The New Girl: Chapter 5

Chapter 5 (Andrew’s POV)

Erica and I finished tutoring around 4:45 and I had to run home to make sure I made practice on time. For the first time all year, I actually understood math homework. I really had a great tutor. It took me a few minutes to get focused on the math and not on Erica’s smile and eyes. I was glad I had to leave and get my textbook. It gave me the opportunity to calm down my nerves. When I got back, she was day-dreaming about something. I have a hunch it was about me. I get to practice just in time to start rehearsing. I hook up my bass, do some quick tuning and turn to Mike.
“Are you okay, dude?” Mike asked just looking at me.
“Yeah I’m fine. I just ran here from school. I’m a tad winded.”
“Oh, alright. Well us 3 think we’ve finalized the set list for Friday. Want to check it out?”
“Really?! Sweet! Let me see it!”
Mike handed me the set-list and I looked down on it. The fact that our first gig is on Friday made me nervous and excited at the same time. I was ready for this.
“Here Comes Trouble, No Win Situation, Sing for you, Heartache in the Suburbs, Two Rebels, Over You, Why Didn’t I, Down, Nobody has to Know, and See U in the Dark.”
“Yeah, those are it. Anymore you think we could add?” Jason asked after I had read them out loud.
“These are awesome. I really hope everyone likes them.”
“Me too,” Alex added. “I also heard that supposedly there are going to be some record producers there. The school called for us and they’re coming to hear our set.”
Mike and Jason had already heard this news so they were ready for it. I wasn’t. My jaw dropped and I started jumping up and down. I had my bass around my shoulders so I couldn’t jump too much, but a record producer?! What an opportunity. Now, I was ready to rehearse.
“Okay, let’s get this going. I’d love to get a contract!”
“You’re not the only one.” Mike said sarcastically.
We decided to play through our set list. It took us about an hour and then we finished for the night. I needed to get home and do some homework. When I finally got home, I headed to my bedroom. I get out my math homework to review it a little bit. Erica’s handwriting was all over my paper. She had beautiful penmanship. Nothing could stop a smile coming onto my face. I was planning on asking her to hang out after our show tomorrow. My cell phone goes off and I look down at caller ID to see who it is. ‘Mom’ was flashing on the screen.
“Hello.”
“Hello darling. How are you?” My mom never calls unless she needs something.
“Fine. What do you want Mom?” I didn’t want to deal with her. She was probably stuck in Detroit or something, high as all get out, and needed my money so she could buy more drugs. My mom had not been a part of my life since I was 11. My father had passed away because of prostate cancer and my mother went haywire when she lost him. She started sleeping around and getting into drugs. One of her drug dealers was moving to somewhere in the Mid-West and my mom followed. She left me with my grandmother. I have never fully healed since. I will never trust my mother again.
“Oh honey, just because I call doesn’t mean I want something.”
“I haven’t talked to you in 6 months, Mom. That usually means you want something. You know I won’t give you money, so don’t even try.”
“Andy,” only my mom and the guys can really get away with calling me Andy, “I don’t want money, I want to come home. Lawrence left me and I need to get sober. I’m coming back to NYC for rehab and to be back in your life.”
I couldn’t say anything. 2 surprises in one day. 1 wanted and 1 unwanted. This one was the unwanted one. I did not want my mom back in my life. She would ruin it somehow. I didn’t even know what to say to her and I must have been quiet for awhile, because she kept on making sure I was there.
“Sweetheart, are you there? Is the line dead?”
“No, Mom. I’m here. Well, have you talked to Grandma? Does she know you’re coming?”
“Yes. I talked to her this morning. She told me I needed to tell you not her.”
“Well I appreciate it Mom. But don’t think you can just walk back into my life. You abandoned me because Dad died. I had no mother for 7 yrs of my life. It’s not going to be easy, but I will try. When are you coming back into town.”
“Saturday.”
“I will see you Saturday.”
“Bye darling. Love you.”
“Bye, Mom.”
I could not believe this. My day went from a complete high to a complete low. My mom was coming home. This brought a lot of new complications into my life. I wasn’t ready for this and I sure as hell hope I can handle the next few days.