pitbull," she asked. "Worse. I literally stumbled into Annalise and her stupid boyfriend." "Noo. Did she snap at you?" "Of course yes. But I'm not going to spend my morning reflecting on her and her mean ways. Let's head to class." "Great idea.Lets disappear from here." ~ First period went by in a blur. It was World History but I kept thinking about my childhood with my father. All the times he was there to pick me up when I fell, when he would leave work early on some evenings so he could take me to the park for ice-cream and all the times he would show up for my recitals and school plays. What happened to that? Mom and dad were in love. Sure, they had their fights and 'hiccups' like any other couple but they always got over their huddles. When dad left, mom cried herself to sleep every night for a week. Her eyes would be bloodshot red and swollen the following morning. Losing dad was tough. Mom wasn't able to move on and neither have I. ~ "How do you think you did on the pop quiz?" Keri asked as we took our trays over to a table for lunch in the cafeteria. "I think I did okay," I responded. "Just 'okay'? That's not the response I was hoping for." "I've been having a terrible morning, Keri." "Girl, you cannot let Annalise and her stupid boyfriend spoil your mood everyday like this. You have to forget about them and try your best to avoid them. They're slime balls," Keri advised. "It's not just them. I've been having those awful dreams about my father again," I opened. "Oh no. I'm so sorry. Have you told your mom?" "No. Goodness no. Mom would freak out if she hears about this again and she would only usher me right back into therapy with Dr. Lynch. I dislike talking about my feelings and having to feel vulnerable. I rather stay in my 'bubble' and just be myself," I explained. "That's understandable." We continued to eat in silence until Trent Ambrose approached our table with his tray that contained a special made beef burger and its condiments. He gingerly sat in the chair next to me then adjusted his position so that he was looking in my direction. Keri sat on the opposite side with her mouth hung open with awe. "I'm sorry but are you lost?" Keri asked him after several seconds. Trent eyed her dangerously then gave a smirk. "No. I'm aware of my location," he answered. "Then why are you sitting here?" Keri asked next. "Do you ever speak up?" Trent asked me now. "Leave her alone. She's not your friend," Keri said to him. "And by all means, I don't want her to be my friend. I'm just being nosey," he answered. "Why are you sitting at our table?" Keri asked. I remained silent for the entire encounter. "Waiting for my girlfriend and just thought I should drop by and say 'Hi' to this 'blind mouse' who literally ran into me this morning." "It was an accident. How many times do you want me to apologize for that?" I finally spoke and asked the obnoxious jerk sitting next to me. "I hate your glasses," Trent discriminated before he took a bite of his burger, then he eyed my tray and broke out into a laugh, "What the hell are you even eating?" he asked. "That's none of your business," Keri snapped at him. "It looks like something pulled out of a trashcan for a scavenger," he said and this made me eyed my tray too. It was a vegan meal. I was trying to eat healthier. Trent was such an A-Hole! "Can't you wait for your girlfriend somewhere else?" Keri told him. "No. I like this table and I'm curious about something," he brushed off Keri's indirect command. "What?" I asked. "Your sense of style. What is it with you and those big ugly glasses..and that oversized hoodie you wear every Friday?" he asked. His last insult stung and the tears welled up, threatened to leave its bay and take over my face. "That's enough. You need to get up and leave us alone!" Keri said with an increased of volume in her tone. She stood up from her chair with a threatening posture, palms flat on the table in front of Trent and eyes locked on him in rage. He looked over at me and I quickly turned away, afraid he'll see that he was yet again successful in making me cry. "Fine." Trent picked himself up, then picked up his tray and left the table. The tears rolled down as he walked away. Author's Note: Hi and thank you for selecting 'Wanting You' for your reading pleasure. I do hope you continue to support me throughout this novel and I hope you enjoy until the end.