When Day Turns Into Night Chapter 18

Yay, I'm back now:) Warped was the most amazing thing on this earth. It kinda sucked that Paramore weren't there, but it was still awesome:) Anyways, here's an update, eventually. And... I won't be updating for another week, cause I'm going away again, sorry:( 

I glance at my Mom as she glares at me, her eyes glinting angrily in the light.

I bite my lip as I wait for the rant to begin. I wonder what it is this time.

'Joshua, the state of your bedroom is appalling! You have cables lying all over your floor and your bed is a mess,' she snarls.

She has a fair point, actually. Last night, I was going through all the cables for my various amps, trying to find one that fitted my Marshall one. I never make my bed, though. I don't really see where the necessity for a big rant came from. She's been pretty stressed recently- I must talk to Hayley about that to see if she knows what I should do.

'I hardly think your girlfriend would think very much of the state of your room,' she sneers. 

I bite my lip, and don't say anything. I know that if I respond, I'll say something that will either make her kick off or really hurt her, so I stay silent. 

'You're pathetic. Don't have a backbone, do you?' her lip curls.

I glance into her cold eyes. 'Mom,' I say softly. I see the pain in her eyes, behind the coldness. 'Mom, it's okay. It's going to be fine,' I'm not really sure what I'm saying. 

'Josh,' I can hear the pain in her voice. 'Haven't you go homework, or something to do?'

I nod, realising she needs space. I turn around, and leave the kitchen, making my way up the fluffy carpeted stairs. I push open my bedroom door, and glance at the mess. Mom's right- cables are strewn all over the floor, my bed covers are lying in messy piles on the floor. 

I roll my eyes, and decide I should probabky try to tidy it up a bit. I don't want to catch my Mom in a worse mood than she already is. I put on some Jimmy Eat World and begin the long task of making my room look slightly presentable. 

About half an hour later, I stand at the door and admire my work. My cables are all back in the cardboard box. My bed is neatly made up and my school books are all piled neatly next to my amps. In my hand, I clutch an over-flowing plastic bag of scrap paper. 

I wander downstairs, and dump the bag in the larder, next to all the plastics and cardboard. I go back upstairs and pick up my guitar. 

My phone buzzes. Will you come and meet me?

I place my guitar back against the wall. Coming. I go down the stairs, and find Nate in the kitchen. 'I'm going out.'

He nods. 'Okay.'

I pull on my shoes, and open the door. The wind ruffles my hoodie as I shut the door behind me. I glance upwards, hoping it won't rain. I run along the pavement, knowing she'll already be there, waiting for me. 

I reach the park and find her sitting below the oak tree, as always. I smile and flop down next to her. 'Hey.'

'Hey,' Hayley smiles. 'How's it going?'

I shrug. 'Okay. You?'

'Fine, yeah,' she nods. 

I remember it then. 'I meant to ask you, by the way. My Mom has been really stressed out recently, and I'm not really sure what to do...'

'What have you done so far?' she frowns, pulling her knees up to her chest. 

I sigh. 'She went really mad this afternoon when I got home, cause my room was really messy, but it's not been a problem before...'

Hayley raises her eyebrows slightly. 'I hope you tidied it.'

'Yeah,' I sigh. 'But first I told her it was okay, and that it was going to be fine. She looked a bit uoset, as though she needed some space, so I went and tidied my room.'

She nods. 'Well, if she doesn't normally confide in you, then the most you can do is be generally nice, and do what she says.'

'Thanks,' I smile. 'What did you want to talk about?'

Hayley shrugs. 'I just wanted to talk to you, I guess.'

'Really.'

She sighs. 'Well, Mom told me yesterday that she and Vince split up. She told me it was fine, and that she was glad to be rid of him, nut she's been acting weird with me since.'

'Just give it some time.' I suggest.

She nods. 'Yeah. It's just- it's like an elastic band or something. We leave Dad, and she makes sure she takes me with her, she's weird and distant, sometimes angry, with me. Then she becomes really close with me, and now she's pushing me away all over again,' her voice if full of pain.

I sigh. 'Well, the last advice I gave you didn't really work out all that well, but I think you should give her a little time to sort her head out, after what happened with Vince, and it should be okay.'

Hayley smiles weakly. 'Okay.'

'It'll be fine,' I tell her encouragingly.

She nods. 'I know.'

I smile.

She glances down at her hands, frowning. 'Josh, that whole thing with Jude yesterday morning- it was nothing, I swear. He honestly was just-'

'I know,' I cut her off, smiling. 'I know, Hayley. I was just a bit confused, that's all.'

Hayley smiles. 'Good. I was worried, cause it was really nothing...'

I roll my eyes. 'How many times do I have to tell you that I know?'

'I know, I was just checking,' she sighs.

'I do trust you, you know,' I smile.

She laughs. 'Okay, good.'

I glance down at my phone, checking the time. 'I should probably get going,' I sigh, biting my lip. 'I'll see you later, yeah?'

Hayley manages a smile. 'Yeah,' her reply is faint.

'Are you okay?' I frown.

She nods quickly. 'Yeah, fine,' she says, avoiding eye contact with me.

I smile again. 'Bye,' I say, as I turn to leave. I fell guilty leaving her there, but I don't want to get my Mom angry.

'Bye,' she calls softly.

I walk down the street, my trainers scuffing along the pavement. I sigh. I hope Nate told Mom that I went out. If not, I'll be dead. 

I reach our house, and with a deep breath, open the door, hoping Mom's in a goot mood.

'Hi, Josh,' Mom smiles.

I breathe a sigh of relief. 'Hey.'