The Resistance

Chapter One

“Baylee will be home soon, and I am tired of arguing with you.”

“Renee, just be honest with me, do you love me at all?” Patrick asked.

“No...” Renee answered.

I sank to my knees in the back of my parent's closet. I'm supposed to be at the park angry about Garritt going to Ireland. I don't care if he goes without me. I will miss him don't get me wrong but I doubt I will be missing much from this family outing.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, my parents never fight yet I just heard my mom say she didn't love my dad.

I watch as my mom walked out of her room with a trash bag from her bathroom. Dad sat at the end of their bed, placing his head in his hands. Dad's shoulders were moving up and down. I have never watched him cry until now. I can't help feeling so bad for him. How can someone marry and have kids with someone they don't love?

“My children mean everything to me, I can't lose them.” Patrick sobbed into his hands.

While he cried I crept out of the closet, I ran to the bedroom door leaping over a shoe like a hurdle on the school track. I could get used to being a leprechaun; I don't like seeing my family fall apart but I do enjoy being able to hide and sneak around the house easier.

Once outside the bedroom door I returned to my human size. I was about to go into my room when dad came rushing out of his room knocking me over in his haste to wherever he was going.

“Bay, hey, sorry let me help you up. I didn't even see you.” Patrick huffed as he pulled me up in one swift movement. Dad may look like a wimp but he is pretty strong.

“Gezz, Dad, where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Just thinking about going for a drive and I guess my brain just quit working. You know boys and their cars not much else working in the brain department!” Patrick laughed.

“Okay, well have fun,” I said as I walked into my room closing the door behind me. There is something really big going on with my parents, I'm just not sure what.

I wish Garritt was here he would know what to do about this. I haven't gotten to talk to Garritt since he left. Mom keeps to her room, dad is always going for a drive. Only time they are together they are fighting.

I walked over to my computer, moving the mouse to turn it on. Garritt was logged into msn, but it had 'away' next to his name. Maybe he was sleeping? I decided to send him a message anyways.

Hey punk, been missing you a lot over here. Don't let it go to your BIG head, I broke mom's lamp, sadly you were not there to blame so she knew exactly who did it. Sux here. See you soon I hope!

I looked at my clock, it must be mocking me, it read seven o'clock. Bobbie would be here soon to pick me up for our date. I started rushing around my room trying to find my clothes I had laid out, for some reason I found them in my closet and not on my bed where I put them. By the time I finished my shower and shoving my long hair into a messy pony tail the doorbell rang. I threw open my door running downstairs knocking over the lamp I had just lied to Garritt about, which figures. Rounding the staircase to the front door, I found mom talking to Bobbie in the doorway.

“I'm sorry Bobbie, but Baylee didn't clear this with us first. She knows the rules about dating. Maybe next weekend you two can go out. I'm about to take out the trash and get started on dinner if you would like to stay and join us,” Renee smiled.

Bobbie just shook his head and left. “Wonderful, so because you and I are having issues, you decide Baylee must be miserable too?”

Patrick was standing behind me in the doorway to our kitchen, Renee seemed just as startled to find him in the doorway as I was.

“Baylee will you excuse me and your father please.”

“No, Baylee can stay, let her finally hear the truth,” Patrick demanded.

“I'm tired of all the fighting! Just get a divorce or something. Just leave me out of it!” I screamed storming past my mom. Going out for a walk seemed like the best idea for right now.

This day can't get any worse right? I found myself beside a lake near our house. It was really peaceful here, listening to the frogs and gators sing. Laying on the grass I could swear I heard someone else out here, talking, but no one was there with me.

“Those humans are always throwing trash in my lake. They wouldn't like me throwing trash in their homes.” a voice said.

“They think they own everything,” another voice replied.

Looking around I couldn't see anyone, who in the world was talking?

“Hey Slime, check her out, wanna hear her scream?” the first voice asked.

I turned all the way around, still I couldn't see anyone.

“Is someone there?” I asked shaking.

“Yup I'm here,” said the voice.

Something fell into my lap, screaming I jumped into the air.

“What was that?” I demanded.

“You mean who was that?” snickered the voice.

“Okay who was that?” I asked.

“Wait you understood me?”

“Um yeah! Dude where are you, and who are you? What did you throw at me?” I demanded again.

“I'm Slime, and I jumped on you.”

“What do you mean jumped?”

“I'm a frog.”

“A frog?”

“Yeah, so how can you understand me?” the frog named Slime asked.

“Umm... Does leprechaun mean anything to you?” I asked.

“Na, not really.” laughed Slime.

Slime hopped over to me, poking his chest out, making a loud croaking sound.

“Wonderful, I'm now talking to frogs,” looking up into the sky I could swear the stars moved.

“Alright, I'm officially going crazy, time to head home.” it was getting really dark as I stood up dusting my clothes off.

“Have a good night Slime, I'm going home before anyone notices I'm still gone,” I sighed.

Walking the dark quiet streets was nice, no little kids screaming or crying. When I arrived back at home mom was loading luggage into her SUV.

“Mom, what's going on?” I asked as I ran up the drive.

“I'm not sure, something is happening in Ireland, I have to go.” Renee said, she gave me a quick kiss on my forehead then was gone.