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My eyes widen at the scene in front of me. What on earth is going on here? I leave for an hour, hoping the random party my mother had thrown died down by now, and this is what I walk into?

I felt beyond pissed when I got home from school to find my mother in an expensive maroon gown and perfect hair and makeup, drinking with her friends. Though it was no surprise to me, I'm used to coming home to these kinds of parties. She invites all her friends from the good old days to get high with her.

Every time I walk through my home, her friends never leave me alone.

Most of the time I get, 'Aw Marnie, you've grown into such a pretty young woman. Do you remember me?'

'I was good friends with your dad. Oh my, you have the same striking blue eyes, just gorgeous.'

Or my personal favourite...

'Let's have a drink with your mom.'

I hate it.

I hate coming home when my mom has her buddies over. Especially when she sends me out to get her more alcohol and cigarettes.

Instead of arguing with her like I usually do, I went to the local library for an hour or so. It does the trick to calm me down so when I come home, my mind is more clear.

There's no point trying to buy her alcohol because no one would sell me any. I've stuck to a routine where I stay at the library, then come home and tell my mother they couldn't sell me her favourite whiskey.

However, as soon as I stepped foot into my home, the strong smell of cigarettes and booze invaded my nostrils. I wanted to head to bed and lock my door, maybe watch Netflix and block out the noise from downstairs. Though, I had this strong need to make sure my mom was okay.

I guess when you lose one parent, you worry about losing the other.

I walked into the living room, stopping dead in my tracks when I saw my mother leaning forward and whispering into Reese's ear. My eyes travelled over his figure, noticing the expensive glass half full with amber liquid from my mom's favourite collection.

"Reese?" his eyes snap to mine and stretch wide open like he doesn't believe I'm standing here.

"Marnie..." he's completely lost for words, just like I am. We continue to stand and stare at each other and I notice how my mother's devious grin widens.

"He wanted to party like your good ol' mother. Can you blame him?" she cackles rather unattractively.

Reese glares at my mom for a beat and when his eyes find mine, I can see his expression holds a mixture of guilt and embarrassment.

"Reese, what are you doing here?" My body is shaking with nerves. I don't want him here, I don't want him to see this part of my life.

"Marnie, I need to speak to you." his voice is desperate and pleading. He looks pale, his eyes are worn and plagued.

No matter how hurt he sounds, I don't want a conversation right now -- especially around my mother and her friends.

Though, I do need closure. I have to hear what he has to say to me.

"Fine. Let's speak alone." I concede. My gaze locks on my mother, who watches me with dark, furious eyes.

She tsks under her breath and struts away from us. I shake my head when I see her put on a bright smile for her other friends.

"Marnie?" Reese's velvety voice calls for my attention.

"Come with me." I start walking. He follows me out of the crowded living room and up the wooden staircase towards my room.

My heart is in my mouth. I feel like I could throw up at any minute. What is he doing here?

I walk into my bedroom and head over to my small desk on the opposite side of the room in silence. He hasn't been here since we studied for our English assignment months ago. When I peer back at Reese a few feet away from me, he looks tense. His eyes hold pain and sorrow.

"What do you want Reese? Are you here to call me more names?" my lip trembles, I'm trying my best to keep it together right now despite the emotions boiling up on the surface.

Reese takes a small, unsteady step forward. "Marnie, you have no idea how sorry I am. I made a mistake, a terrible mistake. I thought..."

"What? What did you think?" I cut him off.

He flinches at my tone. Reese watches me with cautious eyes before he continues to speak in a soft voice. "Do you remember when I opened up to you at the beach on our first date? Everyone in my life has left me. My brother, my mom and my dad, he's never around. I'm insecure and I was heartless. When you walked into my life, I started having feelings for you. It freaked the hell out of me and when I saw you in the arms of another guy, I guess I just jumped to conclusions."

I'm breathing through my nose deeply, blinking rapidly, trying to piece together everything he's telling me.

"Why didn't you talk to me about this Reese? I would have understood and we could have talked. We wouldn't be in this mess now! You cheated on me, Reese! You hurt me in the worst possible way. How could you?" I'm shaking in anger. I want him to feel every bit of pain he put me through in the last week.

He takes a small step closer, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I wish I could turn back the clock and erase what happened. I was out of my mind, I wasn't thinking straight."

I understand how bad he feels after finding out the truth but he shouldn't have done what he did. We could have talked this through, he should have trusted me.

Another part of me worries he will never trust me and I can't trust him. Maybe this was an unhealthy relationship to begin with.

Maybe we shouldn't be in a relationship at all.

"It's too late Reese." my voice cracks.

His shoulders deflate, but his eyes still look determined. "Marnie, please... I... I can fix this. Please give me a chance to fix this."

I shake my head at him, biting my lip so hard I could taste blood. God, why is this so difficult? Why is he making this harder than it needs to be?

"I want you to leave me alone. It's over. We're done."

"Don't say that. Please, Marnie, please listen," his voice is shaking so hard and when I look up at his dark forest orbs, I swear I could see tears in them.

"No, Reese," I glance away from his handsome face, my heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

"Marnie!" he pleads, "I will do anything you ask--"

"No, get out of here please,"

Go, Reese, I can't survive this pain.

"Marnie if you could--"

"Leave!" I scream, tears streaming down my face at this point. "Get out! I don't want to see you anymore!"

He watches me for a moment longer, so many emotions swirling in those green orbs. He apologises once again and then he's gone.

I slump down my wall, breaking into painful sobs. It feels like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. I don't think I can endure this dreadful pain -- it's too much.

I don't know how long goes by before I hear the noise from downstairs die down. Everyone must have left and I'm still sitting on the cold floor, curled up in a ball.

My eyes are red-rimmed and my face is puffy from crying -- waiting for sleep to take over.

All of a sudden, I see the door fly open and my mother's dark eyes watching me. She stumbles inside my room on unsteady feet and snickers. "Poor little Marnie has her heart broken for the first time by a boy. I told you this would happen, sweetie." she smiles like she's proud of herself while her daughter is clearly in distress.

"Why did you invite him into our house? He's eighteen and you invited him to party with you! That's crazy mom!"

She takes a few steps forward, her lips turning into an angry snarl.

"I was trying to make you see what he's like! You should be thanking me for showing you his true colours. I told you he would ruin you, Marnie!"

I laugh dryly, "You're right. He was a disappointment... but so are you. You're just as bad as he is."

"How dare you! I gave you everything you've ever asked for you spoilt little bitch!"

More name-calling. It's quite normal for me these days.

I stare at the woman in front of me and finally ask her the question that's been playing on my mind for a long time. "You never told me about my brother, you lied to me. Why did you do it?"

"Do you know what it was like for Veronica to show up here with a child? Mason's perfect son. Your father was thrilled to have a son. A daughter and a son and he wanted you both to grow up together and play happy families. There was no way I was letting that happen. So I threatened to leave him unless he paid Veronica off, sending her and her bastard son far away."

My stomach twists uncomfortably, "W-what about after my father died? Did he leave Theo or Veronica any money?"

She purses her lips, "Your father's death was unexpected. His money was left to me, it's my money."

My jaw drops. Oh my God. "He's his son! How could you be so selfish?"

"Sometimes you have to be selfish in life sweetheart." she says while smirking.

I can't sit and listen to this insanity. I can't hear any more lies or secrets, it was making me go crazy.

"I'm leaving." I stand on my feet and step out of the room. I rush to the top of the stairs, thinking about what I'm going to do without any spare clothes. I'm sure Sky will let me stay over at hers tonight. Hopefully.

"Where are you going?" she sneers.

"Away from here."

"Get back here Marnie!" No, I can't look at her right now.

I hear my mother yelling behind me and I ignore her. She grips my shoulders harshly as I brush her hand off to climb down the stairs. I hear a loud couple of thuds and my eyes flash towards the blurry figure flying down the staircase.

My mother's thin body slumps at the bottom steps and my eyes widen in horror.

"Mom?" I cry.

I rush towards her, my heart hammering as I see her face and motionless frame. She looks unconscious though I think she may still be breathing.

Oh God. Oh God.

I grab my phone in my back pocket and ring for an ambulance. After that, I ring my Nanny Grace. As soon as she picks up I start wailing down the phone, not making any sense. My body is shaking in pure panic and fear.

Please be okay mom.

Please.

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