"Well, then you're grounded," she replied in a harsh tone.
"Oh boo hoo," I muttered, hurrying out of the store, her yelling fading out of earshot.
Dad, standing outside with a dry chuckle, commented, "Oh wow, lots of fighting here today. I was hoping it wasn't you guys, but yeah, it was." he scratched his head.
"Wow, Dad, very funny," I said, rolling my eyes.
I like Dad. He's more chill and handles situations calmly, but sometimes I still sense some detachment since the incident. It's probably always been there, but when something abrupt and hard-hitting like this happens, you have no choice but to face it. It's like a motor: one moment it's running smoothly, and the next it blows up in your face.
"Everything okay, Trish?" he asked, glancing at the people who had gathered for the drama.
"Yeah, just a bunch of drama addicts who want something interesting for once in their boring lives!" I yelled loud enough for them to hear. The crowd quickly dispersed, murmuring uncomfortably.
"Woah, there, that was a little, intense, Trish. That's not like you. Is everything actually alright, son?" he looked at me, with concern in his eyes.
I sighed. "Not really, so I'm going to bounce," I replied, quite distracted by the background chattering.
"Trish, I know you're upset but that's not the right way to react, son." He nodded. "You shouldn't let your emotions get the best of you. Brain before heart, remember?" he nudged me in the arm.
"Well, uh, I-I gue-, I mean, it's the right thing to do, sure. I suppose so, but she keeps pissing me off like she blames me for everything and...I guess I'm over it."
"Trish, we're moving, it's the chance for a new life, and I know that even if you are eager to move, you still miss the memories of this house and...everything that has happened in these past few years...and I know that your mother also suffered a lot, so please, try to make some space for love." he looked down, a little flustered.
"yeah," I said bluntly.
"So, how about we go and help your mother?" he smiled, and I reluctantly agreed.
"Hey guys, look what I found," Dad said playfully, holding up a fish.
***
"A fish?" my mom asked, disbelief etched across her face.
"Maybe that's why something smelled fishy out here," he winked, and we both chuckled.
"Ain't that funny, dear?"
"It is funny, dear, but now we need to continue shopping. The moving vans come in a few hours," she remarked.
She looked at me, eyes wide. Ugh, Mom is just too demanding sometimes. She doesn't get me. Then again, who does?
"Alright then," Dad said, disappearing into the mall again.
"Robert, Robert, don't disappear on me again, robe—" Too late, he was gone.
"Did he just leave on us? Like a genie!" Kiara remarked.
"Nah ki, it's more of a uh, mosquito or bigfoot or something like that," I replied.
"Trish, honey, are you listening to me?" my mother raised her eyebrows.
"Hm," I said, distracted by my phone. She called my name again, to which I finally replied, "Uh...yeah, Mom, got it. Get essentials, and then we get a move on." I smiled.
She nodded slightly and sighed. "You could have done this in the beginning, instead of going around fighting and rumbling with me..."
"Well, it's not like I was planning to fight with you," I muttered to myself, but she didn't hear it.
"Teenagers these days. I don't get what they do with that phone all day long," she rambled as she left for the toiletries aisle, her words out of earshot.
"Gosh, she's such a boomer sometimes."
BZZZT, my cell rang. I wondered who it was, nobody really called me anymore, with my life ruined and stuff.
The flash on the screen read "Rachel". What does my ex want with me?