"Harley, what are you doing?" I look up to face my mother. "It's Friday." She looks at me strangely, "I'm well aware of the day Harley, I'm asking what you are doing." I sigh and sit on my bed folding one of my t-shirts,
"I'm packing a bag for the weekend, you know since I'm staying with a girl from school tonight." Mother looks at me and pouts, "But you said you'd help make dinner this weekend." I look up at her, "Why would you need my help making dinner?"
She sighs, "You can cook better than I can and your father and I have very important guests coming over." I shrug, "Just ask Rachelle to make it, anyways I have an assignment that Brooklynn and I are working on together."
Mother frowns at me, "But I want you to make dinner. Do you want this dinner to fail?" I can't help but roll my eyes, "Of course I don't, but I haven't gone out anywhere for a while and I really need to finish this assignment."
Mother frowns and crosses her arms like a stubborn toddler, "You like your friends more than me. Is that it?" She stops me when I try to talk, "You always have. You're always asking to go somewhere with someone and never help around here. Rachelle and I can't do everything on our own." I grit my teeth, Rachelle my step-sister does jack shit. Hell, I am the one who raised Colton and Lola. Hell, I still am.
I abruptly stand making my mother jump back, "What do you mean I do nothing?" I growl, "I do everything! I cook the dinners, I clean the house, I do the laundry, I pack Coles lunch, I take him to and from daycare, I work a part-time job because you and Lucca keep saying I'm scabbing off you even though you have a thousand dollars spending money every weekend, I help Lola with homework, take her to dance lessons, for god's sakes, I basically am raising them on my own and I still have to find time to do my own damn work."
I move closer to my stunned mum. "All I asked was to stay at my girl's house for the night to finish my bloody homework. In your senior year, you were at parties every weekend and banging everyone with a football jersey."
I continue to glare at my mother. "What's with the yelling?" Lucca grumbles walking through my doorway, I freeze up. Mother smirks at me before crocodile tears fall down her plastic injected face.
Lucca looks over at mother and his face softens, "Baby what's the matter?" Mother sniffles into his shoulder and the sight makes me want to throw up. "It was nothing, I mean what kind of attitude can you expect from a spoiled teenager anyways."
I gape at my mum. "I didn't have an attitude." I protest, father glares at me and strides in my direction. He grabs me by the wrist, "You disrespectful bitch!" He yells in my face. I bite my lip and close my eyes, preparing myself for what I know is about to come. Just breathe.
*****
I swerve into the daycare parking lot. "Have a good day Cole!" I call out as he makes his way toward the mat where all the other kids are already sitting, some of the kids turn in my direction, but Colton ignores them and waves.
Satisfied, I walk out of the daycare and make the 10-minute drive to my high school. Lola jumps out and waves goodbye. Once I'm on my own I lean my head against the steering wheel for a few seconds and take a few deep breaths. "It's ok, you're ok," I whisper trying to calm myself.
I lean over to grab my bag from the back but wince at the pain in my ribs, "You're ok." I whisper again as tears start to cloud my vision. With a sigh, I collect myself and hop out of the car with a smile on my face. But really, who am I kidding?
*****
"Are you sure you can't come?" Sarah, the girl asks again, I tighten my backpack straps "My mum has this special dinner she needs my help with." I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "Oh, so what are we going to do?" She asks.
I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile, "I'll finish it at home, you don't have to do anything." She smiles, "Really?" I nod, "Of course, it's the least I can do for bailing on you so late. I'll even write your name down as well." She laughs and trots off to her group of popular friends.
I open my locker and put my books inside only grabbing the ones that I need for my first few classes. I wince as I sit down in my seat, stupid Lucca. I hate him. I hate him so goddamn much.