Coach Carter

Fifteen

"Are you sure you're ready to let her back in?" Jen said as we ate dinner.

"I'm willing to give it a shot."

"I just don't wan-"

"Want me to get hurt. I know. I'm defiantly taking it slower this time. We've both changed, we need to learn to trust each other again." I finished my food and took our plates to the sink. "I just need to remind myself to communicate better."

"It takes time." Jen said.

"Yeah, I know." I sighed, sitting back down at the table. "I just don't want to mess this up."

"You're stronger than you were last year, you know your limits and I know you'll tell her if you aren't liking what's going on; when things are bugging you."

I nodded. "Can we invite her to dinner?"

"Of course."

"Oh, are you okay if I drive myself to therapy on Friday?"

"Oh, yeah. If you want to." She looked a little sad.

"You can drive if you want, but I'm gonna go in alone." She went to interrupt me but I stopped her. "I'm okay, I'm doing fine. You know Erica and I would have a talk with you if I wasn't. I'm good J, I promise."

She nodded, squeezing my hand. "You know I worry."

I rolled my eyes before walking into the living room and plopping down on the couch.

"Don't you have homework?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes mom. I was just going to start it." I reached into my bag and pulled out my books.

She sighed.

"What?" I asked, not looking up from the book I was 'reading'

"I'm sorry we never got around to the adoption process. I got so caught up in your mental health and making sure you were okay, and I never filled the papers out." I went to tell her it was okay but she kept going. "It's not that I don't want you, I just feel like we don't need a piece of paper to prove to anyone that you're my daughter." She started to tear up.

"You're the best. But I'm not calling you or Alexis mom." I chuckled.

"That's perfectly fine. But you know I love you and that's all that matters." She kissed the top of my head. "Is it going to bug you if I watch TV?"

I shook my head, actually paying attention to my homework. I had tons of math and I had to start a paper for Anna's class. I finished my math pretty quick, as I didn't really struggle in that subject. I pulled out a paper we got in Anna's class on topics for our papers.

1. What did you do over summer vacation?
2. What do you want to do after high school?
3. Tell me about someone or something that makes you happy and why.
4. What is your biggest regret?
5. Is there anything about your life you would change? Why would you change it?
6. Are you happy with where you are, in life,  in this exact moment?

I sighed, and read through the questions again. I didn't really know which ones to answer.

"Hey Jen?" I poked her with my pencil. "Can you help me pick a topic or two for a paper I have to write for Miss. Carter's class?"

"Yeah. Let me see." She took the paper and read it over. "What about 2 and 4?" She asked.

"I think I can work with those."

"So tell me, what do you want to do after high school? We've never really talked about how much money it would cost me?" She smirked.

"Haha. I honestly think I can pay for most of it myself. But, I want to try and bowl professionally. Just to give it a shot, see if I would even compare to everyone else." I see something in Jen's eyes. "What?"