jenny~ tess, please
tess~ im busy
jenny~ you don't even know when im going!
tess~ im that busy, jen
jenny~ tess! pleaseeeee
tess~ i said im busy!
jenny~ but i really want to go and mom said i cant go unless you come with me
tess~ then i guess you're not going
jenny~ my sister, the angel
she storms out my room. i almost get used to the peace when my mom walks into my room
mom~ you're going.
then she walks back out. i put my clothes down and follow after her.
tess~ what?
mom~ i said you're going. to that concert with your sister
tess~ no im not, im busy-
mom~ doing?
tess~ ..chores.
mom~ you're going, theresa.
i cringe at my birth name.
tess~ fine.
i storm into jenny's room and slam her door shut.
jenny~ what're you-
tess~ you better listen and listen carefully. we will go to this concert, but you will not go all crazy, you will dress appropriately, and you WILL listen to everything i say. you understand?
jenny~ yes.
tess~ good. when do we leave?
***
tess~ im gonna kill you.
jenny~ but that's how you get better treatment, better food, and better chances to meet the guys!
tess~ we're here 4 hours early! i could be asleep, jen.
jenny~ can you please stop complaining and trust me?
tess~ mom said i had to go, she never said i had to go happy.
we both roll our eyes. a few hours later, we were inside and it was crazy crowded. i was on the edge, about to hyperventilate. this was too much for an anti-social person. i look around and see a food stand with water.
tess~ JEN! STAY HERE, OKAY?
jenny~ OKAY!
i nod and walk over to the food stand. i pay for a water bottle and go outside. i sit on a bench near the door. i needed a breath from all the squealing 15 year old girls. i was 19! what was i still doing listening to what my mother told me to do? what was i doing living with my family? i should be in class at a less than prestigious college. my family has been controlling my life since i was born. im about to be 20 and still living in this world. their tiny bossy world. i didn't want to do that.
i reach for my water bottle and squeeze it. it didn't crack the way i was expecting. i look at the space next to me. it was taken my a guy. i saw my hand on his thigh, still squeezing. i rip my hand away and stand up.
tess~ im so sorry! i wasn't even paying attention, i was so in my head that i......sorry.
him~ it's fine.
he furrows his brow.
him~ are you okay? you were squeezing pretty hard.
i half smiled and sat back down next to him.
tess~ i was....i was realizing something. my family treats me less of a young adult and more like a-
him~ slave clone version of you?
tess~ yeah actually. sorry, you don't need to hear about that
him~ yeah well you need to tell somebody about it. and i want to listen.
tess~ okay...
him~ you have any siblings?
tess~ ugh yes, my little sister jenny. she's the reason im here.
him~ really? and here i thought you wanted to fit in with the 15 year olds again.
i smiled.
tess~ nope. jenny begged me, and when i said no, my mom forced me to go. im 19 for pete's sake. i don't -er i shouldn't have to listen if i dont want to! i did it for 17 years. why im still doing it 2 years later?
him~ that's what i wanna know!
tess~ im so sorry! im babling about my own sad, pathetic life. what about you? you got anything to rant about?
him~ well i...yeah. i do. it's really annoying that because i like to drink or break stuff im automatically a bad guy. i always am responsible when drinking and i clean up my own messes. no one gets hurt in the process unless they really want to. i dont force people to do anything i wouldn't do myself. it's just like....do good when no one's looking, right? but it's like i can only do good when no ones looking because no one ever cares to look!
