Veiled Affections

Chapter 4

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright © 2024 Cassey9

She twisted the key and pushed the door open. Piper stepped into her home, the familiar scent of beer and despair permeating the air. It was a scent she had grown accustomed to, one that filled her nostrils every evening when she returned from school. Piper's heart sank as she spotted her mother, once again, passed out on the couch with an empty beer can slipping from her grasp.

"Oh mom," Piper sighed sadly and got to work.

Quietly, she moved closer, her steps careful and calculated, her steps one she'd memorized by heart. Piper knew the routine well. She'd done it countless times before. First, she switched off the blaring television, shrouding the dimly lit living room in silence. Then, she gently removed her mother's shoes, setting them aside with a tenderness that contrasted sharply the chaos that was their lives.

With a sigh, Piper began the delicate process of collecting the empty beer cans scattered around the couch. Each can proof of another night lost to her mother's addiction and despondency. Piper moved with practiced precision, avoiding any loud clinks that would awaken the slumbering figure on the couch.

The kitchen beckoned with its unkempt mess. Dirty plates and cups, more beer cans, and a half-eaten pizza box sat languishing on the small counter. Piper felt a mixture of frustration and resignation as she embarked on her daily cleanup duty. The sink, stained with remnants of meals, seemed like a reflection of her mother's neglected life.

Methodically, Piper washed the dishes, scrubbing away the traces of dirt and despair. The beer cans were gathered in a plastic bag, she would dispose of them later. Her hands immersed in the soapy water, Piper couldn't help but steal a glance back at her mother. Her mother lay sprawled awkwardly yet in deep sleep on the couch.

Piper's gaze lingered on her mother, and a profound sense of sadness washed over her like a gentle, melancholic wave. She missed the simpler times and wished for nothing more than her family to be made whole once more. But those notions, would remain to be mere wishes. For now, her mother was lost in the clutches of pain and addiction, unable to see the agony she was inflicting on her.

Once done in the kitchen, Piper gently retrieved a throw blanket and draped it over her mother's slumbering form.

With her heart heavy and her body weary, Piper continued on with her chores. The laundry, too, needed her attention. She gathered their clothes and set off to the small laundry room, sorted and set them in the washer. With everything finally in order, Piper's own hunger pangs reminded her that she hadn't eaten since lunch at school.

In solitude and silence, she warmed up two slices of leftover pizza. As she ate, a wave of loneliness washed over her, and she missed the days when things were easier and simpler, when her family was whole and her mother was still the person she had once known.

With her meal done, she jotted down a shopping listof items the house needed. Piper created two lists, one which she stuck to the fridge and the other one on the small kitchen counter. If her mother missed one, she would surely come across the other.

Piper ascended the stairs to her room. The shower offered her a brief respite from the burdens of the day. As the warm water cascaded over her, Piper felt a fleeting moment of peace.

Piper sighed at the sound of her phone's alarm. A reminder that she still had more to do before calling it a night. Piper emerged from the shower, fresh as daisy, dressed and headed to her desk to cover the remaining homework.

Finally, when exhaustion had caught up with her, Piper crawled into her bed. The world outside fading away as she closed her eyes, seeking solace in the realm of dreams.

~~~~~~~~

Irritation surged through Piper at the feel of a feet stepping on hers as she was suddenly and roughly backed against her closed locker.

"Watch where you're going," Piper snapped, pushing the perpetrator away.

"I'm sorry, Piper," a quivering voice stammered. Piper looked at the owner of the voice. The face was a familiar one, as she seemingly seemed to hang around Mitchell Wilder whenever she went to the library. Yet, she couldn't quite place a name to it.

"I don't need your apology."

Piper's anger flared, fueled by exhaustion. She glared at her shoes, noticing a faint brown imprint on her white vans. Before Piper could unleash her anger, she saw a familiar figure approaching.

Her heart skipped a beat as she shifted her attention back to the girl before. Even in a simple hoodie, jeans, and her hair tied up in a ponytail, Mitchell Wilder had a way of taking her breath away. Piper struggled to find words. "Go! Get away from me. Next time, I won't be this kind with..."

"Hey Liz, Piper, what's going on!" Kurt's voice interrupted.

Piper shot her a final glare, daring Liz to utter a word. Liz instead, scurried away. Mitch, concerned, approached Piper.

"What did you do to her?" Mitch asked.

"Nothing," Piper shrugged, turning to open her locker.

"Piper, come on, I thought we had a talk about..."

Piper abruptly turned, her swift movement silencing Mitch. "We talked? No, you talked, and I barely listened. If we're done here, I'm sure there's some other damsel down the hall in need of your help, Wilder," Piper murmured, managing to keep her tone down.

"Hey, Piper!"

Kurt's voice had Piper groaning in frustration. Her attempts to avoid Kurt seemed futile, thanks to his sister's interference.

"What's wrong?" Mitch worriedly asked at the sound of Piper's groan.

"Hey, Piper, morning," Kurt greeted pushing past Mitch to get to Piper. He leaned down aiming for her lips. Sensing his intentions, Piper slowly swiveled her head and Kurt's kiss landed on her cheek.

"I've been around, just busy," Piper replied, pushing her locker door shut. "I'll see you later, guys."

"Wait, could we go on another date, Piper?" Kurt asked, a hopeful grin on his face that seemed to enchant the other girls. But Piper couldn't help feeling empty, at the sight of it, no matter how hard she tried. In her mind, she only visualized hearing the question come from Mitchell. The thought of it making her heart flutter.

"Say yes, Piper. Say yes!" Their group of friends cheered, lending their support to Kurt's request.

The ringing of the bell saved her from having to respond, and Piper inwardly sighed in relief. The group reluctantly disbanded, each hurrying off to their first period.