Chapter Five: Meeting Her

Jeremy pushed out of his apartment building as fast as he could. He hated exploding at him mom like that, but he felt as if it was uncontrollable, like his anger was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. And it did. He worked on trying to calm down by taking deep breaths but it wasn't doing the trick. He still felt as though he wanted to scream. He just wanted her to understand how he felt for once. Was that so hard? so wrong? He loved Malcolm like he was his son and he'd take a bullet for him any day. He would do whatever it took for his little brother. Why was it so hard for their mother to have the same commitment? That was something he'd never understand. 

He sighed loudly. His mind wandered to his grandmother and what she would say to him right now.

"Jeremy she's your mother." She would have said. 

"I know grandma." would be his reply.

"You have to respect her, love her. And she'll get better." His grandma would respond.

"But how? why? She doesn't even love me!" Jeremy would want to say but wouldn't. He'd just be silent and it was like she could read his mind. His grandma would give him a hug and repeat herself, "respect your mother and love her." 

And the conversation would have been finished. His grandmother didn't support Veronica's habit but she didn't argue and fight. She felt as though it would only push her daughter away more so instead she hoped and prayed for her daughter to get better. 

"Grandma I'm sorry. I lost my temper." He spoke softly into the air. He knew she wasn't here, but he hoped somehow she would hear him. It also helped ease some of the guilt he was feeling. 

He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. His thoughts took over and he didn't try to stop them. He felt deeply bothered by yelling at his mother. In the moment he felt justified, but what if his grandma was right? What if it just made her addiction worse, what if she actually died? He couldn't handle that. He was barely holding on as it is without his grandmother. He couldn't make it if he lost Veronica too. He could feel a lump forming in his throat and he swallowed it down. 

His walk to school had came to an end and he was entering the double doors before he knew it. He was glad he walked, it was obviously the longer route but it helped clear his mind. 

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Meanwhile, back at home Veronica had managed to put Malcolm back to sleep and take a shower. She decided she should eat something but was surprised to find an empty fridge. 

Shit. She swore. How long had it been this way? She thought. Did Jeremy even eat before leaving? She wondered. She was reminded about their argument and once again she found herself thinking that she was the worst mother in the world. 

She wiped out her cell phone and dialed her brother, Daniel's, number. His wife answered the phone and Veronica simply said "We're out of groceries." The other woman paused for a moment before she woke her husband. He mumbled an "Okay" as he began to get out of the bed. She replied that he was on the way and hung up. Veronica rolled her eyes at the phone screen as it noted the call had ended. The two weren't the nicest to each other for obvious reasons. Her addiction and the fact that she lost her job. However, they weren't aware that she had started using again. 

Daniel arrived about twenty minutes later. He asked to be buzzed in and Veronica went downstairs to meet him. She hated this arrangement. Their mother had died knowing Veronica was back to her old habits and hated knowing she was leaving her grandchildren in her care. The only thing that eased her mind was knowing they would be taken care of. And the only way she could be sure of that was placing Daniel over her will. He handled her funeral arrangements and the left over funds from her life insurance. He used it to help his sister financially, but never directly gave her anything. 

Together the siblings brought up the groceries and in return Veronica offered to make him breakfast. Daniel was reluctant to stay, but he agreed. 

"Veronica have you been looking for a job?" He asked. Veronica knew the topic was coming up. She would have preferred if he just came out and said he was tired of helping her. 

"Danny...of course." She replied trying not to get irritated. 

"Mom's money won't last forever and I have a household of my own to take care of." He said. 

 "I know that!" She said a little too loudly. She sighed. "Providing for your wife must be so hard." She said in a quieter tone. 

Daniel grew quiet. He wasn't one for fighting, much like their mother. 

"Veronica I just don't want to see you and the boys struggling." He said. 

"We'll be fine. I will get a job." She said and continued to chopped the vegetables for the omelet. Daniel knew that she wouldn't. As long as she had some type of crutch, she would never want to stand on her own two feet. He was torn between carrying out his mothers wishes and helping his family, and taking crap from his wife. She never believed his sister would change and wanted him to just take the boys away. Veronica was aware of this and hated her because of it. They couldn't have children of their own and Veronica never missed an opportunity to throw it in her face. 

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Upon entering the school, Jeremy was still somewhat distracted by his thoughts. He was on his way to his locker when he noticed someone kneeling in front of it at the last minute. He almost stumbled back when he tried to prevent tripping over her. 

Crap. He thought. 

"Sorry." He apologized. The girl looked slightly shaken up by their almost collision. 

"It's okay." She said in a soft spoken voice. "I was in the way." She said. Jeremy shook his head. 

"No I wasn't watching where I was going." He said. 

The girl stood and nervously avoided eye contact. 

"I'm Jeremy." He introduced himself.

"I'm Lauren." She replied shyly.

"Nice to meet you." He said. A small smile crept across her face.

"Uh you're new right?" He inquired. Lauren nodded. 

"Is it that obvious?" She asked. 

"Well kinda when you've seen the same faces for three years." He joked. She gave a small nervous laugh. 

"Are you having trouble with your locker?" He asked. He could note the frustration on her face when she was beginning to stand. 

"Yes. I'm not very good at opening them.." She answered. Jeremy offered to help her. 

She stepped to the side and called out her locker combination. He soon popped it open. She thanked him and pulled out her book bag. Because of her not knowing how to open it properly and no one being around to help yesterday, she had to leave it here overnight. Thankfully it was only the second day of school and the only homework they had were getting their syllabus's signed. 

"Thank you so much." She said with her book bag now back in her possession. 

"No problem." He replied. 

"Could you help me with one more problem?" She asked. 

"Sure." He answered. 

"I'm looking for Room 116, I believe it's my homeroom." She explained. He nodded his head. It was his homeroom as well. 

"It's straight ahead, you can follow me." He said. She placed her schedule back in her pocket and followed him to the classroom down the hall.