The Mafia's Secret

Chapter 1

"It's important to remember. This isn't a joke. I saw a story about it on f*******:. And I know it happened to my college roommate's auntie's neighbor's niece." Mom says.

"It did? Are you sure that's even a real person?" I ask sarcastically.

"It is. I know it doesn't sound real, but it is." Mom nods.

"I'm not even on my period. How did we get on the topic of toxic shock syndrome?" I ask.

"I told you, I saw an article on Facebook."

"I regret showing you how to use Facebook." I laugh.

"Hey, I'm not that old. I could have figured it out by myself." Mom retorts.

She slows to a stop before the school, putting the car in park. Most 17, almost 18-year-old seniors in high school would be embarrassed by their Mom driving them to school every day. They'd choose to ride the bus or ride with a friend in a car. But not me. Car rides to school are one of the few times a day that Mom and I get to spend together. "OK, my shift at the diner ends at 5. You're doing tutoring today, right?" Mom asks.

"Yes. I have tutoring after school. If you need help at the dinner, please let me know. I'll pick up a shift tonight." I ask.

"No. I appreciate it, baby. But you work too much. I appreciate the help, but you're still just a kid. You should be out doing kid things." Mom sighs, fixing my hair.

"But it's almost the end of the month, and we haven't made rent yet." I remind her.

"Hey, that's my problem, not yours. You should go hang out with your boyfriend, remember him? He's been more than willing to work around your busy schedule, but when did you last hang out with him? I know you like him and he really likes you, maybe go out to the movies tonight, on me. Here I have-" she starts riffling through her purse.

"No, Mom." I shake my head.

"I have $20. Take it." Mom says, holding out a crumpled-up bill.

"No." I deny.

"Please. I know things haven't always been easy, and you are always the first to volunteer to help when needed. You were forced to grow up so fast when your father died. We had barely found out I was pregnant when he died, so you grew up too fast, having to pitch in to make rent every month. But you don't need to worry about that. You have finals and have worked hard to get straight A's. We have three more days before the end of the month to make rent, and we're so close to getting all the money. I should be able to do it, no problem. It would be best if you worried about finals, enjoying the holidays, your last semester of high school with your friends, and your birthday. You turn 18 in April and graduate in May; please promise me you will remember to enjoy your last fleeting moments of youth." Mom says.

"I enjoy my youth plenty. I enjoy tutoring people and spending time with you and at the diner. Mom, I promise you I love my life exactly how it is. I wouldn't change a thing. And I stop pitching in for rent; we'd be homeless by next month." I point out.

"No." Mom sighs. "I'd figure something out because I'm the adult here. Now go before you're late."

"OK, love you, Mom. See you tonight!" I grab my bag and hop out of the car.

"Love you too!" she calls after me as I close the door.

I walk into the school as the bell rings. At a distance, I see all my friends standing in a circle, talking. "Mom says that we're gone out of town the week of the 18th, so I'm missing Jenna's party." Sally sighs.

"Well, you're a party pooper anyway." Kyle teases.

"Hey, don't be mean to my bestie." I step in.

"There you are!" He smiles, putting his arm around my waist and kissing me.

"Mom was running late; she forgot where she put her keys," I explain.

"Ew, enough with the PDA," Sally cringes.

"It's not like we were making out. And you're way worse when you're dating someone.

"It's not my fault Miss Purity Ring isn't down for more than a little over-the-clothes action." Sally teases.

"Hey, I think she's perfect no matter what." Kyle rubs my back lightly.

"OK, I hate all of you," Jenna complains.

"Sorry, miss commitment issues is chronically single." I joke.

"Jenna, has it ever occurred to you that those problems are related," Sally asks.

"I'm a child of divorce. You can't blame me for being a little gun-shy regarding relationships." Jenna defends herself.

"OK, we'll give you that one." Kyle nods.

"Let's get to class before we're late." I remind everyone. We only have about five more minutes before the late bell rings."

"Oh, relax, a little teacher's pet. Not everyone can be a good two-shoes all the time." Sally teases.

It may not seem like it, but Sally and Jenna have been my best friends my whole life. More than best friends, they've been my sisters from another mister, my ride or dies, my family. We've been there for each other since kindergarten; we've made it through breakups, liking the same boy, family drama, failing classes, and parental divorces. My boyfriend Kyle always teases us, saying we share one personality.

I sit in the back of my biology class with Kyle beside me. "How was your night last night? Did you have to work late at the diner?" He asks.

"Not too bad. It was slow, so I got to go home at midnight." I explain.

"That's good!" he nods. "I don't know how you have time for it all. School, then tutoring, working at the diner, babysitting, or whatever side job you can pick up. You never leave anytime for fun." he mumbles.

"Untrue. I happen to enjoy all of that stuff." I remind him.

"Even tutoring?"

"Yes!" I laugh. "I like helping people. When they finally understand something they've been struggling with, that light enters their head. Knowing I helped them get that is a great feeling." I explain.

"You're going to be a great teacher one day." Kyle smiles, putting his arm on the back of my chair.

"You and I both know I'm not going to college." I remind him as the late bell rings. A few more people slide into class right as the teacher walks in.

"There are scholarships you could get," Kyle whispers in my ear as he opens his notebook and prepares for class. "You're going to be the salutatorian here; you've got all straight A's your whole life. There are scholarships you could get."

"They haven't decided which of us is winning valedictorian and who the runner-up stupid i***t salutatorian is. Which it's going to be you." I tease.

"We'll see about that, my little genius." Kyle bumps our shoulders together as the teacher starts the class.

"As you're all aware, finals start next week. You all know the drill. You've done this for three years. Finals are mandatory. Even if you have a 100% in the class, if you miss finals, that's an automatic failure." he reminds us. "Alright, you sleep-deprived Russians, I'm going to need verbal confirmation that you understand the language I'm speaking and the words I'm saying! Look alive!" he claps his hands to get our attention.

"Aye, Aye captain!" the class answers in unison.

"They're you are sailers! Good morning!" he smiles. He's a good teacher. He tries to make his class fun and engaging. He's not much older than us, and it's easy to tell that he's become a teacher because he loves it. He is always doing things because he thinks we will enjoy it.

School went by as usual; I ended the day by tutoring a few kids and then picking up my paycheck for the week. Nobody is getting rich from tutoring kids after school, but 10 dollars an hour per kid isn't bad, and I've never been rich anyway. I'm not trying to get rich; I'm trying to get by.

OK, I have $200 extra dollars. We needed $388 more for rent. I hope Mom was able to make some extra cash in tips today. With my 200, we need 188 in the next two days. Mom never called, but maybe I can start working at the dinner. They're always understaffed.

I walk out of the school and down the road. Soon enough, I'm standing in the diner's kitchen, tying my apron around my waist, ready to start working as Mom asks about my day at school.

Mom and I are the last to leave the diner, earning $203.58 from work. "I told you to hang out with your boyfriend and not come to work for once today." Mom sighs as she gets in the car.

"I know, Mom. But I'm glad I came; we officially made rent!" I cheer.

Mom laughs and starts the car, pulling out of the parking lot. "I'm the adult. It's my job to worry about making rent. Not yours."

"Mom, I've been pitching in with rent and bills since I was ten years old. If I didn't, we'd be homeless." I remind her.

"I know. And I appreciate all you do, but I want you to have fun, too." Mom says with a sad smile, stopping at a red light before turning to look at me.

"I do have fun. I don't need fancy clothes or a nice house. I like our apartment and the diner." I shrug.

"You're sure?" she eyes me suspiciously.

"I promise." I nod.

She looks at me with a smile. "I do have the best daughter in the world. I got so lucky with you."

"I know." I boast sarcastically as the traffic light turns green and Mom pulls into the road. Mom glances at me with a laugh as I notice a bright light behind her. What is that?

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

It's headlights! "Mom!" I scream as crunching metal deafens me, and the world goes black.

~~~

What happened?

I pry my eyes open and look around to see my hands in front of me, covered in a red liquid. Blood.

What?

I'm still in the passenger seat of the car. God, that ringing in my ear is annoying.

I turn to my left to see Mom slumped over the center console, unconscious, covered in blood.

"Mom? Mom!" I reach for her, but someone else hand reaches out, stopping me. My head jerks to the right to see someone leaning in the car through the shattered window.

"You're going to be OK. Just sit still. We are working on getting you out of here as fast as possible." the man explains.

"Mom," I whimper, only able to focus on the ringing in my ears and the feeling of my heart beating in my chest.

"I'm an EMT; you were in a car accident. We have a whole team out here working on getting you out. Your Mom's door is pinned underneath the semi-truck, so we need to get you out before we can get her out through this door." the man explains.

"Please help us." I cry and look at Mom, who isn't moving.

"We will; you need to sit still. You hit your head hard; you'll probably pass out again soon. But I promise it will be OK." he says. "What's your name?" he asks.

"M- my name? Annie." I stutter, struggling to focus.

"Annie, I'm Mat. I'm going to get you out of here. You have to trust me and work with me." he says.

"I-I-I don't feel good."

"I know. Stay with me, OK?" He says, but my eyes close on their own. "Focus on the sound of my voice. Stay with me-"