Chapter 4

FOUR

The time with the comic book

The knock on the door is all too familiar.

I take a deep breath, ignoring the sound while continuing to pack my bag. The music blaring from my speakers is loud enough to pretend I don’t hear anything else. My gaze turns toward the clock to make a note of the time. If I’m late for my shift, my boss will kill me.

The creak of the door catches my attention despite the music, but I remain quiet while rolling my eyes with annoyance.

“Alex,” Dad voices in a less-than-pleasing tone. “I’d like to have a word with you.”

My back is still facing him because I know whatever he has to say is something I

don’t want to hear. His feet move toward my bookshelf, where he turns the knob to reduce the volume to practically nothing.

“I’m going to be late for work,” I inform him.

“This won’t take long,” he insists, purposely moving his position so I’m forced to see him. “We just received your report card, and I’m rather disappointed.”

I close my eyes, willing to disappear from his lectures on how I’m a screw-up. God forbid I don’t live up to his ideal role of the doctor’s son. What the fuck did he want from me? I’m fifteen. It’s not the end of the world.

“These are not acceptable grades to get into college, and furthermore, to study medicine.” Any minute now, he’ll start lecturing on how it takes discipline to become a doctor. “It takes discipline, Alex. I know you’re fifteen, but good habits are formed early. You’ve got a long road ahead of you, but the reward is greater than you can ever imagine.”

I glance at the time again. Now I’m going to be extra late with no real excuse besides my father being an asshole.

“I need to go, or I’ll lose my job.”

“About the job.” Dad clears his throat, then folds his arms, trying to show off his authority. “If working at the pizza place will affect your studies, then you need to consider cutting down your shifts.”

“Cutting down my shifts?” I repeat, raising my voice. “I only work two shifts because of school and sports. I need money.”

“Your education is more important than any frivolous purchase of yours.”

My hand grips around the strap of my backpack as I try to control my temper. He won’t give me money, expecting me to work hard for what I want. Yet, in the same breath, he wants me to quit my job to fulfill his dreams for me.

As I’m about to step out, Dad places his hand on my shoulder to stop me.

“This is not negotiable, Alex. Those grades better improve.”

I shove my body away from his hand, running down the hall and stairs. When I’m outside the house, I hop on my bike to peddle as fast as I can to work. The neon restaurant sign is just down the street and in my vision. It’s a weekend, and the lunch shift is usually quick if I focus on what I need to do. The streets are lined with cars, and the day is sunny, bringing everyone to town.

I’m only four minutes late to work, but it’s enough for my manager to yell at me and spend the next three hours treating me like shit. I fucking hate this job, busting my ass for a measly few dollars an hour plus tips if it’s a good day.

The shift drags on, and so does my mood. The minute I clock off, I don’t even say goodbye, packing my things and ignoring how I stink of grease. Finally, I’m ready to forget today’s existence and go crash in my room.

Then, my eyes shift toward the comic bookstore across the street. I grab my bike but decide to push it across the road rather than ride it.

I’m pulled to the display at the front of the store. Inside the window is the new Batman comic. I stare at it in awe, remembering how I saw the exact same one in Sacramento a few weeks ago, but I was with Dad, and he said under no circumstances was I to waste my money on a comic book.

He can fuck right off with his rules. My hands push on the glass as the door chime sounds upon me entering. Eagerly, I move to the counter and request to see the comic book.

“Sorry, dude. No one touches it,” the guy behind the counter, obnoxiously chewing gum, answers rudely.

“I’ve got money to buy it.”

He raises his brows. “Oh yeah, prove it?”

I pull my wallet out, then remove the bills. Every single cent I’ve saved over the last few months.

“Hmm, okay.”

He goes to the window and removes it carefully, then places it in front of me. The artwork and colors look to be in mint condition, and just because I can, I remove my cash from inside my wallet and place it on the counter.

“I’ll take it.”

The guy appears surprised, quickly taking my cash and storing it in the register. Next, he packages up the comic book in some special plastic, then slides it into a brown paper bag.

The comic book is nestled inside my jacket against my chest on the ride home. I’m riding incredibly slow in an effort not to damage anything. Thankfully, the sun is still out, so there’s no chance of rain.

As soon as I get home, it’s straight to the shower to wash off the grease. Of course, since it’s a Saturday, I’ve nothing planned besides chilling and catching up on my schoolwork to avoid my father’s wrath.

I throw on my gray sweats and favorite Laker’s tee, then head to the kitchen to grab something to eat before sitting down to read my comic book. Inside the kitchen, an empty plate sits on the counter with a note beside it in Mom’s handwriting:

Make sure you share these cookies.

Love Mom

All I see are crumbs on the white plate. With an annoyed huff, I storm into the living room to see Adriana sprawled on the couch watching some girly movie. Her hair is tied into a weird ponytail with colorful bows sticking out like a clown on crack.

“You’re so annoying,” I yell at her, even though she ignores me. “Mom said to share the cookies.”

“You snooze. You lose.”

“I was working, not sitting around looking like a circus freak.”

Adriana is quick to sit up, crossing her arms in defiance.

“Shut up, or I’ll tell Mom and Dad you were kissing that girl at the library when you were supposed to be studying.”

My eyes widen as my blood begins to boil.

“How do you know that?”

Her lips curve up into a fake smile. “I was listening to your phone call.”

I’m about to go over and strangle the little shit, but instead, I hear my parents’ voices in my head from the last time I threw a book at her. Frankly, she deserved it for snooping in my room.

Having the world’s most annoying little sister does nothing to relax me after my shift. I storm out of the room, stopping in our house’s foyer, then head outside to our old treehouse where hopefully Adriana won’t find me.

It’s been a long time since I’ve climbed up the chipped wooden steps, but something draws me toward the place I enjoyed so much as a kid. Careful to balance my comic book in one hand without damaging it, I manage to climb to the top but hear a sobbing sound. My eyes dart to the corner where a young girl has buried her head into her arms with her knees raised. Her worn-out jeans have dirt all over them, yet I’m drawn to the chocolate-colored hair that flows so long it almost touches the floor.

My feet step on the wooden floor, making a creaking sound that catches her attention. Suddenly, her big brown eyes widen at my presence.

“I’m… I’m Charlotte,” she stumbles, choking back her tears.

Unsure of what to do or say, I scratch the back of my neck. “You must be Adriana’s friend.”

She simply nods. There is a sadness about her. Not just the bloodshot eyes from the tears she’s shedding, but the way she appears defeated as if the weight of the world is on her shoulders.

I’m not sure why I sit next to her, considering she’s my sister’s friend and Adriana is a pain in the ass.

“Do you want to talk?”

Charlotte continues to sit quietly though she nervously pulls at the thread of her ripped jeans. “My parents had a big fight. They fight every day.” She drops her eyes with a quivering voice. “My mom says my dad is the biggest mistake of her life. Then she left.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure she doesn’t mean it.”

“It’s not the first time she’s left, but it’s been three days.” Charlotte turns to face me with wide eyes. “Do you think I should look for her?”

What did I know about adult problems? My parents are happily married and rarely fight. Surprisingly, Dad is super nice to Mom all the time. He even treats Adriana like a princess. I’m the one he likes to pick on. But this isn’t about me. Something about Charlotte’s sadness stirs something unknown inside me. Almost like I need to protect her.

“It will work out. Whatever is meant to be will be. This isn’t your fault, okay?”

Charlotte’s lips begin to tremble, and even when I try to ignore how sad this little girl is right now over what appears to be a selfish mother, I can’t seem to walk away and leave her alone.

I’m not sure why I pull my comic book out of the brown paper bag, but I do so to avoid any further conversations about her family.

She tilts her head while sniffing, then draws her brows upon noticing the comic book.

“I love Batman.” Charlotte smiles, though it’s soft and not eager like my sister when she’s vying for something of mine. “My dad took my sister and me to a convention in San Diego last year, and it was so much fun. I got to see the real Batmobile.”

“You’re lucky. I’ve always wanted to go. My dad would never take me to such a thing unless it was a bunch of doctors doing boring stuff.”

Charlotte purses her lips. “Maybe, if my parents are both here for Christmas, I can ask them for a comic book just like this. Dad has been working a lot too, but he says it’s because we need money. Maybe it’s a bad idea to ask then.”

My gaze is steady on the comic resting in my hands. Back at the store, the excitement of owning it and going against my dad was the reason for the impulse purchase.

But the longer I sit beside Charlotte, the more uncomfortable the tightness in my throat becomes. Then, I swallow the lump and know exactly what I need to do.

I extend my hand toward her. “Here, it’s yours.”

Charlotte’s head flinches back slightly. “Mine?”

“Yeah, I’ve got plenty more comics in my future. You take it home.”

Her small fingers reach out to take it from me, followed by eyes shining bright and her entire face lighting up with joy.

“Thank you, Alex,” she whispers.

Standing up, I wipe the dirt off my sweats with a grin. I’m unable to hold back from doing something to make her happy. “Anytime, kid.”