Noelle's mom came, just like she said she would. And she was still beautiful but she didn't glow anymore-- if that makes sense. Her honeyed-brown eyes were dull and sunken in. Noelle didn't collect any of the stuff her mother asked her to. Maybe she could persuade her mother to get help or better yet, stay with her family. Noelle knew it was a fucking dumb idea. But, this was her mom she was trying to help, Not some random person she didn't know. And deep down, Noelle knew she would regret this but, she hoped she wouldn't.

Noelle closed the front door behind her mom, Noelle's mother kissed her cheek quickly. Noelle noticed how cold her hands were and blemishes on her once clear, smooth skin. She was also thinner than she remembered, she was practically swimming in her clothes.

"Oh Firefly, you've grown so much." Noelle's mother said as she stroked her cheek, "Do you have everything?" She asked expectantly. Noelle shook her head 'no.'

"...Momma, what's going on?" Noelle asked softly.

"Noelle, I don't have time for this." Noelle's mother snapped back, she began to speed-walk around the house quickly looking for the things she asked for--starting with the silverware. Noelle followed her mother to the kitchen, she was frantically rummaging in the drawer for the shiniest silver. A couple of forks and spoons clattered to the floor. Noelle hesitantly touched her mother's shoulder.

"Stop, mom..." She whispered but her mother continued, "Mom, stop!" Noelle raised her voice and tried to hold her hands. Noelle's mother tried to push Noelle's hands off from hers. Noelle was practically wrestling to get most of the silverware out of her hands. Noelle's mother's hand broke free from Noelle's grasp and swiftly backhanded her. The slap left a warm and stinging sensation and there was a small slice just below her eye. Her mom happened to be wearing a ring on her left hand--it was the engagement ring her father gave her. Noelle hissed and touched her warm bruised cheek. Her mother never hit her, ever. But, the woman she was watching frantically move about the house wasn't her mother anymore.

Noelle always imagined her reunion with her mom to be a little different. For one, her mother wouldn't be stealing from her or her family and her mother would ask about how her life has been. Maybe they would converse over coffee or a family dinner like they used to. Noelle would ask her for advice about boys and school. Maybe her mom wouldn't be strung out and frantic like now.

"Why are you doing this? Do you need money? Are you in trouble?" Noelle whispered.

"I'm just taking what's mine, Noe." Her mother said as she pocketed sterling silver rings and golden necklaces and porcelain.

"None of this belongs to you!" Noelle

Her mother froze in her place and turned to look at Noelle, "You think that Chinese bitch your father married runs shit here? I'm your fucking mother Noelle, don't forget that. You're my child! This is my house!" Noelle's mother yelled, "You do as I say, my name is on your birth certificate, not hers. Don't have that bitch twist the truth. I own half of this fucking house and I'm just reaping my benefits." Noelle's mother seethed venomously, "You think your father can replace me and have a poisonous bitch raise my daughter? He always thought he could do better, that's why I left..." Her mother seemed to be going off on some hateful tangent. And Noelle didn't know what to think of her anymore.

Her mother wasn't her mom anymore and it hurt beyond words could explain.

How bitter was this? Her father knew exactly what he was dealing with and knew Noelle didn't need to see her mother this way. He wanted her to keep the good memories of her mother without it being spoiled by the sour moments her mother had.

The deadbolt in the front door shifted, Noelle and her mother both snapped their attention to the front door. Margo opened the door and was surprised to see Noelle out of bed until she saw a random woman standing on the other side of the room. Noelle's father followed in shortly with Jason holding his hand through the door.

"Colleen?" His eyes were wide with shock. Lydia was right behind him too. Colleen eyes flickered from Noelle's dad to Lydia and eventually to her very pregnant abdomen. She scoffed.

"Oh great, she's fucking pregnant."

Noelle's dad rolled his eyes and sighed, "Why are you here, Colleen?"

"Ya'know to visit my Firefly and pick up a couple of things."

"What things?" He asked confused.

"I left a couple of--"

"Empty your pockets or I'm calling the police, Colleen." Noelle's mother was taken aback by him cutting her off like that.

"You think that bitch runs MY house? No, I'm taking what's mine." She huffed. "But you know what? Fine, I'll leave." Colleen said as she made her way to the front door. Noelle's dad grasped her arm.

"Empty your pockets, Colleen. Now."

"You think I'd steal from my own daughter?" Colleen asked innocently.

"You stole from me, didn't you?" Noelle's dad shot back. Colleen reluctantly emptied her pockets. Silverware, rings, necklaces, porcelain fell from her pockets. Lydia and Margo couldn't believe the amount of stuff she managed to take and hide in her pockets. "Get out of my house." Noelle's father said calmly.

Colleen briefly looked over to Noelle, "Remember what I told you, you're my child." She said as Lydia pushed her out of the door. Everyone was pretty speechless. Lydia led the boys upstairs and Noelle's father followed slowly.

Margo looked at Noelle with a frown screwed on her face, "Were you just going to let her steal from us?"

"I wasn't--"

"Yes the fuck you were!" Margo yelled desperately, "Jesus Noelle! I love you but you are one of the weakest girls I know! First you let that toxic, blonde-haired boy run a train on your emotions and now your own mother!" Margo ran a pale hand through her jet black hair. "You are one of the smartest girls I know but when it comes to shit like this, you don't know what's what. Stand up for your fucking self for Christ-sake." She sighed, "I'm not mad at the fact that she was stealing from us, I'm mad because you were going to let her." And with that, Margo marched upstairs leaving an emotionally exhausted Noelle downstairs alone.

***

Carson's team ended up winning the game like he promised. However, he wasn't in the mood to celebrate. Not only did he still have to talk with Daisy about her bun in the oven but, he had to reconcile with Noelle before she gets the wrong idea about him and Daisy. Driving home, he received a text from his parents saying they were waiting for him at home. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

He parked his truck in his front of his pristine house, careful to not park behind his dad--he remembered the last time he did that. He walked in to a brightly lit living room and kitchen. It's been months since he last turned on those lights. His mother was standing by the sink nursing a quickly forming black-eye.

He touched her shoulder, she flinched and turned around quickly. She quickly pecked her son on forehead and smiled warmly at him. "We saw your game today, sweetie. You were great out there and your little romantic thing for your girlfriend was--"

"--Dumb." His father interjected. He approached them with a glass of brown liquor. It was rare he was seen without it. "You shouldn't be hanging around people like her, she's bad news."

Carson sighed, he knew better than to argue with dad when he's had alcohol in his system. "Alright." He replied.

"I tellin' you, son, soon you'll be saying Black Lives Matter and looting with her. Drop her while you can. Whatever happened to Daisy, she was a sweet girl and a looker too." His father winked. Carson was tired of this and just tired in general.

"I'm gonna go upstairs." He said and slowly walked to his room. He opened his phone to text Noelle.

He saw that she opened his text but left him on read. Which was to be expected, but once he told her what was going on, she'd understand. Or at least he hoped.

He also noticed that he got a message on instagram from Daisy.

Y'all know what to do: Like and Comment

~~With Love, Armani