Excuse Me, I Quit! novel Chapter 14

Evan's P. O. V.

I ate my dinner distractedly. I kept thinking Annie wasn't eating properly, I don't know why.

"What's wrong honey? Is the steak not good?" My mom was concerned.

"No, it's great. What's for dessert?" I asked to divert her attention.

"Apple pie," she said.

Apple pie, that's Annie's favorite.

"Ca...can I save some for a friend?" I asked hesitantly.

Mom narrowed her eyes and looked at me. I don't blame her. I've never been considerate towards anyone. I mean I've never been a nice person so this request was out of character for me.

"Who is the friend? A girl?" she asked.

"Eh...just Annie from across the street. She is such a loser so I wanted to do something nice for her," I let out a nervous chuckle.

Her lips curled into a small smile. "Oh, I see. Annie is a sweetheart. Of course, you can take some for her. You owe her for that one time," she smirked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I was confused.

"When you were 6, you fell down on the sidewalk and scraped your knees. You were bawling your eyes. I was going to take you inside but the girl came out and tried to make you feel better. I thought it was cute so I didn't try to stop it. She must've been maybe 4 at the time," mom smiled. She looked like she was deep in thought. "Come to think of it, she was way too young to be walking outside by herself. I mean where the hell was her mother?"

"What happened? How did she make me feel better?" I asked impatiently.

"She sat on the ground next to you and kissed your knee. She even gave you her favorite key chain or something. It was a little fuzzy dog or something. I remember it clearly because it was so cute. Such a caring little girl," my mom smiled fondly at the memory.

I excused myself from the table and went back to my room. I rummaged through my desk drawer and eventually found what I was looking for. My dog key chain!

She gave this to me? How come I didn't remember anymore? I had a feeling I had to hold on to it, I just didn't know why.

Now I know. It was because it belonged to my Annie.

That's it, I made my decision. Time to go bother my little hamster.

Her house was one story so I could just go over there and knock on her window. I wrapped up some apple pie and headed there.

She was in her room sitting on the bed and brushing her hair. It was dripping wet. Doesn't this girl know how to dry her hair properly? I thought irritably.

I knocked on her window. She stood up abruptly. The hairbrush dropped on the floor as she was startled.

She strode over to the window and opened it.

"E...Evan?" she said and squinted her eyes.

"Yes, it's me. Step aside and let me in loser," I barked.

She looked confused but she stepped aside.

"What are you doing here?" she said with a trembling voice. Was she still scared of me?

"Open your mouth," I said.

"What took you so long?" her mom snarled.

"I'm sorry I was in the shower," Annie said meekly.

"I asked you to clean the house yesterday so why do I see the dust on my things, you good for nothing piece of shit?" her mom said with gritted teeth.

"I...I'm sorry mom, I didn't have time to do it yesterday," her hands were shaking uncontrollably.

"Didn't have time?" her mom's voice was so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. She reached out and grabbed her hair then shoved her to the ground. It took all of my might not to storm out of this closet and grab that lady's throat.

"Oh, you are too busy for chores now, huh? What are you busy with? Fucking neighborhood boys? Oh wait, that can't be. Who would fuck you with that disgusting face of yours?" her mother spit out those venomous words and left.

Annie didn't get up and sobbed on the floor. I got out of the closet and picked her up in my arms.

"Annie..." I whispered.

"Please leave," she said quietly.

"I don't want to," I said and hugged her tightly.

"Please Evan. I want to be alone," she said.

I sighed and tucked her in bed. "I'll leave now but you are coming over tomorrow, right?" I asked.

She nodded.

I left feeling angry. I won't let that bitch get away with this. She was hurting my little hamster.